Monday, July 31, 2017

'Maybe the 78 departures will put the university close to the target - Alex MacPherson, Saskatoon StarPhoenix

The head of a union representing about 1,100 administrative staff at the University of Saskatchewan expects the cash-strapped institution to accept most, if not all, of the 78 applications for voluntary buyout packages it received after announcing plans to reduce its compensation costs this year. Administrative and Supervisory Personnel Association (ASPA) president Peter Krebs said while the U of S has not outlined its cost-cutting targets in response to the Saskatchewan Party government’s 2017-18 austerity budget, he hopes the higher than expected number of applications will prevent any staff from getting pink slips. “Maybe the 78 departures will put the university close to the target, or maybe even beyond it, (but) I don’t really know what to expect there,” said Krebs, who last month explained that while the ASPA agreed to the proffered buyout program to stave off layoffs, he expects more reductions — a move the university has not ruled out. http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/maybe-the-78-departures-will-put-the-university-close-to-the-target-aspa-boss-optimistic-u-of-s-layoffs-can-be-avoided