The parties met at the SEIU-West Office in Saskatoon for the week of July 21-25, 2025. 

The week commenced with discussions on a Land Acknowledgement as part of SAHO’s collaborative efforts to embrace and address the Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action. This work followed the joint meeting on June 12th between the provider unions and the SAHO bargaining committees facilitated by former Chief Cadmus Delorme.

During the week-long meeting, negotiations on several other topics continued.  SAHO acknowledges the constructive discussions and the resolution some issues however, progress is incremental with the critical issues flowing from the amalgamation of the 12 former health regions into the single provincial health authority largely unaddressed. 

While SAHO is concerned about the length of time these negotiations are taking, recognizing the operation of the Saskatchewan Health Authority as the unified provincial employer – by having SEIU-West and the other two provider unions come to a common table - is critically important to concluding this round of bargaining. 

The three provider unions have stressed that common table proposals require agreement from all three provider unions.  Using these criteria as a guide, the three unions have submitted lists, however those lists contain significant variances and omissions which is not helpful to move these negotiations forward. The amalgamation of the former regional health authorities into a single provincial health authority requires that all provider unions are at the table to negotiate the common issues that flow from that amalgamation. 

SAHO’s proposals for common table negotiation would give employees the opportunity to maximize hours and create meaningful employment, which may include working in a neighboring union jurisdiction. However, SAHO’s proposals to increase options for employee mobility, including hours of work, do not interfere with union jurisdiction or membership. The integrity of the three provider unions would be maintained.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) wants to ensure that all employees in the 300 plus common classifications, working for the same employer, would maintain internal equity and would benefit equally in the opportunities that come with a new single provincial health employer. Employees would have options to exercise their seniority across the province, while maintaining benefits and accruals. These are real benefits for employees and, at the same time, improve access for patients, residents and clients.  

SEIU-West, along with the other two provider unions, have a long history of common table negotiations on wages and other monetary and non-monetary issues. Numerous letters of understanding, as well as joint market supplement and job evaluation programs, are examples of past successes achieved at a common table. The amalgamation of the former regions into a provincial health authority impacts all three unions and is best addressed collaboratively and at a common table.

SAHO recognizes that while negotiations are underway, economic pressures for employees remain. To help address this, SAHO offered a 3% wage adjustment, retroactive to April 1, 2023, which would provide employees with retroactive payments up to as much as $5,500 as well as an interim wage increase. This offer, worth $90 million, would require SEIU-West and the other two provider unions to commit to timely resolution of their individual union issues and move to a common table. Although this offer has been rejected, it remains open and, on the table, should the unions reconsider.

SAHO and SEIU-West will continue negotiations on August 28 & 29, 2025.

Union/SEIU-West August 01, 2025