SEIU-West protests in Saskatoon amid stalled contract talks

Members of SEIU-West were out on Saskatoon streets waving purple signs and ringing cowbells on Wednesday to protest a lack of progress in collective bargaining talks.

Protests at 11 different health-care locations for a roughly three-hour period were the latest tactic to try and force the provincial government back to the negotiating table after going more than three years without a contract.

President Barbara Cape feels the pressure from members to strike a deal.

“We’ve been without a collective agreement in the health-care sector, as of today, it’s 1,230 days,” Cape said. “Our members are frustrated. They’re burning out.”

Cape says no contract means less power to recruit and retain laboratory technicians, licensed practical nurses, and the dozens of other careers at the frontlines of the pandemic fight.

Seeing other funding decisions over the last few months for things like a new playing surface at Griffiths Stadium makes Cape think more money for more staff is there.

“How is it possible that we have resources during a pandemic to offer up to the CFL? We have resources to returf a practice field, but we don’t have resources for frontline health-care workers who are walking into some pretty precarious situations every single day,” Cape said.

A spokesman with the province declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations.

“The government of Saskatchewan respects the collective bargaining process and believes the best agreements are the ones that are negotiated by the parties,” a statement from the province said.

“It would be inappropriate to make any comments on the specifics of negotiations while the parties are still bargaining.”

There’s another fast-approaching obstacle that could drag these negotiations on even further: A fall election.

“Right now we’re in a period: The silly season of election campaigning without the writ being dropped,” Cape said. “We really call on the Government of Saskatchewan to check your conscience and consider what we’re doing to our health-care system.”

Cape said Health Minister Jim Reiter hasn’t been seen in months as the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations, which represents the interests of SEIU-West in contract negotiations, attempts to make progress on discussions ahead of the election.