CUPE criticizes raises for SHA executives while workers await a deal

The Canadian Union of Public Employees is criticizing a double-digit salary increase for senior executives at the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

At the same time, frontline workers remain without a new contract.

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CUPE 5430 cited figures in the SHA’s 2024-2025 annual report showing a salary increase for top executives.

CEO Andrew Will’s salary rose over 10.4 per cent to $419,770, and chief operating officer Derek Miller’s salary increased 12.6 per cent to $359,606. Chief human resources officer Mike Northcott’s pay went up 14.4 per cent to $340,235.

“These executive raises are a slap in the face to the thousands of dedicated health care workers who are holding our system together every single day,” CUPE 5430 president Bashir Jalloh said in a news release.

“Our members have worked tirelessly through a pandemic, short staffing and crushing workloads, and now they’re being denied the fair deal they deserve.”

CUPE said the contrast between the executive pay hike and the situation with frontline staff is stark.

The union represent more than 14,00 workers across Saskatchewan, including continuing care assistants, dietary staff, housekeeping and clerical workers. Members have been without a collective agreement since the last contract expired in March of 2023.

CUPE Saskatchewan President Kent Peterson said the increase would exacerbate the recruitment and retention challenges.

“It’s health care workers, not the bosses, that keep our health system running,” Peterson said.

“Continuing to deny workers a fair deal and decent wages is a recipe for disaster. If people can no longer afford to work in long care, they will leave the profession. Scott Moe’s retention crisis means facilities will continue to close, waits will get longer and our health care system will be at risk of collapse.”

Mark Hancock, CUPE’s national president, said the national union would support Saskatchewan members.

“CUPE stands shoulder-to-shoulder with every health care worker in Saskatchewan. You deserve respect, fair wages and a contract that reflects your values. We’re not backing down until you get a fair deal, period,” Hancock said.

The SHA’s 2024-2025 annual report, which includes the executive compensation schedule cited by CUPE, also outlined recruitment pressures and efforts to stabilize services. CUPE said the size and timing of the raises undermined those goals and contributed to low morale among frontline workers.

CUPE 5430 said the bargaining with the SHA and the provincial governments remains unresolved. The union called for a wage settlement that it said would reflect the pressures facing staff.

On Monday, Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) sent 980 CJME an email response.

In the statement, the SHA said it completed a comprehensive review of its out-of-scope leadership and administrative structure this year.

As a result, the SHA saved $10.4 million in “annual administrative efficiencies through the reduction of 26 senior out-of-scope leadership positions, along with other corporate, management, and support roles,” read the statement.

According to the statement, these savings enabled the SHA to create 77 new and enhanced health care positions “to strengthen emergency and acute care services in rural and northern Saskatchewan.” Also, SHA reported creating 47 new and enhanced clinical manager roles “to provide stronger leadership at the local level.”

“Out-of-scope pay bands have not increased since April 1, 2022.  Any adjustments in out-of-scope salaries are the result of progression within the existing pay bands, comparable to annual step increment increases received by in-scope employees within their existing pay bands,” said the SHA in its statement.

In addition, the SHA said it has “taken steps to reduce financial liability related to unused vacation for both in-scope and out-of-scope employees. As a result, salaries reported in the SHA Annual Report for in-scope and out-of-scope employees may also reflect payout of unused vacation amounts rather than changes to rate of pay.”