Saskatchewan Cancer Agency Amends Final Offer to Union
11-Apr-2012
Saskatchewan Cancer Agency Amends Final Offer to Union
Putting patients first was top of mind for the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency as it delivered an amended final offer to the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union (SGEU) today.
“The offer presented today continues to provide competitive wages, but now also offers retroactivity for all classifications which includes nurses,” said Bernie Young, Vice President, Labour Relations for the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO) who is assisting the Cancer Agency with collective bargaining.
We believe the employer offer provides a competitive ability for the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency to continue to recruit and retain staff integral to the delivery of quality patient care as well as giving the Agency the ability to expand the hours of operation and delivery of cancer care from five days a week to six.
The offer continues to include increases to shift differential and weekend premiums, and enhanced maternity/paternity leave benefits. In addition there is a market adjustment for three classifications where the employer has identified challenges with recruitment and retention and wage rates which are not competitive in the appropriate market. The offer puts wages in line with the western Canadian average and registered nurses will receive wage parity with Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) as of date of signing the collective agreement. The term of the agreement has been reduced from 51 months to 39 months.
“The amendments presented to the union today continue to ensure that the patient is at the heart of care at the Cancer Agency, but also values the employees who provide this care,” Young said.
SAHO again encouraged the union to take this revised final offer to the employees for a vote. Details of the amended final offer are available on the web site at www.working-together.info or www.saskcancer.ca.
- 30 -
SAHO News Release 11042012