At a meeting held on June 26, CUPE 882 members representing City of Prince Albert inside workers voted 79% in favour of job action, up to and including a full withdrawal of services.

CUPE 882 members have been without a contract since December 2021.

“Our members are being ignored,” said Tammy Vermette, president of CUPE 882. “Municipalities across the province have been able to reach fair agreements that recognize the crushing cost-of-living, and still, the City of Prince Albert refuses to keep our pay on pace with inflation.”

The most recent offer from the city would result in a significant reduction of purchasing power for city employees in the first two years of the agreement. The previous two rounds of bargaining resulted in employees losing 2.65% of their purchasing power. After employees rejected the city’s final offer, the city has refused to meet with the union and continue bargaining.

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Volunteers from CUPE Saskatchewan delivered pizza lunches today to children and people of all ages at eight parks in Saskatoon’s core neighbourhoods.

The pizza lunch day, sponsored by CUPE Saskatchewan, is part of the Saskatoon and District Labour Council’s Summer Snack Program dedicated to relieving hunger and providing support to those in our community who might otherwise go hungry with a free healthy lunch, seven days a week, during July and August. The long-running program is funded in large part by donations made by unions, as well contributions from local businesses, community-minded organizations such as the United Way, and the City of Saskatoon.

Thank you to all those CUPE members who delivered smiles and joy to many in our community today!

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National Indigenous Peoples’ Day on June 21 is an annual opportunity to honour and celebrate the diverse cultures, linguistic diversity, history and contributions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. It is also a time to reflect on the ongoing harms of colonialism and the need for greater action for truth, reconciliation and justice. As Saskatchewan’s largest union and Canada’s largest union, CUPE stands in solidarity with Indigenous nations, communities and organizations and is committed to continuing to work towards reconciliation, justice and to respect our ongoing treaty relationships.

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Members of CUPE 1904 representing Yorkton library workers, are deeply dismayed about Mayor Hippsley’s recent comments about the rationale for the sale of the library, and the startling news that the library may face closures during the transition period.

“City Council is making decisions without considering the valuable insights and expertise of the library. We have serious concerns about the impact on community access to essential library services,” said Savannah Komaike-Petkau, A/president of CUPE 1904. “It is clear that city council has very limited knowledge of the vital role our library plays in the community, and instead of working directly with library professionals they are leaving us in the dark and fumbling through the entire process as a result.”

The Yorkton branch of the Parkland Regional Library is responsible for 30 percent of circulation for the whole region. Library programming includes space for counselling, legal clinics, children’s activities, assistance for seniors and newcomers, and so much more.

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CUPE local leadership from across the province gathered for the CUPE Saskatchewan All-Presidents’ meeting in Regina on May 26, 2023, to talk about the crisis in public services caused by the Sask. Party Government’s underfunding, mismanagement, and privatization. Despite the provincial government having a billion-dollar surplus, public services are facing chronic cuts and staff are facing burnout, worsening working conditions, and below inflation wages that are causing public services to reach their breaking point impacting students, patients, and Saskatchewan communities.

“The Sask. Party government needs to wake up and take notice that their budget isn’t working for anyone when so many public services and communities are suffering from a lack of funding,” said Judy Henley, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “Dedicated public service workers have had enough and will not stand by and watch our public education system, health care system, and so many other important public services suffer further from inadequate funding. Saskatchewan people and communities deserve better, and we must all defend our public services together from Sask. Party mismanagement.”

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Twenty-seven workers at Salvation Army (Bethany Home) in Saskatoon are the latest members to join the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Bethany Home is a transitional unit for girls aged 12-18. The girls are referred/placed through social services. This is a temporary placement for 1-6 months to assist and support these girls until a long-term placement is found.

While at Bethany Home the girls are given the opportunity to learn life skills in a structured environment such as cooking, planning healthy meals, laundry, and personal hygiene. They also have the opportunity to learn to make healthy choices and how to deal with conflict and crisis situations.

The newest members of CUPE voted to join the union in a mail-in ballot that was counted on May 18, 2023. The Labour Relations Board issued the certification order on May 29, 2023.

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The union representing support staff at Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools (GSCS) has sent a letter calling for the immediate retraction of Superintendent Thomas Hickey’s email calling for a boycott of the Rainbow Tent at the Nutrien Children’s Festival.

The following statement is sent on behalf of Judy Henley, president of CUPE Saskatchewan:

Mr. Hickey’s statement paints the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools in a negative light and creates a hostile environment for the many staff and students who are part of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. The mission statement of the GSCS speaks of being welcoming. How can they claim to be welcoming when they are encouraging discrimination?

These statements do not reflect the values of the education workers that support students in our Catholic schools. This type of discrimination has no place in our school system, or in our province. We urge the school board to immediately rescind these statements and renew their commitment to providing a welcoming environment.

CUPE education workers from Saskatoon Public Schools, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools and Prairie Spirit School Division, represented by Local 8443, 2268 and 3730, are proud sponsors of the Nutrien Children’s Festival – including the Rainbow tent.

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A recent report from the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives shows that 92% of younger children living in Saskatchewan live in child care deserts. CUPE Saskatchewan, the union representing child care workers in the province, is calling on the Sask. Party government to address working conditions and build a workforce strategy in consultation with other unions, care providers, parents, and stakeholders.

The federal-provincial bilateral agreement set out a goal to create an additional 28,000 child care spaces by the end of March 2026. To date, however, the Minister of Education has indicated that only 4,696 new spaces have been created, and only 2,124 of these spaces are operational.

“We know that a significant expansion of child care spaces and facilities are required to meet the needs of working families. However, child care workers and operators are telling us that there is not enough qualified staff to work the additional spaces being promised,” said Judy Henley, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “We won’t eliminate child care deserts without a comprehensive workforce strategy that provides child care workers with fair wages, better working conditions, and retirement security.”

A backgrounder prepared by CUPE reports that most child care workers have few, if any, benefits. Non-salaried benefits, including group health benefits to cover prescriptions, dental, and vision care, decent pension plans, paid sick leave and paid vacations beyond the minimum statutory requirement, are critical to recruiting and retaining child care staff.

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After extensive negotiations, CUPE 4875, the union representing education support workers at North East School Division, regrets to announce that a bargaining impasse has been reached. The union and the school division will be undertaking mandatory mediation as per the Saskatchewan Employment Act.

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“Together always: united in diversity” is the 2023 theme and focus of the annual observance on May 17 of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

This year’s theme emphasizes what union members know well: that solidarity is paramount in defending and advancing 2SLGBTQI+ rights and safety, and ending all forms of hate, discrimination and oppression.

With an alarming rise of attacks on drag story time events and transphobia and setbacks to 2SLGBTQI+ rights around the world, today is a worldwide call to action for all of us to be in solidarity against hate.

Now, more than ever, all of us must speak up against hate and discrimination – and ensure everyone can live freely, love freely, and be who they are without fear.

Today, and every day, we are united diversity.

Let’s celebrate sexual and gender diversities. CUPE Saskatchewan will be joining Pride parades around the province as Pride season approaches.

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