For Immediate Release
September 24, 2024
Saskatchewan – Saskatchewan Health Minister Everett Hindley used the two-year anniversary of the Sask Party’s Health Human Resources Plan to claim that the plan has “delivered extraordinary health system progress”. However, the Government delivered nothing for the vital workers who are sustaining the system.
“The traditional gift for a second anniversary is cotton,” says Barbara Cape, President of SEIU-West. “And fittingly, Mr. Hindley and the SaskParty Government have presented us with a pile of fluff.”
Two years ago, the government boasted that it had come up with a four-pillar plan to fix health care understaffing through innovative ways to recruit, train, incentivize, and retain the healthcare workers Saskatchewan communities need.
The election campaign-style announcement on September 23, clearly meant to take healthcare staffing issues off the table in the leadup to a fall election, shows a plan teetering on the edge of collapse. The fourth pillar—retention—was completely missing, beyond vague mentions by Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) CEO Andrew Will of increased volunteer opportunities and expanded scope of practice of already-overworked community pharmacists.
“Of course we need and celebrate the workers who are joining us from elsewhere in Canada and around the world,” Cape continues. “Of course we want to encourage and enable more Saskatchewan young people to take on a career in healthcare. But we can’t get our healthcare crisis under control without properly paying and valuing the front-line care providers who are already working in the system. They are the real experts. They have been serving their patients, residents, clients and communities for years. They need a raise.”
The SaskParty Government is gambling that current healthcare staff won’t quit, won’t retire, won’t cut back their hours due to burnout, or move to another province. Two years ago, when the human resources plan was launched, the SHA had a list of Hard to Recruit job classifications—more than 30 of them. Today, all but two of those positions are still on that list, and several more have been added. Among those on the list: Combined Laboratory & X-Ray Technicians (CLXTs)—a vital part of the care team in rural and remote communities. A CLXT with 5 years’ experience would make 20% more in Alberta.
“Our members have not had a pay increase in more than two years. When you take inflation into account, they’re making about 10% less than they were when this plan began,” adds Cape.
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SService 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, SEIU-West
306-477-8733