They are going back to work to keep our roads safe.

Yesterday, equipment operators and the machinal staff from Saskatchewan Highways were on the picket lines, but the union sent the workers back by evening, bowing to public concerns of safety.

SGEU President, Bob Bymoen, says the union realized the managers were overwhelmed.

Bymoen adds that before essential services planning, the government needs to look at the working conditions facing highway workers.

Saskatchewan Party Leader, Brad Wall, says, like healthcare workers, highway cleaning should be considered an essential service, especially during the winter.

He adds that the government needs a mechanism to declare certain services essential during a strike.

While the highway workers left the public sector strike, provincial court workers joined the picket line with corrections and some environment employees.

Bymoen says the strike committee and the bargaining committee are looking at other job action as required.