Rule by Decree Will Only Deepen Health Care Crisis in Saskatchewan

- Barbara Biley -

Rally against re-imposition of Minister's Order under emergency powers which mandates redeployment of health care workers, September 14, 2021.

Health care workers in Saskatchewan are speaking out against the government imposing a ministerial order under its emergency powers which will once again allow it to redeploy thousands of health care workers from their normal jobs. The emergency order reinstated a Letter of Understanding previously negotiated between the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and unions which expired in July.

The Saskatchewan Government and General Workers Union (SGEU), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) -- West, which together represent over 30,000 health care workers, denounced the government decree which was imposed in the midst of negotiations between the unions and SHA for an updated Letter of Understanding.

The previous Letter of Understanding, reached through negotiations, addressed the situation in the early stages of the pandemic. It expired in July when the province lifted the public health order and removed all pandemic restrictions and measures. Negotiations to renew the Letter of Understanding to meet the current conditions started on September 9 but the next day the government threatened to issue an emergency order on September 13 that would impose the previously negotiated Letter of Understanding, which it did.

SEIU-West pointed out in a statement issued September 15, that since July when all public health measures were ended vaccinations rates have stalled and COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have increased to record levels. Negotiations for a new Letter of Understanding were needed to address the changed situation where "health care workers of all types have faced unprecedented workloads with many staff suffering burnout and chronic fatigue. Negotiations for a new [Letter of Understanding] would have provided labour mobility while proactively addressing the issues health care workers endure in their provision of care."

The president of the SGEU, Tracey Sauer said, "It's unacceptable for the premier to refuse to enact even the most basic, common-sense measures like indoor masking for the general public, yet he's more than willing to demand additional sacrifices from health care workers who have already gone above and beyond during extreme conditions over the past 18 months."

The province did finally reinstate mask mandates on September 16.

Neil Colmin, SEIU-West Vice-President said that "it's clear the premier is blaming and threatening health care providers for the pressures in the health care system caused by his government's inaction."

The Saskatchewan Government’s  press release of September 13 says the Minister's Order was issued because the needs of the health care system are "urgent and immediate" and concludes with the statement of Health Minister Paul Merriman that "We appreciate the leadership of the SHA, affiliates, unions and all health care workers and know they are all committed to continue problem solving and working together to meet the challenge of the pandemic."

The fact is that health care workers and staff cannot continue to shoulder the burden of the crisis of the system because they can no longer manage to do so. They are burned out. For the Minister to thank them is to encourage them to continue doing what is not sustainable and thus does not solve any problem facing the health care system. It also creates a diversion which suggests that if the workers do not follow the arbitrarily imposed rules, they are not being cooperative, helpful and so on. It is unacceptable. It is the conditions which clash with the authority. The authority is out of line. 

It is government actions, including Minister's Orders, which are the block to "problem solving and working together to meet the challenge of the pandemic." Health care workers' needs have to be met so that they can provide the care that people need. Throughout the pandemic they have gone above and beyond to meet their social responsibility to protect the public. The same cannot be said of the Saskatchewan government.

This article was published in

September 20, 2021 - No. 85

Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/WF2021/Articles/WO08853.HTM

    

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