CUPE, SEIU-West, and SGEU met with Minister of Social Services Terry Jenson to address urgent challenges facing Saskatchewan’s community-based organization (CBO) sector. These workers deliver vital services to vulnerable citizens including disability care, domestic violence response, suicide intervention, emergency child care, and employment support.
The Tri-Union CBO Committee represents workers in more than 80 community agencies across the province. After decades of underfunding, the sector faces severe staffing shortages, low wages, unstable funding, and inadequate oversight, putting workers and clients at risk.
“Strengthening the CBO sector and respecting CBO workers is not optional – it is necessary and urgent,” said Kent Peterson, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “When these services fail families lose access to help, addictions spiral, and mental health crises worsen.”
Tracey Sauer, president of SGEU, emphasized the impact of funding instability in the sector. “Without stable multi-year funding indexed to inflation, CBOs can’t plan, retain staff, or maintain safe facilities. Vulnerable people pay the price when services are disrupted.”
Lisa Zunti, president of SEIU-West, highlighted the lack of accountability for CBOs. “Funds earmarked for wages often don’t reach frontline workers,” said Zunti. “Oversight is minimal. Without transparency, government funding fails its purpose.”
The tri-union committee called on the provincial government to commit to three key actions:
- Stable, multi-year funding indexed to inflation;
- Enforceable standards for transparency and accountability; and
- Stronger health and safety oversight with regular inspections.
The tri-union committee will follow up with a formal letter outlining these commitments and expects a timely response from Minister Jenson.