A strike notice issued by the union representing more than 3,000 specialized health care professionals may have a trickling effect into the area.
But health workers in the Sunrise Health Region (SHR) don't know when, or if, they will be participating in the province-wide unionsparked strikes, according to union president Cathy Dickson.
"We're not giving out that information to the public," Dickson says of the union's strike plans, or lack thereof. "They would probably get one days notice."
The strike notice was issued by the union last Friday since then health care professionals in Prince Albert and Saskatoon have gone on strike.
Dickson says the job action was instigated by the employers and the provincial government.
"Health care employers and the Wall government are directly responsible for this strike action," Dickson says.
"Through more than two years of frustrating negotiations, we have done everything possible to avoid strike action, but an unreasonable government, and health care employers who are balancing their budgets on the back of our health care professionals and our patients, have left us with no choice."
And the threat and execution of strike threats has successfully renewed the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations' (SAHO), which represents the provincial government in negotiations, interest in bargaining, Dickson adds.
"Right after we gave them the 48-hour (strike) notice (on Friday) they contacted us," Dickson said Monday.
"But we've gone for over two years so we need something substantial."
SAHO has offered workers a 7.5 per cent wage increase over four years, but the union is looking for an 18.5 per cent increase over four years.
Dickson says the union - which represents paramedics, mental-health and addictions counselors, respiratory therapists, hospital pharmacists, and psychologists, as well as others - is also looking for other improvements.
Dickson says chronic under-staffing as well as recruitment and retention of health care professionals are two of the union's other main focuses.
Meanwhile, SAHO says it is disappointed the union has chosen to issue strike notice for job action at this time.
"We repeated our message that we still had little room to move and were interested in continuing discussions," president and CEO of SAHO Susan Antosh says of the bargaining between the two sides.
The two sides were scheduled to meet at the bargaining table once again yesterday.
The Essential Services legislation, put in place in 2008, prevents about 50 per cent of union members from striking. Each health region decides what jobs are essential in its area, so strike members may differ across the province.
The legislation is put in place to ensure continued health services are provided to prevent danger to life, health or safety of the residents of the province.
