From October 20-24, SAHO met with the three provider unions - CUPE, SEIU-West and SGEU – as common table negotiations were added to the collective bargaining process. Negotiations continued from November 3 to November 7, 2025.

SAHO is pleased that the provider unions agreed to add common table items to the individual table negotiations already underway.

• The October meetings were focused on establishing processes and identifying proposals for common table negotiations. Using our time together productively is a shared goal and having an agreed-to process will guide the parties. 
• The November meetings included bargaining on individual issues with each of the provider unions along with common table discussions on the language that would be used to integrate the principles of the Truth & Reconciliation: Calls to Action into negotiations. 

Looking ahead, negotiations at common and individual tables will proceed concurrently during regularly scheduled bargaining sessions. 

The proposals that SAHO has brought to the common table negotiations offer real benefits to members of the provider unions. As part of these proposals, employees working for the SHA will have the opportunity to maximize their hours; this could include working in a neighbouring union jurisdiction. As a result, travel time for employees would be reduced, while patient access to care would be increased. 

Importantly, SAHO’s proposals for employee mobility within the SHA would not interfere with union jurisdiction or membership. The proposals ensure that all employees in the 300-plus common job classifications would maintain internal equity and be able to benefit equally. Employees would have options to exercise their seniority across the SHA while maintaining benefits and accruals.

SAHO’s proposals address current jurisdictional constraints in the SHA that create barriers to employee recruitment and retention - especially in rural areas – and which also severely limit the ability to serve patients effectively and efficiently. These proposals ensure 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 provincial health employer. 

The next individual/common table collective bargaining session with SAHO and the three provider unions is scheduled for November 18-21, 2025, in Saskatoon. Over the next four months, 33 days of negotiations have been scheduled to occur every second week whenever possible. SAHO remains committed to resolve these important negotiations and achieve a settlement for all provider unions and employers.

Union/CUPE,Union/SEIU-West,Union/SGEU November 18, 2025