REGINA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on the province and health regions not to cave into excessive demands from the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN).

"Offer the average employee a 35 percent raise over four years, and they'll shake your hand before you change your mind, but not SUN," said Lee Harding, Saskatchewan Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. "Most Saskatchewan taxpayers don't get those kinds of raises. So how can they pay for SUN's demands "

Recently, SUN rejected an offer that would have given nurses a 34.9 percent wage increase over four years. Heading into negotiations, SUN demanded to have parity with Alberta nurses minus the cost of living. According to their employer, the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO), this would have been achieved in the first year had the offer been accepted. By the end of the contract, a general duty nurse would make $86,000, more than the base pay of MLAs ($84,409) and the average pay of Saskatchewan workers ($38,584).

"SUN has refused the offer because it doesn't know what Alberta nurses will get when their contracts are renegotiated. This is a ridiculous idea. If SUN nurses get higher pay because of such a ploy, Alberta nurses will insist on getting more than whatever Saskatchewan nurses get. So when does this stop " asked Harding.

"Alberta--which is debt-free--has fiscal leverage that Saskatchewan does not yet enjoy. Besides, Manitoba has the most nurses per capita of any province in Canada despite paying lower wages than here. Moreover, their new contract calls for just a ten percent wage increase over two years. Whether its recruitment and retention, or pay increases, SUN has run out of excuses," said Harding.

"Whatever leverage that SAHO has left to abolish vacancies and use licensed practical nurses should not be surrendered," said Harding. "These options give health regions at least a few tools to minimize costs while the best care possible continues. Nevertheless, a high wage hike for SUN will mean higher taxpayer costs for other public sector unions in health care and elsewhere.

"The public outcry against the wage offer already rejected is proof enough the province shouldn't concede another thing. SUN should take this offer to its nurses to be accepted. Taxpayers can afford no less."