Tom Graham, President, CUPE Saskatchewan

On April 1st, Saskatchewan now has the dubious distinction of having the lowest minimum wage in the country.

“With a minimum wage of $11.06 an hour, many workers in Saskatchewan are struggling to make ends meet,” says Tom Graham, President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. “Raising the minimum wage is not just the right thing to do – it makes economic sense. More workers with more money in their pockets means more spending in our local economy.”

In Saskatchewan, 20% of the entire workforce earns less than $15 per hour. Provincially, about 40% of all workers earning minimum wage are between the ages of 15 and 19. However, workers between the ages of 35 and 64 constitute the second-largest cohort of minimum wage earners at 30% of the total.

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CUPE Local 4254 is welcoming new members into its ranks after a successful organizing drive in the Prairie Spirit School Division.

CUPE’s organizing drive, which started in November, has added educational associates from Rosthern Elementary School and Rosthern High School and the Perdue caretaker to the CUPE Local 4254 bargaining unit.

“We are proud to represent 14 new members from Rosthern and Perdue,” said Grace Wudrick, President of CUPE Local 4254. “These new members will benefit greatly from being part of Canada’s largest union with job security, enhanced benefits, and many other collective agreement rights.”

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CUPE Local 8443 has ratified a new collective agreement with Saskatoon Public Schools. Over 450 members cast ballots, and the result was a 67% vote in favour of the proposal.

“We are pleased we were able to reach a deal that saw modest wage increases for our members,” said Scott Barrett, President of CUPE Local 8443. “Our schools work because we do, and this deal recognizes the hard work of our members.”

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Access to clean and safe drinking water and wastewater services are essential to human life and health, and clean water supplies sustain our environment and planet. On World Water Day on March 22, CUPE renews its commitment as public sector workers on the frontline to protect and defend water and wastewater (sewage) services from privatization that takes away public ownership and control of water, including from commercial exploitation through trade agreements or bottled water. Sustainable management of our water systems and water supply can only be possible through public ownership and control to ensure that human need and responsible environment stewardship are always a priority.

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Yesterday’s provincial budget is balanced in favour of bureaucracy, at the expense of front line care, says CUPE Local 5430.

The merger of 12 health regions into the Saskatchewan Health Authority was predicted to save $20 million annually, with all savings being directed to front line care. But there is little evidence to show that such cost savings were realized.

“Where are all of the savings we were promised from the amalgamation? Where is the support for front line workers who deliver hands on care?” said Sandra Seitz, President of CUPE Local 5430. “This budget shows us that executive salaries have continued to grow, while front line workers are doing more with less.”

CUPE members are facing unprecedented workloads due to understaffing, underfunding and higher patient acuity and resident care needs. This results in more exhaustion, workplace violence and injuries.

“The reality is that patients and residents in the health care system are not seeing the improved care the government is claiming,” said Seitz. “We need a government that invests in providing quality, hands on care for patients and residents – not more investment in health care executives and consultants.”

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Tom Graham, President, CUPE Saskatchewan

Today’s budget delivered disappointment and disrespect for working people and public services of Saskatchewan, says CUPE Saskatchewan.

“This budget continues the drastic underfunding of our public services while corporations and high-income earners continue to get off the hook by not paying their fair share,” said Tom Graham, President of CUPE Saskatchewan. “And let me be crystal clear: It was not this government that balanced the budget, but the working people of Saskatchewan who have had to pay more and get less.”

“The budget was balanced on the backs of our kids in our schools who are dealing with larger classes and less support. It was balanced by public sector workers who had to give up a wage increase, the municipalities who had to raise property taxes and user fees and the universities who had to raise tuition and cut programming.”

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March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It’s a day to renew our commitment to confront and end discriminatory treatment and intolerance wherever it exists, and it’s a day to recognize the human suffering caused by the injustice and stigma of racism. It’s a day to renew our efforts to make our workplaces and all levels of our union reflective of diversity, and it’s a day to renew our efforts to advocate for fair and equal rights for all members, regardless of race or ethnicity.

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Over a thousand CUPE members and supporters rallied today outside of the University of Saskatchewan’s Board of Governors meeting to demand a fair deal for members of CUPE Local 1975.

The University of Saskatchewan is trying to eliminate the local’s secure Defined Benefit Pension Plan and replace it with an inferior Defined Contribution or Target Benefit Plan. In addition, they are pushing an insulting five-year wage offer of 0-0-0-2%-2% and a signing bonus of either $1,500 or $3,000 depending on which substandard pension offer the local agrees to.

“The Board of Governors has the decision-making authority to move the University away from its regressive and insulting wage offer. They have the power to make a deal and avoid strike action,” said Craig Hannah, President of CUPE Local 1975. “To date, they have refused to meet with us, and we are here today to tell them loud and clear: Our members deserve a secure retirement and a fair wage increase.”

The local was joined by CUPE National President Mark Hancock and over 500 delegates from CUPE’s National Bargaining Conference, which is taking place in Saskatoon from March 18 to 21.

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Are you interested in serving on a CUPE Saskatchewan Standing Committee? Further your union involvement and activism – apply today! Deadline for applications: Friday, March 29, 2019.

Applications are now being accepted for positions on Standing Committees of CUPE Saskatchewan. In odd years, one position on each Standing Committee is appointed for a two-year term following the Annual Convention.

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More than a dozen people from the communities of Grenfell and Broadview joined the NDP at the Legislature today to call on the government to restore publicly funded, publicly delivered long-term care in Grenfell. This call has been consistently made in the nearly seven months since the long-term care centre in Grenfell was shut down because it was riddled with mold and asbestos.

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