More than 12,000 Saskatchewan health-care workers remained off the job June 11, two days after going on strike.
Eighteen of the province’s 32 health districts were affected by the strike.
Members are employed in hospitals, nursing homes and home care, and include licensed practical nurses, housekeeping staff, dietary aides and technologists.
They walked out at 5 a.m. June 9, after talks between CUPE and the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations broke down the previous evening.
The issues include workload and pensions.
Health minister John Nilson said the government is especially concerned about people in long-term care.
Families pitched in over the weekend, but many of them headed back to work Monday.
“SAHO and CUPE need to get back to the table so they can talk about the issues that are keeping them apart,” Nilson said.
He said he didn’t expect cabinet would discuss legislating the workers back to work.
“We really would prefer that the parties get back together at the table.”
