Sask. continuing care assistants report lowest wages in the country

CUPE CCAs were at the legislature Wednesday pushing for higher wages, saying they haven’t had a raise in four years.

Saskatchewan frontline health-care workers are once again demanding an updated contract.

Members of CUPE say that wages for Saskatchewan continuing care assistants (CCAs) are the worst in the country. The average CCA starting wage in Saskatchewan is $23.17 per hour - $3.03 lower than the national average.

The workers haven’t had a new contract in four years.

“It’s been terrible. People are going to the food banks, they can’t survive,” Helen Head, VP of CUPE 5430 said at the Saskatchewan Legislature on Thursday.

Laura Guilbault has been a CCA for 18 years. She said the workload for CCAs has increased exponentially and they’re asked to do more with less.

“We’re run off our feet, we’re working short-staffed and constantly struggling,” Guilbault said.

“I recently had [a] patient I’ve cared for, for over a decade asking me why I don’t have time for him anymore. To me, that is absolutely heartbreaking. I should be able to give him that extra few minutes. It’s also heartbreaking hearing from so many CCAs who are struggling to make ends meet.”

Guilbault said in her 18 years, she’s only seen her wages go up $6.49. The highest rate for Saskatchewan CCAs is $3.45 lower than the national average and is lower than the starting rates of Alberta, B.C., Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island.

Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill told reporters that the province was at the bargaining table with all its provider unions and has added additional bargaining dates over the last couple of months.

“We directed SAHO [Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations] and the SHA to really over the last couple of months, refine the employer priorities to try to streamline bargaining as much as possible,” he said.

“That work’s been done and again, more bargaining dates ahead to try to get to a fair agreement at the table.”

Earlier in question period on Thursday, Cockrill also highlighted the province’s offer of interim retroactive payment to health-care workers until a deal is reached, but Head said Cockrill left out important details about concessions and counter-offers from the unions.

NDP MLA Meara Conway said these figures are making it difficult for the province to recruit and retain health-care workers.

She also said the SHA should start conducting exit interviews with departing employees.

“They don’t understand why they’re losing people. And in the context of the extreme staffing shortages and challenges we’re seeing on the front line; it’s one thing they could do today that that would give them a better sense of why they’re losing health-care workers in droves,” she said.

Conway indicated that health-care workers are preparing a survey that gives a better sense as to how many workers have already left. She said it should be available as early as next week.