Hello everyone, we would like to remind you that if you are injured during work hours; you have 24 hours to go and get it checked out by a doctor and have them send it to the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) within the time frame. Otherwise, any claim outside of the time frame will most likely be rejected. Please note that some injuries may seem small when it happens but later on, they can cause irreparable damage if not taken care of.
Convention Intervention: A Rally to Save Saskatchewan
Saturday, November 6th, 2021
Noon – 1:00pm
TCU Place
Masks are mandatory with attendance.
Organized by the SFL, this rally during the upcoming Sask Party convention in Saskatoon is a chance for us to tell the Sask Party how their decisions have had consequences on all our lives – and demand action and accountability.
Members of the CUPE Saskatchewan Executive Board will be participating in the rally – and we encourage members of CUPE Local Unions to join.
Our province is at a breaking point.
Record COVID-19 case numbers. Record hospitalizations. The lowest vaccination rates in the country. Military Assistance called in to support a crumbling healthcare system. And no end in sight.
It didn’t have to be this way.
Health experts warned Premier Moe and the Sask. Party that their plans to drop all health restrictions was reckless and irresponsible. Instead, Moe decided to put politics ahead of people and dropped them anyway. He gambled with people’s lives, and he lost.
What’s happening now is a direct result of Moe and the Sask. Party’s decisions. Still, Moe and the Sask. Party are in denial that there’s even a problem, and are desperately trying to change the channel instead of doing what’s necessary to save lives.
It’s time for the Premier and the Sask. Party to take some accountability for their actions. It’s time for them to apologize to Saskatchewan for their mistakes. And it’s time to us, as working people, to intervene, and demand that our government do what’s necessary to keep people safe.
Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/434385778250209/
Message from Diane Boyko and Greg Chatlain
**This message is for all GSCS staff sent on behalf of Board of Education Chair Diane Boyko and Director of Education Greg Chatlain.**
Further to the October 12, 2021, message about a proof of vaccine or negative policy in the works, the Board of Education approved the attached policy on October 18, 2021. Also attached is the administrative procedure to accompany the policy.
The decision to pursue such a policy is not one we have taken lightly. We appreciate the frank, respectful dialogue we have had around the board table, with senior administration, with medical professionals, with church officials and with many of you who have offered feedback.
Just seven weeks into the school year, we find ourselves in a position that we must take further action to protect children and youth who are bearing a disproportionate burden during this fourth wave of the pandemic. In this short time, we have had more COVID-19 cases in schools than we did the entire 2020-21 school year, and outbreaks have been declared in several schools, indicating there is in-school transmission.
Similar to policies or processes in other jurisdictions, our policy is being implemented “in order to reduce the burden on Saskatchewan’s health care system, enable essential services to continue, and to reduce serious illness and overall deaths as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic” (Public Health Order – Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination or Negative Test – September 30, 2021)
In addition to these reasons, we believe measures to supplement the ones we already have in place will allow us to continue in-person learning, which we can all agree is preferable and is beneficial for students’ physical, mental, spiritual and emotional well-being.
As the October 12 message to staff mentioned, the policy is mindful of the Catholic Church’s view of vaccines as a voluntary, morally responsible way to protect one’s own health and pursue the common good. Because of the effectiveness of approved vaccines, vaccination should naturally be one of those measures. If individuals opt to not pursue the most effective preventative measure (vaccination), regular monitoring is a reasonable alternative for those individuals.
Although not a requirement for fully-vaccinated individuals, staff access to voluntary rapid testing will continue.
Also attached is a Frequently Asked Questions document that we hope addresses concerns or questions you may have.
Next steps: Logistical details about providing proof of vaccination and test requirements will follow later this week. Look for an email from GSCS <mailbot@applitrack.com>.
May the Holy Spirit continue to guide us.
Sincerely,
FAQs vaccine or negative test policy October 2021
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Diane Boyko Board of Education Chair
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Greg Chatlain Director of Education |
Webinar: Anti-Racism
Hello All, we have a great opportunity to join in this educational webinar! Please click the link to see the flyer and register to learn more.
Highlights of the September 2021 National Executive Board meeting
Highlights
National President’s Report and National Secretary-Treasurer’s Report to the September 2021 National Executive Board meeting
Letter – Apply to sit on CUPE’s national committees
Economy at Work – CUPE’s economic and bargaining newsletter
Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Committees
Good day on behalf of our Workplace Safety Committee and our Labour Relations Committee,
Committee members are committed to ensuring you have a safe and healthy work environment. Please send in any issues you wish to be addressed and the Committee’s will do its best to discuss them at the upcoming committee meeting to be held via Microsoft teams on Sept 27th, 2021 please send all items before Friday sept 22nd.
Sincerely,
Your Workplace Safety Committee and Labour Relations Committee for CUPE 3730.
Sitting members
Labour Relations Jason Schrader(St Mary’s) & Ron Mclean(Service Center)
Workplace Safety Jason Schrader(St Mary’s) & Bobby Cabuco(St Volodymyr)
Truth and Reconciliation
Good day,
Here is some information from CUPE about The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Canadian Union of Public Employees (cupe.ca)
National Safe Union Spaces Working Group
Earlier this year, CUPE created a National Safe Union Spaces Working Group to address serious concerns about gender-based violence and other forms of harassment and discrimination in our union.
Our work is being guided by expert external consultants. The external consultants will be holding a series of focus groups to help CUPE review our existing tools and processes, and identify gaps where we need changes or additional resources to ensure safer union spaces for all members.
Some of the sessions are being held specifically for members of our equity-seeking groups. Members are welcome to attend the session for any group that they identify as a member of, and all members are welcome in the general sessions.
Focus groups will take place on Zoom. Please use the following links to register for the session you wish to attend.
- Thursday, September 23, 9pm Eastern time (all members, in English only)
- Friday, September 24, 7pm Eastern time (all members, in English only)
- Saturday, September 25, noon Eastern time (for Black members, bilingual)
- Sunday, September 26, noon Eastern time (for Indigenous members, bilingual)
- Wednesday, September 29, 6:30pm Eastern time (all members, in French only)
- Friday, October 1, 8pm Eastern time (all members, in English only)
- Saturday, October 2, noon Eastern time (for racialized members, bilingual)
- Saturday, October 2, 4pm Eastern time (for persons with a disability, bilingual)
- Sunday, October 3, noon Eastern time (for LGBTQ2+ members, bilingual)
- Sunday, October 3, 4pm Eastern time (for young workers, bilingual)
- Monday, October 4, 7pm Eastern time (for women, bilingual)
All members are welcome to participate. Don’t miss out – register today!
In solidarity,
The National Safe Union Spaces Working Group
Judy Henley
Sherry Hillier
Lee-Anne Kalen
Yolanda McClean
Nan McFadgen
Debra Merrier
Barb Nederpel
Carole Neill
Karen Ranalletta
Candace Rennick
CUPE safe union spaces survey
Earlier this year, CUPE’s National Executive Board created a National Safe Union Spaces Working Group to address serious concerns about gender-based violence and other forms of harassment and discrimination in our union.
The Working Group, advised by expert external consultants, has been reviewing CUPE’s existing tools and processes, identifying gaps where we need changes or additional resources to ensure safer union spaces.
As part of this important effort, the Working Group is launching a survey.
CUPE encourages all members to participate in this survey. The survey will help us identify actions we can take and policies we can adopt to make CUPE more welcoming for all members.
The survey closes September 28.
Participate in the survey now.
In solidarity,
JUDY HENLEY
President, CUPE Saskatchewan
General Vice President, CUPE National
Member of the National Safe Union Spaces Working Group
A message from Management about September 30th.
In June, the federal government passed legislation to make September 30 a federal statutory holiday called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day provides an opportunity to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools. This may present itself as a day of quiet reflection or participation in a community event.
This day will be observed in Saskatchewan, but it is not yet a statutory holiday in Saskatchewan for employees who are not federally regulated.
To honour the spirit and intent of the federal declaration, and to honour our collective agreements that follow federally regulated statutory holidays, we are making the following changes to our school calendars:
- September 30 will be a Professional Learning and Development (PLD) day, and students will not attend classes.
- For elementary schools, the planned October 8 PLD is being moved, so Oct. 8 will be a regular school day for students and staff.
- Humboldt schools: the June 6 PLD will move to Sept. 30.
- St. Gabriel in Biggar: the Oct. 12 PLD will move to Sept 30.
- For high schools, early dismissal days in October and March will be combined into one PLD on September 30; those October and March days will be full days for students.
- Sept. 30 will be a statutory holiday for CUPE staff (not a work day).
- Sept. 30 will remain a work day for teaching staff and out-of-scope staff.
- For elementary schools, the planned October 8 PLD is being moved, so Oct. 8 will be a regular school day for students and staff.
As part of our collective response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, professional development on this day will be designed to help deepen our understanding of—and commitments to—the history and impact of residential schools, reconciliation, and anti-racist education. Some professional development already planned for October 8 will shift to September 30.
We will observe Orange Shirt Day on September 29.
In future years, it is possible the provincial government will alter existing legislation to align with the federal declaration of the statutory holiday. We will plan the 2022-23 school year calendars with this date in mind.
If you have any questions, please ask your principal or manager/supervisor.