Members of CUPE 1904 representing Yorkton library workers, are deeply dismayed about Mayor Hippsley’s recent comments about the rationale for the sale of the library, and the startling news that the library may face closures during the transition period.

“City Council is making decisions without considering the valuable insights and expertise of the library. We have serious concerns about the impact on community access to essential library services,” said Savannah Komaike-Petkau, A/president of CUPE 1904. “It is clear that city council has very limited knowledge of the vital role our library plays in the community, and instead of working directly with library professionals they are leaving us in the dark and fumbling through the entire process as a result.”

The Yorkton branch of the Parkland Regional Library is responsible for 30 percent of circulation for the whole region. Library programming includes space for counselling, legal clinics, children’s activities, assistance for seniors and newcomers, and so much more.

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CUPE local leadership from across the province gathered for the CUPE Saskatchewan All-Presidents’ meeting in Regina on May 26, 2023, to talk about the crisis in public services caused by the Sask. Party Government’s underfunding, mismanagement, and privatization. Despite the provincial government having a billion-dollar surplus, public services are facing chronic cuts and staff are facing burnout, worsening working conditions, and below inflation wages that are causing public services to reach their breaking point impacting students, patients, and Saskatchewan communities.

“The Sask. Party government needs to wake up and take notice that their budget isn’t working for anyone when so many public services and communities are suffering from a lack of funding,” said Judy Henley, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “Dedicated public service workers have had enough and will not stand by and watch our public education system, health care system, and so many other important public services suffer further from inadequate funding. Saskatchewan people and communities deserve better, and we must all defend our public services together from Sask. Party mismanagement.”

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Twenty-seven workers at Salvation Army (Bethany Home) in Saskatoon are the latest members to join the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Bethany Home is a transitional unit for girls aged 12-18. The girls are referred/placed through social services. This is a temporary placement for 1-6 months to assist and support these girls until a long-term placement is found.

While at Bethany Home the girls are given the opportunity to learn life skills in a structured environment such as cooking, planning healthy meals, laundry, and personal hygiene. They also have the opportunity to learn to make healthy choices and how to deal with conflict and crisis situations.

The newest members of CUPE voted to join the union in a mail-in ballot that was counted on May 18, 2023. The Labour Relations Board issued the certification order on May 29, 2023.

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The union representing support staff at Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools (GSCS) has sent a letter calling for the immediate retraction of Superintendent Thomas Hickey’s email calling for a boycott of the Rainbow Tent at the Nutrien Children’s Festival.

The following statement is sent on behalf of Judy Henley, president of CUPE Saskatchewan:

Mr. Hickey’s statement paints the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools in a negative light and creates a hostile environment for the many staff and students who are part of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. The mission statement of the GSCS speaks of being welcoming. How can they claim to be welcoming when they are encouraging discrimination?

These statements do not reflect the values of the education workers that support students in our Catholic schools. This type of discrimination has no place in our school system, or in our province. We urge the school board to immediately rescind these statements and renew their commitment to providing a welcoming environment.

CUPE education workers from Saskatoon Public Schools, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools and Prairie Spirit School Division, represented by Local 8443, 2268 and 3730, are proud sponsors of the Nutrien Children’s Festival – including the Rainbow tent.

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A recent report from the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives shows that 92% of younger children living in Saskatchewan live in child care deserts. CUPE Saskatchewan, the union representing child care workers in the province, is calling on the Sask. Party government to address working conditions and build a workforce strategy in consultation with other unions, care providers, parents, and stakeholders.

The federal-provincial bilateral agreement set out a goal to create an additional 28,000 child care spaces by the end of March 2026. To date, however, the Minister of Education has indicated that only 4,696 new spaces have been created, and only 2,124 of these spaces are operational.

“We know that a significant expansion of child care spaces and facilities are required to meet the needs of working families. However, child care workers and operators are telling us that there is not enough qualified staff to work the additional spaces being promised,” said Judy Henley, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “We won’t eliminate child care deserts without a comprehensive workforce strategy that provides child care workers with fair wages, better working conditions, and retirement security.”

A backgrounder prepared by CUPE reports that most child care workers have few, if any, benefits. Non-salaried benefits, including group health benefits to cover prescriptions, dental, and vision care, decent pension plans, paid sick leave and paid vacations beyond the minimum statutory requirement, are critical to recruiting and retaining child care staff.

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After extensive negotiations, CUPE 4875, the union representing education support workers at North East School Division, regrets to announce that a bargaining impasse has been reached. The union and the school division will be undertaking mandatory mediation as per the Saskatchewan Employment Act.

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“Together always: united in diversity” is the 2023 theme and focus of the annual observance on May 17 of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

This year’s theme emphasizes what union members know well: that solidarity is paramount in defending and advancing 2SLGBTQI+ rights and safety, and ending all forms of hate, discrimination and oppression.

With an alarming rise of attacks on drag story time events and transphobia and setbacks to 2SLGBTQI+ rights around the world, today is a worldwide call to action for all of us to be in solidarity against hate.

Now, more than ever, all of us must speak up against hate and discrimination – and ensure everyone can live freely, love freely, and be who they are without fear.

Today, and every day, we are united diversity.

Let’s celebrate sexual and gender diversities. CUPE Saskatchewan will be joining Pride parades around the province as Pride season approaches.

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As the province commemorates National Nursing Week, CUPE 5430 is advocating for the Saskatchewan government to acknowledge and appreciate an essential segment of the nursing workforce that is frequently undervalued and underutilized – Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs).

“National Nursing Week serves as an opportune time to recognize the invaluable contributions made by all members of the nursing team. While Registered Nurses (RNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) often receive well-deserved attention, it is crucial to remember that LPNs play a critical role in delivering a safe and efficient health care services to patients throughout Saskatchewan,” said Bashir Jalloh, president of CUPE 5430.

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The Government of Saskatchewan has declared May 10 as Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Appreciation Day. CUPE, Saskatchewan’s largest child care union, is calling for better working conditions, and a voice for workers at the table during the roll out of the provincial-federal funding agreement.

“Child care workers play a crucial role in the development and education of young children. They provide a safe and nurturing environment for children to learn and grow, and they help to lay the foundation for future learning and success,” said Judy Henley, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “I am glad the government is recognizing their hard work, but appreciation doesn’t mean much when compensation and working conditions for early childhood educators is completely inadequate.”

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On International Workers’ Day, we are reminded of the power of workers organizing for labour rights and economic justice. CUPE Saskatchewan joins in solidarity with workers and their unions around the world actively engaged in collective bargaining and striking, mobilizing and empowering workers, and organizing for fair wages, safer and better working conditions, and stronger public services!

At a time of a growing cost of living crisis and after years of public services being long starved of funds, understaffed, and public service workers undervalued, now is the time for all workers to remain united – and to support fellow unions in their bargaining and strikes! Unions raise the bar for everyone!

The right to strike is a fundamental human right of all workers in all sectors of the economy – especially so in the public sector as workers collectively bargain with governments as the employer and funder of public services.

May Day is a time to reflect on the power of workers’ solidarity and how, through unions, workers have fought and won hard, enduring struggles to establish collective bargaining and democracy in the workplace to bring decency, fairness, and safety standards to our work.

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