Dear CUPE Health Care Members,

Your CUPE bargaining committee met with SAHO for three days this week. We were there to fight for what we all deserve: fair wages, safe staffing, and real respect on the job.

The biggest takeaway was that our rally on April 23 in front of the legislative building in Regina was successful.

SAHO appeared more prepared and engaged than previous rounds of bargaining. They were more committed to productive work at the bargaining table. Your solidarity is making a difference.

The three days were productive. We spent the sessions working to get a settlement on the proposals under Article 27 of our Collective Bargaining Agreement, which deals with hours of work. Making improvements to this language is a very important priority for our members, which will improve working conditions for many.

Hundreds of CUPE 5430 health care workers and supporters gathered at the Saskatchewan Legislature today to demand fair wages and respect for the frontline workers who keep the province’s health care system running.

Buses from across Saskatchewan brought workers from Prince Albert, Saskatoon, North Battleford, Yorkton, Estevan, Moosomin, and many rural communities. With signs, chants, and energy, the crowd sent a clear message: health care workers deserve better.

“Our members are the heart of the health care system but we are being overlooked and underpaid,” said Bashir Jalloh, president of CUPE 5430. “We show up every day for our patients. Today, we showed up for each other.”

CUPE 5430 has released a new report highlighting the urgent and growing crisis facing medical technologists and technicians across Saskatchewan. 

The report, entitled Still Waiting: Report on the Workload of CUPE Medical Technologists and Technicians in Saskatchewan, reveals that medical technologists and technicians are experiencing skyrocketing workloads, severe short staffing, and increasing risks to patient care.

“Medical technologists and technicians are physically exhausted, stressed, and burned out from increased workloads, short staffing and callbacks,” said Bashir Jalloh, the president of CUPE 5430 and a nuclear medical technologist. “We need urgent action from the government to ensure safe staffing levels, reduce workloads, and protect the quality of patient care.”

Medical Technologists and Technicians help diagnose patients through imaging tests like CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds. They also administer radiation treatments and conduct other tests integral to patient care.

Dear valued member:

Your CUPE bargaining committee met with SAHO for three days this week. We tabled a comprehensive proposal document to further our attempts to conclude bargaining non-monetary items and move towards talking about money. SAHO is considering our proposal and has committed to getting back to us in mid-April.

We know the pace of bargaining remains frustrating. Health care workers deserve a fair wage increase, and we are committed to keeping up the fight. Our next bargaining dates with SAHO are April 29, 30, and May 1.

CUPE Health care providers are the backbone of our health care system. Without our expertise and commitment, Saskatchewan’s health care system simply could not function. But for far too long CUPE 5430 members have been ignored and disrespected.

“Every day our members face overwhelming workload and ongoing staff shortages. The chronic understaffing is leading to burnout and stress,” said Bashir Jalloh, president of CUPE 5430. “And the Sask Party government has done nothing to improve the wages or the working conditions of our members.”

(REGINA) CUPE 5430 met with the Minister of Health today to demand action on healthcare staffing shortages, and a speedy resolve to bargaining.

“Our message to the Minister of Health was clear: If this government wants to actually fix the healthcare crisis plaguing our province, the March 19 provincial budget must include funding earmarked to improve working conditions and wages for healthcare workers,” said Bashir Jalloh, president of CUPE 5430. “It has been too long since healthcare providers in this province have had a wage increase.”

After years of advocacy from CUPE 5430 and other unions, the Saskatchewan Healthcare Employees’ Pension Plan (SHEPP) has announced a one-time cost of living adjustment (COLA) for retirees. This is a significant victory for CUPE members who have long called for improvements to pension security and purchasing power in retirement.

For over two decades SHEPP retirees have not seen any pension increases, despite the rising cost of living. Since 2003, the value of their pensions has eroded by nearly one-third due to inflation. CUPE 5430 has been actively advocating alongside other unions for pension improvements including automatic indexation to ensure that retirees’ incomes keep pace with inflation.