University of Saskatchewan prof weighs in on labour issues

The province has its hands full with two unions in this election year.

The NDP is sticking to their roots and backing the teachers and heath sciences unions.

Charles Smith, Assistant Professor of Political Studies at the University of Saskatchewan, says that may be making the Sask Party sweat a little.

“The continuous talk of (a) growing economy in Saskatchewan,” Smith hears from economists, “so the weathering of the recession in '07 and '08 is much better than everywhere else. You know, 'this is a place to come for jobs,' and yet public sector unions are feeling sort of the pinch.”

Smith notes teachers in other provinces have it better.

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“We're looking at what's happening in Alberta and British Columbia and they're getting better deals there, and we're having a serious retention issue in Saskatchewan,” Smith points out. “If there's a real boom here, (and) all the evidence suggests there is, then this has to be reflective of the quality of teachers.”

The Public Service Essential Services Act passed in 2007 appears to be making it difficult to give public workers any leverage. Smith says that prevents unions from taking complete strike action.

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