Sask Party's latest posturing doesn't bring any comfort to crown corporations

REGINA, March 16, 2016 /CNW/ - Privatization has been rampant under the Saskatchewan Party government, and nothing said so far in the campaign should give voters any reason to think that their crown corporations are safe, says Unifor.

"We have no reason to believe them today. The Sask Party record is littered with privatization and sell-offs of public assets," said Joie Warnock, Unifor's Western Director. "If this trend continues, life will become a lot less affordable in Saskatchewan."

At a campaign stop yesterday, the Sask Party leader said that he had no intention of changing crown corporation legislation, but the union representing thousands of workers at SaskTel, SaskEnergy, SaskPower, SaskWater, and the Water Security Agency says that changing legislation hasn't stopped the Sask Party before.

"The Sask Party has repeatedly privatized by stealth. It is a myth that there needs to be any change in legislation to undermine our crown corporations," said Dave Kuntz, President of Unifor Local 1S, representing workers at SaskTel in Regina.

Kuntz is referring to the myriad of contracting out that has happened over the last two Sask Party mandates, including SaskTel's Operator Services, Max Television Service Installations, and Satellite High Speed Internet Service.

"There is no 'what if' when it comes to the Sask Party and privatization," said Kuntz. "The question is 'what's next'."

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged.

SOURCE Unifor

please contact Unifor Communications Representative Ian Boyko at 778-903-6549 (cell) or [email protected]