Two Sasktel subsidiaries ratify deals

Unifor members of two Sasktel subsidiaries, previously part of the 17-day Crown-sector strike, have voted in favour of ratifying new collective agreements.

Directwest and Securtek both reported the results of the Oct. 28 ratification votes in news releases sent Wednesday. Together the two subsidiaries employ about 250 workers.

Voting is still underway at far larger bargaining units representing workers at Saskpower and Saskenergy, as well as nearly 3,000 Unifor members at Sasktel’s main table. It’s expected to wrap up in mid-november.

The Securtek and Directwest deals don’t include any zeros going forward. But they also don’t make up for flat wages the workers received in the last two years of their contracts, which expired on March 19 of this year.

Unifor Local 1-S also reported the results on its website, saying the deal succeeded in exceeding the government mandate and sent a strong message about “the strength and resolve of Unifor.”

“This was a difficult round of bargaining and negotiations,” said the post. “It took the most extreme job action of a strike in order to make the gains which we did.”

The new agreements include a one-per-cent increase retroactively effective to March 20 of this year, a two-per-cent increase in 2020 and another two-per-cent increase in 2021.

The deals also include four days pay for active full-time employees, “to acknowledge employees experienced hardship during the 17-day labour disruption,” according to releases sent by a Sasktel spokesperson.

The Unifor agreement provides a health spending account for each employee. All permanent, part-time and temporary replacement employees will have a threemonth waiting period before they are eligible.

Benefits will be pro-rated on eligible months. Securtek will contribute $350 to each employees’ health spending account, effective March 16, 2020, and another $350 effective March 15, 2021.

For Directwest, an additional one per cent contribution of each employee’s base salary will be made to their health spending account, effective Jan. 1, 2020 and again on Jan. 1, 2021. The cost will be offset by savings realized from health plan premiums.

Directwest employs 116 people. Its head office is in Regina and it maintains a satellite office in Saskatoon.

The company provides digital marketing to assist business with website design, social media marketing and “reputation management.”

It also produces phone books and runs Mysask411.

Securtek’s head office is located in Yorkton and the company employs approximately 140 people. It provides commercial and residential security monitoring to its customers.

Executives at both companies commended negotiators on both sides for their “professionalism and diligent efforts” in their news releases.