Today’s statement from Tyler Hutchinson, CUPE 21 President:
“Yesterday we learned the City of Regina is again contemplating a budget that may hurt workers and weaken public services.
Public services are the backbone of our city. They keep Regina safe, connected, and running smoothly. As such, any budgetary decision that would result in cutting jobs needs to be strictly criticized, as any cuts will inevitably harm public services, and impact the quality of life for all citizens.
The city must reconsider any approach that would result in job losses and place further strain on the services residents rely on.
These workers keep Regina running. They are real people with families who contribute to Regina’s economy every day. Every city worker is an investment in better services and a stronger local economy, not a cost to be cut arbitrarily.
The proposed budget is particularly insulting to workers who may face layoffs as the city has shown significant flexibility in their support for the Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL) District acquisition.
The City of Regina has already set aside $10.8 million to fund operations of entertainment facilities, with funding being split between REAL and Brandt Industries.
Regina residents are asked to pay higher property taxes while jobs are being threatened and public services face cuts. The city’s priorities should be protecting the services residents depend on and the workers who deliver them.”