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National Nursing Week is an opportunity to recognize the incredible work and dedication of all members of the nursing team – including licenced practical nurses and continuing care assistants.

CUPE licensed practical nurses and continuing care assistants are key members of the nursing team. It is an important time to recognize the tremendous work CUPE members do every day to deliver high quality patient care. CUPE strongly supports multidisciplinary teamwork and full utilization of all team members’ skills and training.

Saskatchewan’s health care system depends on the commitment and work of these workers. Yet this province is facing a crisis in recruiting and retaining workers. Our government must strengthen public health care through higher staffing levels and sustainable workloads, better wages and benefits, and a healthier and safer workplace.

This week, CUPE 5430 pays tribute to all members of the nursing team. We thank you for all your hard work and dedication. Happy Nursing Week! Together we will continue to campaign for quality public health care for all!

WEYBURN: The leadership of CUPE 5430, the largest health care union in Saskatchewan, are touring health care facilities in the Weyburn area this week to hear first hand from frontline health care staff about their concerns.

“Short staffing is the top issue for many of our members. The current challenges with recruiting and retaining staff are putting additional stress and pressure on our members and leading to service disruptions across the region,” said Bashir Jalloh, president of CUPE 5430 and a nuclear medicine technician.

Over the last several months there have been service disruptions and emergency rooms on bypass in numerous facilities including Oxbow, Arcola, Redvers, and Radville. Services are limited in Weyburn and Estevan and many patients are being sent to Regina to access care.

Minister acknowledges only 17 more CCAs are working in the province after promising to add 300 new positions.

Despite promising to hire hundreds of Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs) as part of their 2020 re-election campaign, numbers revealed by the Minister for Seniors show that the Sask. Party government has made almost no progress on hiring in nearly three years.

During the 2020 provincial election, the Sask. Party committed to hiring 300 more CCAs, promising one new care assistant for every 50 residents of long-term care facilities across the province. When questioned by the Official Opposition during legislative proceedings earlier this week, Minister Everett Hindley acknowledged that there were only 17 more full-time CCAs working in the province from the 2019-20 to 2021-22 fiscal years.