HSAS: HISTORY

29 members of HSAS withdraw their services in legal strike action on July 3 in order to bring pressure on SAHO and Government to make a fair contract offer. On July 10, 2007, a tentative Collective Agreement is achieved. .

June 2007

HSAS members vote in favor of strike action to support their Negotiating Committee in efforts to secure a fair Collective Agreement. .

September 2006

Larson House, a detoxification facility in Saskatoon, is taken over by the Saskatoon Health Region. In applying the Dorsey regulations, the Labour Relations Board awarded HSAS the (27) Table C professionals employed there; namely, Addictions Counsellors and EMTs. Although Larson House had been organized by SGEU, they hadn’t negotiated a first contract by the time Saskatoon Health Region took it over.

July 2005

In July 2005, facing a 0-1-1% total compensation mandate from the Employer, HSAS members vote in favor of Job Action. A settlement is reached in August 2005, with wage increases of 2-2-2%, with another 2% for members on the top step along with other monetary improvements. Job Action is not taken in achieving this settlement.

June 9, 2005

HSAS members vote to provide their Bargaining Team with a strike mandate.

May 26, 2005

Following a six and a half week strike, a first collective agreement was ratified with Crestvue Ambulance Services in Yorkton.

April 4, 2005

A first collective agreement could not be reached with Crestvue Ambulance Services in Yorkton. As a result, strike action began on this day.

August 6, 2003

The Labour Relations Board issues an order certifying HSAS as the Bargaining Agent for the non-union support practitioners employed by Kilbach's Ambulance Services in Esterhazy, a privately owned ambulance service.

March 24, 2003

The Labour Relations Board issues an order certifying HSAS as the Bargaining Agent for the non-union support practitioners employed by Crestvue Ambulance Services in Yorkton, a privately owned ambulance service.

Strike of 2002

• February 21 - HSAS and SAHO sign a tentative settlement providing members a wage increase of 3%, 3% and 3%.

• April 7 - SUN and SAHO sign a tentative agreement giving nurses a 20% wage increase using mandate and job evaluation money.

• April 16 - HSAS Executive Council votes to recommend that the membership reject the tentative agreement.

• May 8 - SAHO files a complaint against HSAS with the Labour Relations Board alleging that the Union had committed an unfair labour practice by failing to recommend the tentative agreement to its members.

• June 5 - For the first time ever in their history, the HSAS membership rejects a tentative agreement by a margin of 78%. This settlement had been reached by HSAS and SAHO on February 21, 2002.

• September 3 - HSAS conducts a strike vote. Members vote overwhelmingly (80%) to take job action.

• September 5 - The Labour Relations Board grants an injunction at SAHO's request barring HSAS from striking until a decision is rendered regarding the alleged unfair labour practice.

• September 16 - The Labour Relations Board decides in favour of HSAS finding that the union had not committed an unfair labour practice rejecting every argument raised by SAHO. This clears the way for HSAS to take job action.

• September 18 - HSAS commences job action by conducting an incremental withdrawal of services. Negotiations continue with the assistance of a mediator, Stephen Kelleher.

• September 26 - SAHO refuses to move off their position regarding Market adjustments and Job Evaluation - as a result talks break down.

• September 27 - HSAS moves to all out strike action taking all members out with the exception of essential services.

• October 14 - Mr. Kelleher returns to assist the parties in their negotiations.

• October 16 - A tentative agreement is reached and HSAS members return to work.

• November 19 - HSAS members vote 90% in favour of accepting the tentative agreement.

The HSAS strike is recorded as the longest health care strike in the provinces history with our members being rewarded for their determination with significant improvements in wages and a workable method to deal with market adjustments.

2000 - August 8

The Labour Relations Board issues an order certifying HSAS as the bargaining agent for the non-union Health Support Practitioners employed by Melville's St. Peter's Hospital in the North Valley Health District.

2000 - March 13

The Labour Relations Board issues an order certifying HSAS as the bargaining agent for the non-union Health Support Practitioners employed by LaRonge EMS, a privately owned ambulance service.

1999 - September 10

The Labour Relations Board issues an order certifying HSAS as the bargaining agent for the Health Support Practitioners in the two [2] newly created northern Health Districts.

1998 - April 28

HSAS made application to the Labour Relations Board to represent approximately 35 Health Support Practitioners in the newly created northern Health Districts of Mamawetan Churchill River and Keewatin Yatthé.

1997 - July 22

The Labour Relations Board issues an order certifying HSAS as the bargaining agent for thirty [30] professions employed by Health Districts in Saskatchewan including four [4] health facilities in northern Saskatchewan.

1997 - July 14

Mail in ballots were counted with the following results:

Number voting = 1344

HSAS vote = 980

SGEU votes = 359

Spoiled ballots = 4

Disqualified ballots = 39

Disputed ballots = 35 [for Board determination]

1997 - February 27 to July 13

HSAS and SGEU embarked upon a campaign to convince members of the Health Support Practitioner Unit to vote for them. On April 1, 1997 300 HSAS Technologists are transferred without a vote to SEIU.

1997 - February 26

HSAS appeared before the Labour Relations Board requesting it hold a hearing over our allegation that implementation of the Dorsey Regulations would result in breaches of the Trade Union Act, Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, Charter of Rights and Freedoms and International Labour Conventions. On March 5, 1997 Beth Bilson, Chairperson of the Labour Relations Board, in a 17 page decision rejected our request.

1997 - February 19, 20 and 21

SGEU's application to have Dorsey's Regulations set aside was heard at Queen's Bench by Justice Pritchard in Regina. HSAS, an intervenor in this application, supported SGEU. On March 10, 1997 Justice Pritchard released her 34 page decision dismissing the application. An appeal of her decision was filed by SGEU supported by HSAS; however, the Court of Appeal refused to move off of Justice Pritchard's decision.

1997 - February 12

Barry Nowoselsky, President of SGEU sends a memo to SGEU members in elected positions. This memo is noteworthy as it reveals the backroom deals that were taking place among the unions during Dorsey's deliberations. For example on page 6 and 7 he states:

After a period of time four unions [SGEU, SEIU, CUPE and SUN] met under the facilitation of Barb Byers, President of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour. The meetings that Barb Byers facilitated were solely to pressure SGEU to join them in their attempt to ensure HSAS would no longer exist in health care. They felt by joining forces they could slip SGEU a few members from SEIU and CUPE to ensure HSAS would not be included in a vote for their membership. In return SGEU was to give up their Homecare members, Wascana Rehabilitation Centre members, all Nurses and accept the idea of no votes anywhere.

1997 - January 20

HSAS held a public demonstration in front of Royal University Hospital to protest exclusion of Technologists from the professional unit and their movement without a vote into SEIU.

1996 - November 28 to 1997 - January 15

During this time Dorsey released five [5] draft reports. Each report spoke to three [3] bargaining units in health care [professional, nursing and support]. What is interesting to note when reviewing each report is how the definition of who would be included in the professional unit changed.

1 - November 28, 1996 - Dorsey named the professional unit the Licensed Provider Unit and only included those professionals who are governed by statute except LPNs.
2 - December 13, 1996 - Dorsey changed the professional unit to exclude Technologists and include Community Health Nurses [RNs and RPNs] and named it the Public Health and Rehabilitation Unit.
3 - December 18, 1996 - The professional unit is now called the Third Unit and includes RNs, RPNs in Public Health/Community Health.
4 - January 8, 1997 - The professional unit becomes the Health Support Practitioner Unit and includes 1500 Certified Home Health Aides. Nurses are out of the unit.
5 - January 15, 1997 - Dorsey's final report. Only named professions make it into the professional unit called the Health Support Practitioner Bargaining Unit.

With Dorsey's December 13, 1996 report we were scheduled to lose all of our Technologists [300] to SEIU in Saskatoon without a vote. As well, non union Technologists throughout the province would be forced into SEIU and CUPE without a vote. As a result, we requested Technologists throughout the province to petition Dorsey to both: create a professional unit based on functional criteria and hold a vote among all professionals to determine which union would represent them.

Unfortunately, the hundreds of petitions that were mailed or faxed to Dorsey by Technologists and other professionals from around the province fell on deaf ears. In an attempt to have government revisit Dorsey's final report we sent each MLA a document on all of our Technologists which demonstrated their professional status and why they should be included in the professional unit.

1997 - January 17

Emergency meeting of cabinet is called January 17, 1997 to obtain approval of Dorsey's Regulations. This process was scheduled for January 21, 1997.

1996 - July 12 to November 27

Jim Dorsey received input from all stakeholders via briefs and meetings. HSAS presented its brief in Saskatoon on October 10, 1996.

1996 - July 12

Government enacted the Labour Relations Reorganization Act and appointed Jim Dorsey as Commissioner.

1996 - March 13

Representatives from HSAS, SEIU, CUPE, SGEU and SUN met with government ministers Anguish, Cline and Mitchell.

SEIU, SGEU, CUPE and SUN presented a signed document to them requesting a Commissioner be appointed. When asked why we didn't sign HSAS replied:

1 - The other heath care unions would not agree to our request that the Commissioner be guided by Section 3 of the Trade Union Act which provides employees the right to belong to the union of their choice and
2 - In our view the Labour Relations Board could deal with the Saskatoon District Health Board application.

1996 - January to February

In response to SUN, SEIU, SUPE and SGEU's opposition to the SDHB application [to create 3 bargaining units] the Labour Relations Board requested the Department of Labour to mediate a solution among health care unions to jurisdictional concerns in Saskatoon. Discussion shifted to a suggestion from all unions except HSAS that a one person Czar be appointed to resolve issues of health care representation on a provincial basis.

1995

The LRB granted HSAS's application to amend its certification order at Pasqua Hospital to include the following unrepresented professionals: Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and Dietitians.

The LRB granted HSAS's application to represent the following unrepresented professionals at Wascana Home Care and Client Assessment Services in Regina: Dietitians, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Lab Services Coordinators and Assessor Care Coordinators.

HSAS applied to the LRB to consolidate all its bargaining units in Saskatoon naming Saskatoon District Health Board as the successor.

Saskatoon District Health Board [SDHB] made application to have the Labour Relations Board [LRB] create three [3] bargaining units in the District [professional, nursing, support]. While HSAS was prepared to allow the LRB to proceed we were concerned whether the Technologists would be placed in the professional or support unit. SUN, SEIU, CUPE and SGEU wanted to stop the application as they feared it would have negative implications for them in other Districts, especially if it was decided the Technologists belonged in the professional unit.

The following HSAS applications to the LRB [all with evidence of majority support] were outstanding at the time the government enacted the Health Labour Relations Reorganization Act on July 12, 1996:

• Royal University Hospital

- application to carve out Recreation Therapists from SEIU
- application to consolidate the HSAS Technologist and HSAS degreed bargaining units.

• Saskatoon City Hospital

- application to carve out balance of SEIU Technologists and Recreation Therapists from SEIU and place in HSAS bargaining unit.

• Parkridge Centre

- application to de-certify SEIU degree bargaining unit and certify HSAS as the bargaining agent.

• St. Paul's Hospital

- application to carve out all Technologists from SEIU and to consolidate into existing HSAS bargaining unit.

1994

The LRB granted HSAS's application to amend its certification order at Saskatoon City Hospital to include the following professionals: Psychologists [unorganized], Speech Language Pathologists [SEIU members] and the Orthoptists [HSAS members transferred from RUH]. Unfortunately, the LRB decided the Recreation Therapists, who had also been applied for, belonged in the SEIU all employee general bargaining unit at Saskatoon City Hospital.

The Saskatoon District Health Board voluntarily recognized HSAS as the bargaining agent for Sleep Disorders Technologists at Royal University Hospital.

Despite overwhelming support from the employees affected the LRB ejected HSAS's application to represent the following professionals at Wascana Rehabilitation Centre who were represented by SGEU: Conditioning/Exercise Therapists, Recreation Therapists, Music Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Prosthetists, Prosthetic Technicians, Prosthetic Trainees, Orthotists, Orthotic Technicians, Orthotic Trainees, Social Workers, Dietitians, Pharmacists, Speech Language Pathologists, Psychologists, Radiology Technologists, Laboratory Technologists, Audiologists, Psychometricians and Vocational Coordinators.

Without evidence of employee support SEIU made application to the LRB to have all HSAS Technologists in Saskatoon placed in a new, single all employee bargaining unit for all facilities within the jurisdiction of the Saskatoon District Health Board.

1993

The LRB granted HSAS's application to carve out the following group of professionals from an SEIU bargaining unit at Royal University Hospital and add them to the HSAS Technologist bargaining unit: Laboratory Technologist Students, Radiology Technologist Students, Cardiology Technologists, EEG Technologists and Trainees, Perfusionists, EMG Technologists, Pulmonary Function Technologists and Trainees and Orthopedic Technologists.

1991

HSAS certification orders were amended by the LRB to include the following professionals:

• Occupational Therapists [unorganized] - St. Paul's Hospital
• Orthoptists [unorganized] - Royal University Hospital degreed unit
• Dietitians, Occupational Therapists, Laboratory Technologists [unorganized] - Saskatoon City Hospital.

1990

The LRB granted the following HSAS applications:

• To carve out Dietitians and Speech Language Pathologists from an SEIU bargaining unit at St. Paul's Hospital and add them to the existing H.S.A.S. unit of Pharmacists and Physical Therapists.
• To include Social Workers in the HSAS certification order at Saskatoon City Hospital.

Frustrated by the failure of the Saskatchewan Health-Care Association to deal with their concerns during the latest round of provincial negotiations (April 1988 to July 1989) HSAS members voted to amend the Constitution and By-Laws. Prior to the amendment one of the Objects of the Association outlined in the Constitution provided that no disciplinary proceedings would be taken against any member who refused to take part in any concerted refusal to provide service either by strike or honouring any picket lines. The amendment did away with this provision and replaced it with:

"To ensure patient safety participate in the creation of an essential services committee at each health care facility in the event of a legal strike."

The amendment to the By-Laws made it an offence for a member to work during a legal work stoppage unless specifically authorized by decision of Executive Council.

1988

HSAS was certified by the LRB to represent all Pharmacists, Dietitians, Physical Therapists, Social Workers and Psychologists employed by Victoria Union Hospital in Prince Albert.

1987

HSAS was certified by the LRB to represent all Pharmacists, Dietitians, Occupational Therapists and Social Workers employed by the Plains Health Centre.

1986

HSAS was certified by the LRB to represent all Pharmacists and Physical Therapists employed by St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon.

1981

HSAS was certified by the L.R.B. to represent all Medical Laboratory Technologists, Radiology Technologists and Nuclear Medicine Technologists employed by University Hospital. Rather than add these professionals to our existing bargaining unit the LRB decided to create a separate unit for them.

1974

HSAS was certified by the LRB to represent all Pharmacists working at Pasqua Hospital in Regina.

HSAS was certified by the LRB to represent all Pharmacists, Physical Therapists and Dietitians working at Regina General Hospital.

The LRB rejected applications by HSAS to represent health care professionals working at St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon, Holy Family and Victoria Union Hospitals in Prince Albert and Yorkton Union Hospital.

1973

HSAS made application to the LRB to represent all Physical Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Pharmacists, Social Workers, Electroencephalograph Technologists, Electrocardiograph Technologists, Occupational Therapists, Dietitians, Medical Laboratory Technologists and Radiology Technologists for a total of 139 employees working at University Hospital. However, the LRB determined that an appropriate unit for collective bargaining should be comprised of only Physical Therapists, Pharmacists, Dietitians, Social Workers and Registered Occupational Therapists. As a result, HSAS was certified to represent these 5 groups for a total of 50 employees.

HSAS made application to the LRB to represent all Medical Technologists, Medical Record Librarians, Pharmacists and Physical Therapists working at Saskatoon City Hospital. The LRB certified HSAS to represent only Physical Therapists and Pharmacists for a total of 6 out of the 37 applied for.

The LRB rejected HSAS's applications to represent health care professionals at Lloydminister Hospital, Eatonia Union Hospital, Moosomin Union Hospital, Shaunavon Union Hospital and Swift Current Union Hospital.

1972

The Government amended the Trade Union Act. Prior to this the Labour Relations Board (LRB) could exclude all the members of a professional association from a union if satisfied that a majority of the members of the professional association were in favor of being excluded. The amendment did away with this provision which opened the door for large multi-occupational type unions to include health care professionals in their certification applications.

Because of their training, certification and professional ethics, our founders believed the interests of health care professionals differed from those of other health care employees and for this reason they met to form HSAS.