The next provincial government will make important decisions about funding for health care, education, community based organizations, and social services. It will decide on the future of our Crown corporations and public services.

If you care about these issues, come and learn where the parties stand at a special All Candidates Debate on Public Services and Crowns. Project Community and the Own it! campaign are hosting an all candidates debate on public services and Crowns. Each party has been invited to attend this non-partisan debate.

Moose Jaw: March 21, 2016 at 7 p.m. Moose Jaw Legion, 268 High St. W.

Regina: March 22, 2016 at 7 p.m. Regina Italian Club, 2148 Connaught St. Facebook event page here! Invite friends!

The Battlefords: March 23, 2016 at 7 p.m.Dekker Centre, 623 Carlton Trail, North Battleford

Prince Albert: March 24, 2016 at 7 p.m., 125 – 12^th St. E.  John M. Cuelenaere Library. Facebook event page here! Invite friends!

Saskatoon: March 28, 2016 at 7 p.m., Le Relais Hall, 103 308 4^th Ave. N. Facebook event page here! Invite friends!

Saskatchewan people are concerned about the future of our public services and Crown corporations.  So come ask a question, and see where the politicians stand.

Each forum will begin at 7 p.m. and will last one and a half hours. Candidates will have the opportunity to give a brief introduction before heading into the question period.  We will have three to four prepared questions and then will accept written questions from the audience.  We will have a non-partisan community or media moderator for each event.

Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day. Across the country, CUPE is holding events to honour the accomplishments of women and renew our commitment to gender equality. CUPE Saskatchewan encourages members to take time during this week (and every week) to learn about issues that affect women. CUPE Saskatchewan will be celebrating the day on March 9 on the first day of our 51st Annual Convention with a special video presentation.

Here are some additional resources and campaigns that offer research, lobby demands and ways to get involved:

• The Canadian Network of Women’s Shelters and Transition Houses has developed a Blueprint for Canada’s National Action Plan on Violence Against Women.
• CUPE has released a guide on domestic violence and the workplace.
• CUPE has developed a violence prevention kit.
• CUPE is also encouraging members to take part in and share the national survey on balancing work, family and caregiving.
• CUPE has developed fact sheets and compiled links to coalition actions on child care and health care. Check out issues and research.

Photo: cbc.ca

The issue of seniors’ care continues to be at the top of mind for many Saskatchewan citizens.  In response to this concern, the CUPE Health Care Council has launched a radio ad calling for a minimum standard of care.

“Our members are doing the best they can with limited time,” said Gordon Campbell, CUPE Health Care Council president.  “But with the current staffing levels, our members barely have time to take care of residents’ basic needs and have no time to support their emotional and social needs.”

Many CUPE members working in long term care facilities report that staff is not replaced when on sick leave or other short term leave.

“This adds to workload and impacts their ability to deliver quality care.  The government should abandon its directive to health regions to save money by not replacing staff.  This policy is making the situation worse,” added Campbell.

CUPE is recommending the government implement a minimum care standard to ensure adequate staffing levels to meet the needs of residents.

You can listen to the ad here:

CUPE is the largest health care union in Saskatchewan, representing over 13,600 members in the health sector. Many of CUPE’s members work in long-term care facilities and in-home care.

/cope491

Photo: Holness Law Group

Regina – The Canadian Union of Public Employees Saskatchewan is asking the Wall government to halt plans to proceed with the privatization of the province’s blood donor system.

For-profit blood plasma clinics operated by the company Canadian Plasma Resources (CPR) were first introduced in Ontario but soon banned after strong opposition mounted by blood advocates. CPR is now in the process of setting up private plasma clinics in Saskatchewan.

In a letter sent to provincial health minister Dustin Duncan, CUPE Saskatchewan President Tom Graham stresses that Canada’s 17-million-dollar federal inquiry into the tainted blood scandal, in which more than 30,000 Canadians were infected with HIV and hepatitis C, found that the paid-donor system was a key factor in Canada’s worst-ever preventable public health disaster.

More than a billion dollars in compensation has been paid out to the families affected by the blood scandal.
Continue reading →

“You start to see things with different eyes and you begin to recognize potential harms that
you have never noticed – situations you may have walked by hundreds of times.” That’s how CUPE health and safety activist Dolores Douglas describes attending health and safety training for the first time, 13 years ago. The course was an eye-opener about the hazards present in her workplace.

Read the full story on the CUPE National website.

Photo: Fran Trudeau/Flickr

CUPE Saskatchewan and our members that work in schools across the province wish to express our deepest regrets for the tragedy that occurred in La Loche last week. Our condolences to the students and staff at the school and to the whole community of La Loche and the surrounding Dene Nations. Most importantly, our sympathy goes to the families and friends of the victims.

It is difficult to know when tragedy will strike. We can only support each other and work to address the root causes of such terrible events. As a society we must do more to support young people and to ensure that everyone has access to the services and resources they need.

Jackie Christianson, Chairperson of the Education Workers Steering Committee
Tom Graham, President, CUPE Saskatchewan

• Stable and adequate funding from the federal government, with annual increases established at a minimum 6%;
• A national continuing care program that extends the principles of the Canada Health Act to long term care, home and community care and establishes minimum staffing and phasing out of for-profit delivery in this sector;
• A national universal Pharmacare program that provides coverage to all Canadians through a national formulary, evidence-based evaluation of prescribing and protection from trade deals.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Brianne Cannon.

CUPE LPN Brianne Cannon was recently voted “Best Nurse” in Prairie Dog’s annual best of Regina contest.

Cannon is in her 13^th year of nursing and has worked in a variety of capacities in the health sector. She has gained experience in surgical nursing and palliative care, but upon the birth of her eldest son, decided to move into the mother-baby unit. She was one of the first LPNs to work in neonatal care in Canada, as part of a special Calgary based pilot project.

“What motivates me at work is to make everyone feel accepted and that they belong there. I believe everyone, no matter their background, deserves respect. Whether you are a high-ranking CEO or a person struggling with addictions – you should receive the same care,” said Cannon. “That’s how I treat my patients; like my friends, like my family.”

The biggest challenge at work is seeing people receiving unequal treatment. “I really think that the reason I was nominated is that I treat everyone with the utmost respect. Respect is a choice. Maybe I don’t agree with what a patient is doing, but it’s not my place. I don’t live their life.”

Cannon’s favourite part of the job is working with newborn babies.

“It’s a pretty big honour to be with someone when they need you. You start as a stranger, and people put their trust in you as a health care provider.”

Having worked in palliative, surgery, and mother-baby care, Cannon reflects that it is a huge honour to be with people in their vulnerable lifetime moments.

“To be with patients and their families at their bedside, to be with people who are scared and sick, to be with new parents is just an honour. I am humbled to be there for people in these moments.”

Cannon says that the one thing she would improve about the workplace is the ability for her to utilize all of her skills and work to full scope.

“I’ve worked in a lot of different environments, and I’ve always had to prove myself. I would love it if everyone understood that there’s a place for everyone.

“LPNs sometimes aren’t respected for the education, skills, and knowledge that we have. But as health care providers, as a team, we are much stronger together than divided, and the patients will benefit from us working more as a team.”

So, what’s it like for Cannon to win “Best Nurse” in Regina?

“I’m just super humbled and grateful; it’s a bit of a shock. It’s wonderful to get recognition when you feel like you try to do your best every day that you walk in.”

Gordon Campbell, President of the CUPE Health Care Council, adds, “On behalf of the Health Care Council, we congratulate Brianne on her recognition as Best Nurse and thank her for the pioneering contributions she has made as an LPN.”

/cope491

Photo: Front Porch Stapleton

As part of our initiatives to welcome and support the arrival of Syrian refugees to the province, CUPE Saskatchewan is inviting CUPE members and Saskatchewan residents to take up the call for English tutors in the four cities in which newcomers are being resettled: Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina, and Saskatoon.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee crisis since World War Two and this is a unique opportunity for our diverse members and all Saskatchewan residents to make connections and to make a difference in our communities. The following table lists the principal organizations and contact information for tutoring initiatives for Syrian refugees in Saskatchewan.

English Tutoring Opportunities for Refugees Across Saskatchewan

BACK TO THE BASICS

April 21 – 22, 2016
Delta Bessborough Hotel
Saskatoon

EARLY REGISTRATION: Before March 21, 2016 // AFFILIATE: $125; NON AFFILIATE: $150

LATE REGISTRATION: After March 21, 2016 // AFFILIATE: $150; NON AFFILIATE: $175

HOW DO I ATTEND? 

1. Contact your CUPE local to approve sponsorship of your registration;

2. Download and complete the conference registration form and submit to the CUPE Saskatchewan office;

3. Book your accommodation if required.

WORKSHOPS

Identifying and Documenting Hazards
Learn techniques for body mapping, surveys, and inspections to identify hazards in the workplace, as well to develop methods for dealing with the hazards. Participants will have an opportunity to perform an inspection and develop recommendations around their findings.

Basics of Incident Investigations
Learn how to identify root causes of workplace incidents, injuries, and diseases, common routes of entry of toxic substances, and their role in the investigation process. We will review relevant sections of the OHS act. The participants will conduct in a mock incident investigation to allow them to practice their interviewing, data collection, and documentation skills.

Preventing Mental Injuries in the Workplace
New forms of work, job insecurity, work intensification, high demands, violence, and a resulting poor work-life balance are resulting in psychosocial and mental health problems in CUPE workplaces. This module will focus on the workplace as the cause of mental health issues, and not the individual. Participants will discuss strategies and actions that will actually help make workplaces psychologically healthier and safer.

PLUS: Intro to Asbestos and Howard’s Law and Intro to The Worker’s Advocate