Rally held to ask for paid sick leave, return of PCR testing

Some Saskatchewan residents are hoping to make their message heard by Saskatchewan MLAs: Speak up.

“I don’t expect they are going to line up and disagree with the premier; I don’t think anyone’s expecting that. What we need to hear is a little bit of compassion, a little bit of understanding and a little bit of, ‘Let’s talk about this. Let’s slow this down and make sure it’s the right thing,’ instead of hiding in their offices or at home or wherever they are,” Saskatchewan Federation of Labour president Lori Johb said Monday.

“Frankly, they are nowhere to be found and we need to hear from them.”

The rally, which had nearly two dozen people gather outside the constituency office of Regina Coronation Park MLA Mark Docherty, comes as Premier Scott Moe has said current COVID-related mandates and restrictions will soon no longer be enforced.

“We want workers to be safe. Our provincial government has let us down every step of the way throughout this pandemic; they have done nothing to ensure that workers are safe,” Johb said.

The people at the rally were demanding the provincial government bring back public access to PCR testing, daily case reporting and proof of vaccination initiatives as well as ensure all workers have proper PPE, legislate 10 days of paid sick leave for workers, and ensure safe staffing levels in hospitals, schools, and other public services.

“I know firsthand what is happening inside our health-care facilities, our hospitals and long-term care (facilities); I am a health-care worker as well. I have many co-workers who are feeling this and it’s not exaggerated. It’s extremely real what’s happening inside our health-care (system) and our hospitals,” Johb said.

“We need our government to pay attention to them. If people are in the hospital that means they are sick and need care and they need staff to take care of them.”

Johb said the pandemic has been a struggle for people when it comes to mental health because of the choices they have to make every day with COVID-19 present in the community.

“Someone in their family might be ill, they might have to make a decision to stay home and take care of them or they are struggling with, ‘Is it the right thing to do to stay home today? Am I exaggerating this? Am I taking it too seriously or not seriously enough?’ ” Johb said.

“(They’re) walking around with their mask on and getting accosted for that. Health-care workers are being told not to wear their uniforms to work. What is wrong with that? That is everything that is wrong with what is going on in our country.”

She encouraged people to send letters and speak to their MLAs to ensure their voices are being heard when it comes to how the province is handling COVID-19.

“We need to get through this. We have a little further to go. I don’t think it’s a long time. I think if we can wait a couple more weeks, things are going to start seeming a little brighter,” Johb said. “We just need a little patience.”