CUPE 5430 Region 4 health care workers met with Weyburn-Bengough MLA Micheal Weger today to discuss the challenges facing frontline workers.

Wages and working conditions were top of mind for health care workers.

“Our members work hard to keep our health care system running. We got us through the pandemic and other crises, but we have not had a meaningful raise in over a decade. It is unacceptable,” said Arlene Picard, general vice-president for Region 4.

Picard has worked in health care for almost 40 years and has seen working conditions deteriorate considerably in the last several years. Several frontline health care workers attended the meeting to share their stories.

“We are always working short, and wages are not keeping up. I have to pick and choose what to buy from the grocery store,” said Trudy Hala, a 16-year employee with the SHA in materials management. “I used to love coming to work. Now I dread it. My granddaughter was thinking about a career in health care, and I begged her not to. It is not worth it for her. It is not worth it for any of us.”

Diane Winegarden, a food service worker from Deer View Lodge in Wawota, shared that she had to borrow gas money to attend the meeting with MLA Weger. She highlighted the issues facing workers, including violence in the workplace.

“This government keeps giving incentives for new workers, but nothing for people who are already here. We moved to Saskatchewan for affordability, but the wages for health care workers in Saskatchewan are much lower than other provinces.”

Picard felt the meeting was positive.

“We thank Mr. Weger for meeting with us. Health care workers need urgent action, and we look forward to hearing back from him about action on our concerns.”

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