During the holiday season, it’s important to remember that even small gifts can make a big difference in our communities. CUPE Saskatchewan’s Women’s Committee is encouraging CUPE locals and members to consider making a donation to a women’s shelter to support those in our community escaping domestic violence. See also the link to CUPE National’s new guide to domestic violence in the workplace at the end of this post.

CUPE Saskatchewan is also pleased to announce we will be joining the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour and PATHS, the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan, to mobilize and lobby on the issue of systemic intimate partner violence in the new year.

The following is a complete list of women’s shelters by area for donations:

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Photo: University of Saskatchewan

While the University of Saskatchewan says that jobs will not be lost due to provincial cuts to education announced this week, the Canadian Union of Public Employees is concerned about the decision to drop $7.9 million for capital spending on crucial work such as maintenance.

The union is disappointed in the Brad Wall government for failing to adequately plan for Saskatchewan’s future.

“When you are forcing cuts on the educational institutions that train the next generation, and slashing spending on maintenance and research, it is safe to say that Brad Wall is looking for short-term fixes to long-term issues,” said Tom Graham, President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Saskatchewan.

The union is concerned that the provincial government is downloading the cost of poor planning onto post-secondary institutions which then pass along cuts to workers and students.

“In an election year, the Sask Party refuses to acknowledge that they mismanaged the boom and are now slashing where they can,” said Graham. “The Sask Party is running election ads saying the opposition would take the province backwards, but it’s the current government that is starting to look reminiscent of decades past, when the Devine Conservatives drove Saskatchewan bankrupt.”

At the University of Saskatchewan, CUPE represents nearly 2,300 workers in maintenance, administration, and sessional instruction, among other areas. At the University of Regina, the union represents nearly 1,200 workers.

All interested CUPE Saskatchewan union activists are encouraged to register to attend the CUPE Saskatchewan Winter School February 1 – 4, 2016 at the Temple Gardens Hotel and Spa in Moose Jaw. Courses offered include: Introduction to Pensions, Steward Learning Series, Using Our Power at Election Time, and Unionism on Turtle Island.

Three scholarships are available for CUPE members to attend:

1. Glen Makahonuk Scholarship
2. Two Scholarships
– One for Equity-Seeking Groups
– One for Young Worker Group

The scholarship application deadline is Tuesday, January 5, 2016. The deadline for registration and payment is Thursday, January 7, 2016.

For more information, download the brochure and registration form (includes scholarship application forms): CUPE Saskatchewan Winter School 2016 Brochure and Registration (PDF)

This week, CUPE launched an ad criticizing the Saskatchewan government’s privatization agenda.

In 2009, Brad Wall said he would never allow someone “to use a bulging wallet to jump the queue.” Now his government is doing exactly that.

“We having growing concerns about the scale of privatization and what it will mean for families across this province,” said Gordon Campbell, president of the CUPE Health Care Council. “CUPE is committed to public delivery of health care in the province, but clearly the government has a different idea of what is best for the people of Saskatchewan as it continues to privatize cost-efficient and well-paying jobs in the province.”

The ad is running on TV stations and websites throughout the province.

CUPE Saskatchewan President Tom Graham and Executive Assistant Andrew Loewen deliver Own It! petitions to the Legislature.

REGINA – 19,346 Saskatchewan voters have signed an online and physical petition

saying no to privatization. Today the Own It! campaign and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) delivered 17,247 physical petition signatures to the Legislature, calling on the Sask Party government to stop its risky and costly privatization agenda.

“The Sask Party government has outright sold a number of crown corporations, weakened our utility crowns, and has privatized bypasses, hospital laundry services, correctional food services, MRIs, and is even building privatized schools and a privatized prison,” said SFL President Larry Hubich. “The broad support for this petition demonstrates that there is no appetite in Saskatchewan for privatization,” he added.

This petition is one of the largest in Saskatchewan’s history, and shows that Saskatchewan voters are looking for investment into their crowns and public services, not a sell-off to out-of-province corporations.

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For more than 25 years, Sister Pearl Blommaert, CUPE National’s 2015 Health and Safety award winner, has worked tirelessly to improve health and safety standards for workers in Saskatchewan and across Canada.

In the early 1990s, Blommaert was instrumental in forcing her employer, and then the entire province of Saskatchewan, to adopt violence prevention policies and legislation. This was a first in Canadian Health and Safety Law: since then, all provinces except one have adopted similar legislation.

“It is with recognition for the tremendous support of my local and CUPE members in Saskatchewan that I accept this award,” said Blommaert, president of CUPE 4980. “I want to thank CUPE National’s Health and Safety committee and staff – who taught me that violence is not part of my job and for helping us improve health and safety regulations in Saskatchewan.”

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CUPE Saskatchewan congratulates Mark Hancock, who was elected national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees on Wednesday, November 4 at CUPE’s 27^th biennial national convention in Vancouver. Brother Hancock has been the President of CUPE BC since 2013. CUPE Saskatchewan also thanks Hancock’s challenger CUPE Ontario president Fred Hahn for his dedication. Outgoing president Paul Moist served as president for 12 years before announcing his retirement in early October. CUPE Saskatchewan celebrates Brother Moist’s many achievements and years of service as national president.

Legal expert Steven Shrybman and Dr. Sally Mahood address the media at a press conference in Regina, Saskatchewan. October 29, 2015.

A legal opinion commissioned by CUPE Saskatchewan shows that Bill 179, the Private MRI Facilities Licensing Act, is in violation of the Canada Health Act.

Bill 179 permits private MRI clinics to charge patients out-of-pocket user fees for MRI services, which will allow patients to jump the queue for diagnosis and treatment. In 2008, Premier Brad Wall told reporters that offering MRI services for a fee “seems to be outside the Canada Health Act” and was an area where the government did not want to tread.

“By creating two-tiered medical care, Bill 179 offends the criteria established by the Canada Health Act,” said Steven Shrybman, a lawyer with Goldblatt Partners LLP. “While privately funded MRIs are permitted in some provinces, in our opinion, the practice is unlawful under the Canada Health Act and fundamentally at odds with the most essential feature of Medicare, which is care according to need, not one’s ability to pay.”

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This is Health Care Providers’ Week! Let’s take a moment to recognize all that CUPE health care providers do behind the scenes and on the front line caring for the people in your life and contributing to high quality, public health care in Saskatchewan.

CUPE proudly represents over 13,000 health care providers across Saskatchewan. We are continuing care aides, home health aides and licensed practical nurses, dietary staff, medical technologists and technicians, housekeeping and laundry aides, clerical and maintenance staff, therapeutic and recreation workers.

The Workers’ Compensation Act – Committee of Review (COR) is holding public meetings for people and organizations to recount their experiences with the workers’ compensation program and make suggestions for improvements or reform.

Public involvement is critical. Individuals or organizations are invited to share their opinions, concerns or experiences with the Workers’ Compensation system either through written submissions or by attending a public hearing.

Attend a public meeting near you from October 19 – November 17, 2015.

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