‘Hypocritical and shameful’: AUPE says U of C unfairly targeting ‘vulnerable workers’

University of Calgary support workers held a rally and information picket Thursday to bring light to changes to working conditions and wages.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees says budget cuts at the University of Calgary are unfairly targeting the most vulnerable workers on campus.

The union said Thursday the university cut 24 jobs in the last week, including caretakers, specialist advisors, operational/administration workers and technicians.

Jobs, the union says, typically held by the lowest-paid and most vulnerable workers.

“Most of these workers are women, people of colour or new to Canada. They earn between $16 and $20 per hour, which is less than a living wage,” says Justin Huseby, president of AUPE Local 052, which represents support workers at the university.

“The University of Calgary boasts about its efforts on equity, diversity and inclusion, but turns around to target these workers. It’s hypocritical and shameful.”

Workers and supporters held a rally and information picket Thursday.

Huseby said working conditions have also changed, with one caretaker being tasked with cleaning 35,000 sq. ft instead of 30,000 sq. ft, as well as shift changes that eliminate an overnight premium of $2.50 per hour.

“More cleaning and caretaking must now be done when students are still on campus and using the university facilities. The new shifts make it hard for caretakers to do their work and harder for students who don’t want to be distracted from their studies,” said Huseby.