SASKATOON – Today, Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) President Samantha Becotte brought greetings to CUPE’s annual convention. CUPE remains united with teachers to improve public education after years of Sask. Party government underfunding and cuts.

“Years of underfunding and cuts by the Sask. Party government have eroded school staffing levels, leaving children with complex needs, needing mental health supports and learning English as an additional language without critical support to help them succeed. The same working conditions that impact STF members also challenge CUPE members, and they are standing up together to fight for better support for educators and students” said Omar Murray, chair of CUPE Saskatchewan Education Workers Steering Committee.

“CUPE Saskatchewan was first out of the blocks in showing vocal support for our job action and for that I offer a deep and sincere thank you. Every person understands the importance of negotiating working conditions with your employer and the need to include contract language that protects the rights of working people. That’s all teachers are asking for; provisions on class size and classroom complexity that protect teachers and improve the quality of education provided to students – your children,” said STF President Samantha Becotte.

“Together, we are imagining a different province; a better Saskatchewan. That’s how this province will change,” added Becotte.

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Mark Hancock delivered a powerful message today to delegates at CUPE Saskatchewan’s annual convention in Saskatoon.

Acknowledging that workers are facing incredible challenges as they fight for wages that keep up with rampant inflation, defending human rights, and face the climate crisis head on, Hancock focused on CUPE’s power to make change, saying “As Canada’s biggest, strongest union, we have tremendous power – but we also have a tremendous responsibility.”

As conservative politicians seek to distract and divide workers by sowing hate and fear, unions have the opportunity and the responsibility to speak out and fight back, and CUPE has never shied away from that responsibility.

Hancock noted the clear political trends he has seen as CUPE’s National President. “When we elect New Democrats, federally and provincially, they invest in public services and in the workers that deliver them, and they stand up for workers’ rights and human rights,” said Hancock, “but everywhere New Democrats don’t hold power, those things are under attack.”

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CUPE Saskatchewan convention delegates were greeted by the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour President Lori Johb. The SFL, which represents over 100,000 unionized workers in Saskatchewan, has been instrumental in supporting CUPE members pushing back against Scott Moe’s attacks on public service workers.

Johb highlighted the rise in workplace hazards, especially in the education and health care sectors, are directly related to the Moe government’s underfunding, understaffing, and undermining public service workers. “Their attacks on public education, especially on teachers and other education workers, has directly resulted in assaults and harassment for workers in public schools. They don’t care about public education,” she said.

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Today, convention delegates welcomed President Judy Henley’s final report as President. In her report, she highlighted the significant and important work accomplished by CUPE members, locals, and leaders in 2023.

“It is an honour to be able to recognize the essential work of CUPE members as they continue to deliver vital public services in communities in every corner of our great province,” said Henley. “Now more than ever, we need to ensure we are bolstering and building up the public services Saskatchewan people rely on.”

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Following the release of a recent report from Saskatchewan’s Information and Privacy Commissioner, CUPE is calling on the Chinook School Division to adhere to the commissioner’s recommendations, stop stalling, and get back to the bargaining table.

Contract negotiations have stalled since the school division refused to provide out-of-scope salary information to CUPE 4754, representing school division support staff. When these records were sought through an access to information request, the division cited sections of The Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (LA FOIP) as rationale for withholding the information.

The Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner reviewed the request and in his Review Report 237-2023 found that the Chinook School Division had inappropriately applied sections of the act and recommended the release of the records in its entirety within 30 days. That deadline has passed, and the division has not adhered to the commissioner’s recommendations and released the records in full.

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The Prince Albert & District Community Service Centre Inc. (CSC) has announced that without additional financial support to cover growing inflationary pressures, they will be forced to eliminate evening and weekend paratransit services. Workers at CSC, members of CUPE 2182, are speaking out about the cuts.

CUPE is urgently calling upon the City of Prince Albert to recognize the critical importance of paratransit services and to provide the necessary funding to ensure their continuation. Failure to address this funding shortfall will not only deprive vulnerable members of the community of essential transportation but also undermine the city’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.

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Today, alongside Saskatchewan health care workers and CUPE’s National President Mark Hancock, CUPE 5430 released their new report, From Pay Cheque to Pay Cheque: The impact of the rising cost of living on health care workers.

The report summarizes the results of a survey of Saskatchewan health care workers on the impact of the cost-of-living crisis over the last two years. It demonstrates that inflationary pressures have had a devastating impact on the well-being and families of CUPE 5430 members. It also shows that wage growth among these health workers has not kept pace with the growth in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the last decade.

“These health workers are the backbone of Saskatchewan’s public health system. It is devastating to hear the challenges they face putting food on their tables and keeping the lights on,” said Mark Hancock, CUPE’s National President. “It is clear their wages aren’t reflecting their value in the health system. It is unacceptable.”

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February is Indigenous Storytelling Month. During the winter months, the tradition of storytelling is a cherished gift and important tradition to pass on knowledge from generation to generation, sharing culture, history, teachings, spirituality, and language. Let’s join together to celebrate, honour, and enjoy the rich tapestry of Indigenous cultures through the vibrant oral tradition of storytelling.

Click here for Events and Resources – Indigenous Storytelling Month 2024:

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With the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) announcement of further job action and an Advocacy Day on Thursday, February 1, 2024, CUPE remains united with teachers to improve public education after years of Sask. Party government underfunding and cuts.

“The Sask. Party has created a crisis in education by their failed record of underfunding and cuts, and now they are failing to negotiate with teachers on the concern we all share with learning conditions. It’s time for the Sask. Party government to end their disrespect and return to the bargaining table ready to meaningfully discuss class size and complexity with the STF. It’s time for the Minister of Education to listen to the concerns of teachers, echoed by thousands of education support staff, students and parents,” said Judy Henley, CUPE Saskatchewan President.

Public education is at a breaking point after years of underfunding and cuts by Scott Moe and the Sask. Party Government. Saskatchewan went from first to second lowest per-student funding in Canada under the Sask. Party government, taking a toll on learning conditions and education staff morale. Teachers, along with CUPE education support workers, have witnessed the impact and are standing up together for the needs of students.

“CUPE education support workers across this province are united with teachers in their demand to address class size and complexity through collective bargaining. The Sask. Party must finally learn a lesson in respect: collective bargaining for working conditions is a right of all workers, and access to improved learning conditions and supports for students is the right thing to do,” said Omar Murray, chair of the CUPE Saskatchewan Education Workers’ Steering Committee.

CUPE represents over 7,000 education support workers in Saskatchewan’s K-12 education system and 31,000 members delivering a variety of public services across the province.

We encourage all CUPE members to show their support for the STF by participating in the online Advocacy Day, sharing posts on social media, or attending an event near you. If you are an education support worker and have questions about how the STF job action might impact you, please reach out to your local union.

Click here register for the STF Advocacy Day.

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The unions representing inside and outside municipal workers at the City of Prince Albert were notified that over 20 CUPE positions across the organization will be eliminated.

During recent budget deliberations, the city assured the public that their primary goal was to minimize tax impacts on residents without compromising existing services,” said Cara Stelmaschuk, recording secretary of CUPE 882. “No one saw these layoffs coming, and it flies in the face of what both workers and the public were told during budget deliberations.”

All city workers have been offered a buy-out to incentivize early retirement. The union is worried that staffing reductions will have a negative impact on municipal services.

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