Employees out at 22 locations in north central areas
Regina (8 Jan. 2007) - The strike by public sector workers in Saskatchewan is growing.
Crews at department of highways locations across Saskatchewan walked off the job over the weekend. Several hundred workers joined picket lines, first in northern and central areas and later at some 40 southern locations.
In all, some 1,200 employees are now off the job.
The union has also announced a new policy to monitor picket traffic in and out of correctional facilities across the province. Vehicles containing RCMP officers, inmate lawyers and "out of scope" managers are being allowed to pass freely. Other vehicles are being scrutinized more closely in an attempt to restrain the use of scabs by the province.
Earlier, a number of environment employees joined the strike.
The walkout began on Dec. 20. Talks remain stalled. The employees are members of the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU/NUPGE).
The provincial government had announced earlier that it would stop using some of the "scab" correctional workers who have been employed to boost the ranks of managers and RCMP officers at provincial institutions. NUPGE
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