Unifor workers ratify contracts with Crown corporations

Unionized workers at seven Saskatchewan Crown corporations now have ratified their collective bargaining agreements.

Unifor started holding ratification meetings around the province on Oct. 23. The last meeting was held Thursday.

“Unifor members took historic direct action to get a contract they deserve,” Unifor national president Jerry Dias said in a media release announcing the ratification. “Solidarity was key to their success and they should be proud of what they accomplished together.”

“We are very pleased that Unifor-represented employees have voted to ratify their respective agreements,” Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said in a government-issued media release.

“We believe the agreements are fair and equitable and provide for long-term stability for both employees and Crown corporations and agencies. Thank you to both management and union bargaining teams for their hard work and dedication throughout the process.”

The union said the new collective agreements “include a net increase in spending beyond the five per cent cap originally imposed by the provincial government.”

The union release said that while all of the Crowns have accepted the deals, two employers — SaskEnergy and SaskPower — have yet to ratify the new collective agreements.

According to documents obtained by 980 CJME, the five-year contract at SaskTel is to expire March 16, 2024.

The contract features no increase to each employee’s hourly rate of pay for each of 2019 (retroactive to March 17) and 2020, with a one per cent increase in 2021 and two per cent increases in each of 2022 and 2023.

As well, all full-time SaskTel employees are to receive four days of pay for what the company called “hardship” during the labour disruption. Part-time employees are to receive a pro-rated number of days pay based on the hours they worked in the four weeks preceding the strike.

As well, the company is to make a one per cent contribution to each employee’s Flex Spending account in each of the next two years.

The government release said the six-year agreements at SaskEnergy, SaskWater and SaskPower call for annual salary increases of zero, zero, one, two, two and two per cent.

The six-year agreement at the Water Security Agency provides a six per cent increase in annual wages, comprising zero per cent in each of the first two years, one per cent in each of the third and fourth years, and two per cent in each of the fifth and sixth years. The fourth year also is to include a one per cent pension increase.

Employees at seven Crowns — SaskEnergy, SaskPower, SaskTel, SaskWater, Directwest, SecurTek and the Water Security Agency — went on strike Oct. 4.

The Water Security Agency and its union local reached a tentative agreement on Oct. 10. A deal was reached between the union and the rest of the Crowns on Oct. 20.

Workers at Directwest and SecurTek ratified the deal on Oct. 30.