More than two dozen members of CUPE Local 5999 gathered in front of the office for Estevan MLA Doreen Eagles for an informational picket on March 5.

The union members toted signs that promoted organized labour, and criticized Premier Brad Wall's government and the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO) for the lack of progress on a new collective bargaining agreement between CUPE and SAHO. Several CUPE members carried flags.

Passing motorists encouraged the union members with supportive horn honks.

CUPE Local 5999 acting president Sandra Seitz said their members have been without a new collective agreement for nearly two years, and they have not had a wage increase for almost three years. When they started bargaining in 2008, CUPE presented SAHO with concerns over staff recruitment and retention, as well as equitable treatment.

SAHO has broken off conciliation talks, Seitz said. And they have tabled a final offer, Seitz said, which was rejected by 88 per cent of CUPE members around the province.

“We have been out holding meetings with our membership around the region, and the membership has given us the direction that they are not in favour of this final offer,” said Seitz.

“We're out here today to send a strong message to the public, the government and to SAHO that we want to get back to the table and we want to negotiate a fair collective agreement that's going to benefit the working lives of the members here.”

CUPE wants SAHO back at the table, Seitz said, so that negotiations can resume.

Seitz said SAHO's offer doesn't address the equity issues that other health care providers have achieved. They also haven't addressed shift issues, weekend premiums, professional fees, car allowances or multi-site work.

This isn't the first time that CUPE Local 5999 has staged a picket to express their frustration with the direction of negotiations. A picket was held on 13th Avenue in Estevan in September when Wall was in the community.