Some SaskTel retirees want to know what will happen to their pensions if the Crown corporation is sold.
Many have signed a 4,000-name petition calling on the government to live up to what it promised, even if SaskTel is sold.
The defined benefit pension covers employee who joined SaskTel before 1978. There are still 20 employees at SaskTel covered by the old plan and 2,000 retirees or their survivors.
Ron Carlson and Dale Richardson spent decades working at SaskTel. They were promised 70 per cent of their salary for life after they retired. Now, they wonder what will happen if the government sells SaskTel to a private company.
"Is there enough money there to pay everybody that remains in the plan for as long as they live? Because that really was the commitment made," Carlson said.
Pension plans in Canada have been guaranteed by law since the 1980s.
"SaskTel pensioners are looking for some assurance, which is no more than what they were promised," said Saskatchewan NDP MLA Warren McCall.
The minister responsible for SaskTel says if there were a change in ownership, the new arrangement would have to abide by both the Pension Benefits Act, and aspects of the SaskTel Communications Act.
“I would say there really should be no concern," said Dustin Duncan.
Nearly a year has passed since the province said it was open to offers for SaskTel but, as of this week, none have been received.
