REGINA — “During the pandemic, we were heroes, now we’re zeros,” health-care workers represented by CUPE 5430 echoed their frustration as a new deal with the province still hasn’t been reached.
Roughly 14,000 CUPE members haven’t been with a deal since September 2023, and workers are saying people in the industry are walking out the door.
“We have staff who work 24 to 36 hours. We’re short [staffed] continuously. We don’t have management support. It’s a job that is going to the crapper,” said Linden Hall, Environmental Services (ES) worker.
Dionne Wagner, a nutrition food service worker, said she doesn’t remember struggling to afford living as a health-care worker when she originally joined the field 25 years ago.
“Now inflation has gone up so much that we’re sitting a lot lower, and we can’t afford to buy groceries. Two bags of groceries are $200.”
Hall said she’s been disappointed by out-of-province workers receiving more hourly than those in the province.
Hall gave an example of one service paying workers $35 an hour, while the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is paying some health-care workers under $25.
Wagner said lower wages and working conditions are causing newer workers in nursing, X-ray and other departments to leave the sector.
While Wagner said she doesn’t have a choice to leave the field with investing heavily in her pension and benefits, she could see the younger generation start leaving Saskatchewan for other provinces with better pay.
CUPE members met with the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO) at the Delta Hotel in Regina on Wednesday as negotiations continue.
SAHO is the provincial bargaining agent.
Hall said they’re hoping for better staffing levels, better conditions for staff, and more vacation time.
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