The road ahead is challenging, but CUPE is in a strong position to build worker power and back members for the fights to come, according to National Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick, who addressed convention Thursday morning.

Rennick noted that agreements covering about one in six CUPE members in Saskatchewan are open, and many others are either at the bargaining table or heading there soon. This is a critical moment for members across the province to make progress.

“To survive and thrive, we must win real wage increases for CUPE members,” said Rennick. “Raising the floor for all workers, but especially for the lowest paid, is the only way to end labour shortages in healthcare, child care, social services and other sectors suffering a retention crisis.”

CUPE is in a strong financial position to back members to make those gains, with a healthy budget for 2023 and a national strike fund $120 million strong. But Rennick also noted that keeping our union in good financial shape is only half the battle. It takes workers organizing, mobilizing, and building their power to bring about the change we need.

“Union funds alone will never win the day. Workers make breakthroughs when they build power and choose to exert it. They make advances by setting expectations high and meeting those expectations by sticking together in the face of adversity.”

Rennick says it’s up to CUPE members to build a better future – but we are up to the challenge.

“We will never be able to count on others—especially not those in the Saskatchewan Party—to build a better world for us. We must fight for it ourselves. And together we will do exactly that.”

/cope342