The SAHO Bargaining Committee met with CUPE August 27 and 28, 2024 in Regina and virtually on September 18, 2024.  

Part of the bargaining process provides the opportunity for the individual committees to caucus and discuss the aspects of the other parties’ suggestions, counterproposals, or positions.  CUPE took the opportunity to individually caucus for much of these two days. However, the SAHO bargaining committee respects that caucusing, internal discussions and time to prepare responses are an integral part of the bargaining process. Although there was agreement on only one proposal, this session was productive with good discussion and dialogue.

Since the initial exchange of proposals with CUPE in the fall of 2023 and through the following 23 days of negotiations, SAHO has emphasized the need to address their individual union issues and move to proposals that are related to the amalgamation of the twelve former Regional Health Authorities into to a single employer, the SHA. Addressing those issues would be best served by having these discussions with all three (3) provider unions at the same table and providing a forum to find alignment and equitable resolutions to the transition issues as well as the standard common issues like compensation.

SAHO remains committed to a fair and transparent bargaining process. It is our intent that all employees in the 300 plus common classifications covered by three (3) collective agreements with the provider unions maintain internal equity for monetary and non-wage monetary terms and conditions and benefit equally in the opportunities of a new single employer. The SAHO proposal package seeks to maintain the integrity of the three provider unions while finding common solutions to common issues. The transition to a single employer impacts all employees working in these common classifications regardless of union jurisdiction and should be considered jointly and collaboratively much like discussions relating to the joint job evaluation program, the market supplement program or monetary compensation.  The pace of these negotiations would be greatly assisted by having some of these discussions with all three provider union partners in the same forum.

The virtual meeting on September 18, 2024, involved discussions about the framework leading up to this round of bargaining, the status of the Provider Bargaining Association and the common transition issues identified by all provider unions that result from the amalgamation of the twelve (12) former health regions into the single provincial health authority.  The session was productive with more time spent in negotiations then the previous in-person session with progress being made.  

SAHO’s proposals are constructed to address those issues and ensure that employees have options to exercise their seniority provincially while maintaining benefits and accruals. There is a desire to provide employees the ability to maximize hours when working in more than one union jurisdiction and the ability to create meaningful employment. This can be achieved without any interference with union jurisdiction or membership but with improvements for employees and increased flexibility to meet patient needs. 

The parties have agreed that they will not be meeting in the month of October. The next scheduled meetings are November 5, 6 and 7, and December 17, 18 and 19, 2024 in Regina.

Union/CUPE October 01, 2024