(File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Craddock

PARKING CONCERNS

Health-care unions push for safer parking spaces at Sask. hospitals

Feb 4, 2023 | 8:00 AM

After recent events of harassment of health-care workers happened at hospital parking lots, at least one union is petitioning for more to be done.

The SEIU-West represents health-care workers in Saskatoon and Regina and told paNOW there have been many incidents of these employees being harassed or assaulted as they leave their vehicles after arriving for work.

“Most recently last week in Saskatoon, where staff have been chased, they’ve been assaulted on their way to work. They’ve been stalked, they’ve been accosted at parks on the way back to their cars. It’s been quite alarming,” said SEIU-West President Barbara Cape.

Following several town halls with its members, Cape said the union has launched a petition to provide safer options for workers including shuttles and better security.

“Availability of parking is massive regardless of what town you live in,” said Cape, adding this issue is not constrained to major cities like Saskatoon and Regina. “Having the ability to park in a safe place that’s near enough to your work so you’re not hiking over snowbanks, in dark streets in order to get to work, it matters for everybody.”

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According to the petition from the SEIU-West, options like Public transit are not always functional due to hours not corresponding with shift work.

“Many frontline healthcare workers hold the primary or sole, responsibility for delivering their children to and from daycare,” the petition reads. “This task is difficult as shift workers and virtually impossible to achieve using public transit.”

Earlier this week, The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and the Ministry of Health said they were working together to address safety concerns raised by health-care workers.

During a news conference in Saskatoon on Tuesday, Health Minister Paul Merriman said he’s aware of the concerns expressed by the union and health authority and said improvements are coming.

“We’re continually looking at that – making sure security is there and is available,” Merriman said. “We do want to make sure that our staff is safe coming and going to the hospital.”

In a statement sent to paNOW, the SHA said they have received no reports of employees being harassed in or around the Victoria Hospital recently. The statement goes on to say they encourage staff to take precautions to keep themselves safe when commuting to work.

The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses and SGEU confirmed that no reports of harassment or assault have been reported to them by their members. In a statement, the SGEU said that every employer is responsible for providing a safe workplace for staff.

“In this case, it is up to management and the government to provide a harassment-free workplace for health care workers,” the statement reads. “As one of Saskatchewan’s health care provider unions, we understand the concerns from health care workers experiencing harassment after parking their vehicles. We stand with our fellow unions as they call for safe working conditions for health care professionals.”

According to Cape, they want to make sure the government finds real solutions that address the issue. She wanted to emphasize they are not asking for free parking.

“What we do want is something that’s safe and secure and get people to work on time without impacting the residents and impacting patients and families that are impacting services.”

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock