Properly Funded Health Care, Wish You Were Here…
For Immediate Release, May 11, 2018
Humboldt – SEIU-West members and leaders visited the constituency office of Saskatchewan’s Minister of Finance, Donna Harpauer, in order to make a special delivery.
“Across the province, SEIU-West health care providers and community members have signed postcards with a simple message to our Minister of Finance – stop the rollbacks and cuts to our public health care services,” said Neil Colmin, Vice-President of SEIU-West. “In an already short staffed work environment, cuts will further hinder our ability to recruit and retain skilled health care professionals.”
SEIU-West members have been meeting with their MLAs since the rollbacks were first announced. Some of the members present today met with Minister Harpauer in February and she advised the group that rollbacks were off the table indefinitely.
“SEIU-West sent a letter to Minister Harpauer in February requesting confirmation that rollbacks would no longer be pursued,” continued Colmin. “We wanted to know whether her statements at the meeting with her constituents would be reflective of the position of the Government of Saskatchewan. We are still waiting for a reply.”
Health care providers have heard mixed messaging from the government and are still under pressure to accept rollbacks and freezes at the bargaining table.
“We are hopeful the 1400+ signed postcards will pressure our government to stop the cuts and rollbacks because we are deeply concerned about the negative impacts health care cuts will have in this province,” said Colmin. “If we truly want patient first care, we need to attract and retain health care providers in order to deliver the services patients and residents need.”
This week is particularly important to recognize the value of quality health care as we celebrate and acknowledge Nursing Week, Occupational Health & Safety Week and Mental Health Week.
“We know the entire health care team is doing more with less in a chronically understaffed environment which only leads to further stress both physically and mentally,” added Colmin. “Our province can do better for our patients, residents, and health care providers; it starts with proper funding to ensure safe staffing levels.”
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! Visit www.PurpleWorks.ca to find out more about the members of SEIU-West.
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For more information, contact:
Christine Miller, Communications Coordinator Phone: 306-652-1011 ext. 8733
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