Earth Day 2025
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For immediate release: September 29, 2019
Saskatoon – As part of their Put Care First: End Understaffing campaign, SEIU-West members held a rally at Kinsmen Park in Saskatoon Sunday to talk with members of the public about chronic understaffing in the health care sector.
“Our members are pleased that the public is so willing to talk to them about the challenges they face daily in their workplace,” said Neil Colmin, Vice-President of SEIU-West. “We definitely appreciate their understanding and support.”
Front line SEIU-West members have been talking to their MLAs and Health Ministers for years about the risks posed by chronic understaffing. Health care providers want to ensure timely, compassionate and safe care for all patients, clients and residents.
“We’ve even brought this up with health employers during bargaining sessions, but there seems to be no willingness to take our members’ concerns seriously,” added Janice Platzke, SEIU-West Treasurer and member of the SEIU-West/SAHO bargaining committee. “So our members thought we should bring our concerns to the people of Saskatchewan directly.”
This public gathering of SEIU-West members will be the first of many over the coming weeks, part of growing efforts to heighten public support for public health care in Saskatchewan.
“Health and safety is the most important issue facing workers today,” Colmin says. “And our health care providers face some of the most dangerous conditions in the province. We want to ensure that we make things safer for everyone accessing health care services.”
Visit EndUnderstaffing.ca to find out more about this issue and to send a letter to decision makers.
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. Purple works in our communities! Visit PurpleWorks.ca to find out more about SEIU-West members.
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For more information, contact:
Christine Miller, Communications Coordinator
Phone: 306-652-1011 ext. 8733
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