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Thousands of government workers will have a chance to vote on a proposed agreement they’ve been waiting on for almost two years.
On Tuesday the provincial government announced it’s reached a tentative agreement with the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union (SGEU).
The public service and government employees’ unit includes about 11,000 workers in jobs ranging from firefighters and correctional officers to child protection workers and equipment operators.
They’ve been without a contract since September of 2022, and the union has been negotiating with government since the following January. SGEU declared an impasse in February of this year, saying the government wasn’t moving much on its positions. In March, a government-appointed mediator started working with the two sides.
“This agreement is the product of months of hard work at the bargaining table,” Lori Bossaer, SGEU’s negotiating committee chair, said in a news release.
“Our goal was to negotiate a contract that provides wage increases and improved working conditions that address recruitment and retention for our members, who provide important programs and services across the province. It’s now up to the membership to make an informed decision.”
The proposed agreement covers the period October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2025.
Dustin Duncan, the minister responsible for the public service commission, said he’s pleased the negotiations have progressed to this point.
“The best agreements are reached at the bargaining table, and this agreement is good for both public service employees and the people of Saskatchewan,” Duncan said in a news release.
The union is planning information sessions for its members, and the votes are expected in the coming weeks.
SaskPower inks new agreement with workers
Meanwhile, SaskPower has reached a new collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2067.
The Crown corporation announced the ratification of the agreement on Tuesday, saying the three-year deal will be retroactive to January 1.
The agreement includes wage increases of three per cent in 2023 and 2024, and two per cent in 2025.
“I’d like to thank both IBEW and SaskPower for their work in reaching this successful agreement at the bargaining table,” Duncan said in a statement.