Minister calls on unions to ‘put something on the table’

REGINA Saskatchewan Finance Minister Donna Harpauer is encouraging unions to get back to bargaining.

Roughly 51,202 public sector workers, representing 34 different employee groups, are currently without a contract. For many, the last time they went to the bargaining table the province was offering a 3.5-per-cent wage reduction.

While the province has publicly backed away from its target of achieving $250 million in savings by reducing public sector wages by 3.5 per cent, unions charge the unpopular offer remains on the table.

But on Wednesday, Harpauer said the province encouraged unions to “put something out there and let’s negotiate.”

“My understanding is some tables still have not met for some time, so I encourage them to call for a meeting date. I don’t get those dates necessarily, unless I ask for an update,” she said.

“Put something on the table, like say ‘3.5 per cent is not acceptable, here is what we want.’ ”

“If they haven’t met, nothing has changed,” she said. “So, get together. Negotiate.”

She admitted there is “uncertainty” in building the next budget, expected next March, because of the high number of outstanding contracts.

Harpauer said every one-percent increase in wages across the public sector represents roughly an additional $75 million in cost to the provincial government, but maintained confidence she will be able to keep a government promise of balancing the budget.

Government bargaining units, which Harpauer does not sit on, will ask for an offer if they return to tables with unions, according to the minister.

“We’re not negotiating with ourselves, obviously. Put something on the table,” she said.

The finance minister was critical of the original offer, made as part of former premier Brad Wall’s attempt to reduce wages for government employees as a means to achieve a $250-million savings target, which was included in its 2017-18 budget as a means to combat the province’s deficit.

“I think the 3.5 per cent was disruptive to that relationship (with unions),” she said.

Harpauer told reporters last November the savings target would not be met.

Current Premier Scott Moe has set a new target: $70 million in reductions over two years, to be achieved through compensation savings.

NDP MLA Warren Mccall said the province needs to be clear on what is on and off the table when it comes to negotiations.

“The amount of bafflegab this government has put on, whether it’s on the table or off the table, as someone who is trying to hold the government to account and get a straight answer, that’s frustrating,” hesaid.