The Sunrise Regional Laundry was closed for good Friday.
The facility had been scheduled to close Sept. 11, as the province moves to a single provincial laundry for all health regions.
However, citing recently identified safety requirements, the Sunrise Health Region Executive and Regional Health Authority took the decision to accelerate the planned closure of the laundry facility to June 19.
Pearl Blommaert, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees 4980 said the early closure was unexpected.
However, safety was cited as the core reason.
“Safety for everyone is our number one priority,” said President and CEO, Suann Laurent in a prepared release. “In Sunrise Health Region we promote a culture of safety and we need to stop the line every time safety is in question.”
When contacted by Yorkton This Week, Laurent detailed that part of the fast-tracking decision was a recent accident at the laundry.
“We did have a serious staff injury,” she said, adding “it was one of the deciding factors to close it down early.”
Laurent said with the injury, and some additional concerns regarding the general condition of the old equipment the decision was “to stop the line now.” She noted Saskatoon made a similar decision to close their laundry early when a beam fell in their facility.
The employee who was injured in recovering at home, said Laurent.
Blommaert said the injury had to be a consideration.
“I’m sure that is one of the factors,” she said.
However, the closure ultimately lies with the province.
“We also know the decision made by the government to have our laundry close,” she said.
When that choice was made two years ago upgrades at the laundry were not in the cards.
“Of course the Region isn’t going to invest in a laundry that is going to close,” said Blommaert.
“I would like to thank staff, management, the executive and the Board for putting safety first,” said Board Chairperson, Lawrence Chomos in the release.
As of June 19 there would have been 57 days of production left. Affected staff will continue with their transition options that were planned for the original closure date. “The employees in Regional Laundry are dedicated to their work and have provided quality laundry services,” said Lorelei Stusek, Vice President of Corporate Services in the release.
Laurent said there were 40 employees at the laundry.
“Some people chose retirement,” she said.
For the remainder they have been undergoing “cross training” as part of preparation for the September closure plan. The training will allow them to take other positions within the Region, offered Laurent.
“It was important we look after our Sunrise family.” she said.
Blommaert said the Union is still analyzing the total lost jobs which extend to in-direct ones not in the laundry itself.
As for laundry staff having alternate job options, Blommaert said just provisions “are in our collective agreement, provisions that protect employees.” She then hastened to add while there may be new job options, they will not be the career in a laundry those affected had chosen.
As a Union, Blommaert they are now focused on helping members make the changes as easily as possible.
“We’re trying to mitigate the consequences relating to closing early,” she said.
There is no anticipated disruption in linen services for patients, residents, or clients during this transition. Plans for the original closure of the plant will continue and in the interim, laundry will be sent to the K-Bro plant in Edmonton for processing and the Yorkton facility will become a depot until Sept. 11.
As for the old Yorkton laundry Laurent said “it will have to go through a decommissioning process,” adding the machinery is at “the end of its life” so has limited value.
Some of the space will be utilized as receiving depot for laundry. A decision on the remainder of the space will be made later.
