The University of Manitoba is considering massive cuts to support services — everything from eliminating paper handouts to less frequent cleaning and charging for parking evenings and weekends.

The university hopes to save $30 million per year by reducing non-teaching expenses, according to a report prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Many of the measures would mean job cuts, the report states.

No decisions have been made on which cuts would be implemented but opponents are already lining up to fight those measures.

"What's next? Do you leave vacuums in the offices for the people so they vacuum their own carpets as well?" said Frank Wright, a representative with the Canadian Auto Workers union, which represents maintenance, general service, caretaking, food services and residence personnel.

'I have a legal obligation to fight that we have to fight that.'—Frank Wright, CAW

The university has already been asking staff to empty their own garbage cans, he said.

Wright intends to fight any measure that transfers work outside the union.

"I have a legal obligation to fight that, we have to fight that," he said.

Hoping to avoid teaching, research cuts

While no decisions have been made on specific cuts, if reductions aren't made in support services they will have to come out of teaching budgets, said Deborah McCallum, vice president of administration at the U of M.

She'd rather not cut teaching or research budgets, however.

'If they're cutting jobs I mean sooner or later it's going to affect the quality of education that the students experience on the campus, right?'—Sid Rashid, students' union

"The driver behind this is to find other ways of saving money so we don't have to have such an impact on our students and our faculty," McCallum said.

Sid Rashid, who heads up the students' union on campus, has his doubts that kind of impact can be avoided.

"If they're cutting jobs I mean sooner or later it's going to affect the quality of education that the students experience on the campus, right?" he said.

Another change being eyed by the university is charging students in residence for internet fees.

"I think that is a little ridiculous because internet is already offered freely all across campus," said Johan Vroomen, a student who lives in residence on campus.

Administration will make its decisions on the cuts some time in March, said McCallum.