McMaster Workers Rally to Protect Pension Plan

HAMILTON - McMaster University workers will be rallying today to protect the pension plan of current and future workers, protesting against the university's attempts to bring in sweeping changes to the plan.

The workers have been without a contract for more than a month after negotiations with the university reached a stalemate over maintaining the current pension plan.

Rally:Thursday July 30

McMaster University Campus - Faculty Hollow, behind University Hall 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton 12 noon to 2 p.m.

Speakers include:

Hamilton East MPP/ONDP Pension Critic Paul Miller Hamilton East/Stoney Creek MP and NDP pension critic Wayne Marston McMaster Labour Studies Department's Dr. Wayne Lewchuk CAW Local 555 President Matt Root CAW Local 240 President Theresa Farao CUPE 3906 President Mary Ellen Campbell Hamilton Labour Council President Don Fraser

"McMaster workers are tired of their retirement security being attacked by the university," said Matt Root, president of CAW Local 555, representing McMaster workers. "The fact of the matter is that the pension plan is 93 per cent funded, so to suggest that the university is in danger of the plan failing is ridiculous," said Root. "If the university was sincere about settling this contract, it would be taking the pension issue much more seriously."

Negotiations have been ongoing since April and now threaten to spill into the beginning of the school year. CAW Local 555 represents more than 2,000 support and technical staff, as well as the parking and transit service staff and special constables.