Michelle Englot, Director of External Communications for SaskTel, warned negotiations had broken down between Unifor and the crown corporation in a public service announcement issued on Thursday, leaving a strike action pending on Friday, October 4.
Contract negotiations between Unifor and SaskTel had continued since January 29, 2019, when initial suggestions were bartered between both parties. On March 25, Unifor told SaskTel they believed a bargaining deadlock had been reached. Unifor said they would be applying to the Federal Minister of Labour’s office for conciliation as a result of this breakdown between management and labour. A conciliator had been appointed in the spring and bargaining between SaskTel and Unifor was sustained until September 26. However, in early October a tentative agreement had still not been reached between the union representing the crown corporation’s employees and SaskTel.
“The public service announcement was in preparation of a strike by Unifor tomorrow,” Englot said, explaining the warning she’d given on Thursday. Englot also listed the service impacts occurring during the disruption than began on Friday.
Throughout the strike, SaskTel will uphold all essential services such as 911 calls to the police, fire stations, ambulances and hospitals. SaskTel will also provide support for their networks during the labour dispute, including wireless and wireline services. Wireless, internet plans and add-ons can still be changed or added online. Items such as maxTV theme packs, channels and features can still be changed or augmented on SaskTel’s website.
Dealers will be open and continue with wireless (cellular) sales and service, but the SaskTel shops will be shuttered for the time being. Repairs will still be conducted by Sasktel to best of the corporation’s abilities during the strike. However, new home installs and service transfers will be on hold until further notice.
SaskTel said they will make every effort to minimize the impacts caused by this labour disruption for their customers by having the management team maintain services. While SaskTel will do their best to continue assisting customers, delays could be experienced as networks and services are being upheld as the labour disruption proceeds further into October.
