Three Saskatchewan unions which represent health care providers are asking the Government of Saskatchewan to mark National Nursing Week by following through on a promise to hire more workers.

Tracey Sauer, President of Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union, says Continuing Care Assistants do the bulk of hands on care in long term care, Not only have CCAs suffered from years of under staffing but during the past year, they have also experienced some of the highest risks of contracting COVID-19.”

One of the province’s election promises was to hire 300 additional Continuing Care Assistants. Sauer also says that since 2015 the province’s population for those 75 years of age and older has risen by more than 10 per cent but the number of full-time equivalent positions in the CCA classification has decreased.

SGEU, SEIU-West and CUPE 5430 have banded together to deliver the message that it’s time for the Premier to follow through with much-needed support for front-line nursing teams. Together the three unions represent approximately 30,000 health care providers working in acute care, home care and long term care.