National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2022

September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We hope you take this day to pause and reflect on the history of Canada and its relationship with First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, as well as working towards a different future that respects and acknowledges the unique and independent role of all First Nations. We encourage you to challenge yourself to find your role in building a harmonious relationship with the original peoples of this land.

Angie is a member of SEIU-West's First Nations, Métis and Inuit Committee (FNMIC). Here is her story:

Letter to the Editor - Martin Been August 30

Better uses for resource windfall

The recent announcement by the Saskatchewan Party government to share resource revenue is suspicious. If you recall, Saskatchewan experienced a record resource revenue boom from 2011 to 2014 and no one saw either cheques in the mail or an improvement of public services. We saw squandering.

The decision to dish out a ‘share-the-wealth’ $500 payment this fall won’t even cover the increases for many that the Saskatchewan Party government has quietly imposed, such as a new school fee to make up for a shortfall in funding for our education system, provincial sales tax on children’s clothing and used cars and transportation costs to find health care out of province.

A simple injection of much-needed dollars would go a long way to clear the backlog of surgeries that health care is experiencing right now. An investment in education is investing in the future of this province.

Finance Minister Harpauer insists that investments in our public services are not sustainable, but I argue that if it was a priority, it would be sustainable.

The Saskatchewan Party tells us that they are keeping Saskatchewan strong and on the right track. It appears we are on the track for a two-tiered health-care and education system, much like the United States.

Martin Been

Saskatoon

 

Find the published article in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix here.

Letter to the Editor - Martin Been July 30, 2022

An article published in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix on July 25 titled “Saskatchewan will pay private clinics to help close surgery gap,” explains the Saskatchewan Party government wants a privately run orthopedic surgery clinic to be built in the province in an effort to clear a record backlog of postponed procedures.

The article states: “The province will issue a formal request to a private company to build a site focused on increasing operating room and bed capacity for in-patient joint replacements, as well as a variety of day surgery procedures.”

The Ministry of Health says it is also exploring contracting an existing private surgery clinic outside of the province to perform hip and knee surgeries for residents on the province’s waitlist.

This from a government that once proudly proclaimed that Saskatchewan is a “have” province.

Timing of this announcement, coinciding with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Tommy Douglas’ medicare, should be more than concerning.

With the plan to build private clinics and outsource publicly funded surgeries to private clinics, is this government signalling the end of publicly funded and administered health care?

If allowed to proceed with this plan, this government will add health care to the list of items people in Saskatchewan can no longer afford.

Martin Been

Saskatoon

 

Find the published article in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix here.

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples 2022

Our First Nations, Métis and Inuit Committee (FNMIC) along with our Multicultural Mentorship Committee (MMC), would like to share some resources and events for you. We hope you join us in celebrating the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on August 9, 2022.

 

Letter to the Prime Minister 2022- Martin Been

Martin Been, Member of SEIU-West Political Action and Awareness Committee, has upped his game in response to the lack of response from his letter to his Member of Parliament, as well as letters to the Editor of the Star Phoenix: Investment Must Stay With Long-Term Care in Saskatchewan and concerns expressed over private healthcare in Saskatchewan and the poor response from the Provincial Health Minister.

Read on! 

Apply to Attend: SACLXT Fall Conference 2022

The SEIU-West Education Committee will be sponsoring up to two delegates to attend the Saskatchewan Association of Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technicians (SACLXT) Fall Conference on October 22, 2022 at the Sandman Signature Hotel in Saskatoon.

They will reimburse registration costs, lost wages, travel costs and meal expenses for those who are selected to attend according to our policies.

Space for these courses is limited, so get your Expression of Interest in soon. Your completed Expression of Interest form must be received in our office on or before August 29, 2022 in order to allow us to complete the registration and selection process. 

You will be required to submit a report within 30 days to SEIU-West's Education Committee.

More Information about the event can be found here:
2022 AGM Agenda
2022 SACLXT Conference Agenda
2022 SACLXT Registration Form

*Once you've been notified that the Education Committee is sponsoring you, you'll still need to register for the conference. We will book you a hotel if required and we will send you our Member Expense Form to reimburse your costs.

Apply to attend: Saskatchewan Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists Fall Conference 2022

The SEIU-West Education Committee will be sponsoring up to two delegates to attend the Saskatchewan Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists (SSMLT) Fall Conference 2022 on September 23 and 24, 2022 at the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon. They will reimburse registration costs, lost wages, travel costs and meal expenses for those who are selected to attend according to our policies.

Space for these courses is limited so get your Expression of Interest in soon. Your completed Expression of Interest form must be received in our office on or before August 29, 2022 in order to allow us to complete the registration and selection process. 

More Information about the event can be found here.

*Once you've been notified that the Education Committee is sponsoring you, you'll still need to log in to the SSMLT website and register for the conference. We will book you a hotel if required and we will send you our Member Expense Form to reimburse your costs.

National Indigenous Peoples Day 2022

Today we were excited to participate in Saskatoon’s Rock your Roots Walk for Reconciliation, but mother earth had other plans.

World Refugee Day 2022

June 20 is World Refugee Day. The SEIU-West Multicultural Mentorship Committee (MMC) wants to highlight why World Refugee Day is so important.

Not only does this day encourage us to think about what we can do to help, it also motivates us to be better neighbours and friends. Compassion would make this entire world a softer place for us all. Imaging leaving your home, friends, and country because you're afraid of being persecuted for your beliefs.

Let's not just pause on June 20 to reflect, let's all commit to supporting refugees on their journeys and appreciate the sacrifices and strengths of refugees that have settled in Canada. Let's look at the work that needs to be done to help over fifty million refugees/displaced persons that are at risk worldwide.

There is a huge need to create a more peaceful world. Together, we can work so that fewer people will be forced to leave their homes due to violence, war and unrest. Why is it that world peace seems so impossible, while world war seems so possible? World peace is a monumental goal, but every step we make towards it matters. 

We may see a greater amount of refugees in Saskatchewan with the current situation in Ukraine. This is an opportunity. Be friends, neighbours, co-workers and citizens.

Letters to the Editor: Investment Must Stay With Long-Term Care in Saskatchewan

Martin Been, SEIU-West Political Action and Awareness Committee member recently had a letter to the editor published regarding long-term care funding. 
Read on: