The City of Saskatoon’s plan to transfer operations of the Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre to a third-party organization raises serious concerns. Write to your city councillor today and urge them to keep the Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre in public hands – protect jobs, transparency, and community access.
On December 10, CUPE 4747 presented to the Living Sky School Division Board of Trustees, warning about the risks of a proposal to sell off rural bus services to a private, for-profit company. The division is considering this option as a response to chronic underfunding from the provincial government, which has placed significant financial pressure on school divisions across Saskatchewan.
CUPE 4747 argues that contracting out bus services will not solve these challenges and will instead create long-term problems for students, families, and staff.
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) locals 7 and 21, representing nearly 2,000 inside and outside workers at the City of Regina, are calling on the city to protect public services and jobs as proposed budget cuts put the city’s future at risk.
“Public services are the backbone of our city,” said Kent Peterson, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “They keep Regina safe, secure, and functional. Cutting jobs means cutting services – and that impacts quality of life for everyone.”
If approved, the City of Regina’s proposed budget will eliminate hundreds of jobs and slash vital services that residents rely on every day with severe consequences.
A recent report by Saskatchewan’s Auditor General reveals serious shortcomings in the province’s child care strategy. The report confirms what families and workers already know: Saskatchewan is falling behind on its commitments, and the current approach is not working.
“The government is inflating numbers while families are stuck in child care deserts,” said Kent Peterson, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “The Auditor General’s report confirms the shocking reality that the Government of Saskatchewan doesn’t even track how many approved child care spaces are actually being used and has no clue if there are enough workers to staff them.”
CUPE Saskatchewan is supporting new legislation to protect workers’ rights and wages. If passed, Bill 611 would ensure the use of the notwithstanding clause would be automatically tested to determine whether the law violates charter rights.
The bill follows Alberta’s decision to invoke the clause to end a teachers’ strike and force 51,000 teachers back to work – an unprecedented move that overrode their right to negotiate a fair contract.
CUPE 5080 members call for a fair deal.
CUPE 5080 members, including early childhood educators, childcare providers, and cooks at the Melfort Daycare Co-operative, have rejected the employer’s last offer following a unanimous strike vote earlier this fall.
