A show of solidarity for healthcare workers across the province.
A rally was recently organized by Unifor in over 20 communities including Dryden, calling for proper support.
The local gathering was hosted in front of Greg Rickford’s constituency office.
Local 324 President Katrina Peterson says they are calling on the government to repeal Bill 124, legislation that limits total compensation for publically funded healthcare workers to a maximum of 1% per year for a three year period.
Peterson says healthcare workers have given 110% for over two years battling to save lives during the pandemic and the province should be paying them for what they obviously deserve.
She adds the situation has been exasperated by skyrocketing 6 to 7% inflation rates that have eaten away at real wages of workers.
Peterson stresses, “Healthcare workers are mentally and physically drained, facing long hours in short staffed facilities and frustration is growing as there appears to be no end in sight.”
She notes other measures have come into play.
“Our collective agreement through this pandemic was superseded by government regulations and that gave employees less flexibility with regards to staffing, limiting vacation, cancelling vacation, along with changing shifts, schedules and work assignments last minute.”
Peterson these restrictions are impacting recruitment and retention efforts in the healthcare field.
She says the public reads about a three dollar an hour pandemic wage hike for personal support workers as well as a $5,000 retention bonus, but stresses, ”
“Unfortunately that’s not a long term solution. Certainly no amount of money, especially $5,000, will not keep somebody in healthcare with the issues that are going on.”
