Low pay, reduced hours, unsafe schools: Education support workers demand better
Education support workers from CUPE locals across Saskatchewan rallied today outside the office of the Minister of Education, calling on the provincial government to address low wages, unsafe working conditions, and the lack of respect for the critical role they play in Saskatchewan schools.
The rally took place during the CUPE Saskatchewan Education Workers’ Steering Committee (EWSC) Annual Conference in Swift Current, which brought together education support workers from across the province.
CUPE 8443, Saskatoon Public Schools at impasse over wages
Bargaining between CUPE 8443, representing education support workers with Saskatoon Public Schools, and the employer has reached an impasse, with wages remaining the central issue.
“This is about being paid fairly for the work our members do every day,” said Dene Nicholson, CUPE 8443 president. “Education support workers are among the lowest paid workers in the school system, but schools depend on us. Costs keep going up and our wages just aren’t keeping up.”
CUPE welcomes Supreme Court decision to grant labour coalition intervenor status in Bill 137 appeal
This week, CUPE Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, and the Canadian Teachers’ Federation were granted leave by the Supreme Court of Canada to intervene in the Court of Appeal case concerning Bill 137: The Education Amendment Act, 2023.
Higher fees, broken promises: $10-a-day child care on life support
Statement from Kent Peterson, CUPE Saskatchewan President:
“Scott Moe’s child care cuts break the promise of $10-a-day child care and will cost families and workers more.
“Restricting tuition free training to Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Level I will make staffing shortages worse, puts centres at risk of failing certification requirements of ECE II and ECE III staffing levels, and limit career advancement opportunities.
CUPE Health Care Workers Call Out Last-in-Canada CCA Wages
Frontline health care workers gathered at the Saskatchewan Legislature today to highlight new research showing that Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs) in Saskatchewan are among the lowest paid in the country, intensifying concerns about staffing shortages and the stability of the province’s health system.