‘Haphazard’: Health-care workers union critical of government response to COVID-19

The head of a union that represents thousands of health-care workers in Saskatchewan has some particular criticisms of how the provincial government has handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That is one of the biggest problems that we have with the Government of Saskatchewan’s response to this, is that it’s been haphazard at best and they’re playing catch-up on a pandemic that’s rapidly overtaking them,” said Barbara Cape, president of SEIU-West.

Cape said the union’s members are particularly concerned about communication, or lack thereof.

“(There’s) a lack of direction, information or protocol from managers, from employers, telling (employees) more information about how their work is changing with this pandemic, when they can or cannot use personal protective equipment, what is the availability of personal protective equipment (and) what are the protocols in place for if someone is showing the symptoms of COVID-19,” explained Cape.

And Cape said union members also are concerned about the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) because some of those members who are getting direction are being told they’re not allowed to use PPE unless someone they come into contact with is showing symptoms of COVID-19 or is positive.

Cape said that’s worrying because of everything they’ve heard from the province’s chief medical health officer about community spread of the virus.

Cape agreed with criticisms that have already been levelled at the government, that it was slow to act. But Cape is also concerned about what she calls mixed messaging and territorial disputes over restrictions between the province and cities.

“Let’s not waste our time right now on the stuff. Let’s focus on taking care of the frontline,” said Cape.

An early planning document was leaked from the Saskatchewan Health Authority earlier this week which had some alarmingly high numbers of possible hospitalizations and deaths. The authority explained that the document is based on an absolute worst-case scenario.

Cape said she’s glad the health authority is doing that planning, and said it’s a good thing the public got to see numbers like that.

“Unless the general population realizes how bloody serious this is and practises those physical distancing and isolation requirements, I think that that document, instead of being a planning document, will become a best-selling non-fiction piece of work,” said Cape.

Health-care workers are being hailed as heroes in some cases during this pandemic, and Cape pointed out that her union is still at the bargaining table with the provincial government and is being asked to take a 3.5 per cent pay cut.

“I want people to remember that, that these are frontline health-care workers that are running into the fire to protect the population and we need to respect them and show them a lot of compassion because they are that bulwark that’s going to keep us safe,” said Cape.

SEIU-West represents health-care workers like medical laboratory technologists, LPNs, health information management practitioners, and trades and maintenance people.