Health-care workers vote 99% in favour of job action in 'largest strike vote' in Saskatchewan's history
Unionized health-care workers with CUPE 5430, by far the biggest local in Saskatchewan, have voted 99 per cent in favour of job action in the province's largest strike vote. The workers have been without a contract since March 2023, and have gone more than 4½ years without a pay raise. They're asking for higher wages and safer staffing.
More than 13,000 members of CUPE 5430 secure province's largest strike vote
Halyna Mihalik · CBC News
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Health-care workers represented by CUPE 5430 have voted 99 per cent in favour of job action in the largest strike vote in Saskatchewan's history
Between Sept. 8/14, 13,358 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees local, which represents nearly half of all unionized health-care employees in support, long-term care, and administrative roles in the province, cast ballots, securing a decisive strike mandate.
“This vote is about respect, fair wages, and safe staffing. It is about having a health-care system where people can build a career, support a family, and actually stay in their community,” CUPE national president Mark Hancock said in a statement.
The results were announced Tuesday morning in North Battleford, where streets were flooded with pink banners and calls to action. The rally was held outside of Minister of Health Jeremy Cockrill's constituency office.
The union represents 14,000 health-care workers who say they've been without a contract since March 31, 2023 and have gone more than 4½ years without a wage increase.
“It’s shameful how long the minister of health has allowed our members to go without a wage increase or the respect they deserve,” Bashir Jalloh, president of CUPE 5430, said in a statement.
CUPE says the latest employer offer from the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations would move health-care workers farther from their homes, leave its members earning less than with the same role in Western Canada, and would not reflect the rise in the cost of living.
Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck expressed her support for the workers in a statement on Tuesday.
"The very people on the front lines who have kept our health-care system running against all odds haven’t had a contract in four years," Beck said .
"We will continue to fight for fair contracts, competitive wages and a serious plan to recruit and retain the people our health-care system depends on."
CBC News has reached out to the provincial government and is awaiting a response.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Halyna Mihalik is a journalist and weather specialist for CBC Saskatchewan. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Regina. Halyna enjoys stories about advocacy, local politics and rural communities. Send Halyna news tips at halyna.mihalik@cbc.ca
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