Health Science workers in the Sunrise Health Region held a two-day strike in Yorkton and Melville last week.
The specialized healthcare professionals represented by the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan, who range from therapists and psychologists to dietitians, EMTs, pharmacists, and social workers, have been without a contract for more than two years.
Two-thirds of the workers are restricted from strike action by the province's Essential Services Act, and so the union called on approximately 60 of its 180 members in the region to strike on Wednesday. The strike was later extended to Thursday morning.
Seven healthcare facilities around the region were affected.
The union's demands include an 18.5 percent salary increase over four years and added benefits such as paid maternity leave.
The Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO) Bargaining Team has offered the employees a 7.5 percent increase over four years. According to the Health Science Association, negotiations are stalled until the provincial government either changes its public sector wage mandate or accepts independent binding arbitration.
The union is demanding wages and benefits more in line with those offered to nurses in Saskatchewan.
"The reason for that is that our professionals need as much or more specialized education than do nurses, and we work alongside nurses, and yet we're paid more than 35 percent less than what a nurse gets," says Cathy Dickson, president of the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan.
SAHO and the provincial government have not yet announced plans to reopen negotiations.
Health Science strikes have previously been held this spring in Swift Current, Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert.
