For Immediate Release
June 1, 2023
Saskatoon—Supporters of a strong public healthcare system joined SEIU-West members at the Saskatoon Cabinet Office to highlight the need for government investment in the patients, clients, and residents and the people who care for them in this province.
“The conditions we face as people accessing health care are the working conditions of healthcare providers all across this province,” says Barbara Cape, President of SEIU-West. “Investing in healthcare for the people of this province means investing in people to provide the services.”
The Government of Saskatchewan has been touting their Health Human Resources Strategy which has not actually been that successful and does not include the voices of frontline workers. Recruitment of new healthcare providers is as vital as retaining the ones that are currently in the system.
“Investing in the public system is the best way to leverage our tax dollars as citizens of this province,” says Janice Platzke, Treasurer of SEIU-West. “Wasting time, and money with private surgical and MRI options is not fair to everyone in this province.”
The government has not focused on improving the public healthcare system so that people can access services in their own province. Instead, they have allowed their corporate buddies to dictate the terms of our health care system.
“Saskatchewan is the birthplace of Medicare, we will fight to ensure that it thrives,” adds Barbara Cape, “The provincial government’s decision to outsource health care is a privatization strategy that will fail.”
Service Employees International Union West (SEIU-West) represents over 13,000 people across Saskatchewan. They include people who work in health care, education, municipalities, community-based organizations, retirement homes, and other sectors. They are joined by one colour—purple—and one union, SEIU-West. Visit PurpleWorks.ca to find out more about SEIU-West members.
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For more information, contact:
Angie Kells
Project Coordinator, SEIU-West
306-652-1011 ext. 2225