Mobile Crisis Service and SGEU still talking in contract dispute

Representatives of Regina’s Mobile Crisis Services and its workers plan to meet next week to continue seeking a new contract.

Grant Nicurity, chairman of the board of directors of the not-forprofit organization, which helps Reginans facing personal crises, said negotiation meetings are scheduled for April 26 and 28. “We’re hopeful that things are going to be solved and that we can close this contract off,” said Nicurity, adding that talks began last June.

The staff of “Mobile” handles calls and visits from individuals facing problems over domestic or seniors’ abuse, addiction and suicidal thoughts and other areas.

The 38 workers are represented by the Saskatchewan Government and General Workers Union (SGEU). Both parties said a conciliator had been at work late last year, but was unable to find common ground. That led to union members subsequently authorizing a possible strike.

At a Feb. 10 information picket, SGEU president Bob Bymoen said monetary issues seemed within reach, but a major problem was that management schedules only one daytime crisis worker per shift on weekdays over a 7½-hour period, putting client and worker safety at risk.

It also causes worker stresses and leaves staff feeling they have failed to adequately help their clients, especially if they have to ignore a ringing phone in order to focus on an earlier client.

“It’s the No. 1 outstanding issue,” bargaining committee member Shayla Leier said Tuesday.

Also on Feb. 10, Nicurity said that money is tight at the nonprofit community organization, which receives most of its funds from the provincial Ministry of Social Services and is facing a shortfall.

Mobile Crisis Services, which has been in operation for about four decades, provides emergency care and counselling 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Its staff responds to incidents involving domestic violence, suicide interventions and child safety — with 23,286 calls in its 2014-15 fiscal year.