SGEU declares impasse in negotiations with Sask. government

While contract negotiations between Saskatchewan’s teachers and the provincial government continues, the province now is also facing labour strife with some of its employees.

In a media release Wednesday, the Public Service/Government Employment (PS/GE) bargaining unit of the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union (SGEU) said it had reached an impasse in its negotiations with the government.

The current agreement expired on Sept. 30, 2022.

The PS/GE represents more than 11,000 people who work in government ministries and agencies. Those include firefighters, correctional officers, child protection workers, conservation officers and equipment operators, among others.

“After over a year of bargaining, we are disappointed that the Government of Saskatchewan is unwilling to negotiate fair enhancements in the new contract,” Lori Bossaer, chair of the PS/GE negotiating committee, said in the release.

The union noted it’s seeking catch-up wage increases tied to the cost of living, enhanced mental health sick leave, enhanced salaries when employees performing essential services are required to work during a pandemic, and an increase to employees’ pensions.

“Over the past few years, our members on the frontlines have dealt with a pandemic, a mental health and addictions crisis, a cost-of-living crisis, and an unprecedented wildfire season,” Bossaer said.

“These dedicated employees provide important programs and services to Saskatchewan residents, and they deserve to have a collective agreement that recognizes and supports the work they do.”

As required under the Saskatchewan Employment Act, the SGEU has asked Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Don McMorris to appoint a mediator or conciliator to help the parties.

According to the act, the sides have to negotiate an Essential Services Agreement that outlines which workers will have to keep working in the event of a work stoppage because of the duties they perform.

That process requires the sides to go through each workplace to identify the employees whose work is essential to what the union termed “the life, personal safety or health of the population.”

The SGEU also is eager to see recruitment and retention addressed in the new contract.

“We’re seeing more turnover across the board,” Bossaer said in the release. “Our members are burning out. They are working long shifts, skipping breaks, working extra hours, and are sometimes forced to work overtime.

“Workload challenges coupled with wages that haven’t kept pace with inflation means that members are looking for work elsewhere. It is just not sustainable.”