The SAHO Bargaining Committee met with the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) at the end of February, held two additional sessions in March, and reconvened again in early April.

Over the course of these sessions, the parties engaged in substantive and collaborative discussions focused on modernizing the collective agreement to better reflect the current structure of healthcare delivery across Saskatchewan.

Significant progress has been made on proposed amendments to Articles 26 - Regional Health Authority Positions, 27 - Vacancies, Promotions or Transfers, 37 - Employees on Other Than Full-Time Status, 45 – Float Orientation, and Letter of Understanding #10 – Return for Service Agreements. SAHO’s Bargaining Committee has presented several comprehensive proposals on these articles in recent sessions. The intent is support of current and future patient care needs, within the geographic realities of the province, with minimal effect on SUN members.

SUN advanced discussions on Articles 15 – Annual Vacations, 17 – Leaves of Absence, 18 – Sick Leave, and 38 – Job Share, which address time-off provisions such as vacation, leaves, and job sharing. SAHO’s Bargaining Committee is reviewing SUN’s recent proposals and will be responding as discussions progress.

While agreement has not yet been reached on these articles, discussions are ongoing. Given the complexity of the issues involved, progress requires careful review and analysis to ensure an appropriate balance between supporting employees and maintaining continuity of patient care. This includes working through and clarifying proposals to fully understand their impacts. SAHO’s Bargaining Committee remains optimistic that through continued dialogue, creativity, and flexibility, the parties will reach agreement.

This round of bargaining represents an important opportunity to address system-level changes that support patient care across Saskatchewan. Discussions to date have included reducing barriers created by former health region boundaries, supporting the development of more full-time nursing positions, advancing provincial programs, and leveraging technology to improve access to care.

As healthcare delivery continues to evolve, both parties recognize the importance of maintaining safe, supportive work environments and fostering an engaged nursing workforce to achieve these shared goals.

Negotiations are scheduled to resume on April 28, 29, 30, and May 1, 2026.

Union/SUN April 15, 2026