Provincial health care professionals have voted overwhelmingly in favour of job action after failing to sign a contract with the health regions.

The president of the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan, Karen Wasylenko, said Thursday that 85 per cent of union members voted to support job action.

Health care employers have only themselves to blame for this situation. They presented a shameful contract proposal last month, which received strong negative reaction from the specialized health care professionals we represent, Wasylenko said in a media release.

Union members voted by mail over the last few weeks. Votes were tallied Wednesday night.

The union represents over 30 different groups and 3,000 workers including paramedics, hospital pharmacists and occupational therapists. They've struggled over the last month to reach a contract agreement with the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations.

Wasylenko said staffing levels are the biggest concern for her members.

"We see wait lists that are increasing, we see emergency care services that are becoming unsafe because of staffing," Wasylenko said.

The association's workers went on strike in 2011 during their last round of contract negotiations

Under new labour legislation, the union must take a number of additional steps before a strike notice can be served.

The threat of job action is always a last resort for our health care professionals, Wasylenko said.

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Saskatchewan health care professionals vote to strike