Tag Archives: health care

SEIU-West/SAHO Provincial Bargaining is Starting Up!

Posted on April 30, 2012 by christinemiller

The next round of bargaining will begin on May 8 & 9.

Below are the posters for each health region, please post on your Union Bulletin Board:

Cypress Health Region: SAHO Bargaining Begins Poster

Five Hills Health Region: SAHO Bargaining Begins Poster

Heartland Health Region: SAHO Bargaining Begins Poster

Saskatoon Health Region: SAHO Bargaining Begins Poster

Want to help spread the word to your fellow SEIU-West members?

Become a Mobilizer!

Download the Mobilizer Expression of Interest Form and give it to your Unit Chair, Unit Communicator, Union Rep or fax it into your nearest SEIU-West Local office.

You can also use the “Contact Us” form and identify that you want to be a Mobilizer for SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining.

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Media Release: SEIU-West Members Ratify 4 Year Contract at Moose Jaw & District EMS

Posted on April 2, 2012 by christinemiller

For Immediate Release – April 2, 2012

Moose Jaw – The SEIU-West Bargaining Committee is pleased to announce that the workers have accepted the contract that was negotiated with Moose Jaw & District EMS.

“We are content that the seniority issue has been resolved,” said Neil Diacon, Moose Jaw and District EMS worker and bargaining committee member. “I can’t say that it was easy to get to but the employer seems to understand the necessity of having stable staff in order to provide stable care”.

Ballots cast on Friday, March 29, 2012 revealed a 66% vote in favour of accepting the memorandum of agreement.

“Our members collectively made the decision a number of weeks ago to pursue an agreement that is fair and equitable when compared with others who provide a similar service in the province of Saskatchewan,” said Kerry Barrett, Negotiations Officer for SEIU-West. “Though it’s not exactly what members wanted, as you can see by the level of acceptance, this Agreement was hard fought and comes as a result of their determination and resolve”.

SEIU-West members who provide emergency medical services in the community of Moose Jaw and Central Butte did have to employ some job action but kept their promise to the community that their services would continue.

“Though we didn’t get everything we set out to achieve, we think that we were able to make good compromises that ultimately improve the working lives of our members in Moose Jaw and Central Butte and the service for the public,” continued Barrett.

Other changes in the contract include improved Union recognition and grievance procedure provisions as well as continued wage parity with EMS workers in the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region. The new collective agreement will expire March 31, 2015.

SEIU-West represents approximately twelve thousand working people in the province of Saskatchewan. They include members who work in healthcare, education, municipalities, community-based organizations, retirement homes and other sectors.

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For more information, contact:

Christine Miller, Communications Coordinator – 306.652.1011 ext. 2250

For a printable PDF of this release, click on the link below:

Media Release: SEIU-West Members Ratify 4 Year Contract at Moose Jaw & District EMS

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Media Release: Federal Budget Shuts Down Canada’s Action Plan

Posted on March 30, 2012 by christinemiller

For Immediate Release – March 29, 2012

Saskatoon – Members and Leaders of Services Employees International Union West (SEIU-West) are watching the release of the federal budget today, with worry over the predicted cuts to Old Age Security (OAS) and the offloading of higher costs to the provinces due to an increase in poverty.

“Though OAS is one of our watch items, there are many other areas such as the Crime Bill and Health Care Transfer payments that will have direct impact on our members and the taxpayers of Saskatchewan,” said Shelly Banks, Vice-President of SEIU-West. “This government has been mired in controversy for several months and doesn’t seem to be interested in what the average Canadian thinks; the security of our membership during their working life and in their retirement is a significant concern for all of us”.

Harper has a plan that will reduce Healthcare transfer payments to the provinces. As soon as 2016-17, Federal investment in provincial health-care funding will decrease to an average of about 18.6% annually. At present, the federal government contributes at a level of about 20.4%. “Out of ten provinces, six Provincial Finance Ministers lined up in opposition of the Federal Government’s new health-care funding deal. Unfortunately, our province’s Minister of Finance wasn’t one of them.  At the same time, we continue to face chronic unsafe staffing levels in the public health care system, and we have facilities that are in critical need of renovation or replacement.  The Saskatoon Health Region is struggling with the reality of the recent provincial budget which increased base funding for this large region by a mere 1%,” said Barbara Cape, President of SEIU-West. “Saskatchewan residents need a safe place in which to access services, and our members need a safe place with adequate resources to provide care”.

The Federal Crime bill is an expense that is being shuffled off to the provinces as well. “To date, our Provincial Government has not explained how we will pay for these higher costs. They have not questioned Stephen Harper, and they have not accounted for these increased costs in the provincial budget,” added Banks. “We hope that our Provincial government will not continue to impose cuts within our public services for the expensive tastes of the Federal government. In short, this Federal budget undermines Canada’s Economic Action Plan as we witness severe cuts to our federal public service and another bitter pill to swallow for Canadian workers and the citizens that rely upon quality public services”.

SEIU-West represents approximately twelve thousand working people in the province of Saskatchewan. They include members who work in healthcare, education, municipalities, community-based organizations, retirement homes and other sectors.

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For more information, contact:

Christine Miller, Communications Coordinator – 306.370.4990

For a printable PDF version of this release, click on the link below:

Media Release: Federal Budget Shuts Down Canada’s Action Plan

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Media Release: Public Safety and Worker Safety Go Hand in Hand

Posted on February 17, 2012 by christinemiller

February 17, 2012
For Immediate Release

Saskatoon – Residents and workers at St. Mary’s Villa in Humboldt received difficult news yesterday.  The Saskatoon Health Region (SHR) has determined that structural problems exist with the floor in one wing of the facility. Their decision, in an effort to take a proactive approach and prevent risk of harm or injury to residents and workers, was to close this Wing and move residents out.

“St. Mary’s Villa is not unique. The fact is that health care facilities all across the province are aging and renovations, or in some cases full replacement, are needed,” said Barbara Cape, President of Service Employees International Union West (SEIU-West). “The public and residents need a safe place in which to access services, and our members need a safe place to work.”

Years of under-funding infrastructure and putting off renovations have left the public healthcare system in a tenuous situation when it comes to health and safety. In 2008, the government put out a plan to invest 152.8 million dollars to build 13 new long-term care facilities to replace 13 outdated facilities in order to get them up to the standards that seniors deserve. “We were encouraged by that plan, but we don’t know where that plan stands, if it’s going ahead or if the government has a new plan for healthcare infrastructure.  We have reached out to the Minister of Health in an effort to talk about problems and solutions in the health sector, however, he has not agreed to meet as of yet,” said Cape.

One contributing factor to the Health Regions’ crumbling infrastructure is the lack of tradespeople within the healthcare system. “Recruitment and retention of tradespeople within the healthcare system has not kept pace with the needs of the facilities. It is ideal to have a pool of maintenance staff that can provide electrical, plumbing and carpentry services on an ongoing basis to maintain buildings and infrastructure. It’s difficult to keep tradespeople in the healthcare system when there are other sectors with much higher compensation packages available.

“This situation should not open the debate about public-private partnerships. Rather, this should be an opportunity to fulfill a promise to the people of Saskatchewan to provide quality health care and put patients first. Saskatoon Health Region has cast a wide net to gather solutions to the current dilemma facing the residents of St. Mary’s Villa. SEIU-West members stand ready to work with the Health Region and arrive at solutions for the residents,” continued Cape.

SEIU-West represents approximately twelve thousand working people in the province of Saskatchewan. They include members who work in healthcare, education, municipalities, community-based organizations, retirement homes and other sectors.

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For more information, contact:

Christine Miller, Communications Coordinator – 306.652.1011 ext. 2250

Click on the link below for a printable PDF of this release:

Media Release: Public Safety and Worker Safety Go Hand in Hand

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Provincial: SEIU-West members Invite Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety to Meet

Posted on February 2, 2012 by christinemiller

On November 21, 2011, SEIU-West sent a letter to the Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety congratulating him on his successful retention of his portfolio.

In this same letter, the Honourable Don Morgan was invited to meet with members of SEIU-West members so a conversation could begin.

The letter is linked below:

November 21, 2012 Invite to Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety to Talk with healthcare providers

Healthcare providers are still awaiting a response from the Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety.

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Provincial: SEIU-West members Invite Minister of Health to Meet

Posted on February 2, 2012 by christinemiller

On November 21, 2011, SEIU-West sent a letter to the Minister of Health congratulating him on his successful retention of his portfolio.

In this same letter, the Honourable Don McMorris was invited to meet with members of SEIU-West members so a conversation could begin.

The letter is linked below:

Invite to Minister of Health to talk with Healthcare Providers

A month later, this was his response to the invitation from SEIU-West members:

Minister of Health’s Response to Invite from SEIU-West Healthcare Providers

On February 6, 2012, Barbara Cape sent a follow up letter to the Minister of Health encouraging him to take the time to meet with healthcare providers as he has shown “a willingness and interest to listen to Registered Nurse perspective”. You can read the full letter by clicking the link below:

February 6, 2012 Letter to Minister McMorris – Meeting request follow up

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Letter to the Editor: Live up to words

Posted on November 21, 2011 by christinemiller

By Dena McKinlay, The StarPhoenix November 19, 2011

Re: Wall muses on labour (SP, Nov. 9). I am a union member and agree that transparency and accountability should be evident in all membership-based organizations, including those in government.

When my union recently was negotiating a collective agreement for health providers, I was frustrated with the expensive media campaign launched by the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations.

There were television, radio and newspaper ads, and glossy posters throughout my workplace.

SAHO even sent a letter to every health provider.

I think this information was intended to cripple our union’s already limited bargaining power. It made me angry. I felt it devalued and diminished the overall sense of worth for health providers, who have a critical role in the health-care team.

I asked how much SAHO was spending on this campaign, and our union indicated that the government had not provided the information in response to a Freedom of Information request. Rather, the government said SAHO is a membership-based, not-for-profit association. It acknowledged that SAHO receives some direct government funding, but other funding sources include membership fees.

So the union sent similar requests to members of SAHO – regional health authorities – which indicated they were unable to locate any records related to the information request.

Where is the transparency and accountability when health-care providers cannot find out just how much money SAHO is using to launch a campaign against them.

I want Premier Wall to address this lack of transparency and accountability. I’m certain many health providers who would agree with me.

Dena McKinlay Saskatoon

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Live+words/5736324/story.html#ixzz1eLxomKM3

Read it as a PDF: Live up to words

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2011 Health Care Providers Week Proclaimed

Posted on October 18, 2011 by christinemiller

It’s that time of year again. The week of October 23 to 30th has been proclaimed as Health Care providers week in the province of Saskatchewan.

You can read the letter SEIU-West received from the minister of health and the official certificate in this post.

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Health Care workers optimistic about NDP platform

Posted on October 12, 2011 by christinemiller

Saskatoon – Members of Service Employees International Union West (SEIU-West) were present as Dwain Lingenfelter and Judy Junor announced the Sask NDP health care platform this morning outside of Primary Health Centre South East in the riding of Saskatoon Eastview.

Highlights of the plan include a focus on community-centered care, additional funding to strengthen emergency room staffing and equipment as well as an investment in physician recruitment.

“We are relieved to see that the NDP platform contains a plan to manage the gaps in rural health care,” said Shelly Banks, Vice-President of SEIU-West. “We see this as a plan that is not only practical, but sustainable.”

The NDP is proposing a Community Access Hospital model that would see an increased role for Nurse Practitioners and a pool of Doctors who would be available to assist as needed. This would allow the existing rural hospitals which have been shut down or have seen disruptions of services to be repurposed with a more diverse health care team and better services.

“This would definitely keep our communities healthy in more ways than one,” said Barbara Cape, President of SEIU-West. “It’s no secret that we support publicly administered, delivered and funded health care, and this plan delivers all of that. In recent years, very little has been done to address critical retention and recruitment issues in too many classifications. It is our hope that this platform will involve a broader perspective of the health care team. Our current provincial government has diverted funding in support of private sector options. This will inevitably increase the cost given the need to protect a profit margin. In the case of Regina health region, data indicates that fewer public sector surgeries have been performed as a result of the work being done in a private surgery center. A better alternative would be to invest in smaller centres across the province to ensure ready access to diagnostic and surgical services as spelled out in the NDP Platform.”

The platform would reinstate chiropractic care coverage, increase funding for midwifery services, speech and occupational therapists, and address programming and equipment for childhood disabilities.

“Rest assured that we will be holding their feet to the fire when it comes to these promises. It’s up to us as the voters and working people of this province that our next provincial government has our best interests at heart when they are making their decisions,” said Banks.

SEIU-West supports the model of ensured access to high quality public sector health care services across the province in both rural and urban centres.

SEIU-West represents over 11,000 health care providers working in four (4) health regions across Saskatchewan. As well, SEIU-West represents employees working in the following sectors: Education, Municipal, Community-Based Organizations and Allied.

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For more information, contact:

Christine Miller, Communications Coordinator – 306.652.1011 ext. 2250.

Download the PDF of this release: Media Release 20111012 health care platform final

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Disparity in Rural Health

Posted on August 23, 2011 by christinemiller

Do you live in Rural Saskatchewan?

Are you concerned about the current state of health and medical care services in Saskatchewan?

Join the Concerned Citizens of Wakaw, Cudworth and Surrounding Towns and Rural Municipalities on September 10, 2011 at the Wakaw Recreation Centre.

Presentations will start at 1 pm with discussion to follow.

More information and contact names are available in the Invitation to a Provincial Gathering.

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