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If you are member of the media and would like to speak to us for an upcoming article or news item, please contact Leanne Hendriks in Communications by email [email protected] or by phone at 306.652.1011 ext. 2244
For Immediate Release, March 21, 2019
Regina – The Saskatchewan government’s budget, released yesterday, ignores a growing crisis that threatens Saskatchewan’s ability to meet the needs of patients, long-term care residents, students, and their families.
For Immediate Release, February 5, 2019
Saskatoon – The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) released the results of its review of security services in the province’s publicly-owned health care facilities today. The final report by Big Leap Consulting includes 27 recommendations with the stated goal of ensuring a safe and secure environment for patients, visitors, and staff. SEIU-West shares this goal, but is concerned that the report sets the table for large-scale privatization of health care security.
For Immediate Release - November 14, 2018
Saskatoon – According to a recent media report, our Saskatchewan Minister of Health, the Honourable Jim Reiter is claiming that the SaskParty government has increased funding to Long-Term Care (LTC) by over 40%.
I WILL REPORT: A necessary first step only
For Immediate Release - August 27, 2018
Saskatoon – SEIU-West leaders have viewed the recent video released by the Saskatchewan Association of Safe Workplaces in Health (SASWH) leading their campaign for change, # I WILL REPORT. The message being conveyed is an important one and the goal appears to be to encourage health care staff to report occurrences of violence and aggression as they occur.
For Immediate Release - August 21, 2018
Saskatoon – Members of the SEIU-West Young Workers Committee (YWC) held a satirical public memorial service at Kinsmen Park in Saskatoon today to oppose the many destructive government cuts the people in this province have experienced.
For Immediate Release - August 20, 2018
Saskatoon – On Tuesday, August 21, members of the SEIU-West Young Workers Committee (YWC) are holding a “memorial service” for our public services at Kinsmen Park in Saskatoon to demonstrate the high level of cuts and public service closures in Saskatchewan.
For Immediate Release—July 16, 2018
Saskatoon – SEIU-West announces the release of Our House Needs In-House, SEIU-West’s response to the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s (SHA’s) ongoing provincial security services review.
“The evidence is clear,” said Barbara Cape, President of SEIU-West. “The best way to keep patients, staff, and visitors safe in Saskatchewan’s health care facilities is for the SHA to hire and train its own in-house security teams.”
On July 13th SEIU-West submitted Our House Needs In-House to SHA CEO Scott Livingstone, Health Minister Jim Reiter, and several other health system leaders. (Click here to read SEIU-West President Barbara Cape’s submission letter.)
In recent years, Saskatchewan’s health authorities have reviewed health system services like laundry, information technology, and food services, in order to assess their potential for privatization.
“Our members are concerned that yet another vital piece of our public health care system is about to be privatized,” said Cape.
The SHA launched its security review this spring. The consultant hired to conduct the review was previously in charge of security for Alberta’s provincial health authority. While he was in charge, in-house officer numbers were cut, and services were contracted out to a large private security firm.
“Healthcare security is uniquely challenging,” Cape continued. “It’s different than mall security. It’s much too important to the SHA’s mission to just be contracted out to the lowest bidder.”
SEIU-West represents the 100 SHA-employed Security Officers who work at the three Saskatoon hospitals and Parkridge Centre.
As reported in Our House Needs In-House, SEIU-West surveyed SHA employees and members of the public in the Saskatoon region about the state of security at the three Saskatoon hospitals and Parkridge Centre. More than 90% of respondents felt that these facilities have greater security needs than others in the province, and that those needs have risen in the past five years.
“We heard from nurses, care assistants, housekeeping staff, members of the public,” Cape added. “They told us loud and clear: when an incident happens, they trust our in-house teams more than any outside contractor to provide a quick and professional response.”
SEIU-West represents more than 13,000 working people in the province of Saskatchewan. They include members 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!
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