The parties met at the SAHO office in Regina August 12, 13 and 14, 2025.

During this session the parties continued negotiations, but little progress was made. CUPE ended the bargaining session ½ a day earlier than planned and, in a prepared statement, expressed a desire to move to a common table.  

The amalgamation of the former regional health authorities into a single provincial health authority requires that all provider unions are at the table to negotiate the issues that flow from that amalgamation and that impact each of them. 

At the start of the session, CUPE provided a list of common issues. SGEU and SEIU-West have now provided those same lists. The three provider unions have now expressed a desire to move negotiations to a common table. An initial common table meeting to discuss the process for these negotiations is set for September 23, 2025.  

SAHO’s proposals for common table negotiation are designed to give employees the opportunity to maximize hours and create meaningful employment, which may include working in a neighboring union jurisdiction. Importantly, SAHO’s proposals to increase options for employee mobility, including hours of work, and do not interfere with union jurisdiction or membership. The integrity of the three provider unions would be maintained. These proposals would ensure that all employees in the 300 plus common classifications, working for the same employer, would maintain internal equity and benefit equally in the opportunities that come with a new single provincial health employer. Employees would have options to exercise their seniority across the province, while maintaining benefits and accruals. These are real benefits for employees that, at the same time, improve access for patients, residents and clients.  

The current jurisdictional constraints severely limit the ability to serve Saskatchewan patients effectively and efficiently, creates barriers to recruitment and retention, especially in rural areas, and doesn’t align with the structure of a provincial health authority. SAHO’s proposals are designed to address those issues.

SAHO and CUPE are scheduled to continue negotiations on September 24 and 25, 2025 in Saskatoon. We want to express our gratitude to CUPE for relinquishing the scheduled bargaining date of September 23 to provide a date for all parties to discuss the process for common table negotiations.  

Union/CUPE September 08, 2025