Saskatoon healthcare workers launch petition for safer parking
The Service Employees International Union West (SEIU-West), which represents some Saskatoon healthcare workers, has launched a petition calling for safer parking.
“They want safe parking, they want well-lit parking, they want accessible parking,” said SEIU’s president Barbara Cape. “We want to partner with every single health care worker who's affected by this.”
In December, a healthcare worker was assaulted blocks away from RUH on her way to work.
Cape says many workers at Saskatoon’s hospitals and health care facilities have to park in residential areas. The union has concerns because many areas are not well lit, especially when employees get off late or head in for an early shift.
“Can't we work together to find a park and ride or a shuttle system that makes it just a little bit safer to make it from your car to your workplace so that you can provide care?”
The petition is open to all healthcare workers — including doctors, registered nurses and pharmacists, says Cape.
“We're going to talk with the Health Authority, we're going to talk with the (provincial) government, we're going to talk with the city we're going to talk with transit, because, this is not an insurmountable problem. We just need to have some political will to get it done,” she said.
The petition has over 300 signatures so far.
In response to the launch of the petition, Health Minister Paul Merriman says his ministry is looking at security issues at Saskatchewan’s hospitals.
“We’ve had some issues there, specifically at the University Hospital, also at the General Hospital in Regina and at St. Paul’s,” said Merriman.
“We’re continuing to look at, and making sure security is there and is available,” he said. “We do want to make sure our staff is safe coming to and going to the hospital(s).”
Currently, the petition only includes Saskatoon, but Cape says it could up to Moose Jaw and other locations that have expressed similar concerns.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.