Education workers rally in Saskatoon for fair wages

(Carla Shynkaruk/CTV News)

Education workers and their supporters gathered in downtown Saskatoon on Saturday, calling for fair wages and improved working conditions.

The rally, organized by CUPE 2268 and CUPE 3730, comes as ongoing bargaining continues with Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools.

“Support workers make the school, the support workers help the teachers, but they also are there to support all the students of all the schools. We need to be there. We care about our schools, and we also care about our students. And we want to be there,” said J.R. Simpson, vice-president of CUPE Saskatchewan, told CTV News.

Tensions have been building in recent months. Earlier this year, members of both locals voted nearly 90 per cent in favour of strike action, giving unions a strong mandate as talks continue.

Participants marched from the Saskatoon Public School Board office to the Catholic school board offices, drawing attention to rising living costs of living and wages they say are not keeping pace.

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Matt Love of the provincial NDP also addressed the crowd, calling on the provincial government to invest more in education workers who support student success.

Members from both locals shared firsthand accounts of the challenges they face, including the impact of inflation on their ability to make ends meet.

Organizers say the rally was aimed at building momentum toward a fair collective agreement, one that recognizes the vital role education support workers play in Saskatchewan’s education system and addresses the growing cost-of-living pressures.

Negotiations are ongoing, and workers say they are prepared to escalate job action if a deal cannot be reached.