More than 30,000 unionized health care workers in Saskatchewan are represented by five unions, with all currently involved in bargaining talks. Trade unionists from across the province met at the biennial convention of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, and lagging health care contract talks were a top concern. “We’ve been in negotiations for three and a half years, and if that tells you anything, what else do you negotiate for three and a half years?” said Lisa Zunti, President, SEIU West . “Most people certainly don’t negotiate an increase in their wage for three and a half years.” Some workers have gone years without a new collective agreement or a wage increase. “Our last health care contract, workers saw an increase of 0, 0, 1, 2 and 2 [per cent raise] over a five year contract. Since that last contract, our workers have gone over four-and-a-half years without a pay increase,” said Jason Monteith, Vice President, SEIU West. The current SFL president is retiring at the end of the convention. Lori Johb says healthcare contracts have been among the more challenging issues during her eight year term. “It’s been difficult, it’s hard, it’s been more than four years without a collective agreement, more than four years without a raise,” she said. Nurses are among workers frustrated by contract delays. “I’m hopeful we can stand up, work together to defend our public health care system, one that was built here in Saskatchewan,” said Bryce Boynton, President, Saskatchewan Union of Nurses. CUPE health care union members recently voted 99 per cent in favour of job action. The province has said that it wants to avoid a strike, stressing that agreement must be reached through talks at the bargaining table. In a statement to CTV News, the government pointed to the Patients First Health Care Action Plan, saying are “taking action to remove barriers to care, reduce wait times, expand access to services, and broaden the scope of practice for health care professionals.” The labour unions at this convention will have access to key decision makers from the legislature. The labour minister will address the convention later this week and the leader of the opposition will present the NDP’s latest health care plan.
