Dozens of Sask. health-care workers rally for contract, better working conditions

Health-care workers from across the province brought their concerns about working conditions, wages, staffing retention and the need for a new contract to the steps of Saskatchewan’s provincial legislature on Wednesday.

"We have a member who came from La Ronge," said Bashir Jalloh, the president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 5430, which is the largest health-care union in Saskatchewan. 

Three unions organized the protest — CUPE 5430, the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union, and the Service Employees International Union-West, which represents workers including licensed practical nurses and special care aides.

Combined, the three unions represent roughly 28,000 Saskatchewan health-care workers in approximately 200 different job types. All have been without a contract since March 2023. 

"People are so frustrated and so disrespected," SEIU-West president Lisa Zunti said. 

She said health-care workers are giving their all every day, while facing scrutiny from the public and trying to protect their respective licences. 

"It is so disappointing to also then not be respected by your employer and not to be compensated fairly," she said, calling on the government to "take us seriously and bargain in good faith."

Progress on bargaining has been "extremely slow,” said Zunti, which she said "just seems like a stall tactic to get our members frustrated so they will take whatever is offered to them."

Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said it's "unfortunate that feeling exists."

"The commitment from me as the minister and the government is to negotiate in good faith," he said.

More bargaining dates have been added, said Cockrill, and while contract negotiations haven’t reached the point of discussing pay, he said he's confident the province and workers will reach an agreement. 

But SGEU president Tracey Sauer said she's frustrated by the slow pace of negotiations.

"We haven’t even talked about salary yet. After two and a half years, that hasn’t even got to the table yet," she said.    

Sauer says workers have not seen a significant pay raise since 2002.