June 30, 2026
Dear Members,
The health provider unions (SEIU-West, CUPE, and SGEU) met with SAHO from June 22 to 26, 2026 for collective bargaining discussions.
Some progress was made on specific issues. You, the members, deserve the credit for this. Your calls, emails, social media posts and attendance at information pickets is putting pressure on SAHO to conclude bargaining.
We have spent months dealing with SAHO’s key priorities, especially their key priority on the movement of work and workers. We continue to reject this priority, which would make it easier for the employer to move work and workers at their discretion. This would be detrimental to our members and would deepen recruitment and retention issues.
We remained focused on our advancing our monetary proposals which include Maternity leave top-up, Professional fees/ licensing reimbursement, and Other Premiums (Shift differential, Weekend Premiums, Standby Pay). Meanwhile, the only monetary issue that the employer has been willing to address is the general wage increase. Unfortunately, their response does not catch members up with cost-of-living increases and would still leave most Saskatchewan health providers making less than their counterparts in Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia.
This week the employer accused us of forgetting patient needs. We reminded them that despite low wages, short staffing, and increased workload, our members show up to work every day because they are committed to quality patient care and to protecting the stability of the health system. SAHO needs to recognize the commitment of our current members by addressing our key priorities and providing competitive wages and fair, respectful treatment of workers.
We need to continue to increase the pressure at the bargaining table and in communities across Saskatchewan. We look forward to your engagement at future actions including membership meetings, info pickets, and rallies.
Upcoming bargaining dates are scheduled for:
• July 6 to 10, 2026
• July 27 to 30, 2026
• August 10 to 14, 2026
• August 24 to 28, 2026
In solidarity, on behalf of your SEIU-West Bargaining Committee.
Click here for a printable version of this bargaining update.