It looks like the labour dispute at the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency is over.

An agreement, in principle has been signed between the union and employer.

Sticking points in negotiations had been expanding the hours of work at the cancer agency beyond a 5 day work week and addressing the issue of nurses not receiving as much pay as those working in others areas of health care.

Trent Edwards, co-chair of the negotiating committe for the SGEU, says it's a four year, three month deal.

The wage increase will be 1.5 per cent, then two years at 2 per cent each year, .5 per cent for three months, and then another 2 per cent for the final year.

The tentative agreement is retroactive and if ratified, will take them through to the end of March 2014.

Edwards says they will now take it to the membership and hopefully will be able to have dates solidified for voting on the contract by the second week of October.

Bernie Young, CEO of the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations, believes they have provided an offer that meets the needs of the employer, the union, and still puts clients and patients first.

The 5 hundred and 60 Cancer Agency workers, who include nurses, administrative professionals, pharmacists, information technology specialists, and mammography technicians, had been without a contract since December, 2009.

(sv sept 21-12)