Media Release: Strike Notice Served: LutherCare Communities Group Homes
For Immediate Release
April 22, 2024
Anti-Bully Day Info Picket
For Immediate Release, February 28, 2018
Saskatoon – SEIU-West members who are Support Workers at Elmwood Group Homes (EGH) are out in the community today to share their story with the public at the intersection of Arlington Ave and Tayler St. East in Saskatoon, right near Elmwood Residences.
“Anti-Bully Day is an appropriate day to be out informing the public of the unfair situation our members are facing at the bargaining table,’ said Neil Colmin, Vice-President of SEIU-West. “When we returned to the bargaining table last week, the employer would not share their proposal unless our members accepted a zero percent wage increase.”
With no pay increase in four years, EGH Support Workers are barely getting by and have actually experienced a wage cut when you take into account the growing cost of living. However, the employer maintains they have no money to fund salary increases.
“The employer is clinging to their story that they cannot afford any wage increase, yet somehow they are able to pay for a high-priced lawyer to negotiate their contract and hire relief workers from Nurse Next Door at double the wage of a Support Worker,” continued Colmin.
SEIU-West was present at a Labour Relations Board (LRB) hearing in Regina on February 27, 2018 to respond to the EGH allegations SEIU-West and its members are striking illegally. The board did not declare the EGH employees strike illegal and did not give the Employer any relief. Dates have been scheduled in March to hear the Employers Unfair Labour Practice (ULP) application regarding its assertion the Union ought to have concluded an essential services agreement.
“We’ll see how this process goes,” added Colmin. “But for now our members can continue to withhold non-vital services like driving residents and clients to work.”
SEIU-West represents more than 13,000 working people in the province of Saskatchewan. They include members who work in health care, education, municipalities, community-based organizations, retirement homes and other sectors. They are joined by one colour – purple – and one union – SEIU-West. Purple works in our communities! Visit www.PurpleWorks.ca to find out more about the members of SEIU-West.
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For more information, contact:
Christine Miller, Communications Coordinator
Phone: 306-652-1011 ext. 8733
Click here for a printable PDF of MEDIA RELEASE: Anti-Bully Day Info Picket
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