Union: Service Employees International Union-West (SEIU-West)
In-Person Sessions: September 28-29, and October 5-6, 2026
Next Dates: October 28, 29, 30, 2026 (Saskatoon)

SAHO remains committed to achieving an agreement that supports effective and timely care for patients and clients across the province, while addressing workload pressures and creating enhanced opportunities for employee recruitment, retention and career development. To date, SEIU-West has not demonstrated a willingness to respond substantively to several of SAHO’s key proposals.

Proposal Exchanges

SAHO tabled significant monetary proposals in addition to the general economic wage increase of 3%, 3%, 2%, 2%, and 2% over a 5-year term. Combined, all employees in pay bands 1 to 12 and those being offered market adjustments will see an increase of over 20% on average over the term of the five-year agreement.

• A $2.00 per hour increase for Pay Bands 1 through 12 
• Market Adjustments for 23 new classifications and increases to 7 existing classifications with an average increase of 9.54% 
• These adjustments, combined with the general economic wage increase, result in approximately 92% of SEIU-West members receiving increases of over 20% during the term of the proposed five-year agreement
• Retroactivity: The following are examples of retroactive pay for employees who have held their position since the expiry of the current collective agreement, if a settlement is reached with an effective date of January 1, 2027:
  • A full-time Continuing Care Assistant would be entitled to an estimated $12,200 in retroactive pay
  • A full-time Food Service Worker would be entitled to an estimated $10,200 in retroactive pay
  • A full-time Medical Laboratory Technologist I would be entitled to an estimated $39,200 in retroactive pay  
• A 50% Vehicle Allowance increase
• $4.50 round trip for Home Care
• Weekend Premiums increased by 22.2%
• Shift Premium increased by 18.2%
• A new premium for Preceptor Pay at $0.65 cents per hour
• An increase to the Employer paid contribution rate for the Extended Health and Enhanced Dental Plan to meet the union’s proposal of 3.5% which was tabled with the union on July 10, 2026

Agreement in Principle Reached

• Working Alone or Isolated Place of Employment for Home Care Employees
• Definition of Seniority
• Loss of Seniority
• Accrual and Credits (regarding Vacation)
• Telephone Consultation after Hours 

Working Beyond the Employee’s Home Location

SAHO tabled amended proposals for Distribution of Work (LOU) and Cross-Union Jurisdictional Collaboration (LOU), which are designed to address the employers’ need to provide service to patients and residents in areas where service areas may overlap union jurisdictional boundaries.

SAHO’s proposals are not intended to move employees across the province. Current travel distances would be similar, while providing greater flexibility to support timely patient care, address workload pressures, and improve recruitment, retention and career development.

For example, an employee based in Wynyard may currently travel to Wadena for work. With the proposed new work areas, an employee based in Wynyard may alternatively work in Raymore, which is a similar distance. For existing employees, any request to work beyond the defined work area will be voluntary, meaning the employee can choose whether to accept the assignment.

Correcting Misleading Statements

Employee Health and Dental Benefits

SEIU-West has stated that SAHO wants to change benefit funding in a way that could result in employees paying a portion of the cost or losing benefits. SAHO has not proposed changes to employee benefit coverage or cost-sharing. These benefits would continue to be 100% employer funded for the duration of the new collective agreement.

Essential Services

SEIU-West has also characterized the government as delaying essential services negotiations, which is inaccurate. Essential Services are negotiated by the union and employers. The parties last met on this subject May 2, 2026, and the union has not requested any further dates for those negotiations. 

Next Steps

SAHO looks forward to productive and fulsome discussions in the upcoming sessions as both sides work toward an outcome that reflects their respective interests and priorities.

Negotiations continue with further bargaining sessions scheduled for October 28, 29, 30, 2026.

Union/SEIU-West October 08, 2026