CUPE members hold rally outside Sask. Party office

Dozens of health-care workers rally at Sask. Party HQ, calling for action on stalled contract talks with CUPE 5430.

Dozens of frontline health-care workers gathered outside of the Sask. Party office in Regina on Wednesday for a rally.

The workers are represented by CUPE 5430, whose members have been without a contract since March 2023.

CUPE says it previously requested to meet with the premier and health minister to discuss the state of health care and delays in bargaining.

The union said the premier declined and the health minister did not respond until Wednesday morning.

“As a result, frontline health care providers decided to hold a rally and information picket outside the Sask. Party office to ensure their concerns were heard,” CUPE wrote in a statement to CTV News.

The rally, which began around noon, was intended to bring CUPE’s message “directly to decision makers,” although neither Premier Scott Moe or Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill were present at the office.

About 18 people were seen outside the office around 1:10 p.m., but at its peak earlier in the day, CUPE says there were roughly 50.

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“We are considering all options to conclude bargaining,” CUPE said.

In a statement to CTV News, Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said he’s had many opportunities to meet directly with both CUPE leadership and frontline members, but did not have availability on Wednesday.

Cockrill added that he would be happy to meet with the workers this summer.

“Negotiations towards a new collective bargaining agreement are ongoing. We know the best deals are reached at the bargaining table and our government has asked that employers and unions sit down and work together to find an agreement that works for health care workers, patients and communities,” the minister wrote.

Cockrill’s statement also said the province is committed to building a stronger, more robust health-care workforce through its Health Human Resources Action Plan.

“Our new Patients First Health Care Plan outlines over 50 actions to ensure patients are receiving the right care in the right place at the right time,” he said.

“These key actions include supporting the existing health care workforce by adding more training seats in multiple health disciplines and investing in nurse career progression initiatives.”

With files from Wayne Mantyka