Dear valued member:

Your bargaining committee met with SAHO on November 5, 6, and 7. Again, the employer refused to agree to any language that would have resulted in improvements to our members’ work/life balance, predictability of scheduling, and other proposals to improve working conditions.

Meanwhile, the employer continued to push their proposals that would increase their ability to move you around, to disregard seniority, and otherwise make your employment more precarious. This is not something your bargaining committee is willing to accept.

Following the provincial election, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe shared that he received a clear message from the electorate and plans to do things differently. Your executive is working to ensure that change includes a different approach to health care. We will be reaching out to the Premier and the newly appointed Minister of Health Jeremy Cockrill to set up meetings where we will outline our priorities and demand better from their government.

Your bargaining committee met with SAHO on August 27, 28, and September 18. The employer has been resistant to scheduling additional bargaining dates this fall and continues to drag its feet and stall negotiations. This is frustrating for your bargaining committee, as we have been bargaining for an entire year, and our members have been without a contract since April 1, 2023.

We approached bargaining with the intent to fight for improvements on issues like relief work, overtime, professional fees, leaves, occupational health and safety, wages, long-term disability benefits, extended health and dental, and pension.