In its annual general meeting (AGM), Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) members voted to remove all “mandatory” vaccination language from its position statement and will no longer require SUN members to be vaccinated against COVID-19..A nurse within the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and a member of the SUN spoke with the Western Standard on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal from their employer..According to the member, during the SUN’s AGM, held virtually from April 27 to 29, members voted in favour of updating the union’s position statement removing the word “mandatory” and changing the term “required” to “encouraged.”. IMG_4387 . IMG_4383 . IMG_4389 .The majority of members voted in favour of resolution 17 to have the SUN update its policy wording..“What was the most frustrating thing about this was that SUN brought this policy in without a vote initially,” said the unidentified member..“We questioned them on it and the board’s response was basically that they are like elected officials and since we voted them in, they are in a position to make that call.”.“What’s great about this vote, is they — the union — can no longer say SUN members are overwhelmingly in support of mandatory vaccination of staff. Clearly, that’s not the case.”.The Western Standard contacted the SUN for comment on its update to the position statement and how this will affect the union’s support of its members, but received no response..In August, the SUN updated its position and called for mandatory vaccination of all its healthcare workers..SUN released a statement on August 20 indicating it was in favour of and supported “mandatory COVID-19 immunization for all healthcare workers.”.“Our membership has overwhelmingly received their COVID-19 vaccinations and recognizes that these immunizations are an important tool in our toolkit against this virus. Registered nurses want to protect themselves, their patients, and their colleagues,” said SUN President Tracy Zambory, in August..Zambory also, at the time, called for the Saskatchewan government to enforce other public health measures including mandatory masking in public settings..“We’ve seen the data and we know that masking along with additional health measures, has dramatically decreased the spread of COVID-19, thus decreasing the number of COVID-19 patients we’re seeing in hospitals and ICUs,” said Zambory..“Wearing a mask is much more comfortable than being intubated.”.The member told the Western Standard they and many other members have filed many grievances with the union against the vaccine mandates put forward by SHA..Although a proof-of-vaccine policy was introduced in Saskatchewan by the health authority on November 8, healthcare workers were also permitted to provide a negative COVID-19 test. SHA updated its vaccination policy in mid-February and lifted the proof of vaccination requirement..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.mrisdon@westernstandard.news.Twitter:@MelRisdon
In its annual general meeting (AGM), Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) members voted to remove all “mandatory” vaccination language from its position statement and will no longer require SUN members to be vaccinated against COVID-19..A nurse within the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and a member of the SUN spoke with the Western Standard on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal from their employer..According to the member, during the SUN’s AGM, held virtually from April 27 to 29, members voted in favour of updating the union’s position statement removing the word “mandatory” and changing the term “required” to “encouraged.”. IMG_4387 . IMG_4383 . IMG_4389 .The majority of members voted in favour of resolution 17 to have the SUN update its policy wording..“What was the most frustrating thing about this was that SUN brought this policy in without a vote initially,” said the unidentified member..“We questioned them on it and the board’s response was basically that they are like elected officials and since we voted them in, they are in a position to make that call.”.“What’s great about this vote, is they — the union — can no longer say SUN members are overwhelmingly in support of mandatory vaccination of staff. Clearly, that’s not the case.”.The Western Standard contacted the SUN for comment on its update to the position statement and how this will affect the union’s support of its members, but received no response..In August, the SUN updated its position and called for mandatory vaccination of all its healthcare workers..SUN released a statement on August 20 indicating it was in favour of and supported “mandatory COVID-19 immunization for all healthcare workers.”.“Our membership has overwhelmingly received their COVID-19 vaccinations and recognizes that these immunizations are an important tool in our toolkit against this virus. Registered nurses want to protect themselves, their patients, and their colleagues,” said SUN President Tracy Zambory, in August..Zambory also, at the time, called for the Saskatchewan government to enforce other public health measures including mandatory masking in public settings..“We’ve seen the data and we know that masking along with additional health measures, has dramatically decreased the spread of COVID-19, thus decreasing the number of COVID-19 patients we’re seeing in hospitals and ICUs,” said Zambory..“Wearing a mask is much more comfortable than being intubated.”.The member told the Western Standard they and many other members have filed many grievances with the union against the vaccine mandates put forward by SHA..Although a proof-of-vaccine policy was introduced in Saskatchewan by the health authority on November 8, healthcare workers were also permitted to provide a negative COVID-19 test. SHA updated its vaccination policy in mid-February and lifted the proof of vaccination requirement..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.mrisdon@westernstandard.news.Twitter:@MelRisdon
