REGINA: Representatives of the union will hold a media scrum at 1:00 p.m. today, at the CUPE Local 3967 office (#103 2709 12th Avenue), to discuss the actions by medical technologists in the Regina Health District.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees does not condone or support todays walk-out.
John Welden, the chief negotiator of the CUPE Health Care Council, says the union understands medical technologists are angry, but stresses the issue must be resolved at the bargaining table, not through illegal job action.
Mr. Welden says for the past few weeks the union has been trying to get SAHO to address the serious problems facing medical technologists. We know there is a crisis situation here caused by high vacancy rates and crushing workloads. And we know there must be market adjustments to attract qualified personnel to work here.
On Tuesday, CUPE and two other unions representing medical technologists presented a provincial letter of understanding to SAHO that provided a uniform pay schedule and a quick process to deal with the staff recruitment and retention problems. The letter mirrored a settlement reached a few weeks ago with medical technologists working in diagnostic services in the Regina Health District. However, SAHO refused to agree to the proposal.
Individual health districts have communicated they want this issue addressed quickly by SAHO. So far, however, we havent received any proposal, he says.
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For further information call John Welden at 525-5874 ext. 236