Healthcare Provider Week 2024
For Immediate Release - September 25, 2019
Saskatoon – As their bargaining team works to negotiate a fair contract, SEIU-West members in the health care sector are showing their support by wearing purple today.
“It’s important that we demonstrate to our patients, clients, residents, and the public that we support fairness at the bargaining table,” said Neil Colmin, Vice-President of SEIU-West. “We want our contribution to the health care provider team to be respected and valued.”
SEIU-West launched their “End Understaffing” campaign this summer to promote the actions necessary to end the chronic understaffing issues in health care.
“We want to make sure that we have a collective agreement in place that creates an environment that helps to ensure the right mix and level of staffing is in place for patients and families, for example at the new Children’s Hospital,” added Colmin. “We want to ensure that care will not be compromised by non-replacement policies or unfilled hard to recruit positions that have plagued the system for years.”
As we celebrate the opening of a new Children’s Hospital as a province, we need to remind our government that, as well as the right number of beds, it is vital that there be enough staff to provide care to patients in need. Unfortunately, there has been no commitment from the Saskatchewan Health Authority or the government to mitigate the real need for more health care providers across the province by creating a desirable work environment that can recruit and retain staff.
“Health care remains one the most physically dangerous sectors in which to work. The cost in injuries and lost time is significant. The fix is simple – we need more people working on the health care team to share the load and prevent more injuries,” continued Colmin “Safety for patients, clients, and residents simply cannot be guaranteed if there are not enough staff to provide the care. Our members will be out in the public over the coming weeks to share their message.”
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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