Student union staff at U of S keep jobs for a while longer
Despite being issued layoff notices for the end of April due to COVID -19, University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union (USSU) staff will keep their jobs for at least another month.
In a letter sent to USSU staff on Monday, general manager Caroline Cottrell said the USSU is not eligible for a government subsidy that would allow staff to stay on 75 per cent salary; however, the management has decided to do that until mid-june.
Cottrell said “because the university acts as our paymaster, we do not have our payroll number” and the USSU is therefore considered a part of the U of S, even though the USSU has independent, non-profit status.
Cottrell wrote that she is working on an appeal of this decision through local MPS.
According to the letter, senior management met and decided to pay staff 75 per cent until June 15, “particularly since we really want all of you back when this is over,” and if the appeal isn’t successful, layoffs originally planned for April 30 will proceed.
According to Autumn Larosesmith, president of the USSU, the Students’ Union is reaching out to provincial and national organizations for support on how to navigate the issue. However, she could not speak about which positions may be cut, citing the confidentially of the union.
“We’re working to figure out how to mitigate that issue, but the staff will be kept up to date on those matters,” Larose-smith said in an interview.
All U of S courses were moved online in March due to the COVID -19 pandemic.