UVic union staff push back against parking fee increases
Five unions representing more than 5,000 University of Victoria (UVic) staff have reignited a petition asking the university to reconsider a planned change from annual to monthly parking passes starting Sept. 1.
The unions say the change will see the cost of a monthly permit jump from the current $50 to $75. They say the parking cost is a 50 percent increase to on-campus parking fees that will rise from $600 to $900 annually.
"That’s $300 you don’t have to spend, or can’t spend, on groceries [or] on health and welfare," said UVic CUPE Local 951 president Kirk Mercer.
"These are all things that have to be taken into account when you talk about any increases," he said.
"We’ve just come out of a pandemic, the cost of living is going through the roof and this is just one added measure that isn’t necessary."
PROPOSED COMPROMISE
In April, UVic announced that it would discontinue annual parking passes and move to monthly permits.
According to the university, the planned change would allow for greater choice for commuters "including the Flex 25 pass, which offers 25 daily single-use general parking passes with no expiration date."
Mercer says after the petition was launched in June, the university introduced a compromise to the planned parking fee change.
The union president says UVic offered a three-year phased implementation of the new fee structure for current permit holders that earn less than $68,000 a year. The proposed compromise would see current parking pass users pay $60 per month in 2022, $70 in 2023 and $75 in 2024.
Mercer says any increase to the cost of parking for the technical trades workers, childcare and office staff that he represents is not financially sustainable.
"The majority of our members were working from home and remotely during 2020 and 2021, so a lot of them never renewed their annual passes," said Mercer.
"These are the members that are going to be impacted the most because they are not given the option of a reduced rate."
Mercer says the unions representing UVic staff are asking that the increase in parking fees be linked to the cost of living, which is pegged by the labour organizations at eight per cent.
"The cost of living is at eight per cent and that would be a more realistic increase, not 50 per cent or even 20 and 30 per cent," said Mercer.
The municipality is seeking public feedback from residents about their current parking habits and requirements. (CTV News)
In an emailed statement to CTV News, UVic said people who need parking at the university can save money by using a parking lot further from the center of campus, like the ones located at the Ian Stewart Complex or Lamb Circle.
It goes on to say that "switching to monthly permits will allow the user to consider how they travel to campus and where they wish to park, which can reduce their cost and contribute to the [university’s] sustainability goals."
"Reduced rates are also available for members who have accessibility requirements and need to park closer to their work or classroom buildings," said UVic parking and transportation manager Patrick Seward.
"While we understand that not everyone agrees with the change in parking fees at UVic, we believe encouraging people to use different modes of transportation is one of the ways UVic and our campus community can contribute to a more sustainable future for our community and the planet," he said.
The unions representing UVic staff want the university to cancel the planned changes and are planning a direct outreach campaign with faculty, staff and students in the coming months.
"This is a significant increase for many of our members when they need to put food on the tables for their families," said Mercer.
The unions' petition can be found online. The upcoming parking changes at the university can be found on the UVic website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Montreal doctors' breakthrough discovery about causes of cerebral palsy giving hope
A breakthrough discovery made by doctors at the Montreal Children's Hospital about the causes of cerebral palsy is giving new hope to one West Island family.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Why Kim Kardashian is being sued for 'knockoff' furniture
The estate of minimalist contemporary artist Donald Judd filed a lawsuit against Kardashian this week, claiming the fashion and beauty mogul promoted 'cheap knockoffs' of his furniture designs.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies at 87
Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries 'Roots,' has died. He was 87.