SGEU ratifies three-year agreement with Sask. Government

The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union (SGEU) has ratified a three-year contract agreement with the provincial government.

According to the Government of Saskatchewan, the three-year deal with SGEU’s Public Service/Government Employment bargaining unit runs until September 30, 2025. The new deal includes wage increases of three per cent in the first and second years, and 1.67 per cent in the third year, along with “an increase of 0.4 per cent to pensions for members who are not already at 9 per cent.”

The two groups announced a tentative agreement in May, but it wasn’t a smooth process to get there. The negotiations have been running since the previous agreement expired in September of 2022. Talks broke down in February, leading the union – which represents about 11,000 provincial government employees – to declare an impasse. Ultimately, both groups returned to the table and were able to finalize the deal.

“This agreement is the result of a tremendous amount of effort put in by the negotiating committee, bargaining council and all PS/GE members,” Lori Bossaer, SGEU’s negotiating committee chair, said in a statement.

“I would like to thank our members for their involvement, their solidarity, and for making their voices heard by casting a ballot.”

Dustin Duncan, the minister responsible for the Public Service Commission, said he’s happy that an agreement was hammered out.

“I am pleased with both parties’ commitment and co-operation in working at the bargaining table to reach a new collective agreement that is good for both public service employees and the people of Saskatchewan,” Duncan said in a statement.