SAHO/HEALTH PROVIDER UNION (HPU)

 July 27, 2026

Following the last SAHO/Health Provider Union (HPU) collective bargaining session, separate meetings were scheduled with CUPE, SGEU, and SEIU-West to independently respond to the individual packages SAHO tabled with each HPU on Friday July 10, 2026. SAHO’s packages intend to effectively move negotiations to conclusion by narrowing its remaining proposals to support the Employers’ key priorities.  SAHO/SGEU met on July 20 and 21, SAHO/SEIU-West met on July 23 and 24, and CUPE is scheduled for July 27 and 28.

 SAHO/SEIU-West July 22-23

SEIU-West took the necessary time on July 22 to review SAHO’s package before tabling a partial response on the afternoon of July 23. 

Although SIEU-West was unable to provide a full response, SAHO recognizes and appreciates the time and effort that SEIU-West put into the response they provided. SAHO is reviewing the document provided and will be able to respond at the next bargaining session set for August 13 and 14, 2026. SAHO also anticipates receiving the remainder of SEIU-West’s response to the SAHO package tabled on July 10, 2026, at the August 13 and 14, 2026 session. 

Both SAHO’s package and SEIU-West’s response focus on the outstanding priorities of the parties. For the employers this includes the movement of employees and work, portability of benefits and seniority, contracting in, and monetary proposals. Addressing these priorities will ensure a competitive, stable workforce and enable more efficient patient centered care across the province.

 The examples below demonstrate how HPU territorial boundaries can negatively impact patient care and unnecessarily restrict the employer’s ability to address workload issues. SAHO’s proposals are intended to reduce these barriers to ensure effective and timely patient care, enhance opportunities for recruitment, retention, and career development of employees, as well as reduce reliance on temporary third-party staffing resources.

Example #1

Orange = SEIU-West Territory     Green = CUPE Territory  Moose Jaw to Regina = 72 km

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) provides Medical Radiation Technology services in both Moose Jaw (SEIU-West) and Regina (CUPE). Unfortunately, if there is an unexpected or unplanned absence of a Medical Radiation Technologist (MRT) in one city, the current collective agreements prohibit an available MRT from the other city from providing temporary coverage to maintain services because the cities are in different union territories. As a result, services in one of the cities may be limited and patients would be required to either travel to another community to receive the service (assuming there is capacity to be seen on short notice) or delay their service until the MRT in their city returns.

 Example #2

Orange = SEIU-West Territory     Green = CUPE Territory  Moose Jaw to Regina = 72 km

Cooks provide services at Affiliate special care homes in Moose Jaw (SEIU-West) at Providence Place and in Regina at Santa Maria (CUPE).   

Unfortunately, the current language of these two collective agreements means that if either Santa Maria or Providence Place is experiencing an unexpected or unplanned absence of a Cook, an available Cook employed at the other location cannot come to assist because the two locations are in different union territories. The food services team would be required to work short, placing unnecessary stress and workload pressures on the team.  

To remedy the issues raised by the above examples, SAHO’s proposals would allow for an available MRT or Cook from Regina (72 km, 36-minute drive) to travel to Moose Jaw, and vice versa, to provide temporary coverage ensuring that patients continue to receive the service in their home communities. The employee traveling between the facilities would be paid for their time spent in transit as part of their regular working hours and the kilometrage for the round trip.  

This round of bargaining continues to provide an opportunity to review and modernize collective agreements to better reflect the realities of Saskatchewan’s healthcare environment. Discussions have included initiatives focused on strengthening healthcare delivery across Saskatchewan by maximizing employment opportunities and enhancing timely access to patient care.   

The next bargaining session is scheduled for August 13 and 14, 2026 and we are waiting for confirmation from SEIU-West for additional dates next month as we work to conclude negotiations. 

Union/SEIU-West July 30, 2026