For Immediate Release
April 22, 2024
Saskatoon—Community Service Workers (CSWs) who work for LutherCare Communities Group Homes (LCGH) have served strike action notice to their Employer which will take effect at 6:00 pm on April 24, 2024.
“This action will result in some services being withdrawn by our members, and those services will have to be taken care of by management,” says Barbara Cape, President of SEIU-West. “There’s time to avoid the withdrawal of services, but the ball is in the Employer’s court to put forward a fair deal to settle a long overdue collective agreement.”
Negotiations have stalled between the Employer and SEIU-West over a few contentious items including wages, the introduction of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and two days off in a row to rest from your week’s toil—otherwise known as a weekend.
“The Employer seems ambivalent to our members’ need for respect, fairness, and a living wage,” said Barbara Cape, President of SEIU-West. “Let’s be clear, everyone deserves a weekend, even if it’s not the traditional Saturday and Sunday.”
Over the years, shifts have become shorter to the point that even full-time staff find themselves working seven days a week on a continuous basis to make enough hours. Currently there is no recognition for the need to be off for two days in a row to rest and recuperate from a hard week’s work.
“There’s still the issue of the Employer offering the statutory holiday, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, to out of scope managers, but not the staff working on the frontline of the homes,” adds Cape.
Service Employees International Union West (SEIU-West) represents over 13,000 people across Saskatchewan. They include people 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. Visit PurpleWorks.ca to find out more about SEIU-West members.
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For more information, contact:
Leanne Hendriks
Communications Coordinator, SEIU-West 306-652-1011 ext. 2244