First task is to resolve problems created by essential services legislation.
Regina (20 Jan. 2009) - Negotiators for 25,000 health care workers resume contract bargaining this week with the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO), which negotiates for the provincial government on behalf of its health regions.
Initial meetings were held in October and November. Non-monetary issues will be the focus at the new round of meetings being held Tuesday through Thursday this week. Bargaining on monetary issues will occur later. Subsequent sessions have been scheuled for March 17-19, March 31-April 2 and April 28-30.
Three unions are negotiating simultaneously with SAHO. Initially, they are holding separate talks but they will come together for joint bargaining discussions when monetary issues come up for negotiation.
The three groups include the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU/NUPGE), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Service Employees International Union (SIEU). SGEU's committee includes Bonnie Erickson, chair, and Danny Hind, vice-chair, as well as Kim Nordmarken, Annalisa Lindskog and Tammy Glasser.
SGEU says the first priority is to deal with restrictions imposed by essential services legislation, pushed through the legislature by the Saskatchewan Party government of Premier Brad Wall.
"What the government created here is just a big monster," says SGEU president Bob Bymoen.
The complex process of determining which employees should be deemed essential will be burdensome and put a strain on resources for both sides, he adds.
Controversy occurred several weeks ago when the health regions attempted to deem nearly all jobs essential. Even SAHO was forced to remind them that essential services are limited to workers required to prevent danger to life, health and safety. NUPGE
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