Regina, SK – The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union (SGEU) has reached an impasse in contract negotiations with the Government of Saskatchewan for the union’s Public Service/Government Employment (PS/GE) bargaining unit.

The impasse comes just days after the government opened the third session of the legislature with a Speech from the Throne promising to “keep life affordable” and maintain “high-quality services to Saskatchewan people.” SGEU says the government’s actions at the bargaining table tell a completely different story.

PS/GE is SGEU’s largest bargaining unit, representing over 11,000 members who work in government ministries and agencies across the province. Among them are firefighters, correctional officers, child protection workers, conservation officers and equipment operators. The collective bargaining agreement between the parties expired on September 30, 2025.

Negotiations began on October 21, 2025, spanning 21 separate bargaining sessions over the past year. Despite SGEU presenting fair monetary proposals designed to address unstable inflationary pressures, the employer’s stubborn refusal to offer meaningful wage increases and its push for significant concessions led to the standstill on October 30, 2026.

“This impasse is not just about dollars; it’s about the government’s failure to recruit and retain skilled professionals required to keep Saskatchewan safe and running,” said Justin Priel, Chair of SGEU’s PS/GE Negotiating Committee. “We cannot keep wildland firefighters on the frontlines, we cannot retain pilots to fly emergency aircraft, and we cannot keep correctional facilities or child protection services properly staffed. You cannot deliver ‘high-quality public services’ when positions across the public service remain vacant.”

Priel pointed out that uncompetitive wages create an untenable situation that makes it nearly impossible for the public service to compete with other jurisdictions.

"Saskatchewan is competing against other provinces and the private sector for pilots, emergency responders, and specialized public servants," added Priel. "When inflation is surging and workplaces are short-staffed, skilled professionals leave or choose not to apply in the first place. The government must realize that investing in retention and recruitment is the only way to protect the public services Saskatchewan families rely on."

The union’s next steps are laid out in the Saskatchewan Employment Act (SEA). SGEU has officially requested that the Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety appoint a mediator or conciliator to assist both the union and the employer in reaching a satisfactory collective bargaining agreement.

In accordance with the Act, both the union and the employer are negotiating an Essential Service Agreement (ESA) to determine which duties must continue to be performed in the event of a future work stoppage. SGEU proactively initiated ESA negotiations alongside main table bargaining to avoid unnecessary delays should job action become necessary. SGEU continues to challenge the constitutionality of the SEA’s restrictive essential services provisions in court.

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For more information, contact:

SGEU Communications
comm@sgeu.org

The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union has been working together for Saskatchewan since 1913. Today, SGEU represents 20,000 members in five sectors across Saskatchewan. Visit sgeu.org to learn more.