RESOLUTIONS TO THE 2019 SFL CONVENTION...RESOLUTIONS TO THE 2019 SFL CONVENTION CONSTITUTIONAL 1. GENDER NEUTRAL LANGUAGE The SFL will: Change language in the SFL constitution that

RESOLUTIONS TO THE 2019 SFL CONVENTION

CONSTITUTIONAL 1. GENDER NEUTRAL LANGUAGE The SFL will: Change language in the SFL constitution that does not reflect gender neutral language. Article 4 Section 5 b) change ‘he/she represents’ to ‘they represent’ Section 5 c) change ‘he/she to ‘they’ and ‘his/her’ to ‘their’ Section 16 3. Change ‘he/she’ to ‘they’ and ‘his/her’ to ‘their’ Article 5 - Section 2 j) and k) – change his/her to ‘their” Article 13 - Section 1 – change his/her to ‘their” Because: These changes reflect the SFL policy on gender neutral language. Submitted by the SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL Solidarity and Pride Committee Resolutions Committee recommends acceptance. Notes: ___________________________________________________________________

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Convention decision Carried _________ Defeated ________ Tabled _________

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

2. 231 CALLS FOR JUSTICE The SFL will: Encourage affiliates to educate their members on the 231 Calls for Justice in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) inquiry; And encourage allies to adopt and implement the calls for justice as applicable . Because:

Education, adoption and implementation of the 231 calls for justice needs to be taken by our affiliates in order to end the genocide against Indigenous women and girls.

The rate of sexual assault of Indigenous women is more than three times that of non-indigenous women.

The homicide rate of Indigenous women in Canada is six times higher than non-indigenous women.

Submitted by the SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL Indigenous Committee Resolutions Committee recommends acceptance. Notes: ___________________________________________________________________

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3. BETTER ENGAGE AND INCLUDE YOUNG WORKERS The SFL will: Examine the external and internal barriers faced by young workers, and deliver a bold series of actions, through a set of resolutions, to better engage and include young workers to the next annual convention of the SFL for approval by delegates. Because:

Young workers bring fresh perspectives, bold ideas, and new energy to unions and the federation of labour. They are vital in ensuring the continued growth of the labour movement, as well as maintaining – and evolving – its structures and practices.

Young workers face some of the most precarious conditions in the workforce today. As such, it is important that young workers and recently aged-out workers view the labour movement as a powerful and relevant vehicle to make their lives better.

Submitted by the SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL Young Workers’ Committee Resolutions Committee recommends acceptance. Notes: ___________________________________________________________________

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4. BLACK HISTORY MONTH The SFL will: Support and endorse Black History Month – recognized in the month of February. Because:

Black History Month is the time taken to recognize and value the contributions black people have made in the province and in the country.

This will create awareness as well as educate the larger population on the meaning of Black History Month.

Submitted by the SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL Workers of Colour Committee Resolutions Committee recommends acceptance. Notes: ___________________________________________________________________

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5. CONVERSION THERAPY BAN The SFL will: Lobby the provincial government to ban conversion therapy in Saskatchewan. Because:

Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia already have restrictions in place.

Sometimes known as ‘reparative therapy’ it is a dangerous and discredited practice that falsely claims to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression

Such practices have been rejected by every mainstream medical and mental health organization for decades

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement in 2012 indicating that this type of ‘therapy’ poses a “severe threat to the health and human rights of the affected persons”.

Submitted by the SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL Solidarity and Pride Committee

Resolutions Committee recommends acceptance.

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6. DIVERSITY CAMPAIGN The SFL will: Create a campaign showcasing the diversity as well as the contributions of workers of colour in the labour movement in Saskatchewan. Because:

Workers of colour are positively impacting the economy

Workers of colour are improving the growth of the labour movement and the workforce

People of colour are the fabric of society Submitted by the SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL Workers of Colour Committee


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7. ENGAGING YOUNG WORKERS The SFL will: Actively seek young workers to participate and facilitate at SFL schools and conferences, as well as develop and implement a strategy in conjunction with affiliated unions to significantly increase the number of young workers present at annual SFL conventions.

Because

The Labour Movement will be strengthened by providing opportunities for young

workers to become more involved and included, while also reflecting the diversity of the

workers we represent.

Submitted by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – Saskatchewan Division


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8. GENDER EXPRESSION IN HUMAN RIGHTS CODE The SFL will: Support and encourage affiliates to include gender expression when negotiating non-discrimination language in the collective bargaining agreements. Lobby the provincial government to include gender expression in the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code. Because:

Gender identity was previously included in the code but not gender expression.

Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories and Manitoba are the only places left in Canada that do not include gender expression as a protected grounds.



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9. HOMOPHOBIC / TRANSPHOBIC VIOLENCE The SFL will:

1. Lobby the provincial government and the federal government, through the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), to remove barriers to LGBTQ* refugees and migrants.

2. Work with the CLC to support LGBTQ* activists fighting homophobic and transphobic

violence, including laws, in other countries and at the United Nations.

3. Publicly condemn countries where homophobic violence is encouraged, and countries where homosexuality is illegal.

Because:

Recently the federal government made it harder for refugees to enter Canada from the US, despite rising state-sanctions homo/transphobic discrimination and violence there

Criminalization and violent control of sexual and gender diversity are colonial legacies, further entrenched by global capitalism

70 UN member states still criminalize homosexuality; in 26 the penalty varies from 10 years in prison to life, and in seven states impose the death penalty. Brunai imposes stoning on these victims

These countries often have a discourse that equates gay people to animals, with evangelical religions comparing them to the devil.



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10. INCLUSIVE AND SAFER HEALTHCARE WORKPLACES The SFL will: Provide support to affiliates to help make healthcare workplaces inclusive of and safe spaces for LGBTQ* members and patients/residents/clients/visitors by:

Encouraging affiliates to negotiate collective agreement language on discrimination, harassment, inclusivity and anti-oppression training;

Raising awareness with affiliates on challenges faced by LGBTQ* people in the healthcare system, and how to create safer spaces;

Partnering with LGBTQ* organizations that deliver training and advice on health equity and safer spaces.

Because:

LGBTQ* workers and patients/residents/visitors/clients face high levels of harassment, discrimination and violence

Employers often fail to provide safer environments for LGBTQ* and other marginalized groups

Important research is being done in education, policies, programs and regulation around LGBTQ* seniors’ safety in public services.



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11. ISLAMOPHOBIA

The SFL will:

1. Build on the Canadian Labour Congress report “Islamophobia at Work: Challenges and Opportunities” to create a campaign that raises awareness on racism and the violent acts of Islamophobia, other forms of religious discrimination and cultural practices that affect our members and people in Canada in general.

2. Engage and educate affiliates about the social and economic foundations of xenophobia and racism.

3. Lobby all levels of government to redress legislation and other policies and practices that perpetuate xenophobia, Islamophobia and other forms of hatred.

4. Lobby all levels of government to demand legislation that protects Muslim women from Islamophobic hate crimes.

Because:

Union members are not immune from the larger societal forces of racism, prejudice and discrimination.

Unreasonable fear has been promoted against migration/immigration.

Collective action is needed to address Islamophobia in society and in our unions.

Muslim women are more susceptible to hate crimes due to their intersectionality of race, gender and religious beliefs, as well as more vulnerable to bias motivated violence and intimidation due to their choice of covering.

Submitted by the SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL Workers of Colour Committee


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12. JORDAN’S PRINCIPLE The SFL will: 1. Lobby the provincial government and the federal government, through the Canadian Labour

Congress, to implement an act similar to Manitoba’s Jordan’s Principle Implementation Act, which ensures First Nations children get the services they need when and where they need them.

2. Recognize May 10th as Spirit Bear Day for this purpose. Because:

May 10th is the original implementation target date for Jordan’s Principle.

Equity in healthcare is a concept of vital importance to Canadians and ‘reasonable’ access to healthcare is legislated in the Canada Health Act of 1984:

“insured persons must have reasonable and uniform access to insured health services, free of financial or other barriers”.

Submitted by the SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL Indigenous Committee


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13. MAMAWE! MEKOWISHWEWIN-MIYOMACHOWIN GATHERING The SFL will: Support and encourage affiliates to support the Mamawe! Mekowishwewin-Miyomachowin - Being Together Gives Us Solace gathering – organized by a committee of families of the MMIWG2S in partnership with YWCA Regina, November 7-10, 2019. Because:

This event will bring families together and provide opportunities to discuss common concerns, comfort one another, and move towards healing.

According to the final report of the national inquiry in to MMIWG there are 231 “Calls for Justice” that need to be taken by governments and Canadians in order to end the genocide against Indigenous women and girls.

The SFL believes in the importance of the Truth and Reconciliation and ensuring that we are doing what we can to meet the recommendations outlined in the report.

All Canadians have a role to play in order to combat this violence Submitted by the SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL Women’s Committee Resolutions Committee recommends acceptance. Notes: ___________________________________________________________________

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14. EQUITY CONFERENCE The SFL will: Work with its affiliates to promote equity conferences already being held. Because:

The SFL Equity Conference in February 2019 was a huge success and brought people together from various unions and locations across the province.

It is important to ensure our equity members have opportunities to meet and network.

Submitted by the SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL Indigenous Committee


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15. STRATEGY TO BETTER REPRESENT YOUNG AND MARGINALIZED WORKERS

The SFL will: Develop and implement a strategy in conjunction with affiliated unions to eliminate discriminatory practices that negatively impact young and marginalized workers. The strategy should include: tactics to bargain out precarious language in agreements; plans to combat two-tier language; boosting young worker representation in the collective bargaining process, and; combating concessions that worsen already precarious working conditions for young and marginalized workers.

Because:

The labour movement is the voice for workers to build better jobs and a brighter, more

just future.



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16. STUDENT DEATH REGISTER The SFL will: Lobby the Federal government, through the Canadian Labour Congress, to provide sufficient funding to the National Residential School Student Death Register, fund research for the missing remains of all children who died at residential schools, and present the remains to the families who request them. Because:

Residential schooling was always more than simply an educational program, it was an integral part of a conscious policy of cultural genocide.

At least 6000 Indigenous children died while in the residential school system and at some residential schools the mortality rate was 60 percent.

Submitted by the SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL Indigenous Committee.


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ECONOMY

17. AGE BASED WAGE SCALES

The SFL will:

1. Oppose the implement of age based wage scales by any employer in the province of

Saskatchewan.

2. Send a letter to the Saskatoon Co-op and Federated Co-op condemning the

implementation of age based wage scales.

3. Send a letter to the Saskatchewan Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety,

condemning the implementation of age based wage scales by any employer in the

province of Saskatchewan.

Because:

all workers have the right to equal pay for work of equal value (pay equity);

equal pay for work of equal value is a founding principle of the co-operative movement;

younger workers should not be paid less money when entering the workplace as this is

age-based discrimination.

Submitted by the Saskatchewan Union Retirees Federation (SURF)


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18. EQUITY FOR WORKERS IN A CHANGING ECONOMY The SFL will:

1. Publicly acknowledge the climate emergency by releasing a statement or report

indicating how a changing climate could impact Saskatchewan workers, and;

2. Establish an ad hoc committee, open to any member nominated by their union, tasked

with delivering recommendations on actions the SFL can take to maintain equity for

workers in a changing economy. The recommendations will be submitted as resolutions

to the 2020 annual SFL convention for debate.

Because:

The climate crisis is the single greatest threat facing working people;

Unions, providing a voice for workers, must be included at every level of decision

making in the move to transition the economy by drastically reducing carbon emissions

in order to ensure workers are provided a just and equitable transition.

The transition to a low carbon economy cannot be left to the market alone and the

interests of profit making. Workers must have support in the transition. Workers must

also demand a seat at the table in the discussions of industrial policy to prevent

inequality and joblessness, and to ensure that new jobs in a low-carbon economy are

good and decent union jobs.



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19. FROM A MINIMUM WAGE TO A LIVING WAGE The SFL will: Pressure the Sask. Party government to rapidly phase-in a $15 per hour minimum wage, and further lobby all provincial political parties to commit to raising Saskatchewan’s minimum wage to a living wage. Because:

The Sask. Party government’s current policy of ensuring Saskatchewan has the worst minimum wage in the country is not only embarrassing, it’s totally disrespectful to working people;

A $15 per hour minimum wage is a good first step towards a living wage;

A living wage will allow workers to get fair value for the work they provide, increase their quality of life, and enable them to fully participate in Saskatchewan’s economy.

Submitted by the SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL Young Workers’ Committee Resolutions Committee recommends acceptance. Notes: ___________________________________________________________________

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20. FUNDING THE FIGHT FOR 15 The SFL will: Send a financial request to all affiliated unions asking them to contribute to the SFL’s Fight for 15 campaign, which works with unions, community partners, and labour activists to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Because:

Saskatchewan has the worst minimum wage in the country, locking hardworking people into poverty;

Saskatchewan’s labour movement has always advocated for all people, regardless of union membership, and must take a leadership role in the Fight for 15 campaign;

Due to limited financial resources at the SFL, affiliated unions should be invited to show leadership by providing additional funding for this important initiative.

Submitted by CUPE Local 4828 Resolutions Committee recommends acceptance. Notes: ___________________________________________________________________

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21. MAKING TWO-TIER PROPOSALS ILLEGAL The SFL will: Lobby the provincial government to make it illegal for employers to table two-tier proposals. Because:

When employers force two-tier agreements onto workers, it can drive a wedge between union members. Young and new workers can feel resentment that other members of their union get paid more for doing the same work;

Two-tier agreements regularly make it impossible for young and new workers to ever earn what their older cohorts earn, no matter how many years of service they put in;

Two-tier agreements undermine union solidarity. Submitted by the SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL Young Workers’ Committee Resolutions Committee recommends acceptance. Notes: ___________________________________________________________________

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22. ORGANIZING PRECARIOUS WORKERS The SFL will: Collaborate with affiliated unions to build relationships with precarious workers in an effort to bring them into Saskatchewan’s labour movement. Because:

The SFL can use its community connections to reach precarious and marginalized workers to let them know about the benefits of joining a union.

Submitted by the SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL Young Workers’ Committee


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23. RIGHT TO FAIR ANNUAL PAY INCREASES The SFL will: Affirm its belief that all workers should be paid a decent wage, and that all workers have the right to fair annual pay increases. Furthermore, the SFL will strongly condemn any employer that seeks to bargain concessions, rollback wages, or limit annual wage increases to anything less than the cost of living. Because:

All workers deserve decent wages, including the right to fair annual pay increases that,

at the very least, keep pace with the rising cost of living;

Any employer that seeks to rollback or freeze wages – or offers increases so small they

don’t even cover inflation – does not respect its workers and the value they provide;

and

The SFL, as a labour central, must be willing to lead by example and call-out any

employer that doesn’t offer fair wage increases.



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24. TWO-TIERED PENSIONS

The SFL will:

1. Oppose the implementation of two-tiered pension plans that allows existing employees

to remain in a defined benefit plan, but forces new employees to join a defined

contribution plan.

2. Send a letter to the Saskatoon Co-op and Federated Co-op condemning the

implementation of two-tiered pension plans.


condemning the implementation two-tiered pension plans by any employer in the

province of Saskatchewan.

Because:

two-tiered pension plans are inferior pension plans that put the next generation of

workers’ retirements at risk;

the practice of implementing two-tiered pension plans is discriminatory of

newer/younger workers.



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ENVIRONMENT

25. BAN BPA/BPS IN THERMAL PAPER The SFL will: Seek all affiliates to support the UFCW in calling on Canadian retailers to stop using thermal receipt paper coated with Bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol S (BPS) and any other hormone disrupting chemical by the end of 2019. Because:

BPA and BPS are chemicals used to produce plastics and resins with potentially harmful effects that have been researched and as a result banned in children’s products and toys.

The amount of BPA/BPS in thermal paper receipts can be up to 1000 times greater than the amount put into the lining of a food can and is quickly absorbed by the body through the skin – researchers found BPA levels were up to 42% higher and BPS levels were up to 115% higher after handling thermal paper for just 17 minutes.

BPA/BPS is a harmful hormone disrupter, affecting male and female reproduction, breast development, elevated risks of cancer, obesity, thyroid health, metabolism and cardiovascular endocrinology.

Submitted by UFCW 1400


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26. CLEAN TECHNOLOGY

The SFL will:

Work with affiliates from Estevan and Coronach to lobby all levels of government to recognize

the benefits of clean technologies to keep stable jobs for members in these communities.

Because:

Saskatchewan is a world leader in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology that is

now proven to provide a secure baseload of clean energy to this province;

The people and communities most affected by the proposed transition from coal need

to have a voice, and the impact on communities and the future of these workers needs

to be taken seriously;

There are no comprehensive plans or equivalency agreements in place to support

workers and communities.

Submitted by IBEW 2067 and UWMA 7606


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27. ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE The SFL will:

Establish an Environment Standing Committee to conduct ongoing work on the climate crisis, a changing economy, and how to best support working people in this time of transition. The committee will consist of members nominated by their affiliated union, as per the existing process, and the participation of committee members will be funded by their affiliated union.

Because:

The climate crisis is the single greatest threat facing working people, and the SFL can

more proactively address that threat through a dedicated standing committee; and

A changing climate means a changing economy, and having a specific group of members

focused on supporting workers through those changes will benefit everyone.



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28. EXPAND THE RIGHT TO REFUSE

The SFL will:

Lobby the Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety to expand the fundamental Right

to Refuse so a worker can refuse unsafe work on behalf of another worker.

Because:

We know there are many workers that feel they cannot exercise their right to refuse for

many reasons: language barriers, intimidation or fear of retribution to name a few.

Many workers are not even aware they have the Right to Refuse.

To prevent injuries and save lives, we must allow others to step in to say ‘no’, this work

is dangerous and make sure no one is asked to do the job until all hazards have been

eliminated.

Submitted by SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL OH&S/WC Committee


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29. HEALTH AND SAFETY LEADERSHIP CHARTER

The SFL will:

Lobby WorkSafe Saskatchewan to re-evaluate the Health and Safety Charter to ensure all

signatories to the Charter have indeed upheld their commitment to keeping workplaces safe.

Because:

Over 620 companies have signed on to the Charter and thereby committing to Mission

Zero; which promises to work towards zero injuries, zero fatalities and zero suffering.

There is no built-in accountability for companies/employers who injure or kill workers or

ignore workplace hazards when identified in the workplace. We need to have

consequences for companies/employers who have signed the Charter and do not follow

the spirit of the Charter.



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30. IMPROVE THE YOUNG WORKER READINESS CERTIFICATE COURSE The SFL will: Lobby the provincial government to make drastic improvements to the Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course, and insist the course be delivered in-person to Saskatchewan’s young people. Because:

The current Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course for fourteen and fifteen-year-olds requires additional and more detailed information on workplace rights, health and safety, and employment standards;

To ensure new workers retain the course content, and to assist with answering any questions, the course should be delivered in-person.

Submitted by the SFL Executive Council of behalf of the SFL Young Workers’ Committee and the SFL OH&S/WC Committee


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31. SUBMISSION OF OH&S COMMITTEE MINUTES

The SFL will:

Lobby the Minister and Director of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety to reverse the

decision to remove the requirement for legislated OH&S committees to submit minutes of their

workplace OH&S committee meetings to the OH&S Branch.

Because:

Employers have used this as an opportunity to forgo committee meetings and therefore

put workers at a higher risk for workplace injuries.

Submitting minutes often is the only method the committees have to ensure their

concerns are being monitored.

Committee members can rely upon the minutes to track progress or a lack thereof in

the employers’ resolve of a safety issue.

And because there will be less overall accountability for committees to abide by the

legislation put in place to protect workers from injury or illness.



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OTHER

32. CHILDCARE BILL OF RIGHTS The SFL will: Develop a Childcare Bill of Rights and campaign to ensure all Saskatchewan people have accessible, affordable, and high-quality childcare. Because:

Childcare should be accessible to anyone in the province, no matter where they live or how much money they make;

Childcare is critical not only for a child’s early learning, but for parents – especially women – to fully participate in the economy while raising a family.



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33. CONDEMNING RAIDING The SFL will: Stand firmly against raiding and condemn any so-called union that engages in raiding activities, such as Unifor. The SFL will also ensure unions engaged in raiding are not welcome to participate in SFL structures and activities, and encourage all SFL affiliates -- unions, labour councils, and SURF -- to adopt a similar stance. Because:

Raiding occurs when a union signs-up, or attempts to sign-up, workers that already

belong to a union;

Unifor has been expelled from the Canadian Labour Congress, SFL, and labour councils

for raiding activities; and

To ensure the legitimacy of real unions and to protect working members, we must take

a strong anti-raiding position.



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34. ENTHUSIASTICALLY DENOUNCE AND CONDEMN The SFL will: Enthusiastically denounce and condemn the Sask. Party government for its heartless cuts, attacks on workers, and general lack of respect for our great province. Because:

The Sask. Party government has hacked-up and sold-off a number of Crown corporations, and continues to weaken our existing Crowns;

The Sask. Party government tried to steal 3.5% of all public sector workers’ compensation, and still refuses to put fair pay increases on the table;

The Sask. Party government privatized and contracted out many vital public services;

The Sask. Party government has misused millions of taxpayers’ dollars on mismanagement, scandal, and waste;

The Sask. Party government has slashed funding to key public services;

The Sask. Party government has left workers and communities behind due to complete inaction on the climate crisis;

The Sask. Party government has completely changed over 100 years of labour legislation, for the worse, and made it harder for workers to join a union;

The Sask. Party government has demonstrated it has no respect for working people and they are due for a good, old-fashioned – and enthusiastic – denouncing.

Submitted by CUPE Local 4828


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35. EXPAND THE STATUS OF WOMEN OFFICE

The SFL will:

Lobby the provincial government to expand the Status of Women office by drastically

increasing staff and resources to better inform the province’s policy making, legislation, and

program development.

Because:

This office has been slowly decreasing in size since the Sask Party government was

elected.

Saskatchewan has the highest reported rates of domestic violence than any other

province or territory in Canada and the government of Saskatchewan must find ways to

not only make life better for survivors but to end the cycle of violence.

The government needs to provide more resources to violence prevention programs and

organizations that provide support services.

Equal job opportunity is still unbalanced, reproductive rights are under attack, childcare

is underfunded, and pay equity continues to be a struggle.

Submitted by the SFL Executive Council on behalf of the SFL Women’s Committee


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36. EXPANDING SFL MEMBERSHIP The SFL will: Create a task force to study the expansion of membership in the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour. Task force members must be nominated and funded by their affiliated union. The task force will have three main areas of focus:

1. Increasing the number of unions and locals affiliated to the SFL; 2. Studying structural changes that would allow community groups and organizations to

become members of the SFL, and; 3. Studying structural changes that would allow individuals to become members of the SFL.

The task force will submit its findings through a report to the next annual convention. Any resolutions or constitutional amendments related to the findings will be duly submitted to the convention through Executive Council so delegates can debate them. Because:

Expanding SFL membership benefits everyone by creating a stronger labour movement;

Saskatchewan’s labour movement has always practiced social unionism, and including community groups and individuals could be a way to expand that tradition, and;

Due to the structural changes that could be required to expand SFL membership, a dedicated task force is the best way to responsibly proceed.



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37. FILM INCENTIVE The SFL will: Call on the provincial government and the Premier to restore a film incentive in Saskatchewan. We want this because:

The elimination of the Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit in the 2012 budget has obliterated the film industry in our province.

While there has been a rapid decline in film projects, in 2018 there was $0 income from Union-made film in Saskatchewan.

The provincial government needs to address the lack of the film industry & its technological advances in Saskatchewan.

The film industry & its spin offs are important to the Saskatchewan economy. Raw materials, equipment rentals, trades, hotel & tourism industries all benefit from a healthy and strong film industry.

Film is bringing in huge economic impact in surrounding provinces. To the west Alberta is Canada’s fourth largest film and television production centre, with a workforce of 2,700 and a GDP impact of $236 million in 2018. Manitoba saw film production revenue hit $210 million. We are losing out in production.

Submitted by IATSE Locals 295 & 300


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38. FIX BANKRUPTCY LAWS The SFL will: Lobby the Provincial and Federal governments to fix bankruptcy laws and to put employees before shareholders, banks and creditors. Because:

Canada’s current bankruptcy laws do not protect workers’ pensions and benefits.

Pensions earned by workers are deferred wages.

Diverting, withholding or seizing those funds should be illegal. Submitted by Regina and District Labour Council (RDLC)


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39. LARRY HUBICH LIFETIME OF SERVICE AWARD The SFL will: Establish the Larry Hubich Lifetime of Service Award, to be presented to a deserving trade unionist at each annual convention. The award will be given to those who have demonstrated a long history of service to their union and the labour movement. The nomination and selection process, as well as the specific qualifications, will be established by Executive Council. Because:

Larry Hubich dedicated his entire career to making life better for working people, and building Saskatchewan’s labour movement;

Larry Hubich’s lifetime of hard work and service should be honoured through the establishment of an annual award in his name to recognize other dedicated trade unionists.



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40. MODERN UNION EDUCATION The SFL will: Explore modern methods of delivering additional union education courses and workshops, such as through online portals and using available multi-media tools, and provide a report to the next SFL convention. Because:

Union education is an important aspect of engaging members and building the labour movement, and we should seek to make it as accessible as possible.



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41. SASKATOON CO-OP’S USE OF SCAB LABOUR

The SFL will:

1. Send a letter to the Saskatoon Co-op’s CEO and Board of Directors condemning the use

of scab labour (replacement workers) hired to cross a picket line during a legal strike, or

lockout.

2. Send a letter to Federated Co-op’s CEO condemning the use of scab labour

(replacement workers) during a legal strike, or lockout.


condemning the use of scab labour and again calling for the implementation of anti-scab

legislation in the province of Saskatchewan.

Because:

workers have a legal right to withdraw their services when in a dispute with their

employer over wages, working conditions, pensions and benefits;

one of the founding principles of the co-operative movement is to ensure the collective

economic, health and well-being of its workers, shareholders, and the community it

serves.



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42. STILL ON THE SIDE OF THE PEOPLE The SFL will: Explore the cost of producing an updated edition of On the Side of the People, so that we may continue telling the powerful story of Saskatchewan’s labour movement. Once the cost and scope are known, a financial appeal will be sent to affiliated unions to fund the project. Because:

On the Side of the People tells the history of labour in Saskatchewan. Unfortunately, the history ends in 2005. Since then, a large number of events, campaigns, losses, and victories have taken place that need to be told as part of our collective story – including the SFL enshrining the constitutional right to strike into the Charter of Rights and Freedoms;

Research, writing, editing, and publishing are not cheap. Since this project would be about telling our collective story, every affiliated union has a collective responsibility to pay for it.



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43. UNION LABOUR - COMMERCIALS The SFL will: Encourage affiliates to utilize unionized labour when making their commercials for all film, television and Internet advertisements. Because:

We need to support our fellow workers by providing union film and television work.

It will keep these skilled workers working in their crafts in Saskatchewan.

It guarantees safe & fair working conditions, and pay-cheques to be received on time. Submitted by IATSE Locals 295 & 300


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RESOLUTIONS TO THE 2019 SFL CONVENTION...RESOLUTIONS TO THE 2019 SFL CONVENTION CONSTITUTIONAL 1. GENDER NEUTRAL LANGUAGE The SFL will: Change language in the SFL constitution that

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