November 30 marked the National Child Care Day of Action, a day to celebrate progress and demand more for families and workers across Canada. Here in Saskatchewan, we’ve proven what collective advocacy can achieve.

After months of pressure from CUPE, child care workers, and community allies, the provincial government finally renewed the $10-a-day child care agreement. This wasn’t an act of goodwill – it was the result of relentless advocacy by workers and families who refused to accept delays.

Let’s be clear: signing the agreement is just the starting line.

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Statement from Kent Peterson, CUPE Saskatchewan President:

“After months of consistent pressure through worker-led advocacy, public pressure, and press engagement, CUPE – alongside community allies – pushed Scott Moe to finally do what should have been done long ago: renew the $10-a-day child care agreement. We made it clear that the delay was unacceptable, and the government had no choice but to act.

“This deal didn’t happen by accident. We fought hard to make sure the government signed on. Now, the real work begins.

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CUPE education support members from across Saskatchewan gathered at the legislature Tuesday for a press conference demanding action on chronic underfunding in the K-12 education system – a crisis impacting students and staff across the province. They were joined by Carla Beck, Leader of the Official Opposition, in calling for the provincial government to restore funding and protect public education.

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CUPE 5080 represents the dedicated early childhood educators, child care providers, and cooks at the Melfort Daycare Co-operative. These frontline workers are facing an especially difficult round of bargaining, with proposals from their employer that would:

• Disregard seniority;
• Offer unequal wage increases — some staff would receive no raise at all; and
• Remove language that ensures all wages increase when minimum wage does.

In response, members voted 100% in favour of strike action at their October 16 meeting.

Take action now: visit www.cupe.ca/CUPE5080 to send a letter to the Melfort Daycare Co-op board members.

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On Thursday, CUPE, SEIU-West, and SGEU met with Minister of Social Services Terry Jenson to address urgent challenges facing Saskatchewan’s community-based organization (CBO) sector. These workers deliver vital services to vulnerable citizens including disability care, domestic violence response, suicide intervention, emergency child care, and employment support.

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