What You Need to Know Before You Head Into Bargaining
Are You Heading Into Bargaining?
Then check out the Bargaining tab located at the top of this page to find our latest Common Language tab. This tab was created as a result of the EWSC “Keep the Ball Rolling” conference. The EWSC has compiled a number of useful common language bargaining tools for your upcoming round of bargaining. You will also find a common expiration date letter, a Solidarity Pact letter and a Letter of Understanding for provincial bargaining.
How Does Your Wage Compare to Other School Divisions?
Check out the Bargaining tab and then click on the Wage Rates tab for the latest wage rates forEducational Assistants, Caretakers, Custodians and Building Superintendents, Administrative Assistants, Secretaries, Library Assistants and Technicians, Community School Coordinators, Social Workers, Para Professionals, Computer and Information Techs, Food Service Workers and Bus Drivers.
Bargaining Benefits Kit
The quality of workers’ benefits has a huge influence on their well-being. At bargaining tables across the country, benefits are under attack. Faced with large increases in health costs, employers are demanding concessions in existing benefits and, in collaboration with insurance companies, developing new and creative ways to erode benefit plans. Read more...
07
Dec
2011
WORKING WELL
Employers' Guide to Preventing and Stopping Harassment in Saskatchewan Workplaces
Working Well is an employers' guide for dealing with harassment as defined in The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 & Regulations. Saskatchewan people have a right to healthy and safe work environments, free from harassment. Under the Act, employers are required to take reasonable steps to prevent and stop harassment that arises out of or is connected to a worker's employment. This guide provides employers with information on the best way to handle harassment in Saskatchewan workplaces. Read more...
27
Nov
2011
Davidson Summit Committee...."We've Come a Long Way"
The Davidson Summit committee was formed to inform the public of Educational Assistants (EA) reductions in Saskatchewan. The EWSC applied to CUPE National for a cost share campaign to help with the costs of raising awareness. Click here for the presentation.
At your conference last year the delegates developed the outline of an action plan for the executive for the coming year. The issues included: representative workforce; job security; cuts in EAs; equality in wages and benefits; and collective agreement differences. Read more...
30
Oct
2011
Union unhappy with education assistant cuts
The union representing education support workers in Saskatchewan says special needs in the classroom are growing while educational assistant jobs are being cut.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees released figures Wednesday to show that the number of students with intensive special needs is up, but 350 teacher aid jobs have been cut in the last four years.
Check out the presentation to the delegates at the recent EWSC conference in Moose Jaw....Click here.
24
Oct
2011
EWSC Raises $1277.50 at our Fall Conference for Make-A-Wish
Moose Jaw's Temple Garden Mineral Spa was host to the fall EWSC conference. This years charity of choice was Make-A-Wish. The EWSC held 50/50 draws and had over 40 gifts that were donated by individuals and CUPE education Locals, CUPE Health, Regina Public Schools, Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL), Ramada Regina, Fort Walsh and Temple Gardens. All gifts were raffled off with all proceeds going to Make-A-Wish.
Click here for EWSC letter, Click here for Make-A-Wish thank you letter
Last Updated on Monday, 24 October 2011
20
Oct
2011
Bargaining Achievements in the Saskatchewan Education Sector 2011
In Saskatchewan, CUPE represents 6,688 support workers in the Pre-K- 12 education sector (Pre Kindergarten to grade 12). CUPE members work in a variety of jobs in Saskatchewan schools such as educational or teaching assistants, secretaries and administrative assistants, library assistants and technicians, caretakers, maintenance and trade workers, bus drivers, information technology specialists, social workers, community school coordinators, speech assistants and workers in many other classifications.
EA Cutbacks Clobber Vulnerable Students, says CUPE
For decades, incorporating "special" or "intensive" needs students into regular classrooms has been a fact of life in Saskatchewan. And rightfully so - lots of studies show the major gains that come from this. Thanks mostly to determined parents, children born with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and other disabilities are included in the classroom instead of isolated from other students. Read more...
31
Aug
2011
Union Questions EA Cuts
The number of educational assistants (EA) in Saskatchewan classrooms is dropping dramatically leaving intensive needs students without the proper support, according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
Last week, CUPE released numbers suggesting 350 full-time equivalent EA positions across the province had been cut since the 2007-08 school year. In the same time period, the report says the number of intensive needs students in Saskatchewan has increased by more than 700. Read more...
27
Aug
2011
In The Words Of a Parent
As a parent of a special needs student, I have to say I am really shocked by these numbers. I think all parents should be very concerned for their school-aged children, special needs or not.
Our family has had the services of Educational Assistants for all of our son's school years. Rupan is 16 and entering Gr. 11. Because of his cerebral palsy, which he was born with, he cannot use his hands. Read more...
27
Aug
2011
An EA speaks out
My name is Karla Stasaunik. I work at Langenburg Highschool in Good Spirit School Division. The students I works with range from students with a brain injury, to behaviour issues, to having mild to several learning disabilities. The daily role I play in supporting the students is critical for their education, emotional and social well-being and success.
View the latest update on the EA Campaign in a power point form. The “Stop the Cuts to EA’s” power point gives a brief overview of what the Davidson Summit Committee and the EWSC has done to address the reduction of EA’s in 2010. The Davidson Summit Committee is comprised of: Lori Sutherland, Marie Moore, Gwen Murphy, Dale McWillie and Jackie Christianson. Read more...
Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 April 2011
23
Mar
2011
One Collective Agreement for Saskatchewan Education Support Workers Brief
In 1996, CUPE represented about 2,500 school board employees in 40% of the school divisions in Saskatchewan. Over the last 15 years, many more school board workers throughout the province have joined our union. Today, CUPE represents 71% of the estimated 9,100 school board support staff in the province. Our membership in the education sector has increased by 157% since 1996.
CUPE school board locals have made important bargaining gains in a number of areas. However, the costly and time-consuming negotiation of separate collective agreements with each school division has resulted in substantial wage and benefit disparities among school support staff. We believe it is time for one collective agreement for all education support staff in Saskatchewan.
This new guide replaces CUPE's existing model bylaws, using clear language to make the rules and procedures easier for everyone to understand. The guide also helps explain the reasons for some necessary rules, and gives options to adapt other rules to the unique situations of each local. Read more...
02
Mar
2010
Canada Schoolboards Listserve
Canada-schoolboards is a listserve that will be of interest to CUPE members who work in the school board (JK-12) sector. It is intended to facilitate the flow of information about school board (or school division) issues that have national rather than just local or provincial implications. More info...
The EWSC will be hosting a one day Mini- Conference to discuss ~ The New Funding Model and School Board Elections ~ We feel that these two items will have a huge impact on education and you the education worker. Please plan on attending the EWSC Mini- Conference on January 30, 2012 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at the Bella Vista Inn, Humboldt SK. Read more...
Last Updated on Friday, 13 January 2012
07
Dec
2011
Dealing With Difficult People
There's one in every crowd, the saying goes. And when it comes to working in groups of people, this saying rings true, for there is usually at least one difficult person in every organization. Susan Boan, OH&S Harassment Officer presented this very informative power point, from her personal files, at our recent EWSC conference. Read more...
27
Nov
2011
EWSC Newsletter "News for Education Workers"
Since our last newsletter, EWSC Executive rolled out the "One for All" Provincial Bargaining Campaign in Watrous on March 21st. We have since met with the Minister of Education, the Sask. Party Standing Policy Committee, the NDP MLAs and the SSBA. We have been corresponding with the STF and a meeting with take place soon. Read more...
01
Nov
2011
Education Suffering
October 31, 2011
Finance Minister Ken Krawetz bragged in a candidates' debate about lower property taxes implemented by his government. This was done on the backs of children and teachers. The government removed taxing power from school boards so they can no longer increase revenue to meet the needs of their schools.
Carol Moen, Teacher and former Senior Administrative Staff of the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation presented the STF bi-level bargaining to the enthusiastic education workers at this years EWSC fall conference.
ONE Collective Agreement FOR ALL Education Workers Video
Check out our local CUPE education workers explaining the need for provincial bargaining for all education workers. Check out the video...
Last Updated on Friday, 21 October 2011
31
Aug
2011
CJME Morning News Jackie Christianson Cutbacks to Educational Assistants
CJME News - Teachers and students are heading back to school this week but some schools will be missing Educational Assistants due to cut backs. School divisions say that the cut jobs have been replaced by specialized professional positions to help students with...click to listen to complete podcast.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 31 August 2011
27
Aug
2011
Summary of Saskatchewan Schools Enrolment and Staffing
2010-11 School Year Compared to 2007
There were 350 fewer full-time equivalent Educational Assistants (EAs) in all Saskatchewan schools in 2010-11 school year, compared to the 2007-08 school year. Because very few Educational Assistants work full-time, this actually translates into a loss the union estimates to be several hundred Educational Assistants. This represents a 9.7 per cent reduction. Read more...
27
Aug
2011
RealRenewal Media Statement
RealRenewal is a voluntary organization dedicated to improving transparency and enhancing the public's voice in education decision-making.
To begin with, RealRenewal fully supports inclusive education for students with special needs. Further, we believe educational assistants play an important role in making inclusion possible, a role not easily duplicated by other professionals.
From our experience, students and parents highly value frontline workers in the system. They value stable personal relationships and close, loving care. At the same time, parents do want better access to speech therapists, psychologists and other professionals. Read more...
19
May
2011
Check Out all the EA Research Now Located Within the EA Campaign Tab
Check out at the top of this page the EA Campaign tab and then click on the drop down EA Research tab for information from the Ministry of Education Website and examine the following documents:
The Golden Rule of Providing Support in Inclusive Classrooms
Enhancing Opportunities through Full-Service School Divisions
Provincial Meeting Working Agenda
Most Frequently Asked Questions Transformation of Special Education to Student Support Services in Saskatchewan
Psychology Paradigm Shift
Last Updated on Friday, 20 May 2011
23
Mar
2011
One Collective Agreement for Saskatchewan Education Support Workers Power Point
A recent survey commissioned by CUPE noted that almost 70% of those surveyed support school support workers receiving the same pay and benefits regardless of where they work in the province.
The EWSC has put together a power point showing a detailed look at the advantages of One Collective Agreement for Saskatchewan Education Support Workers. Lori Sutherland, EWSC Member at Large put together this terrific power point that details a number of important points about the history, rationale, wage gap and much more. Read more...
Last Updated on Thursday, 24 March 2011
31
Jan
2011
The New CPP Rules: What You Need to Know
Danielle Arbuckle, Freelance Writer at AOL Canada, Dec 3rd, 2011
In May 2010, the federal government announced changes to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), which will be phased in from 2011 to 2016. While most of the announced changes will be implemented in 2012, the first phase has already started. If you'll be retiring in the next few years, here's what you need to know.
There is a wide spread public opposition to the Ministry of Education's plan to cut 75 per cent of the province Educational Assistants (EAs) over the next seven years. In response to the criticism, Education Minister Ken Krawetz said the plan has been "misinterpreted". But the government has not scrapped the plan and the cuts to EA positions are proceeding in some school divisions. Read more...
Check out EWSC point form brief for information about CUPE education workers and their goal of provincial bargaining...
There is a wide spread public opposition to the Ministry of Education's plan to cut 75 per cent of the province Educational Assistants (EAs) over the next seven years. In response to the criticism, Education Minister Ken Krawetz said the plan has been "misinterpreted". But the government has not scrapped the plan and the cuts to EA positions are proceeding in some school divisions. 
Check out the various 
