Health care workers rally at Saskatchewan legislature

Hundreds of health care workers gathered on the steps of the Saskatchewan legislature this morning.

It’s been two years since the province’s 25,000 health care providers had a new agreement and they are upset with the last contract offer. The government made a final offer of 9.5 per cent over four years to the unions, but it is far below what they hoped for. The unions want 18 per cent over three years.

Gordon Campbell, President of the CUPE Health Care Council says members of the unions have waited long enough and just want a deal finalized.

“We’re prepared to negotiate with whoever it is we need to,” Campbell said. “Our members want a collective agreement and they want it now. They don’t want to wait. They’ve been waiting for over two years now, and it’s time for them to have a collective agreement that values and respects the work they provide.”

The rally coincides with the opening of the legislature. Health care providers at the rally were members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Service Employees’ International Union West (SEIU) and Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU).