By paNOW Staff

USSU withholding money from Saskatoon Transit over lockout

Sep 23, 2014 | 5:30 PM

Thousands of students impacted by the Saskatoon Transit lockout will not be paying for a service they are not receiving.

The University of Saskatchewan Student's Union (USSU) will be withholding U-Pass money until buses are back running.

“Over the course of the lockout students have been so frustrated with transit management and with this city. I'm frustrated right along with them,” USSU president Max Fineday said.

“I cannot justify asking students to pay for a service that they are not receiving.”

 The USSU will be retaining 60 cents, per student, per day until the transit lockout is over.

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“Our management here at the USSU calculated that that is what students pay for the U-Pass around 60 cents per day. We had a discussion, me and the three vice presidents, and decided that was a fair deal,” Fineday explained.

“As a result Transit is going to to lose about $8,900 per day.”

Fineday explained that they sought legal advice before making the decision. They will be working with the university to find an alternate use for the funds or a way to return it to students.

“Students are already under so many financial pressures. They don't have the option to take a taxi, they don't have the option to buy parking passes,” Fineday said.

“Saskatoon Transit is the main transportation for students and they have been left without many options.”

Mayor Don Atchison spoke on the Brent Loucks Show Tuesday morning about possible reimbursements for bus passes that aren't being used.

“Coming from the retail background I can tell you right now if we take your money we have to give you something in return. Just because you are the government doesn't mean you can take the money and say 'that's too bad,'” Atchison said, adding it impacts a lot of people.

“Not only monthly bus passes but people have bought the annual passes, the semi-annual ones.”

In a release Tuesday afternoon the city confirmed they will be providing refunds and/or extensions to all pass holders, including Upass and EcoPass customers.

“We are currently developing a plan for effectively and efficiently managing refunds/extensions for the large number of pass holders; each type of pass has unique requirements,” the release said.

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