SAHO and SGEU met in Saskatoon, on May 13, 14 and 15th, 2025.

The parties continued positive and productive negotiations with agreement reached on multiple items.

Since the initial exchange of proposals with SGEU in the fall of 2023, SAHO has emphasized the need to move proposals related to the amalgamation of the twelve former Regional Health Authorities into a single employer to a common table. SAHO has asked the provider unions to provide a list of proposals for negotiation at a common table and SGEU indicated they will do so.  This is a positive development. CUPE has provided such a list and SAHO is hopeful that SEIU-West will do likewise.

SAHO has been raising the need to quickly resolve individual union table issues and move to the common table to begin our negotiations for some critical issues including monetary. It is in everyone’s interest that all employees in the 300 plus common classifications covered by three (3) collective agreements, maintain internal equity for terms and conditions, including wages and non-wage monetary compensation and that employees can benefit equally in the opportunities of a new single provincial health employer. The move to a single provincial health employer impacts all employees regardless of union jurisdiction or location. The SAHO proposal package seeks to maintain the integrity of the three provider unions while finding common solutions to common issues. Resolution of these issues will require collaborative, all-party negotiations, much like negotiations related to the joint job evaluation program, the market supplement program, the many common Letters of Understanding and all monetary compensation. 

 SAHO remains committed to a fair and transparent bargaining process with proposals that are constructed to address common issues and ensure that employees have options to exercise their seniority provincially while maintaining benefits and accruals. There is a desire to provide employees the opportunity to maximize hours and create meaningful employment which may include working in a neighboring union jurisdiction. This can be achieved without any interference with union jurisdiction or membership and can enable employment improvements for employees while improving access to care for patients, residents and clients.  

The offer from SAHO to address some interim economic pressures for employees with a 3% wage adjustment, retroactive to April 1, 2023, remains in place, should the unions want to re-visit this offer. This offer is in exchange for a commitment from the provider unions to a timely resolution of individual union issues and a collective move to a common table. The offer, valued at approximately $90 Million, could provide employees with retroactive payments ranging from $2,000 to $5,500 and could provide some economic relief while the parties focus on concluding negotiations.  

We want to acknowledge the work that SGEU has done to focus on the individual issues and the collaborative approach to finding solutions.  

As part of our collaborative efforts to embrace and address the Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action, a joint gathering of the SGEU, CUPE, SEIU-West and SAHO Bargaining Committees will take place on June 12th in Regina with former Chief Cadmus Delorme.

SAHO and SGEU are scheduled to continue negotiations on June 10, 11, and 12th in Regina.

Union/SGEU June 04, 2025