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.
Meanwhile, the employer has been demanding concessions and is attempting to align the three provider collective agreements so that they look identical for ease of administration. The employer’s proposals also aim to accommodate their broken AIMS software and to facilitate their proposed “network system” – which would allow the SHA to move employees from worksite to worksite, regardless of union boundaries, whenever and however they want. This is not something your bargaining committee is willing to accept.
We plan to work with other provider unions to strategize how to collectively pressure the employer to back down from their unreasonable proposals that will worsen working conditions for our members. We are also asking our members to participate in upcoming days of action and events and consider writing or emailing those who are ultimately calling the shots in our collective bargaining process – the provincial government. Please consider writing or calling the Minister of Health and the Premier to let them know the time for a fair deal is now:
Premier Scott Moe Minister of Health Everett Hindley
306-787-9433 306-787-7345
Our next bargaining dates are November 5, 6, and 7, 2024. We appreciate your support as we navigate this challenging bargaining process and will keep you posted on other opportunities for us to come together in solidarity.
In solidarity,
Your Bargaining Committee: Bashir Jalloh (President), Linda Renkas (Vice-President), Nancy Black (Recording Secretary), Rhonda Osipoff (Treasurer), Linda Vancuren (R1), Sharon Paul (R2), Janell Hubbard (R3), Adrienne Gardiner (R4), Corinne Sopel (R5), Justin Mercier (staff), Craig Thebaud (staff), Janice Janzen (staff)