SGEU seeks strike mandate against Saskatchewan government

The union representing Saskatchewan government workers is seeking a strike mandate from its members.

The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union (SGEU) said talks between the public service and government employment bargaining unit and the Public Service Commission have reached an impasse after breaking down in early June.

“We are prepared to return to the bargaining table at any time, but without a strike mandate, I doubt we can make any meaningful progress,” Barry Nowoselsky, the chair of the bargaining committee, said in a statement.

“A mandate from the members to strike does not mean there will be immediate job action, but it strengthens the union negotiating committee’s ability to bargain for a fair deal.”

SGEU said it has had discussions with the government on an essential service agreement in the event of a labour dispute, but there are outstanding issues to be resolved before an agreement is reached.

The Saskatchewan government said they remain committed to negotiating a settlement.

“We respect that the SGEU seeking a strike mandate is part of the collective bargaining process,” said a government spokesperson in a statement to Global News.

“The government remains hopeful that an agreement with SGEU can be reached at the bargaining table.”

Strike mandates can be part of the normal bargaining process, according to Keir Vallance, a law professor at the University of Saskatchewan.

“I’d say strike votes are a lot more common than actual strikes,” Vallance said.

“It can be a show of strength or a show of resolve by the union to the employer to demonstrate to the employer that they’re ready to withdraw their labour if need be.”

Assuming the vote is successful, the union will likely return to the table and present the mandate to government negotiators, Vallance said.

A tentative deal reached between the two sides was rejected by SGEU members in April.

SGEU said proposals on wages, pensions and other contract improvements were brought to the table when bargaining resumed in May.

“Government is unwilling to agree to reasonable improvements in the collective agreement that would give workers and their families a little more economic security,” Nowoselsky said.

SGEU said the strike vote will take place in July.

Professions that make up the bargaining unit include:

• child and youth protection workers;
• family law workers;
• teacher therapists;
• farm stress line workers;
• corrections officers;
• highways workers, including snow plow and other equipment operators;
• conservation officers;
• highway traffic officers;
• agrologists;
• forestry technicians;
• wildfire fighters;
• electricians, plumbers, carpenters and other tradespeople who maintain provincial government buildings;
• labour standards officers;
• building inspectors; and
• administrative professionals in provincial government ministries.

The government and SGEU said they will not comment further at this time.