Sask. government, SGEU agree to meet

The Saskatchewan government and the union representing workers have agreed to talk about recommendations from a mediator that might settle the five-week-old dispute.

The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union said Monday it asked to meet with the government, and itagreed.

Last week, B.C. labour lawyer Vince Ready issued a report with his recommendations to end the strike, which has put some 800 corrections workers and other government employees on the picket line.

On Friday, the government said it would accept Ready's report if the union would.

However, the SGEU says it needs to have some of the recommendations clarified.

"I can't in good conscience take this out to the membership without knowing what the recommendations mean," SGEU spokesman Barry Nowoselsky said in a news release on Monday.

Nowoselsky said he expects Ready will have to be called in to clarify parts of his report.

Workers went on strikeDec. 20, but most of the 13,000 employees in the bargaining unit have remained on the job.

Wages are a major issue in the dispute. The last contract expired Sept. 30.