Hello Members of CUPE 59

I am proud to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement that will benefit underfill members and promote promotional opportunities for everyone.

The Recognition of Related Work Experience as Educational Equivalency MOA will be in effect as of July 1, 2025.

The MOA is attached for everyone’s review here SKM_C3321i25040608380.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Area Vice President or the Union office if you have further questions.

We are pleased to share that Sun Life has been selected as the provider for our new redesigned City benefits plans. These plans will come into effect for participating employee groups on January 1, 2026.

The selection committee – made up of representatives from City management, CUPE 47, CUPE 59, CUPE 859, ESA and SCMMA – followed the City’s purchasing policy protocols to evaluate potential providers.

While we are still working with Sun Life to finalize some details, including how the new benefits plans will be rolled out, we did want to update you on this important step forward.

Keep reading to learn more about the changes, what it means for you, and what will happen next.
 
What to expect and when

We will work closely with Sun Life to finalize the implementation of our new benefits plans. Much of the behind-the-scenes plan administration work will begin this summer. Here is what you can expect over the coming months:

Fall 2025: Enrollment and Education Sessions

Once member data is uploaded into the system, Sun Life will share details on how to enroll. You’ll also get a chance to learn about the new plans, see what coverage is available and choose a plan that works best for you. There will be in-person sessions to help guide employees through the enrollment process and how to use the new system.

December 2025: Drug Card Distribution

New drug cards will be mailed out to members of participating employee groups ahead of the plan start date.

January 1, 2026: Go Live Date

The new plans will take effect and become available.
 
Details of the new plan

The flex plan includes three levels of coverage for both health and dental benefits:

• Option 1 – Base level of coverage
• Option 2 – Higher level of coverage
• Option 3 – Greatest level of coverage

Eligible employees can choose the level of coverage under each of the health and dental plan options that works best for them and can select their coverage type – single, couple, or family.

Regardless of the coverage type, Option 1 for both health and dental will be fully paid by City. If an employee chooses to upgrade to Option 2 or 3 – for either health, dental, or both – they will only pay the difference in cost.

As part of the updated health and dental plan, employees will be provided with access to a virtual Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP is intended to supplement services that employees already have with our own City EFAP program and will include supportive tools and access to short-term support including financial planning support, work and career support, legal support, mental health support, family and relationship support, women’s health support, manager coaching support, and more.

Sun Life has industry-leading technology so we expect that much of the enrollment processes and ongoing access and support will be available fully online.
 
Participating Groups

Currently CUPE 47, CUPE 59, CUPE 859, ESA and SCMMA are the groups that have committed to these new benefits plans.

The City will continue to work with all labour groups on benefits plans. We recognize that there are several of our current health and dental plans that are in a deficit position, and we will continue to work collaboratively with our union groups on solutions to the current balances as well as opportunities for more groups to join the new plan.
 
Next Steps

This is the first time the City has undertaken a major benefits redesign or change of insurers. To support a smooth transition, we have been working with a consultant that specializes in benefits plan design and implementation.

As more information becomes available, updates will be shared with all employees to help prepare for the upcoming changes.

We are excited to launch these modern plans and systems for our employees.  We also look forward to a time where health and dental benefits, including reimbursements, are no longer a significant challenge. In the meantime, if you have questions, please feel free to submit a question. Our Total Rewards team will respond to you in a timely manner with a response to ensure you feel supported throughout this exciting transition.

TO ALL MEMBERS OF CUPE LOCAL 59:
 

The 2025 Annual General Membership Meeting will be held on Saturday, October 4th at the Travelodge Hotel, Saskatoon (106 Circle Drive W). 

Bylaw Amendments/Notice of Motions need to be submitted to the CUPE 59 office or by email admin@cupe59.ca, no later than Thursday, July 24, 2025 in order to be included in the upcoming AGM.
 
In Solidarity,
Executive Board
CUPE Local 59
 

**PLEASE COPY AND POST THIS NOTICE FOR

ALL MEMBERS OF CUPE LOCAL 59 TO SEE**

 

Notices are also posted on the CUPE Local 59 website at www.cupe59.ca

TO ALL MEMBERS OF CUPE LOCAL 59:
 
The following candidates are running in the upcoming on-line election on Wednesday July 16, 2025, for CUPE 59.
 
Please note – where there is only one candidate who put in a nomination form for a position, that position is automatically acclaimed by that candidate.
 
President – 1 year Term
 
Eric Calaguian
Kevin Bowering
Gwen Lamkin
Sharon Schaefer 
 
Note: All positions are for a 2-year term unless stated otherwise
 
Candidate Newsletters

For the benefit of all candidates running in the election, as well as for the members voting, all candidates are invited to submit a letter to outline their ideas and platform for the membership.  The letter will not be edited and will be distributed to the membership as written by each candidate by June 30, 2025.
 
Voting will take place on-line from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2025.
The voting information will be sent directly to you from Simply Vote.
 
If you do not have access to your email, the internet or a computer, an on-line voting station (no paper ballots) will be set-up at the CUPE 59 office (106 33^rd Street East) and you must pre-register by calling 306-652-6963.
 
 
In Solidarity,
Election Committee
CUPE Local 59
 
PLEASE COPY AND POST FOR ALL MEMBERS OF CUPE 59 TO SEE
Notices are also posted on the CUPE Local 59 website at www.cupe59.ca

TO ALL MEMBERS OF CUPE LOCAL 59

The following are the official election results from Simply Voting held on June 12, 2025.

General Vice President
Eric Calaguian – 353
Sharon Schaefer – 175
Kevin Bowering – 31

Abstained – 6
TOTAL – 565

Recording Secretary
Anne Prescesky – 376
Jordan Mulhall – 174

Abstained – 15
TOTAL – 565

Area Vice President – Recreation & Community Development
Myra Roschuk – 32
Brenda Zalenchuk – 23
Marc Robert – 29

Abstained – 0
TOTAL – 84

Area Vice President – Transportation & Construction, Clerks & Solicitors, CY – Planning & Development, Building Standards and Community Standards
Alanna Cox – 59
Stephen Thompson – 44

Abstained – 1
TOTAL – 104

Area Vice President – Police & Fire Protection Services, Remai Modern, TCU Place, and SaskTel Centre
Amy Harnestone – ACCLAIMED

Trustee (3 year term)
Rashenna Grzybowski – ACCLAIMED

In Solidarity,
CUPE Local 59 Election Committee

TO ALL MEMBERS OF CUPE LOCAL 59

CUPE Local 59 will be holding a By-Election on:

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2025, via ON-LINE VOTING

*On-line voting was approved by the Membership at the CUPE 59 AGM held on October 3, 2020
 and approved by CUPE National.*

The nomination form is linked below and must be returned (by email) to:  admin@cupe59.ca

by 1:00pm on Monday, JUNE 16, 2025.

The following position is up for election:
 
~ President (1 Year Term)
 
Election Process 2025
2025 BY-ELECTION FILLABLE Nomination Form
Executive List – May 15, 2025
 
In Solidarity,
Election Committee
CUPE Local 59

TO ALL MEMBERS OF CUPE LOCAL 59

CUPE Local 59 will be holding our Election on:
THURSDAY JUNE 12, 2025 via ON-LINE VOTING

*On-line voting was approved by the Membership at the CUPE Local 59 AGM held on October 3, 2020
and approved by CUPE National.*

Nomination forms must be returned by email to admin@cupe59.ca
by 1:00pm on Tuesday May 13, 2025.

Note:   All positions are for a 2-year term unless stated otherwise.

 The following positions are up for re-election (please note correction, there is only one trustee position up for election):

~ General Vice President

~ Recording Secretary

~ Area Vice President – Saskatoon Police Services, Fire, Remai Art Gallery, SaskTel Centre & TCU Place

~ Area Vice President – Recreation and Community Development

~ Area Vice President – Transportation & Construction; Clerks & Solicitors; and CY-Planning
  & Development, Building Standards & Community Standards – 1 year term

~ Trustee Position
   One – 3-year position  

***As a reminder for the Area Vice President positions, you must work in the area
    in which you are submitting a nomination form, and only people working in, for
   example, Recreation & Community Development can vote for the Area Vice
  President of Recreation & Community Development.

Election Process Explained 2025
FILLABLE Nomination Form 2025

In Solidarity,
Election Committee
CUPE Local 59

January 1, 2024, negotiated raise of 3% (and back pay)

This can be seen on the December 15, 2024, cheque for Salaried employees and the December 22, 2024, cheque for Hourly employees.

January 1, 2025, negotiated raise of 2.5%

All CUPE 59 membership received their 2.5% raises for 2025.

The CUPE Local 59 membership has ratified its new Collective Agreement for July 1, 2023 to December 31, 2028.

On September 25, 2024 City Council ratified the CUPE Local 59 Collective Agreement.

The Executive Committee will keep you up-to-date on this matter.