Sask. nurses to ask for 30 per cent raise in January bargaining
SASKATOON (CP) - Saskatchewan registered nurses will demand a 30 per cent wage raise when contract talks begin in January, says the president of the union representing them. The top salary would then increase $7.50 per hour to $32.42, the same rate paid to top Alberta nurses.
Rosalee Longmoore, the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses president, said nurses must be paid the same as their Alberta colleagues or the migration west will continue. SUN projects a net loss of more than 500 nurses this year, with 47 per cent moving to Alberta.
"We need to begin now to retain nurses that are new graduates," Longmoore said.
Premier Lorne Calvert says now is not the time for large wage demands.
SUN will also address weekend work, shift differential, and allowances for education.
Bargaining begins Jan. 8 with the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations.
Nurses have cited wages, deteriorating working conditions, and record numbers of nurses on disability leave as reasons why they need vast improvements in their next agreement.
The current collective agreement for Saskatchewan's 8,000 nurses expires at the end of March.
The bargaining committee will not ask members for a strike mandate before negotiating.
During the last talks in the spring of 1999, nurses staged a 10-day illegal strike before settling for a 13.7 per cent increase in wages and benefits.
SASKATOON (CP) - Saskatchewan registered nurses will demand a 30 per cent wage raise when contract talks begin in January, says the president of the union representing them. The top salary would then increase $7.50 per hour to $32.42, the same rate paid to top Alberta nurses.
Rosalee Longmoore, the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses president, said nurses must be paid the same as their Alberta colleagues or the migration west will continue. SUN projects a net loss of more than 500 nurses this year, with 47 per cent moving to Alberta.
"We need to begin now to retain nurses that are new graduates," Longmoore said.
Premier Lorne Calvert says now is not the time for large wage demands.
SUN will also address weekend work, shift differential, and allowances for education.
Bargaining begins Jan. 8 with the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations.
Nurses have cited wages, deteriorating working conditions, and record numbers of nurses on disability leave as reasons why they need vast improvements in their next agreement.
The current collective agreement for Saskatchewan's 8,000 nurses expires at the end of March.
The bargaining committee will not ask members for a strike mandate before negotiating.
During the last talks in the spring of 1999, nurses staged a 10-day illegal strike before settling for a 13.7 per cent increase in wages and benefits.
