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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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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