Regina – SaskTel workers have given Unifor’s bargaining team a strong mandate to take strike action if necessary, to get a fair contract.
“Our members have made their intentions very clear with this vote,” said Chris MacDonald, Unifor’s assistant to the national president. “They want a fair contract. And if an agreement can’t be reached, the bargaining committee now has the ability to call a strike.”
In discussions between both sides through the federal mediator, it has been agreed that no job action will occur pending the outcome of bargaining meetings scheduled for August 12, 13, and 14.
“We insisted SaskTel put a monetary offer on the table and they have committed to doing that in August,” said Unifor Local 1S President Dave Kuntz. “We’re hopeful that an agreement can be reached and service disruptions to the public will be avoided.”
Hundreds of members participated in strike vote meetings held across the province over the last few weeks. SaskTel subsidiary SecurTek voted in favour of a strike last month.
“We want to thank our members for their strong support and solidarity in standing up for their rights and what they deserve,” said Penny Matheson, President of Local 2S.
Unifor workers at SaskTel are seeking improvements to job security, provisions related to mental health and compensation.
SaskTel reported net profits of $127 million in the last fiscal year. This spring, the Premier and Saskatchewan MLAs received a 2.3% cost of living increase.
