Tom Graham, President, CUPE Saskatchewan

REGINA: The latest provincial budget will not put the province back on fiscal track and will have a detrimental effect on public services in this province and on the lives of those who provide them, according to CUPE.

“The budget paints a clear picture of how poorly our province has been run over the last nine years, and it is not pretty,” said Tom Graham, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “The Sask Party’s reckless decisions, like building P3 schools, embracing Lean contracts, and selling off public assets, got us into this mess. And now the only solution they have for a situation they created is to punish frontline workers and cut public services while decreasing taxes for their rich corporate donors.”

This budget included cuts to education funding, selling off the Saskatchewan Transportation Corporation, increases to long term care costs for families, reduction to regional parks funding, massive cuts for regional libraries, and funding decreases to post-secondary education.

Economic multipliers show that cuts to public spending are much worse for the economy than tax increases would be. Recent reports from the International Monetary Fund and Europe admit that austerity measures created economic hardship for the population but also increased their deficits and debts.

Continue reading →

In a letter published in The Regina Leader-Post and The Saskatoon Star Phoenix, President Tom Graham makes the case a 3.5 per cent cut to compensation for public sector workers in the upcoming provincial budget will not only be grossly unfair and possibly illegal; it will also be bad for the economy.

The full letter, as published, is below:

Cutting public sector workers wages would be unfair and unwise

Published on: March 21, 2017 in The Regina Leader-Post (A5) and The Saskatoon Star Phoenix (A5)

Continue reading →

Applications are now being accepted for positions on Standing Committees of CUPE Saskatchewan. In odd years, one (1) position on each Standing Committee is appointed for a two (2) year term.

Any member interested in appointment should complete and submit an Application for Appointment (2-page form) by no later than March 31, 2017.

Continue reading →

Message from the President

Tom Graham, President, CUPE Saskatchewan

Last week on International Women’s Day, members of CUPE alongside other public sector unions and concerned residents, demonstrated against the Sask Party government’s short-sighted financial mismanagement and its harmful cuts to public services and the very people who work each and every day to provide them. It was reported to be the largest rally in recent years. It is also a time when so very much is at stake.

When the Premier talks about firing frontline workers, and making cuts to public services and funding for municipalities, he is not offering any real solutions to the deficit, and he is not showing good will.

When the Premier and Finance Minister talk about everything being on the table, they should stop deflecting accountability and start by reviewing costly political spending decisions – such as expensive P3 privatization contracts that are expected to be in the billions of dollars over the next 30 years, and the misguided decision to sell off profitable crown assets and public liquor stores which will see the province forego needed revenue and good jobs being lost.

The deficit will not be solved by drastic reductions to key public services such as health, education and social services. Balancing the budget through cuts to public services and on the backs of public sector workers isn’t just unfair, it’s bad for the economy. Instead, the government should focus on growing and diversifying the economy, and maintaining the spending power of Saskatchewan people instead of putting people out of work.

I encourage all members to learn more about real solutions to the deficit and share the report by CUPE Economist, Toby Sanger, entitled: Debunking the Deficit: How Saskatchewan can get back on fiscal track without cuts or austerity.

Approaching what is expected to be a dire budget with even more drastic cuts presented by the provincial government on March 22, CUPE Saskatchewan pledges to continue standing up for public services, speaking out against harmful cuts and costly privatization, and defending the very people who are dedicated to providing public services including CUPE members in health care, K-12 education, municipalities, universities, libraries, and community-based organizations.

The rally last week is more than one demonstration. It is a growing solidarity to resist reckless cuts and privatization.

Continue reading →

CUPE education workers have launched a new radio ad campaign to voice their concerns about the Sask Party’s plan for the education sector.

The ads are running across the province the week before the provincial budget on March 22.

The provincial budget is expected to introduce significant changes to the education sector, including amalgamations, a decrease in funding, a 3.5 per cent wage rollback for staff, and the possible removal of elected school board trustees.

You can listen to the ads here:

• Where’s the funding radio ad
• Where’s the funding radio ad-2

CUPE is encouraging concerned citizens to contact their MLA as these changes will affect Saskatchewan students. You can learn more and take action at www.wheresthefunding.ca.

Continue reading →

A new report from CUPE senior economist Toby Sanger entitled ‘Debunking the Deficit’ challenges the Sask Party government’s declaration of a fiscal crisis. CUPE released this report with a presentation at their convention in Regina.

“Putting the province’s current deficit in perspective makes it clear that, while its fiscal situation has worsened in recent years under Premier Wall, Saskatchewan certainly isn’t in or anywhere near a fiscal or deficit crisis,” said Sanger. “In fact, Saskatchewan could achieve a balanced budget in a few years without taking any drastic actions, which could further harm the economy.”

Premier Wall has focused on cutting public sector wages claiming wages make up 60 per cent of all government spending, though a more accurate number is 40 per cent for the broader public sector, or 20 per cent for direct government employees. Premier Brad Wall is threatening many drastic austerity measures to deal with the deficit, claiming the province is in a fiscal crisis. He is proposing to impose wage rollbacks of 3.5 per cent, force public sector workers to take days off without pay, layoff up to 4,900 public sector workers, cut services and sell off revenue-generating public assets.

“Balancing the budget through cuts to public services and on the backs of public sector workers isn’t just unfair, it would be bad for the economy,” Sanger added.

Continue reading →

REGINA: The latest government announcement about wage roll backs for public sector workers will further weaken the economy and punish the working people of this province for a mess the Sask Party created, says CUPE Saskatchewan.

“We are facing a budget deficit today because of this government’s reckless decisions. They have sold off or given away sources of revenue, buried us in expensive P3 and Lean contracts, and now the only solution they have for a situation they created is to punish frontline workers,” said Tom Graham, President of CUPE Saskatchewan.

The letter sent to the unions says that the government expects a 3.5 per cent roll back in boards and agencies, school divisions, health regions, the post-secondary education sector, and government ministries. The government has suggested roll backs could come in the form of unpaid holidays or a direct wage roll back.

“A 3.5 per cent wage decrease is a significant loss of wages for many CUPE members who are already struggling to make ends meet,” added Graham. “We are not talking about high level bureaucrats: many of our members are precarious, part time, casual, or only work on a seasonal basis. This roll back will have dire consequences for families across Saskatchewan.

Continue reading →

Show your support for public services and stand up against cuts, austerity and this government’s misplaced priorities.

JOIN US AT THE RALLY

RALLY for Saskatchewan
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
12:00 Rally at the Legislature in Regina

BUS INFORMATION:

Continue reading →

EVENT OVERVIEW

Delegates representing CUPE locals from across the province will gather in Regina on March 8 – 10, 2017, for the Annual Convention of CUPE Saskatchewan. During the three-day convention, delegates will set the direction for the year ahead, elect members to leadership positions, approve financial statements, hear reports about the work being done by our union and engage in discussions about issues facing CUPE members and the public services we provide.

All events will be held at the Delta Hotel (1919 Saskatchewan Drive, Regina, SK) unless otherwise indicated.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION:  7:00 – 9:00 p.m. on March 7, 2017

REGISTRATION:  8:00 – 9:00 a.m. on March 8, 2017

The Annual Convention will Call to Order at 9:00 a.m. on March 8, 2017.

Convention Office on-site at the Delta Hotel: Campania A

Annual Convention 2017 information:

• Convention Program (Agenda)
• Reports to Convention
• Notice of Elections

**ELECTION NOTICE: Please note an additional By-Election will be held March 10, 2017. Standing Committee By-Elections will be held for the Environment Committee and the Committee Against Racism and Discrimination. One (1) member only; one (1) year term to fill position vacancies.

Continue reading →

REGINA: This week the CUPE Saskatchewan Health Care Council launched an ad promoting the important role of frontline health care workers and the impact that more cuts and privatization will have on the quality of patient care across the province.

“As frontline care providers, we are worried about what the March 22 provincial budget will have in store for health care,” said Gordon Campbell, president of the CUPE Saskatchewan Health Care Council. “We know that frontline staff are already working overtime, with a shortage of staff, and struggling to do more with less. We have already seen layoffs, and now the government is suggesting laying off up to 4,900 health care workers.”

CUPE is also concerned about the impact the creation of one province-wide health care provincial authority will have on workers, patients, and quality of care.

“Public health care is one of our most valued public services. Our government needs to step up to the plate to ensure that every resident of Saskatchewan has access to quality care,” added Campbell.

Continue reading →