SASKATOON — Service Employees International Union-West Treasurer Janice Platzke said they hope their recent meeting with the new Health and Rural and Remote Health ministers would be a step toward a better relationship between the healthcare workers and the provincial government.
Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill and Minister of Rural and Remote Health Lori Carr joined other Saskatchewan government representatives and senior leadership from the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
Cockrill is the MLA for The Battlefords and previously held the Education portfolio. Carr, representing Estevan-Big Muddy in the Legislature, held various Cabinet positions during the leadership of former Premier Brad Wall and current Premier Scott Moe. Carr was part of several Cabinet reshuffles made by Moe when he became premier in 2018.
Though both sides are still ironing out the issues and are far from reaching a deal unless serious action is taken, Platzke said they are optimistic. However, their members are unwilling to wait five years for a new collective agreement, like what happened in the last round of negotiations.
“I thought it was a very positive meeting. They [Cockrill and Carr] stayed longer than their time allowed. They went over almost half an hour on their time slot. They listened to everything we had to say. They were taking notes. We weren't looking for promises. We're working on building a relationship. We discussed our issues with them. We had very good discussions. I was very pleased with that first meeting,” said Platzke.
She added that representatives from the provincial government said they would look into the issues they raised, like the scope of practice by licensed practical nurses in certain areas since not all LPNs in every region can work to their full scope of practice and the proposed nursing task force.
“They were very interested in looking into those and getting those situations rectified. We covered a wide range of topics with them, and they were very receptive. It was a very positive meeting. We had a good discussion with Minister Cockrill about the nursing task force, and he’s on board with us,” said Platzke.
“Ultimately, they [healthcare workers] like to see staffing levels implemented. In many workplaces, notices are put up when they're working short and what to do to accommodate that. And the number of workplaces where that is happening is saddening. I don't know what the issue is or why the SHA isn't recruiting and retaining more employees than they are. We hear it all the time in every department that they're short-staffed.”
She said the three unions—SEIU West, the Canadian Union of Public Employees-Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union—want the same language in their collective agreement negotiations with the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations.
“We're all individual unions. We all have our particular issues and language. We developed much of our language years ago, and we're unwilling to give it up for no promise of significant wage increases. So right now, what they're offering is not needed,” said Platzke.
