Health Care Workers Rally In Front Of Saskatchewan Legislature - Wall Gov't Locks Doors
A trade mark of Saskatchewan Party MLA's is that when they recognize visitors to the Legislative Gallery they always include the words "welcome to your Legislature." But today, the doors to the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly Building were locked as a huge demonstration of health care workers descended on Regina from around the province.
"About 300 unionized health-care workers rallied at the Saskatchewan legislature in Regina on Monday to protest against the pace and substance of contract negotiations with the group representing health regions in the province.
About 24,000 workers from the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Saskatchewan Government Employees' Union and the Service Employees International Union West have been on the job without a contract for more than a year.
They're accusing the Saskatchewan Association of Heath Organizations of not taking the negotiation process seriously, and said the current contract offer is insulting.
The unions represent a range of health-care workers, from kitchen and cleaning staff to licensed practical nurses. The health regions' current offer is for most employees to receive a 9.25 per cent wage increase over four years. In a jointly issued statement on Sept. 22, the unions called the offer "insulting."
The unions said the offer pales in comparison with a deal registered nurses recently signed that included a 35 per cent increase over four years."
CBC Saskatchewan
Unhappy Unions Rally At Legislature - CJME
Photos courtesy CJME
