Created: 15 September 2021

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 3^rd 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 27^th, 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 1^st, 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 7^th, 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 13^th.

Created: 14 September 2021

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.

Created: 03 September 2021

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

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.

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• Main office: 306-546-2185

Created: 03 September 2021

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.

Created: 01 September 2021

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.

Created: 06 August 2021

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.

Created: 29 July 2021

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.”

Created: 16 July 2021

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.

Created: 13 July 2021

We are entering another period of change, as we see the public health orders and restrictions lifted, as well as the state of emergency ended in our province. This all happened on July 11, 2021.

As was reported last time, the lifting of the state of emergency means that the temporary LOU regarding re-deployment, labour pools, cohorting, and supplemental workforce will expire 28 days after the state of emergency is lifted. The LOU will expire on August 8, 2021.

Relief workers who were cohorted in long-term care should have been allowed to return to all relief lists as of July 11, 2021. If you are one of these workers and were not returned or missed shifts that could have been scheduled prior to your return to the relief lists of facilities you were not cohorted to, please contact your region’s office for assistance.