Saskatchewan – Late last week, amid facility closures and service disruptions across the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), the SHA quietly released a troubling measure to respond to “staff shortages”.
Pinned
Executive Board Vacancies
Do you want to be more involved in the governance of your Union? Do you have a unique voice to lend to the Executive Board? Here's your chance!
SAHO/ECI Bargaining Survey 2022
It is time for the 2022 SEIU-West SAHO/ECI Bargaining Survey!
This survey is for SEIU-West members who work at (or are on leave from) a Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) or SHA-affiliated workplace or program, including Extendicare.
SENIORITY TOWNHALL – Q & A – SEIUWEST/SAHO collective agreement
On June 7, SEIU-West held a virtual townhall to talk with SHA members about the Letter of Understanding (LOU) that changes our hours-based seniority system to a seniority date system. The difference is that all hours-based seniority will begin to be transferred to a seniority date.
Extendicare Pay Rate Update
Elmview, Moose Jaw, Parkside, Preston, and Sunset Extendicare Facilities
PLEASE NOTE:
New pay rates are effective April 17, 2022.
Update to Members: March 25, 2022
Dear Members of SEIU-West:
In an effort to keep you all up-to-date on the recent cyber-attack affecting SEIU-West that we first reported to you on March 11, 2022 and updated you on March 15, 2022, we want to provide a further update on where we’re at with this situation.
Update to Members: March 15, 2022
Dear members of SEIU-West:
We are writing you with an important update related to the recent cyber-attack affecting SEIU-West that we first reported to you late last week on March 11, 2022. We promised to provide you with further updates as more information became available.
Here is what we’ve learned to date:
Notice to Members: March 11, 2022
Dear member of SEIU-West:
We are writing to you with important information about a recent cyber-attack affecting SEIU-West. SEIU-West became aware of this cyber-attack on March, 10 2022, which is believed to have occurred early in the morning of March 10, 2022.
Extendicare Canada Inc. (ECI) Bargaining Update No. 7
Date: March 7, 2022
Greetings Brothers and Sisters who work at Extendicare Canada’s Elmview, Preston, Moose Jaw, Parkside, and Sunset facilities:
We wanted to update you regarding the implementation of the new collective agreement you approved in January, as well as regarding the transfer of these facilities to the SHA.
SAHO/SEIU-West Bargaining Bulletin (2nd Edition) No. 24
Date: March 4, 2022
Greetings Sisters and Brothers,
At long last, we can confirm that our collective agreement is finalized and at the printer!
Federal Funding for Health Needs Stronger Conditions Provinces Must Meet
Open Letter to Premier Moe: Saskatchewan's Frontline Workers Call on Government to Protect Vital Services
On January 20, 2022 SEIU-West, the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL), the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF), the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN), SGEU and CUPE Saskatchewan joined together to call on the Government of Saskatchewan to protect our healthcare and education systems and other vital public services from the Omicron wave by immediately following the advice of Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab. The presidents of these six organizations held an unprecedented joint news conference. Today, the joint open letter below was sent to Premier Scott Moe, calling for a a public health order to:
- Limit gathering sizes to a maximum of 10 people.
- Limit the frequency of gathering and establish a consistent “bubble” of close contacts.
- Limit non-school and non-work contacts.
- Limit non-essential travel between communities.
Apply Now! SFL Convention 2022
This year, the annual Convention of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) will be held in Regina on October 26-28, 2022.
This year's Convention includes elections for several leadership positions. The SFL Convention is a wonderful opportunity to get involved in Saskatchewan’s labour movement, and advocate for better social, economic and environmental policies.
As in past years, the SEIU-West Executive Board has agreed to sponsor up to 30 SEIU-West members to attend the Convention as delegates. This includes the registration fee, lost wages or honoraria, and any associated costs in accordance to our policies.
If you are interested in attending, please fill out this Expression of Interest form, no later than August 26, 2022. We will notify those who are selected to attend.
The SFL represents over 100,000 hard working union members in Saskatchewan, from 37 national and international unions. Its goal is to improve working people’s lives throughout the province, whether organized or unorganized, and regardless of affiliation to the SFL.
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
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.
Bargaining Bulletin No. 14 Canadian Blood Services
Bargaining Bulletin No. 2 Spruce Manor Special Care Home
Media Release: Private "Temp" Agencies Won't Solve Health System Understaffing
Saskatchewan – Late last week, amid facility closures and service disruptions across the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), the SHA quietly released a troubling measure to respond to “staff shortages”.
Save the Date: SAHO/Extendicare Bargaining Conference
It's that time again. We're hosting the SAHO/Extendicare Bargaining Conference this fall in Saskatoon.
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.
Apply Today: SFL Summer Camp
The Annual Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) Summer Camp will be held on August 5-11 at Shekinah Retreat Centre, near Waldheim.
SEIU-West Helps Depave Paradise
After two long years inside, we’ve had our first chances to get back outside and light up the BBQ!