CUPE 4449 members ratified a new agreement with Glencairn Child Care Co-operative on Wednesday, August 5.
The new agreement includes improvements to seniority language and important wage protections for child care workers.
A key gain in the new agreement is protection for early childhood educators covered by the provincial wage enhancement grant (WEG). If the grant is discontinued, affected workers will continue receiving those wages until a new wage rate is negotiated through collective bargaining.
“In a climate of Scott Moe’s devastating child care cuts, this is a significant win,” said Kent Peterson, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “This bargaining committee worked hard to protect members from the immediate impact of any future changes to the government’s temporary wage enhancement grant. At a time when child care workers are facing uncertainty, our members used their collective strength to secure language that provides stability and security.”
CUPE is Saskatchewan’s child care union, representing over 300 child care workers in the province and over 12,000 across Canada.