"We have trouble understanding why government would not agree to a proposal that puts the needs of cancer patients first." - Kenton Emery, SGEU agreement administration advisor.
Regina (27 Sept. 2011) - Saskatchewan Government and General Employees (SGEU/NUPGE) cancer workers are launching a public campaign to highlight their plan to resolve the impasse in the current round of bargaining and bring long-term stability to labour relations at the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.
"Cancer patients and their families deserve the best care possible. They should not have to deal with disruptions in treatment or services because of contract disputes," according to Kenton Emery, SGEU agreement administration advisor.
"We are prepared to agree to no strikes or work stoppages at the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency for the current round of bargaining and for future contract negotiations in exchange for access to interest arbitration," said Emery. “The arbitration process would take place if we are unable to reach an agreement through negotiations.”
Saskatchewan Cancer Agency workers have been without a collective agreement since 2009.
“We are at a stalemate in negotiations, but do not want to resort to job action. Our members are frontline staff who work with cancer patients every day, and know that they already live with a great deal of uncertainty. We don’t want to add to the challenges they face,” he said. While many concerns have been resolved through negotiation, there are a number of outstanding issues on the table. One key area is extending hours of work for staff.
The union has agreed to expand hours of work to include weekends to provide treatment for cancer patients. Management, however, wants to unilaterally determine how weekend shifts will be set up and regulated.
“Cancer agency staff will be there on weekends to treat patients, but we deserve the opportunity to sit down with management to negotiate a new approach that is fair and workable,” said Emery.
This and other pressing concerns need to be resolved. But the union proposal to refrain from taking strike action in exchange for interest arbitration has not been accepted by government.
"We have trouble understanding why government would not agree to a proposal that puts the needs of cancer patients first," according to Emery.
The cancer agency workers are taking their message to the public with a radio campaign that describes the need for a new approach to bargaining - one that will not disrupt services to cancer patients.
The campaign will be launched Wednesday, September 28, 2011.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE
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