December 22, 2020
Sun Members Vote in Favor Of New Contract
On behalf of the SUN Board of Directors and your Negotiations Committee, SUN is pleased to announce members have ratified the tentative agreement between SUN and SAHO.
SUN members have voted 89.1% in favour of ratifying a six-year Collective Agreement (April 1, 2018 - March 31, 2024) with SAHO.
"I am incredibly proud of the work and accomplishments of the Negotiations Committee and their commitment to the negotiations process," said SUN President, Tracy Zambory. "We didn’t waiver and we remained committed to our membership. Our focus and perseverance kept us strong and we achieved an agreement that gives registered nurses stability in these unprecedented times."
Thank you to all who took the time to vote and your continued support for your Negotiations Committee.
Next Steps:
SAHO will not be in a position to ratify the tentative agreement until mid-January 2021.
Following the Employer's ratification vote, SUN will work with SAHO to finalize the details and process regarding the implementation of elements of the new Collective Agreement and retroactivity.
Details will be communicated to members when available.
November 29, 2020
Membership Information Meetings
Your SUN/SAHO Negotiations Committee will be holding virtual Membership Information Meetings December 15-17, 2020, to discuss the details of the tentative collective agreement.
| December 15 | December 16 | December 17 |
| 0900 | 0900 | 0900 |
| 1200 | 1200 | 1200 |
| 1900 | 1900 | 1900 |
Members are encouraged to attend a virtual meeting that works within their schedule. The virtual Membership Meetings will be hosted via Zoom web conferencing - joining by computer, tablet or mobile device with a stable internet connection is strongly recommended.
Members are required to register in advance to ensure they receive the appropriate information to access the meeting. Access information and the meeting link will be sent one-day in advance of the scheduled meeting.
New to Zoom? Helpful Resources are available on our website, click here to view.
Ratification Vote
The ratification vote for the SUN/SAHO tentative agreement shall be conducted by electronic ballot.
Voting will open at 08:00 SASKATCHEWAN on 21-DECEMBER-2020.
Voting will remain open until 16:00 SASKATCHEWAN on 22-DECEMBER-2020.
Voting instructions will be distributed to all eligible voters by standard mail on or around 15-DECEMBER-2020, and by email on or around 21-DECEMBER-2020 - please watch your junk mail or spam folders.
Each eligible voter will receive an Elector ID number and a PIN number. These are both required to cast a ballot. These credentials are only good for one vote.
Eligible voters will have the ability to vote using a toll-free phone number or through the voting website.
November 24, 2020
Yesterday your Negotiations Committee reported that over the weekend, they reached a tentative agreement with SAHO. SUN Provincial has received a number of questions regarding the term of the agreement and compensation package.
The Committee is pleased to advise members the tentative agreement offers a term and compensation package that aligns with what some other healthcare unions have achieved and includes no rollbacks.
In the coming weeks, your Committee will be conducting virtual Member Information Meetings to provide members information and specific details regarding the tentative agreement.
Please watch your email and SUN’s website for further information concerning membership meetings and a ratification vote in the days ahead.
In solidarity,
Your Negotiations Committee
Tracy Zambory, RN - SUN President
Mark Henderson, RN - Committee Chair & Second Vice-President
Candace Bellegarde, RPN – Community Mental Health Representative
Janet Dziadyk, RN - Saskatoon Base Hospitals Representative
Leah Puetz, RN – Regional Hospital Representative
Lenore McMillan, RN - Home Care Representative
Pamela Todd, RN - Regina Base Hospitals Representative
Aubrey Tollefson, RN – Integrated Facilities Representative
The Committee is supported by:
Donna Trainor, RN - Executive Director
Amber Alexce - Director of Government Relations
Colin Hein, RN - Executive Administrative Coordinator
Aidan Conway - Policy Analyst & Research Officer
Touly Katsiris - Office Assitant
November 23, 2020
Your Negotiations Committee is pleased to report that over the weekend, they reached a tentative agreement with SAHO. In these challenging and uncertain times, your Negotiations Committee has successfully avoided any rollbacks and believes the tentative agreement will serve SUN members well during these unprecedented times.
In the coming weeks, your Committee will be conducting virtual Member Information Meetings to provide members information and details regarding the tentative agreement.
Please watch your email and SUN’s website for further information concerning membership meetings and a ratification vote in the days ahead.
In solidarity,
Your Negotiations Committee
Tracy Zambory, RN - SUN President
Mark Henderson, RN - Committee Chair & Second Vice-President
Candace Bellegarde, RPN – Community Mental Health Representative
Janet Dziadyk, RN - Saskatoon Base Hospitals Representative
Leah Puetz, RN – Regional Hospital Representative
Lenore McMillan, RN - Home Care Representative
Pamela Todd, RN - Regina Base Hospitals Representative
Aubrey Tollefson, RN – Integrated Facilities Representative
The Committee is supported by:
Donna Trainor, RN - Executive Director
Amber Alexce - Director of Government Relations
Colin Hein, RN - Executive Administrative Coordinator
Aidan Conway - Policy Analyst & Research Officer
Touly Katsiris - Office Assitant
June 8, 2020
As previously reported, your Negotiations Committee filed an Unfair Labour Practice Application in early November 2019. A hearing with the Labour Relations Board was scheduled to begin May 11, 2020.
However, because of complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this hearing was postponed. We are now scheduled to appear before the Labour Relations Board from December 7, 2020 to December 15, 2020.
SUN and your Negotiations Committee thank you for your support and patience during this time.
January 15, 2020
As previously reported, your Negotiations Committee filed an Unfair Labour Practice Application in early November 2019. The decision to file was reached after over a year of negotiation with SAHO and the Employer Representatives, and after SAHO and the Employer Representatives tabled a third package.
In November 2019, SUN consulted with legal counsel and determined that there had not been bargaining in good faith.
We wish to advise that the hearing at the Labour Relations Board has been scheduled for the week of May 11, 2020.
SUN and your Negotiations Committee thank you for your support.
November 4, 2019
As previously reported, your Negotiations Committee has been busy reviewing a new revised package from SAHO and the Employer Representatives, which was presented at the Oct. 16 bargaining meeting.
Your Committee met once again last week and after consulting with legal counsel, SUN has determined that there has not been bargaining in good faith and consequently we are preparing to file an Unfair Labour Practice Application.
As a result, we have adjourned the bargaining meetings scheduled for Nov. 6 and 7.
Please pay careful attention to your email in the coming days, as more information will be shared with members as soon as it is available.
October 22, 2019
On Oct. 15 and 16, SUN's Bargaining Committee met with the SAHO Bargaining Committee to continue negotiations, and with the intent of discussing safe patient care, knowing this is a key priority to SUN members.
We were incredibly surprised when SAHO tabled a third package. This new package requires a thorough audit by SUN's Bargaining Committee in order to determine our position and next steps.
We are pleased to report that despite this development, we did discuss safe patient care. However, we have yet to receive any response from the SAHO Bargaining Committee.
Your Bargaining Committee is reviewing the package presented by the SAHO Bargaining Committee. Negotiations resume in Regina at the end of October. Achieving a productive and timely resolution remains our objective.
Thank you to all 340+ members who attended Friday's 2019 SUN Education Conference and heard this information in person.
June 18, 2019
On June 11, 12, and 13th, SUN’s Bargaining Committee met with the SAHO Bargaining Committee to continue negotiations, and with the intent of delivering information regarding members’ priority issue of high-quality nursing practice and safe patient care. However, we were incredibly disappointed to learn that after 18 days of bargaining, SAHO’s Bargaining Committee wanted to move away from the ground rules agreed to before bargaining commenced and, when advised by SUN’s Bargaining Committee that the agreed to ground rules needed to be followed, postponed further negotiations and advised it wanted to revisit those ground rules for committee conduct before moving forward. This meant that SUN’s Committee was unable to have further discussion on these critical issues for patients and SUN members.
SAHO’s Bargaining Committee further identified that they will be prepared for bargaining to resume in October, however, the initial issue for discussion will be SAHO’s desire to revisit the Committee Ground Rules set at the beginning of bargaining.
Your Committee was extremely disappointed but will continue to work diligently to ensure that key issues like safe patient care and professional practice are recognized. We remain ready and willing to continue collective bargaining with the goal of a productive, and timely resolution.
January 14, 2019
[January 14, 2019] On January 9th and 10th, SUN’s Negotiations Committee met with SAHO in order to receive and begin review of SAHO’s comprehensive package of proposals. An initial review of the package is underway and will require careful consideration and analysis as we prepare our next steps in bargaining.
While it was disappointing that SAHO had to cancel the previously scheduled bargaining dates in December on short notice, SUN continues to be prepared and eager to engage in collaborative, solution oriented conversations. Your Negotiations Committee is committed to a fair and equitable resolution that does not include regressive language and upholds member priorities of addressing professional practice issues and providing safe, high quality care to patients.
The parties will reconvene for further discussion on March 20 - 22, 2019.
November 7, 2018
[November 7, 2018] On October 30th through to November 2nd, SUN’S Negotiations Committee continued to meet with SAHO to review the packages that were exchanged. The review is still in preliminary stages and further conversation will take place when the groups reconvene on December 3rd and 4th.
In doing this work, your Negotiations Committee is taking a solutions-based approach and remains firmly committed to addressing membership priorities regarding professional practice and safe patient care.
October 5, 2018
[October 5, 2018] It is with significant disappointment that we advise your SUN/SAHO Negotiations Committee was unable to reach resolution through expedited conversation over the past weeks.
Despite efforts to improve professional practice and the patient care experience, we were not able to achieve a balanced resolution and are now looking toward a traditional bargaining process that will begin this week.
We remain committed to the priorities of SUN members and advancing safe, high quality professional practice for our members and the patients of this province.
September 13, 2018
[September 13, 2018] Your Negotiations Committee embarked on formal negotiations with SAHO on September 7, 10 and 11, in Regina.
Focused conversations saw the parties discussing important issues and solutions. Your Committee remains committed to addressing members’ top priorities of professional practice and safe patient care.
The parties will resume conversations on September 19 in Regina. Watch your emails for updates from your Committee as they become available.
September 6, 2018
[September 6, 2018] SUN and SAHO met this week and have jointly determined that bargaining will commence on September 7th. The parties had dates set for the beginning of October; however, earlier dates became available, which the parties agreed to take advantage of.
We know that having a new collective agreement in place will not only benefit the system and patients, but will also ensure any concerns you have around bargaining during these uncertain times are alleviated. For this reason, SUN is committed to successful resolution of negotiations as soon as possible.
Please watch your emails for progress reports from your Negotiations Committee.
