Sask. nurses union and province reach tentative collective agreement

 Nearly two years after their last one expired, registered nurses in the province have a new deal on the table.

The Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO) and the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) announced Thursday they have signed a memorandum of agreement on a tentative four-year collective bargaining agreement.

“I am pleased to report that in a relatively short period of time the parties were able to reach an agreement. I don’t recall ever having parties move so far so quickly on fundamental issues,” said Richard Hornung, special mediator.

Hornung was brought in to kick-start negotiations after the two side reached an impasse last month. One of the key issues during negotiations was letting nurses bring in additional help if needed.

The four-year agreement would be effective April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2018. Details will not be released until after the ratification process has been completed.

SUN represents 10,000 registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, registered nurse practitioners, and graduates in the province.