By Katie Ryan
The three health unions that have been without a contract for two years are regrouping to evaluate their next course of action.
Earlier last week, representatives from the three health unions – CUPE, SGEU and SEIU – submitted a counter-offer to the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations in contract discussions on Tuesday which was written in response to SAHO’s amended final offer presented the week prior. The very next day SAHO responded to the unions’ proposals, which focussed on wages, benefits and working conditions, maintaining that the final offer and addendum are fair.
“It’s been quite a couple of days of activity,” said Gordon Campbell, CUPE spokesperson. “What we did on Monday, we took off a number of issues. The coalition bargaining committee – CUPE, SEIU-West and SGEU – we withdrew a number of our proposals and we believe that, in fact, they should have looked at that a little bit harder. They should have given it serious consideration and I don’t believe that they did.”
The proposals addressed wage premiums, including differential and premiums as well. In a press release SAHO said a review of the unions’ proposal indicated that the current rates are competitive and the unions’ “demands of an additional $80 million” will not be met.
“There is no competitive rationale for expanding the financial resources that have already been tabled,” said SAHO president Susan Antosh, in the press release.
Campbell said he was puzzled as to how SAHO came up with the $80 million figure.
“Quite frankly, where they are indicating this is a cost of $80 million I would suggest that figure is spun however they want to make those numbers look. And they’ve indicated in the past they have spent $100,000 on advertising and they keep continuing to do that, I don’t know the exact figure they would have spent, but I would suggest that whoever is doing their calculations – they are not correct,” he said. “The cost savings were taken off the bargaining table the other day, they would realize those monies and this collective agreement would not be costing them anything.”
Campbell said the unions’ next step will be to meet with their coalition partners and take direction from their 25,000 members.
“At the end of the day, we don’t believe SAHO has the arbitrary right to say ‘here’s what it is and go and vote on it.’ Negotiations are a process between two parties to come to an agreement,” he said.
“CUPE members are looking for an agreement that values and respects the work they provide for the citizens of Saskatchewan, they want to continue that and they just need to have the Government of Saskatchewan recognize and put some money forward in order to get this done. I don’t think this would be a huge thing for them to do.”