Region Contacts

Region 1 Office (Former Local 5111)

1291-100th Street
North Battleford, SK S9A 0W4
Phone: 445-6433 
Fax: 446-2405
Email:  cupe5111pres@sasktel.net

 

Region 2 Office (former Local 4777)

215-16th Street West
Prince Albert, SK S6V 3V4
Phone: 922-0600 
Fax: 763-8915 
Email: region2gvp@sasktel.net

 

Region 3 Office (former Local 3967)

1651 Park Street 
Regina, SK S4N 5A2 
Phone: 757-7925 
Fax: 757-6959
Email: cupe5430-r3@sasktel.net

 

Region 4 Office (former Local 5999)

46 – 3rd Street
Weyburn, SK
S4H 0V9
Phone: (306) 842-1559
Fax: (306) 842-1560
Email: 5430region4gvp@sasktel.net

 

Region 5 Office (former Local 4980)

180 A Broadway West
Yorkton, Saskatchewan S3N 1E2
Phone: (306) 783-1396
Fax: (306) 783-1398
Email: renkas4980@sasktel.net

1651 Park Street, Regina, SK S4N 5A2 306-546-2185

 

 

Making health care workers scapegoats no way to manage COVID-19 pandemic

Three unions representing health care providers in Saskatchewan – SGEU, CUPE and SEIU- West – are angry and disappointed by the Sask Party government’s decision to impose an emergency order that will allow it to redeploy thousands of health care workers from their normal jobs.

The government threatened publicly on September 10 that it would issue an emergency order on September 13 if talks with the unions, which commenced on September 9, didn’t result in an agreement to allow for employee redeployment. Instead, government advised it would impose a previously negotiated Letter of Understanding (LOU), which expired in July, between the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and a number of unions representing health care workers. SHA representatives and health care provider unions had just concluded a negotiation session Monday afternoon when the government issued the emergency order.

The Saskatchewan Party government has forced health care workers back into provisions of an expired letter of understanding (LOU), while doing nothing to stem the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

We let you know on September 3rd that the SHA had approached the health care unions, including CUPE, to discuss solutions for staffing to deal with exponentially increasing COVID-19 needs. We met with the SHA on August 27th, where they provided an overview of what they saw as the problem and pressure points on the health care system. We met again on September 1st, where we discussed the SHA’s plan for slowdowns and were provided with a clip from the physician’s town hall, showing modelling. Again, the SHA showed that the system is under pressure, in particular without the temporary LOU. We met again on September 7th, where the employer provided proposed language for a new LOU. CUPE, together with the other provider unions SEIU-West and SGEU-Health Providers, provided a response – a counter proposal on the afternoon of September 13th.

Another election is upon us. On Monday, September 20th federal election polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. across the country. You will have an opportunity to select whom you want representing you in Ottawa. Many members have been asking what their rights are if they are working on election day.

You have a right to have three (3) consecutive hours to cast your vote. Those hours are at the convenience of the employer. Any scheduled hours that you do not work as a result of voting are paid hours. These hours are only for voting. That means if you are granted time off under the Canada Elections Act, then you must go vote. You cannot access this time and not vote.

Media Release: Health provider unions call on government to provide better leadership in fight against COVID-19

(SASKATCHEWAN) The unions representing health care providers in Saskatchewan are concerned by the government’s failure to do everything necessary to protect health care workers and patients, clients and residents in the health care system.

“Requiring health care workers to either be vaccinated or present a recent negative COVID-19 test is one tool to prevent COVID-19 infections, but it is not enough on its own,” said Sandra Seitz, President, CUPE Local 5430. “The province must follow the advice of medical professionals and do everything in its power to keep people safe.”

The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and all three unions are encouraging everyone who can be vaccinated to do so as soon as possible.

“Vaccinations alone will not hold back this fourth wave,” said Neil Colmin, Vice- President, SEIU-West. “The province needs to return to public health orders including indoor masking, mandatory self-isolation, physical distancing, and enhanced cleaning. We can’t fight rising case counts of COVID-19 without a combination of safety measures.”

The federal government introduced a new federal holiday that will begin this year. National Truth and Reconciliation Day will be observed on September 30th.

Article 28.01 of your collective agreement requires the employers to observe designated holidays proclaimed by the federal, provincial, or municipal government.

This applies to all employers covered by the CUPE/SAHO collective agreement.

We like hearing from you. If you have questions or concerns or just want to let us know how you are doing, please reach out.

  • Region 1: 306-445-6433 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Region 2: 306-922-0600 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Region 3: 306-757-7925 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Region 4: 306-842-1559 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Region 5: 306-783-1396 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Main office: 306-546-2185

We are facing the fourth wave of COVID-19.

We know you are tired.

There is a health care staffing crisis. This crisis is the fault of the government, the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and affiliate employers. For years they have chosen to staff with a just-in-time philosophy. This was part of the ill-advised, expensive, and disastrous LEAN initiative.

Our jobs are often temporary, relief, or part-time. Workers need more stable employment. We have repeated this to the employers again and again. Baseline staffing is so lean that we are working short on every shift. To be clear, this is a crisis not caused simply by the pandemic but rather an existing crisis exacerbated by the pandemic.

Now COVID-19 case numbers are rising, hospitalization numbers are rising, and more testing and assessments are needed.

On August 30, 2021, the Government of Saskatchewan announced that the Ministry of Health and the Saskatchewan Health Authority “will be working with the public health sector representation to establish a policy that requires front-line health care workers to provide proof of vaccination in the workplace. If these health care providers elect not to be fully vaccinated, they will be required to undertake regular COVID-19 testing.”

The press release went on to say that details on this workplace policy will be announced in the coming days. 

CUPE Local 5430 has regularly communicated with you about vaccinations and encouraged you to get vaccinated. We have advocated for frontline workers excluded by the government to be included in the early phases of the vaccine rollout. We have invited you to informational webinars about vaccinations where you were able to ask an expert any question that you wanted. We have shared information on vaccinations.

Everyone who can get vaccinated against COVID-19 should.

Vaccines are an important part of ensuring our workplaces are safe for everyone, and we have always placed the highest priority on our members’ health and safety.

Regina: CUPE Local 5430, the union representing public health care providers in Regina, says the ombudsman’s report released today shows how private, for-profit long- term care has failed seniors.

The report, Caring in Crisis, shows how Parkside Extendicare failed its residents and workers on several fronts: supply and use of masks, physical distancing, ventilation and air flow, staff screening, testing, and cohorting. Most damning perhaps, is the finding that Parkside Extendicare did not have a pandemic plan in place to deal with an outbreak months into the COVID-19 pandemic. Parkside Extendicare was not in compliance with the November 18, 2020 public health order for two weeks leading up to the outbreak.

Regina: CUPE Local 5430, the union representing public health care providers in Regina and area, is calling on the provincial government to ensure that all new long-term care beds remain publicly funded and administered.

“The provincial government announced 600 new beds in Regina, but has only confirmed that less than half of the beds will remain publicly operated.  Through the COVID-19 pandemic we saw what a difference public long-term care makes,” said Sandra Seitz, president of CUPE Local 5430.  “Private care providers often took shortcuts with staffing levels, personal protective equipment and the health of residents.  In fact, four out of five COVID-19 related deaths in Canada have either been residents or staff of a long-term care home – the highest proportion in the world, and many of these outbreaks were in for-profit spaces.”

It has come to the Local's attention that many of our members are working in temperature conditions which may be harmful to them. Specifically, we've heard that in several kitchens, our members are working in nearly 40⁰C temperatures. This is unacceptable. We can't accept it as a union and you do not have to accept it as a worker. You have the right to refuse. Here's a link to information on how to refuse unsafe work.

High temperatures are not a joke and are not something to simply be endured during the summer. The Employer continues to have an obligation to provide a safe work environment even when the actual environment is not cooperating. The fact that the air conditioner cannot handle the outdoor heat wave coupled with indoor ovens does not mean you have an obligation to endure an unsafe working environment.

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About CUPE Local 5430

CUPE Local 5430 is the largest health care union in Saskatchewan, representing over 13,600 members. We represent a wide range of health care providers in five major classification areas: clerical, technical, nursing, support and plant operations. Together, we each contribute to the well-being of hospital patients, long-term care residents and home care clients.

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