Regina: CUPE Health Care Presidents from 18 health districts have refused to support SAHOs amendments to the tentative agreement, and instructed their negotiating committee to return to the bargaining table to settle the issues now in dispute.
The decision came yesterday at the conclusion of a two-day CUPE All Presidents meeting in Saskatoon, held to discuss the tentative agreement.
The CUPE negotiating committee recommended the Presidents accept the tentative agreement reached on June 15. But the motion was defeated due to concerns that SAHO is backtracking on language agreed to at the bargaining table.
On June 18, CUPE sent SAHO a copy of the tentative agreement for final approval. Yesterday, SAHO responded with changes to many of the articles. Among the articles in dispute are the costing of vacation improvements, the transportation allowance and options for payment of designated holidays.
Although the CUPE Presidents expressed general support for the tentative agreement of June 15, theyre worried that SAHO is reneging on some of the contract improvements.
The unions chief negotiator John Welden wrote a letter to SAHO yesterday, requesting the two sides return to the bargaining table. The union also has formally requested the assistance of mediator Vince Ready.
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For more information, call Beth Smillie at 525-5874, extension 229