Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.
Weyburn: Union leaders say they are appalled and disgusted to learn the health board intends to pursue its plan to reduce laundry services in nine communities and abolish 28 jobs, despite widespread opposition.

The board notified the Canadian Union of Public Employees yesterday that it intends to cling to its controversial plan, which has generated protests, petitions, rallies and demonstrations across the health region for the past four months.

Three weeks ago the health region board told the union it was prepared to consider a compromise if the union dropped its campaign against the laundry cuts. CUPE agreed. But yesterday the board notified the union it was not prepared to make even modest changes to its plan by maintaining laundry services in Estevan and Carlyle.

I certainly feel betrayed by the board, says Vicki ODell, President of CUPE Local 5999, which represents health workers in the region. We not only have lost important public sector jobs and services because of this decision, we have lost our trust in the board.

She says throughout the laundry campaign, the union has worried the health board doesnt care about public input or democratic decision-making. This decision confirms it, ODell states.

The board claims it will save $200,000 from these cuts which represents less than .5% of the health regions $87 million. Its hard to find anyone in the health region who thinks the board is justified in cutting so many public sector jobs for so little savings, says the CUPE president. Its just too much pain for too little gain.

She noted a recent study by the Centre for Rural Studies and Enrichment in Saskatchewan confirmed that these types of public sector jobs are vital to the rural economy and a major source of income for women.

- 30 -

For more information contact: Vicky ODell at 861-7013