With a hostile government in the Alberta Legislature, and crippling inflation hurting the buying power of workers, CUPE Alberta President Rory Gill used his convention report to stress the need to focus on wages in the days and months ahead.
Gill said that wages for CUPE members are not keeping up with inflation. “We should be unapologetic about demanding good wages, good benefits and good pensions for the people who do our jobs.”
Gill just completed a two week, 18-meeting “Waging Ahead” tour across the province hearing from workers about low wages.
“The stories we heard were heartfelt and emotional, but the determination to fight for something better was inspirational.”
Delegates heard Gill warn that the only way to get higher wages was to fight for them, and the only ones who can fight for them are workers themselves.
“The government won’t save us, the courts won’t save us, we need to stand up and be ready to walk.”
With over 250,000 public sector workers negotiating new contracts in 2024, Gill said there was a big opportunity to substantially raise the wages of members.
“We should be unapologetic about demanding good wages, good benefits and good pensions for the people who do our jobs.”