Averting a possible province-wide strike set for Monday, the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan (HSAS) and Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO) reached a tentative agreement on Wednesday.

HSAS, which represents 2,700 employees in 27 different classifications throughout Saskatchewan, had been without a collective agreement since May of 2004.

They entered into a new three-day round of bargaining on July 19 with SAHO, who represents health care employers in the province.

A statement from SAHO said the new collective agreement will expire March 31, 2007. However, further details will not be released until after the ratification process is completed by this October.

"We are pleased that an agreement has been reached," said Chris Driol, president of HSAS, in a statement. "This is a quality collective agreement that works both for health care workers and their employers."

"This agreement recognizes the professional role of HSAS members and will keep us competitive in recruiting and retaining these professionals in Saskatchewan," said Susan Antosh, president and CEO of SAHO.

During a three-day round of bargaining on July 5-7, SAHO had presented a three-year agreement, expiring in 2007, that included a total monetary increase of 0-3-3. HSAS countered with a two-year agreement, expiring in 2006, that included an eight per cent wage increase, which they said was needed to bring employee wages on par with nurses.

HSAS, which represents roughly 140 employees in the Sun Country Health Region, called the longest strike in the history of Saskatchewan health care in 2002.