As part of SAHO’s collaborative efforts to embrace and address the Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action, a joint gathering of the CUPE, SEIU-West, SGEU and SAHO Bargaining Committees took place on June 12th in Regina with former Chief Cadmus Delorme. We appreciate the unions cooperation and enthusiasm for this shared learning experience.  

Collective bargaining continued June 23, 24, 25, 26 & 27, 2025 in Saskatoon.  The parties exchanged proposals on multiple topics and, while the discussions were productive, there was very little progress on SAHO’s key priorities. SEIU-West has been drawing out these discussions with a focus on procedural issues. This table also continues to be behind the other two provider union negotiation tables in addressing individual union issues despite additional bargaining dates with SEIU-West to narrow the issues.

To help bring the provider unions to a common table, SAHO has asked the unions to provide a list of items that would be considered suitable for the common table. SGEU and CUPE have provided the list, and we received the list from SEIU-West on the last day of this bargaining session. The intent of the lists is to assist the parties to move forward to common table discussions, including monetary issues.

To help bring SEIU-West and the other two provider unions to a common table, SAHO has asked the unions to provide a list of items that would be considered suitable for the common table. SGEU and CUPE have provided the list, and we received the list from SEIU-West on the last day of this bargaining session. The intent of the lists is to assist the parties to move forward to common table discussions, including monetary issues.

From the outset of negotiations in the fall of 2023, SAHO has been clear that all three provider unions - CUPE, SGEU, and SEIU-West - need to negotiate certain issues, like hours of work and scheduling, at a common table, now that the 12 former regional health authorities have been amalgamated into a single provincial health authority.

SAHO’s proposals for common table negotiation would give employees the opportunity to maximize hours and create meaningful employment, which may include working in a neighboring union jurisdiction. However, SAHO’s proposals to increase options for employee mobility, including hours of work, 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 would 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 and, at the same time, improve access for patients, residents and clients.  

SEIU-West, along with the other two provider unions, have a long history of common table negotiations on wages and other monetary and non-monetary issues. Numerous letters of understanding, as well as joint market supplement and job evaluation programs, are examples of past successes achieved at a common table. The amalgamation of the former regions into a provincial health authority impacts all three unions and is best addressed collaboratively and at a common table.

While SAHO is concerned about the length of time these negotiations are taking, recognizing the operation of the Saskatchewan Health Authority as the unified provincial employer – by having SEIU-West and the other two provider unions come to a common table - is critically important in this round of bargaining. This remains something SEIU-West and the other two provider unions are unwilling to fully acknowledge.

SAHO recognizes that while negotiations are underway, economic pressures for employees remain. To help address this, SAHO offered a 3% wage adjustment, retroactive to April 1, 2023, which would provide employees with retroactive payments up to as much as $5,500 as well as an interim wage increase. This offer, worth $90 million, would require SEIU-West and the other two provider unions to commit to timely resolution of their individual union issues and move to a common table. To date, SEIU-West and the other provider unions have refused to do so. This offer remains open and, on the table, should the unions reconsider.

SAHO and SEIU-West are scheduled to continue negotiations on July 21 – 25, 2025 in Saskatoon.

Union/SEIU-West July 09, 2025