SAHO/HEALTH PROVIDER UNION (HPU)

CUPE Bargaining Update

August 20, 2026

SAHO and CUPE met on August 11 and 12, 2026. SAHO tabled a response to CUPE’s July 28th package. CUPE tabled a subsequent package on August 12th focused on monetary proposals which failed to acknowledge key priorities presented by SAHO.

While some movement was noted in a couple of areas, CUPE is refusing to engage in exchanges of proposals on movement of employees and work outside of their territory or contracting in. Discussions in these areas are necessary to find solutions to the modernization of the delivery of health care in the province.

The best outcomes for collective bargaining are made at the bargaining table and give and take is required from both parties. It is unreasonable to expect otherwise.

SAHO’s proposals are not intended to move employees involuntarily, at-will across the province nor grant the employer the ability to move work or employees to anywhere in the province at their discretion. These proposals will maintain and reduce the current distances employees are required to travel and reduce barriers to delivery of care for both patients and employees.  

These proposals will ensure greater flexibility for effective and timely patient care, address workload issues for employees and enhanced opportunities for recruitment, retention, and career development particularly in areas near the borders of CUPE territories. The proposals respect union jurisdictions while creating opportunities to reduce stress for employees, so they are not working short or are not able to deliver timely care to the patients/residents they serve.

As the following example illustrates, a CUPE member who is a Continuing Care Aide (CCA) with her home base in Preeceville could be assigned to provide necessary care to a patient in the Kelvington area, which is SGEU territory, if there is no SGEU member available to meet that patient’s needs. The assigned CUPE CCA would remain a CUPE member during this assignment and would continue to be covered by the SAHO/CUPE collective agreement. The assignment would be included as part of their regular workday, inclusive of travel time with mileage expenses paid for by the employer.

Orange = SEIU-West Territory, Green = CUPE Territory, Blue = SGEU Territory

Kelvington to Preeceville = 67.9 km

This would ensure that the patient could receive homecare services within their home rather than the patient having to drive to another community to receive care or to have their care delayed until a SGEU CCA is available.

Some flexibility to meet patient and system demands, without interference with the union territories would assist in reducing workload pressures, provide possible interim relief while a vacancy is being filled, and support better delivery of patient care. CUPE continues to raise concerns regarding recruitment and retention of health care workers. SAHO acknowledges efforts underway to grow and maintain the health workforce across Saskatchewan with the Ministry of Health’s Health Human Resources (HHR) Action Plan and the Patients First Health Care Plan guiding this work.

Since the expiry of the CUPE collective agreement on March 31, 2023, through the work of the Ministry and the efforts of the employers, CUPE has seen their membership grow from about 14,500 to more than 15,300, with approximately 800 new members during that period. Additionally, we have seen the number of retirements decline from the historical high in 2017. These are all positive indications of the retention and growth in healthcare but there is more to do.

We understand there may be some confusion because CUPE has publicly announced that it will be taking a strike vote next month. However, it is important to note that regardless of the results of the vote, CUPE cannot legally go on strike or take job action until an Essential Services Agreement (ESA) is in place. At present, the required negotiations to develop an ESA have not commenced. When they do, they will be robust and complex to ensure any ESA meets the legislated requirements to ensure the public has adequate access to essential medical care during any potential job action. Therefore, efforts are better focused on reaching a resolution through the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations. We encourage CUPE to maintain their focus on resolving the collective agreement.

The next bargaining session is scheduled for August 27 and 28, 2026 and SAHO is looking forward to a productive session.  

Union/CUPE August 26, 2026