For Immediate Release - August 26, 2020
Craik & Davidson – Today, SEIU-West members are demonstrating outside the Craik and District Health Care Centre and the Davidson Health Centre to show their frustration with the lack of progress in negotiations with the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO) due to the Sask Party government’s refusal to fund a fair deal.
“Ultimately the care we are able to provide to the people of Saskatchewan is compromised by this government’s shameful priorities; we know that our members provide a valued service in their communities,” says Treasurer of SEIU-West, Janice Platzke. “The Sask Party government needs to quit providing lip service and instruct SAHO to forward an improved offer with a renewed mandate; words of thanks from government leaders to our members during this pandemic are completely hollow based on their inactions to date.”
Members of SEIU-West have been diligent in writing to their elected representatives, the Health Minister, and the Premier but receive form letters that pass the buck and claim that they have no part to play in settling this contract. SEIU-West members know that the stumbling block to achieving an agreement is the provincially directed mandate.
“I think that if our members can take the time to send a letter to their MLA when they are working so hard to provide care to people in our communities, the least the government could do is answer their own letters,” adds Platzke. “I’m extremely proud of the dedication our members have displayed to their patients, clients, and residents in their communities. It’s too bad the government continues to take health care providers for granted. It’s disrespectful and is cause for our members to reach out and seek public support in their effort to achieve fairness.”
During these demonstrations, the members of SEIU-West are following Public Health orders by physically distancing, wearing masks, practicing good hand hygiene, and attempting to maintain a maximum of 30 people in any given demonstration area.
SEIU-West members working for the SHA have been without a contract since March 31, 2017.
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:
Christine Miller, Communications Coordinator
Phone: 306-477-8733
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