The Premier Express courier service has been sweeping through Saskatchewan, generating lots of attention in its wake. The courier is collecting messages, petitions and letters from workers in community-based agencies for delivery to Premier Lorne Calvert.
Decorated with slogans proclaiming Poverty wages dont pay the bills, 2% is a milk product, not a wage increase, and Up with Womens Wages!, the courier will hand-deliver the messages to the new premier on February 20 in Regina.
Workers in group homes, vocational centers, womens shelters, day cares and other community-based organizations members of CUPE, SGEU and SEIU began the Were Worth More campaign last fall to demand the provincial government provide more money to their agencies and much better wages. Now theyre taking their campaign on the road.
We want the premier to get the message that we wont continue to work for these pitifully poor wages, says spokesperson Joanne Mountney, who is travelling with the courier. Mountney, a CUPE group home worker in Melville, earns $8.05 caring for people with mental and physical challenges. Were sick of percentage increases that dont amount to anything. We want equal pay with government employees.