CUPE wants more clarification on Saskatchewan’s plan to re-open businesses

The Canadian Union of Public Employees has questions and concerns over Saskatchewan’s plan to begin re-opening businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier in the week, the Government of Saskatchewan unveiled a five-phase plan to begin re-opening certain businesses and to begin easing restrictions. The first phase is set to begin on May 4 with the re-opening of healthcare providers such as dentists.

Judy Henley, the president of CUPE Saskatchewan, said members are worried about how quickly the province wants to begin implementing the plan.

“I know the numbers have levelled off and we’re the first province even starting to go this way. There’s other provinces that have less cases that are not starting to re-open,” Henley said on Saturday. “I understand about the economy but I do think it’s better to be safe than sorry. If we get a second curve and that becomes the dangerous one, then what?”

Henley said one of the main concerns frontline workers have is whether there will be enough personal protective equipment available as more places open up.

“If you’re re-opening and you’re bringing more services in, if we have a shortage right now, why would you do it?”

Henley also noted the province has said a rise in cases is manageable once restrictions get lifted.

“What is manageable?,” Henley said. “If you can’t supply the bare basics of what we’re doing now with the proper personal protective equipment, how can it be supplied when you bring more services in?”

She pointed out there are concerns from their members who are working in group homes.

“We have group homes that are not supplying personal protective equipment. We have officers not able to get into workplaces because they are self-isolating and there are all kinds of people that are put at risk, workers put at risk because health and safety rules are not being followed. Everybody has the right to a safe workplace.”

There are also questions surrounding families with young children at home and the current limit of eight children per room being allowed at day cares.

“If people have to go back to work and they need to use the daycare and they can’t get back into a daycare or that daycare is closed, how are they going to get back to work?”

Henley said with many people referring to healthcare workers as heroes, it’s important the workers are in the safest work spaces as possible.

“We have a responsibility to make sure that our heroes are able to go home too.”

CUPE Saskatchewan is the largest union in the province and represents over 30,000 workers in health care, education, universities, community-based organizations, childcare, municipalities, libraries, social services, board and agencies, and many more.