ABORIGINAL EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP SIGNED BY SAHO, SEIU

Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) today signed an Aboriginal Employment Development Program (AEDP) partnership agreement with the province.

"I commend SAHO and SEIU for signing the AEDP partnership agreement for we all have the same vision where all residents of this province can succeed and realize their dreams right here at home," First Nations and Métis Relations Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "First Nations and Métis people are looking for the opportunity to study and work here in Saskatchewan."

"Since SAHO signed its first bilateral partnership agreement with government in 1966, more than 1,600 new hires of Aboriginal workers have taken place, and they now make up 4.5 per cent of the health workforce," SAHO Chair Alex Taylor said. "We still have a long way to go, but we are moving in the right direction and are making significant progress. By continuing to partner with unions and government we expect to increase that number, ensuring that Aboriginal people are always represented appropriately in the health care field in all levels and in all occupations."

"SEIU is extremely pleased to be a partner with First Nations and Métis Relations of Saskatchewan, and SAHO, in promoting aboriginal employment initiatives," SEIU Local 299 President Barb Cape said. "We firmly believe that employment opportunities in our publicly funded, owned and administered health care system should be open and accessible to all Saskatchewan people."

There are three Service Employees International Union locals in Saskatchewan and all three locals are parties to the partnership agreement signing. In total there are 80,000 union members in Canada and 1.5 million internationally.

Through the AEDP, the Government of Saskatchewan strives to build a representative workforce in Saskatchewan where First Nations and Métis people compete for jobs based on their skills and qualifications, and where they are represented at all occupational levels in proportion to their population numbers in the province.

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For More Information, Contact:

Anna Arneson First Nations and Métis Relations Regina Phone: (306) 787-8008