Click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter
A picture outside the Saskatchewan Legislature. (Submitted/ CUPE 5430)
Workplace

‘We are the backbone in our healthcare system’; union holds rally in Regina

Apr 24, 2025 | 8:53 AM

Without a contract in over two years, members of Saskatchewan’s largest health care union are raising their voices and calling for fairer compensation.

A large rally was held on Wednesday outside the Saskatchewan Legislature. Members of CUPE 5430 wanted to show strength in numbers and deliver a message to both the province and their employers.

Wednesday’s rally included roughly two dozen members from Prince Albert who boarded a bus and made the four hour drive down to Regina. Leah Smith said it was a good gathering and added that the lack of a pay increase over the last three years has been difficult..

“It impacts everybody in every department, like not seeing any wage increases through all of the increased cost of living. It affects everybody from from renting to mortgages, insurance rates, groceries, everything,” she said.

(Submitted/ CUPE 5430)

The union represents more than 14,000 health care workers and includes 200 job classifications including clerical and nursing technologies, maintenance workers, support services, care aids, recreation and unit clerks.

“I mean, we are the backbone in our healthcare system,” said Candace Lavoie who noted workload issues. “The amount of overtime that’s going out, I mean our workers are are exhausted. 
They can’t get the time off that they’re entitled to. They have to fight for everything, even to take a sick day. It’s gotten absolutely ridiculous.”


Lavoie who works in the office full time as a recording secretary, said people are leaving.

“I’m seeing people retire. I’m seeing people going to different professions, leaving the province altogether to go work someplace else.” 


“Health care workers are holding the system together with their bare hands,” said Kent Peterson, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “These workers are exhausted, overworked, and underpaid. It’s time for the Sask Party government to step up and deliver the fair wages and safe staffing that our health care system desperately needs.”

The rally also heard from Sandra Seitz, retired CUPE 5430 president and lifelong health care advocate. “I may be retired but I will always stand with health care workers. They are the heart of our hospitals, long-term care homes, and clinics. They deserve more than thank-you signs – they deserve fair pay and dignity on the job.”

Also in attendance at the rally were members from North Battleford, Yorkton, Estevan, and Saskatoon.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health said the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO) offered health unions an “unprecedented” interim wage adjustment of three-per-cent retroactive to April 1, 2023.

“This was done in the hope of providing some temporary economic relief to our valued health care employees while negotiations for a long-term contract continue,” the statement read. “This offer was declined by CUPE, SGEU and SEIU-West.”

However, the ministry said it was confident that SAHO and the unions would be able to reach an agreement.

“Health-care workers are vital in assisting and supporting each of us through our health journey. They are valued and appreciated for their contributions and dedication to patients, clients, and the health system,” the ministry said.

“The Government of Saskatchewan is investing $156 million in this year’s budget to support the Health Human Resources (HHR) Action Plan to recruit, train, and retain health-care workers.”

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social

— with files from 980 CJME