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Health care workers who haven’t received a raise in years chanted and waved flags outside of the Legislative Building on Wednesday.
Members with CUPE Heath Care Workers held signs with phrases like “burnout caused this turnout.” The protest came more than three years after contract negotiations stalled.
Bashir Jalloh, the president of CUPE Health Care Workers, said its members are angry.
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Over a hundred CUPE members showed up to push the province towards a contract after three years of bargaining. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)
“Our members have not received a $1 raise, a single cent raise, for four years,” he said. “We are at the point now that our members are beyond frustrated and they are demanding job action.
Jalloh said it will look more seriously at pursuing a “strike vote” if a contract isn’t reached at its next bargaining meeting in April.
He said the union would work to figure out what needs to be included in an essential services plan with the employer.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Jalloh didn’t know what job action would include.
President of CUPE Health Care Workers Bashir Jalloh the union members want to move towards job action. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)
Some workers at the rally told stories of how overwhelmed and understaffed they are in health care facilities.
Others spoke about getting second jobs to pay their bills. Jalloh said the majority of its members make less than $50,000 a year.
“We want that acknowledgement, and that acknowledgement will start at what is happening on the bargaining table,” Jalloh said. “We want them to come to the bargaining table to complete this round of bargaining, because our members are struggling.
“The working conditions (are) not good.”
Some members shared stories about being overworked and understaffed at facilities. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)
The union’s leader has acknowledged that some progress has been made on a number of proposals at the bargaining table.
“The biggest thing they are stuck on is the ability for them to contract out workers, contract in workers and to move employees in and around the province without any consultations with the union,” Jalloh said. “That is the sticking point here.”
Health care workers at the rally hold signs that said “No contract, No trust.” (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)
Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said he met with Jalloh before the rally.
“Hard to say on the time frame,” he said, commenting on when a deal could be expected. “I think it’s more important that we get a deal that works for healthcare workers but also works for patients.”
Cockrill called negotiations “complex” at the bargaining table because there are three different unions involved, with CUPE Health Care Workers being one of them.
“Our priority is going to be getting a deal done, and that’s what we’re going to spend our energy on,” he said.
