By Angela Hill

Job action to begin in Prince Albert Parkland Health Region

May 9, 2011 | 7:02 AM

Health union job action is set to begin at 8 a.m. in Prince Albert with about 60 health-care workers going on strike.

“How long these professionals will be on strike, and where and when additional job action will be launched, will be made public at the appropriate time,” said Cathy Dickson, president of the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan.

The strike comes after what Dickson calls frustrating rounds of negotiations. The union needs to take a stand against, “chronic under-staffing of the professions” and recruitment and retention problems and fight for more competitive wages and benefits, she said.

The following areas in the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region will be affected by the first stage of the strike:

• Addictions counsellors from Pineview Youth Treatment Centre and Addictions Services
• Assessor/co-ordinators and mental health therapists from Pineland Home Care
• Dieticians, exercise therapists, health educators, occupational therapists, pharmacists, physical therapists, psychologists, and speech language pathologists based at Victoria Hospital
• Epidemiologists and public health inspectors
• Psychologists, social workers and addictions, mental health and regional health service workers based at Victoria Square

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Prince Albert Parkland Health Region officials said they will keep people updated on how the strike will affect services by posting information on their website, princealbertparklandhealth.com and through the media.

“We may also contact clients if they do have appointments in areas that might be affected,” said Doug Dahl, communications officer for the region.

So far it is only the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region where job action is occuring.

For more on HSAS job actions:

Healthcare professionals give strike notice

HSAS strike action Monday, SAHO meeting Tuesday

ahill@panow.com