Directwest, SecurTek employees ratify contract

Unionized employees at Directwest and SecurTek have ratified new collective agreements with the Crown corporations.

In media releases issued Wednesday, Directwest and SecurTek announced employees represented by Unifor had voted in favour of the deals.

“I’m pleased that the members of Unifor have ratified this agreement,” Directwest president Keith Jeannot said in the release.

“The Unifor and Directwest bargaining committees have worked very hard to come to this agreement and I commend the professionalism and diligent efforts of all those involved — management and union members.”

Unifor locals also announced the deals on their websites.

“This was a difficult round of bargaining and negotiations,” the locals representing Directwest and SecurTek employees said in matching posts. “It took the most extreme job action of a strike in order to make the gains which we did.

“The total compensation cost has exceeded the government mandate. We have achieved new language and sent a strong message to our employers and Scott Moe about the solidarity of our membership and the strength and resolve of Unifor.”

The previous collective agreements at Directwest and SecurTek expired March 19. The new three-year deals call for a retroactive weekly rate of pay increase of one per cent for 2019 and weekly rate of pay increases of two per cent in each of 2020 and 2021.

Employees at both Crowns also are to receive four days’ pay for what the corporations called the “hardship” the workers experienced during the 17-day strike.

Employees at seven Crowns — SaskEnergy, SaskPower, SaskTel, SaskWater, Directwest, SecurTek and the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency — went on strike Oct. 4.

The Water Security Agency and its unionized employees reached a tentative agreement Oct. 10. The other six Crowns and Unifor struck tentative deals on Oct. 20.

Ratification votes are continuing around the province until Nov. 14.