Dear CUPE Health Care Members,
Your CUPE bargaining committee met with SAHO for three days this week. We were there to fight for what we all deserve: fair wages, safe staffing, and real respect on the job.
The biggest takeaway was that our rally on April 23 in front of the legislative building in Regina was successful.
SAHO appeared more prepared and engaged than previous rounds of bargaining. They were more committed to productive work at the bargaining table. Your solidarity is making a difference.
The three days were productive. We spent the sessions working to get a settlement on the proposals under Article 27 of our Collective Bargaining Agreement, which deals with hours of work. Making improvements to this language is a very important priority for our members, which will improve working conditions for many.
Our goal in focussing on this article is to work towards getting to the common table. This is the table where we meet with SAHO alongside the other health care unions, SGEU and SEIU-West, to negotiate common monetary items, including wages.
In a good faith gesture we are postponing our rallies at MLA’s offices that were planned for next week. If our next bargaining dates in May (which are scheduled for May 27, 28 and 29) do not go well, we will ramp things up further to ensure we are heard and taken seriously.
We still need to keep the heat on and that is why we are asking you to Sign the Bargaining Support Pledge. This simple action shows you’re ready to stand together for better—with your coworkers and your bargaining team. It sends a clear message to employers: we’re united, and we won’t back down.
✊ Let’s keep building power in the workplace so we can fight for a fair deal. #FairDealforHealthCare #CUPEStrong
In solidarity,
Your Bargaining Committee