SEIU-West members are upset about the release by the CEO of the new Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), as the continuing lack of information continues to leave patients, families and health care workers in the dark. The information package contained a logo, a start date and a complex organizational structure pictured in a chart.
“We were taken by surprise by this announcement,” said Janice Platzke, treasurer of SEIU-West.
“As front-line health care providers, we would have expected that we would have had an opportunity to look at the proposed documents, and provide some feedback after consulting with our members on the front line of health care, well before this release to the general public.”
SEIU-West and other health care unions have been seeking answers and engagement from the government on health care restructuring since the announcement of ‘transformational change’ earlier this year. They say the provincial government seems to be determined to leave front line health care workers in the dark, and remain deaf to the many calls being made for meaningful consultation.
“We hope that our government will finally realize that our members are a very valuable resource in this transition,” added Platzke. “Who better to inform the change process than those who we count on to deliver care each day? If care delivery can be more streamlined, why wouldn’t the ‘team’ include the people who are in contact with patients, clients and residents every day?”
While the materials released speak to the structure of the upper echelons of management, the plan does not get specific about how services to the residents of Saskatchewan will be delivered.
“Though we are still analyzing the information presented, we have found that this plan is unclear and somewhat confusing,” continued Platzke. “We remain concerned about the lack of prior discussions, the complexity of the proposed senior administrative structure and the ongoing uncertainties associated with this process. Still, it remains our goal to conclude our collective bargaining process before the launch of the new provincial health authority.”
SEIU-West represents more than 11,000 health care service providers in the province of Saskatchewan. They include people who work in hospitals, long-term care homes, home care and public health. Visit www.PurpleWorks.ca to find out more about the members of SEIU-West.
