Saskatchewan residents hoping to get auto and home insurance claims dealt with more quickly may now have a chance.

The union representing SGI employees lifted its overtime ban at the same it struck a tentative deal with the Crown Corporation.
 
SGI president Andrew Cartmell says the overtime ban did have an impact on getting through claims, mainly because of the Regina hail storm.

That storm earlier this month netted about 4,000 claims. The Waskesiu-area storm added another 1,500. Cartmell says there's an overtime plan in place for the next several weekends to get caught up.

“We certainly have plans at this point in time for overtime for the next couple of weeks and I think that should put us in pretty good standings. If there are more storms then we’ll ask staff to work some more overtime and we’ll get caught up again,” said Cartmell.

As for the deal, if it is ratified, employees will get a deal that expires at the end of 2013 worth 7.5 per cent in wage increases.

Edited by News Talk Radio's Sabeen Ahmad.