A new report released this week reveals that for-profit health care contracts accompanied growing health care wait times, despite the provincial government having promised the opposite. The various private, for-profit strategies to reduce surgical and diagnostic wait times have not been effective, and it was through the significant investment in the public system which resulted in the most significant reduction in health care wait times.
CUPE health care workers are sounding the alarm on the ongoing crisis in rural health care across Saskatchewan. Recent emergency service closures in Redvers, Radville, Oxbow, Canora, Kerrobert, Fort Qu’Appelle, Wolseley, Broadview, Kamsack, Shellbrook, and Lanigan have left residents without critical access to care, underscoring what CUPE has long warned: rural health care is in crisis.
Today, CUPE 2669 representing Saskatoon public library workers are announcing they have voted to reject the tentative agreement offered by the employer. Members entered negotiations focused on improving health and safety measures and increasing wages to match the cost of living. The tentative agreement was rejected because it did not adequately address these concerns.
Today, Mark Hancock, CUPE’s National President was joined by CUPE Saskatchewan President Kent Peterson to release the results of provincial polling conducted this fall. It found that health care is the top issue for Saskatchewan people and will be the ballot box issue when voters go to the polls on October 28.
After over a year of bargaining and without notice, Deer Park Villa Inc., has notified the Minister of Labour that negotiations with CUPE 4552 have reached impasse. This unexpected action follows months of bargaining where the bargaining committee had to fight off concessions, secure hours of work, and fight for fair wages.
Today, CUPE Saskatchewan launched a new province-wide multimedia election advertising campaign. The campaign highlights Scott Moe’s broken promises, and the heath care crisis he created.
“Scott Moe broke our health care system – Saskatchewan has the worst wait times in Canada. Scott Moe has closed emergency rooms and health care centres across the province, and hospitals are bursting at the seams,” said Kent Peterson, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “This provincial election is a health care election. It’s time to fix Scott Moe’s broken health care system. It’s time for a change.”
On the first full day of the provincial election campaign, CUPE health care workers delivered hundreds of postcards at the provincial legislature. The postcards were signed by health care workers during summer outreach across the province. Let’s make this a health care election!
Following ongoing violent incidents in Saskatchewan schools including the dangerous attack impacting CUPE members at Evan Hardy Collegiate in Saskatoon, CUPE is calling for urgent action from the provincial government to address safety issues in schools.
In an Op-Ed published in the Regina Leader-Post today, CUPE Saskatchewan President Kent Peterson makes the case that Scott Moe’s tax hikes hurt working people the most and has broken Saskatchewan’s affordability. It’s time for change in this fall’s election.
As the new school year begins, CUPE Saskatchewan stands with education workers and students as they return to crowded classrooms, inadequate supports, and not enough staff.