Dear Editor
I feel compelled to respond to the tactics used by the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO) in their efforts to secure a contract health care provider unions.
To date, our union has been hobbled by the Essential Services Act (Bill 5 and 6), which deems a majority of our members essential. This hinders our ability to strike effectively, even though many members disagree with the proposed contract, because the number of members eligible to walk the picket lines is greatly reduced.
Typically, the union comes to a tentative agreement through collective bargaining and then brings the proposed contact to a vote among its members. However, SAHO is currently trying to circumvent this process by claiming the union will not bargain to overcome the disparity in the contract discussions. Rather, SAHO is bombarding health care provider union members with posters and even sending letters to members' homes to push their agenda and to scare members into a vote.
SAHO's proposed contract has not been sanctioned by the health care provider unions because it does not reasonably address the needs identified by its members. The omnipresence of SAHO's agenda within my workplace, and now my home, has crossed a line and I believe it is an intimidation tactic that needs to be stopped. It is unreasonable for SAHO to send material to my home that essentially pushes me to vote and sends the message that, if I don't accept the offer, I will suffer great consequences.
Rather than investing time and money and a campaign of intimidation and fear mongering, I would hope SAHO would direct its energy at coming to a collective agreement. Let this letter serve as my call to the bargaining table.
Linda Vancuren
Battleford
