In early December, the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board (the LRB) issued a decision about the five former Extendicare facilities. The decision was based on an interpretation of the regulations that governed a previous restructuring of the healthcare system in 1997, commonly called the ‘Dorsey regulations’. In that decision, the Saskatoon and Moose Jaw facilities remain within the SEIU-West family. However, the 3 Regina-based facilities were moved, without a vote of the membership, into the CUPE 5430 jurisdiction.
Pinned
Build Power, Win Justice 2024!
The SEIU-West Political Action & Education Department is pleased to invite members to apply to attend Build Power, Win Justice. This two-day conference will take place at SEIU-West in Saskatoon on March 19th and 20th, 2024. Interested members can apply by completing this application form.
Notice to Members in the Education Sector - Re: STF Strike
January 12, 2024
Good afternoon,
As you may have heard, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) has announced that its members across Saskatchewan will be conducting a one-day strike on Tuesday, January 16th.
SEIU-West Education Support Staff Stands with the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation
The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (the STF) has been bargaining with the Government and Trustee bargaining committee. They have reached an impasse and are unable to make any progress. The STF has notified their members that they will be holding a vote on sanctions against their employer.
Convention 2023: Constitutional Amendments
The following Constitutional Amendments were debated, voted on, and passed during Convention:
Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
SEIU-West President, Barbara Cape, was one of the recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Saskatchewan) in recognition of her tireless work in the labour sector.
MEPP Stakeholder Report
The Municipal Employees’ Pension Commission Report to Stakeholders for October 2022 has been posted to the Plan website. Mandatory and voluntary reports for the plan can be found here. This information is applicable to SEIU-West members who work at Southeast Cornerstone Public School Division, Chinook School Division, and Holy Family schools.
Media Release: Parking Issues Create Safety Hazard for Sask. Healthcare Facilities
Saskatoon – A recent assault on a health care provider walking to Royal University Hospital (RUH) from their car located off-site has shone a bright light on the lack of parking for hospital staff and safety of our streets.
Stop Privatization
The provincial auditor has reported that the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) needs to find more than 2,000 workers in hard to recruit positions over the next five years. While the provincial government has announced a $60 million dollar Health Human Resources Plan, it is simply too little, too late. This bandaid solution is further eroded by the ongoing privatization of healthcare agencies who are able to recruit healthcare workers from the public system.
Member Info Sessions: SHEPP Pension Plan & Inflation Protection
The linked SHEPP Pension Bulletin outlines some of the basics of pension indexation, or protection against inflation, for pension plans. It also provides a summary of SHEPP’s past indexation and an update on the current funding status of the plan. Finally, the bulletin concludes with an important proposal for benefit improvements that has been agreed upon by all five of the Unions (SEIU-West, CUPE, SGEU, SUN, and HSAS) representing SHEPP members.
There is an urgent need for a key improvement to the plan's benefits to protect current and future retirees from the impact of inflation.
SFL Pension Conference 2023
SEIU-West is pleased to sponsor up to five (5) members to attend the SFL Pensions and Benefits Conference 2023, taking place March 22 & 23 in Regina.
Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This day is the anniversary of the murders of 14 young women at l’Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal in 1989 who were killed simply because they were women. This is an important day to recognize that violence against women remains a significant issue in Canada and around the world. The UN reports that every 11 minutes a woman, or girl, is killed by an intimate partner or family member, making this the most pervasive human rights violation in the world. In addition to the physical violence that women are subjected to, women and girls face rampant violence online, including misogynistic hate speech, sexual harassment, revenge porn, and grooming by sexual predators. This violence is amplified for Indigenous women and girls, for women of colour, and for gender diverse and gender fluid women.
AIMS Feedback Opportunities
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is looking for feedback from health care staff on the AIMS program. Please check the SHA Daily Rounds - December 5, 2022 email for more information and other opportunities to participate.
Media Release: Saskatchewan Surplus Should be Invested in Public Services
For Immediate Release
November 30, 2022
Saskatchewan – The Saskatchewan government yesterday released its mid-year financial report for the 2022-23 fiscal year. The report forecasts a $1.1 billion surplus, mainly due to a spike in non-renewable resource revenues. SEIU-West encourages the Government of Saskatchewan to not fritter away this windfall on $500 giveaway cheques and tax breaks for gym memberships, instead, they should be investing in the care workers and public services that keep this province running.
Bargaining Update No. 1: Haven Kids' House
Dear members:
Much has happened since we met with you in February to prepare for bargaining. This bulletin is to update you on where we are and how we got there, and to encourage you to attend a membership meeting we are holding on Tuesday, December 6th.
In brief, the Employer’s actions have put negotiations at an impasse, and we have formally requested the Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety to appoint a conciliator to help the parties reach a deal.
Solidarity with SGEU Liquor Store Workers
The recent decision of the Government of Saskatchewan to privatize the remaining public liquor stores in Saskatchewan is yet another example of the reckless and careless leadership that this government has shown time and time again.
Louis Riel Day 2022
FNMIC member Justin Gaudet, is asking members to pause on November 16 to think about Saskatchewan's history on Louis Riel Day. Educate yourselves on the history and commit to going forward in a more informed way.