SEIUWest.ca History
A New Bold Local!
Service Employees’ International Union (
SEIU) was founded in 1921 when building janitors in the United States formed the Building Service Employees International Union. Since that time, workers from diverse countries and backgrounds have opted to join the SEIU family. This diversity is also reflected in the membership as workers employed in the private, public, and industrial sectors have chosen SEIU as their representative Union. The SEIU currently has approximately two (2) million members across North America.
SEIU Canada has approximately 100,000 members across Canada. SEIU represents members who work for school boards, home care, hospitals, special care homes, retirement homes, hospitals, emergency services, social services, and municipalities, among many others. SEIU members include bus drivers, janitors, teacher aides, clerical staff, caretakers, group home workers, addictions counselors, licensed practical nurses, special care aids, day care workers, and ambulance personnel, to name a few.
SEIU Canada is affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour. The structure of SEIU Canada is as described in our
Organizational Chart.
At present, there is one strong, new SEIU Local in Saskatchewan: SEIUWEST.ca
SEIUWEST.ca was created through the recent merger of:
Local 299, which was based out of Moose Jaw. This local was established in 1946 and consisted of approximately 2,000 members who are school board employees in both the Public and Catholic school systems, as well as employees in the health care sector and in a variety of industries.
Local 333, based out of Saskatoon, which was the largest Saskatchewan Local, with 8,200 members. St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon was the first hospital organized by SEIU in 1946. The majority of members who were affiliated with this local work as health providers in the health-care sector, community-based organizations, private care homes and group homes.
Local 336, which was based out of Swift Current and was chartered in 1947. Its founding members were employed primarily in the health care sector. This local broadened its representation to include education workers, caretakers, office and clerical workers, crisis service workers, and municipal workers. It consisted of approximately 1,200 members.
Our MandateThe mandate of SEIU is to improve the lives of working people and their families, and lead the way to a more just and humane society. We stand for economic and social justice, for dignity and respect, for having a voice on the job and in society, and for a secure job with the opportunity to advance.
We encourage members to participate in the Union through attendance at workplace meetings, involvement as stewards, participation on Local Committees, and through education and training sessions. Regular elections occur which enable interested members to be nominated for a position on their Executive.
In addition, SEIU employs both administrative and field staff representatives, to respond to members’ requests for information, to facilitate in the education/training process, and to assist SEIU members in negotiating collective agreements and resolving disputes within the workplace, among numerous other duties.
For more information regarding
SEIU Canada, feel free to call 1-800-337-3798; or, call any of the SEIUWEST.ca offices as set out below:
Saskatoon 1-800-772-9724
Moose Jaw 1-800-563-5900
Swift Current 1-888-999-7348