For Immediate Release
August 26, 2024
Saskatchewan—SEIU-West members are suffering from déjà vu when it comes to the delivery of 'urgent grant' dollars from the Government of Saskatchewan. This time the money is going to fund efforts to attract and retain doctors which is necessary, but there remains no realistic plan to recruit and retain the many other healthcare providers the province is desperately short on.
“The last time an ‘urgent grant’ of $10 million was rolled out, it was touted as being focused on improving patient care province-wide,” says SEIU-West President, Barbara Cape. “However, that allocation, for some facilities like Davidson Health Care Centre, translated into one quarter of one full-time position—less than 10 hours a week. These funds are not nearly enough to make a difference in improving patient care.”
In a recent meeting with government officials at the Davidson Health Centre, SEIU-West members were able to relate the very real short staffing issues they face in their rural facility. While the meeting was generally positive, members worry the officials did not fully grasp the challenges healthcare providers face in a day.
“This government is nickel and diming a multibillion-dollar public healthcare system into bankruptcy all while neglecting their fundamental responsibility to provide public services to the people of Saskatchewan,” adds Cape. “Our members are tired, burned out, and fed up with this government’s lack of attention on attracting and retaining healthcare providers. We are dealing with a government that has proven their inability to recruit and retain the skilled professionals—across all healthcare classifications—to provide their expertise in care."
SEIU-West healthcare providers are calling on the Government of Saskatchewan to do more to retain frontline professionals like lab techs, CCAs, LPNs, maintenance and trades, administrative staff, and support services staff to name only a few areas in need.
“An innovation fund isn’t going to keep a Pharmacy Technician working in Saskatchewan or keep a Licensed Practical Nurse from seeking improved work hours and pay in Alberta, as examples,” continues Cape. “These are the people, along with thousands of their co-workers, who are the backbone of our healthcare system.”
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:
Leanne Hendriks
Communications Coordinator, SEIU-West
306-652-1011 ext. 2244
