Hundreds of CUPE healthcare workers from across Sask. rally for contract negotiations

WATCH: CUPE healthcare workers from across Sask. rallied in front of the legislative building for better wages and working conditions. Mick Favel has more.

Hundreds of CUPE healthcare workers from across Saskatchewan met at the steps of the legislative building on Wednesday to call for better wages and working conditions.

“We are fighting for recruitment. We want fair wages that people can live on so they can stay in this province,” Bashir Jalloh, president for CUPE Local 5430 said.

The union is currently negotiating a new contract with the Government of Saskatchewan.

The talks have been ongoing for over two years. The union members have not had a wage increase in over three years.

With the increased cost of living, many of the members are in a tough financial position.

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“It’s not going very well. There is no way we are going to achieve this if we don’t have enough face-to-face time,” Jalloh said.

According to a statement from the Government of Saskatchewan on Wednesday, the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations offered an interim wage adjustment of three per cent, retroactive to April 2023 to health provider unions.

“This was done in the hope of providing temporary economic relief to our valued health care employers while negotiations for a long-term contact continue. This offer was declined by CUPE, SGEI and SEIU-WEST,” the statement read.

The Ministry of Health added it’s confident the two sides will reach a new agreement.

Worker recruitment and worker retention are key factors within the negotiations for CUPE.

“We want a fair compensation that we can match the western provinces. We want people to stay in this province,” Jalloh said.

This year, the Government of Saskatchewan is investing $156 million to recruit and train health care workers.