SAHO and SEIU-West met in Saskatoon on March 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7th, 2025.

The parties had a positive and productive week of bargaining including some progress in identifying individual table vs common issues.   

Since the initial exchange of proposals with SEIU-West in the fall of 2023, SAHO has emphasized the need to move proposals related to the amalgamation of the twelve former Regional Health Authorities into to a single employer to a common table. Addressing these issues requires the participation of all three (3) provider unions at the same table. Recently discussions for improving that process, including an interim wage adjustment of 3% retroactive to April 1, 2023, were declined by SEIU-West, SGEU, and CUPE. SAHO is disappointed but hope there will be an opportunity in future to continue discussions on an improved process. 

This offer was an unprecedented and innovative approach to address some immediate monetary concerns of employees and provide improvements to the timeliness of negotiations. The unions rejected a monetary offer upwards of $90M. For employees in Pay Bands 2 to 20, this equates to retroactive payments which range from approximately $2000 to $5500 per full time employee. It is unfortunate that employees will not receive some economic relief and that the pace of negotiations will be unchanged.

 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, maintain internal equity for terms and conditions, including wages and non-wage monetary compensation and that employees can benefit equally in the opportunities of a single employer. The move to a single employer impacts all employees working in these common classifications regardless of union jurisdiction or location. Resolution to these issues should be considered jointly and collaboratively, much like discussions relating to the joint job evaluation program, the market supplement program, common Letters of Understanding and monetary compensation. The SAHO proposal package seeks to maintain the integrity of the three provider unions while finding common solutions to common issues.

SAHO’s proposals are designed to align and harmonize administration of the collective agreements ensuring 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 to create fulltime positions and/or more meaningful part time positions that could include working in a neighboring union jurisdiction. This can be achieved without any interference with union jurisdiction or membership and enables improvements for employees and the patients, residents and clients they serve.  

SEIU-West was unavailable for any further dates in March, so the next bargaining dates are April 14, 15, 16, 2025 in Saskatoon.

Union/SEIU-West March 24, 2025