Last year, SEIU created a survey for members about climate change and the impact on your lives.
Pinned
June is National Indigenous Peoples Month. This is a time to honour the rich history, resilience, and diversity of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. It is an opportunity to reflect on historical and current injustices and commit to true reconciliation in Canada.
The First Nations, Métis and Inuit Committee would like to share some events and resources with you and encourage you to participate in events in your area.
SEIU-West is hosting our first Asian Pacific Islander Summit in Saskatoon on September 24-26, 2026 — an event to bring together workers from across Canada and the U.S.
Being an API member in Canada or the U.S can sometimes feel isolating. You might not have seen yourself in leadership. You may not have always felt seen or understood. But you can find a home with us. We believe in you. We see you. And most importantly, you belong.
Welcome home.
There is currently a vacancy on the SEIU-West Executive Board for members that work for the Community Based Organizations Sector.
You may have noticed there hasn't been an announcement about bbqs for the summer yet.
The SEIU-West First Nations, Métis and Inuit Committee (FNMIC) is hosting a contest to design an image for orange shirts that the committee provides yearly to members. Submit your design to enter to win a $100 Co-op gift card.
3sHealth Employee Benefits received confirmation that the collective bargaining agreement between SAHO and SEIUWest has been ratified. This agreement includes changes to eligible employee wage rates, which may impact the disability benefits paid to SEIU-West members if they are or have been on an approved disability claim on or after April 1, 2019.
For immediate release March 8, 2021
SGEU, SEIU-West and CUPE – three Saskatchewan unions representing health care providers – are calling on Premier Scott Moe to reconsider the government’s decision to exclude certain health care workers from being prioritized in the province’s COVID-19 vaccine roll-out.
March 2, 2021
As you know, SEIU-West and the other Saskatchewan health care unions have been participating in a number of vaccine-related committees, including the 'Vaccine Hesitancy Task Team' and the 'Vaccine Uptake Group'. Our focus remains on ensuring that our members who want to take the vaccine are a priority group identified in Phase 1. This position is supported as a best practice by the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations.
While we recognize vulnerable populations need to be vaccinated as well, only frontline health care staff in Saskatchewan who have been defined by Minister of Health Paul Merriman as "patient-facing" are to be vaccinated in Phase 1. This is a problem because even though not all of us are hands-on with patients, all of our work is patient-centered and we are all continuously at risk because of where we work and what we do.
What about the unit assistant working on a unit where 50% of the staff are getting vaccinated, but because he is managing patient paperwork, he isn’t getting vaccinated in Phase 1? Or the trades and maintenance staff who keep the pumps, ducts, air exchangers working in a facility, but don’t have N95 masks or priority sequencing in Phase 1?
What about our dietary and housekeeping staff who routinely move about health care facilities?
We had to appeal to get cardiology techs into Phase 1 because they move throughout the hospital including critical units like ER, ICU, and COVID units.
We had to fight to get homecare staff who work in vulnerable locations like the Lighthouse onto the Phase 1 list.
We will keep fighting for you.
Below you will find a SHA flow chart that outlines the process if you’re not sure your classification is on the Phase 1 list. Included is an "interpretation review" form, if you would like clarity from the Minister of Health and SHA.
This priority list was established by the Government of Saskatchewan, so if you don’t see your classification reflected on the list and you are concerned why you are not being offered a vaccine as a priority, please email the Minister of Health, Paul Merriman (or phone him at 306-244-5623) to request inclusion on the Phase 1 list and/or ask why your classification wasn’t included.
Stronger Together at Elmwood Group Homes
March 2, 2021 For Immediate Release
(Saskatoon, SK)– Members of SEIU-West who work at Elmwood Group Homes in Saskatoon have voted strongly in favour of accepting the tentative agreement reached with the Employer.
“This group of workers demonstrate strong team building every day. This, combined with a sense of confidence in their bargaining team, has created a collaborative, respectful bargaining environment where the concerns of both the employer and union are appreciated,” said President of SEIU-West, Barbara Cape.
“It is reasonable to expect that retention and recruitment challenges need to be addressed for the benefit of the residents. Our members were pleased to see a willingness on the part of the employer to take such positive steps as retroactive wage increases. It helps when front line workers feel valued,” adds Cape.
The term of the new collective agreement will be from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2023, with general wage increases of 1% effective April 1, 2019; 3% effective April 1, 2020 and 1% effective April 1, 2021. Together with retroactive pay, there are an added number of provisions have been improved upon to manage cost of living issues; for example, there are improvements to both travel allowance and shift differentials.
SEIU-West represents more than 13,000 working people in the province of Saskatchewan. They include members 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. Purple works in our communities! Visit www.PurpleWorks.ca to find out more about the members of SEIU-West.
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For more information, contact:
Tammy Robert Coordinator
Phone: 306-652-1011 ext. 2225
Our 2021 SEIU-West Convention is fast approaching. In order to prepare for this Convention, our planning involves both general elections for the positions of President, Treasurer and one (1) Trustee; as well, we will be holding at least five (5) caucus elections for Member at Large positions on the Executive Board.
To facilitate our elections processes, we are looking for three (3) interested members who would be willing to serve on our Elections Committee. The Elections Committee has a staff resource, Karman Kawchuk – Research Coordinator and an ex-officio member, Neil Colmin, our Vice-President. Some of the duties of the Elections Committee include: approval & distribution of candidate campaign material, compiling guidelines for both general/caucus elections, review of any nomination/election challenges, recording names and number of ballots cast for each candidate, working with the Parliamentarian, and providing a final report to the Executive Board. Further information will be provided at the first committee meeting.
If you are interested in serving on the Elections Committee and you will not be running for a position at Convention, please send an email expressing your interest with your name, workplace and cell number to [email protected] before March 1, 2021.
Respect Us & Protect Us
February 18, 2021
Saskatoon – SEIU-West leaders are alarmed with the recent public comments made by Health Minister Paul Merriman regarding the provincial vaccine roll out plan for Saskatchewan.
“It appears that our Health Minister is largely unaware of what is going on in the health sector otherwise he would not be inferring that long-term care staff and residents have all been vaccinated. While long term care staff and residents are in Phase 1, these vaccinations are not complete. In some locations, these have not been offered at all,” says Barb Cape, President of SEIU-West.
Mr. Merriman has indicated that the provincial roll-out plan will be done based on age sequencing; this model was chosen because they “looked at other provinces” and it’s “fastest.”
Cape indicates, “It’s ironic that he acknowledges a review of other jurisdictions when other locations are making health care and emergency personnel a priority for the vaccine. Why is it that only in Saskatchewan we select certain health care workers for the vaccine, rather than offering it out to all? Our Health Minister refers to “forward-facing” health care workers as being in Phase 1. It is obvious that he has no idea about the team of health care workers that we have in working in Saskatchewan. They are all ‘forward facing’ in the drive to reduce the infection rates of COVID-19.”
SEIU-West has sent an open letter to the Premier and the Minister of Health setting out clear examples of why all essential and front line workers in the health and community-based sectors need to be offered the vaccine prior to implementing the proposed age sequencing model. No reply has been received to date.
Cape adds, “It’s ironic that the Minister has stated that they have spoken to the different associations about their priorities. He certainly has undertaken no meaningful consultation with us. I don’t believe that the Minister appreciates the level of disrespect felt by our members who are faced with the daily burdens and risks of COVID. They need access to proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and the vaccine. It’s simply unconscionable to refuse our members who work at the Children’s Hospital, for example, access to the vaccine as a priority. We should be planning to reduce the number of outbreaks in our health care facilities by creating a model which complies with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization rather than increasing the risk to our front line heroes. It’s disrespectful and unsafe!”
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:
Christine Miller
Communications
306-477-8733
Saskatoon, February 16, 2021
Click here to download a printable PDF file of Canadian Blood Services: Bargaining Update No. 5.
On February 16, 2021, SEIU-West President Barb Cape sent the below open letter to Premier Scott Moe.
Click here to view the signed letter. Please scroll to the bottom to find more information about what you can do to help take up the fight. You can watch a video message from SEIU-West President Barb Cape on this issue here.
Dear Sirs,
I write to you on behalf of over 13,000 health care and allied health workers throughout the province of Saskatchewan with respect to the administration of vaccinations for the COVID-19 virus.
Specifically, I wish to draw to your attention the shocking failure of your vaccine delivery plan to appropriately prioritize workers across the full range of interrelated job classifications on which our health care and long-term care systems depend.
As you are aware, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) strongly recommend that all workers in health care settings be prioritized for the vaccine because of their close proximity to those who are likely to acquire COVID-19, but also suffer serious effects from this virus.
These workers have been on the front line of this fight against the spread of COVID-19 – in our hospitals, group homes, long-term care facilities, personal care homes, home care/community care services and blood distribution services. While these workers have been on the front line, the lack of visible support from your government has not gone unnoticed.
In fact, you have left them understaffed resulting in increased overtime and running to provide care; your government doesn’t appear to have an understanding or appreciation of what is actually happening on the front lines of this battle. Allow me to provide some snapshots of what is happening:
- Health care technologists: staff such as Cardiovascular Technologists, other Medical
Radiation Technologist, Medical Lab Techs and Combined Laboratory & X-Ray
Technologists (CLXTs) are often required to move from unit to unit throughout the
hospital or integrated care facility where they work as they provide and interpret the
various tests that are required to diagnose and provide appropriate treatment plans.
Their risk of potential exposure is high because of that movement, as is the
corresponding risk that they will transmit the virus throughout the facility. - Providers of community care and home care: Continuing Care Aides (CCAs),
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) provide health care
services within an individual’s home or in a communal living setting, such as the
Lighthouse in Saskatoon. This service is already fraught with unpredictability
because of the variables in health status on a daily basis. Home care services do not
have the predictability of a structured setting or the support of colleagues in the event
of an adverse health event of an individual. Clients are not screened in advance of
services being offered. As these are an individual’s home or a communal living
situation, the lack of structure for other interactions outside of these locations, such as
visiting outside friends or family or locations, creates an exponential risk for their
personal health and safety that cannot be dismissed or ignored. - Group home staff: Staff who work in these settings are likewise put into a vulnerable
position, along with their clients in these settings, because of the intimate, hands-on
nature of their work providing assistance in the personal care and activities of daily
living for each individual. - Staff at blood donation clinics: In our allied health sector, such as Canadian Blood
Services, there is no oversight or supervision of the adherence to public health orders
such that the requirement for physical distancing of two meters is not adhered to in
the strictest sense. This is likely done to continue to maximize the number of clients
who are donating blood, including the conduct of mobile clinics that put allied health
staff into a variety of work situations that expand the opportunity for infection. This is
the opposite of cohorting. - Staff at COVID test centres: for my final example, I want to highlight the unfortunate
irony of the lack of a mandate to vaccinate those staff who are either conducting the
actual COVID-19 tests and assessments or those who are providing the actual
vaccinations. The close proximity in both of these unique work environments leaves
too many opportunities for infection.
These are just a handful of examples of the movement and impact of health care and allied health workers. There are literally hundreds more examples impacting thousands of staff throughout the province.
While we appreciate that personal protective equipment (PPE) is standard issue for these staff, it is in an environment of several variants of COVID-19 that we continue to operate that has literally ‘upped the ante’ in our gamble with not vaccinating these health care and allied health staff as a priority. And while universal masking and PPE are key in arresting the spread of COVID-19, the clients, patients and residents that all of these workers encounter on a repeated and daily basis are not held to the same standard nor educated to the risks and effects of improper PPE wearing.
On behalf of not only my members within SEIU-West, but all health care and allied health workers, I implore you to reinstate the previously published sequence for these workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccines as a priority.
I look forward to your earliest possible response.
Respectfully,
Barbara Cape
President
SEIU-West
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Together, united, let's stand up to this inequity and demand protection for our residents, our patients, ourselves and our families and communities.
We need the government and SHA hear from all of you, soon, so they make revisiting the COVID19 vaccine rollout a priority.
Please consider dropping a line or placing a phone call:
Scott Moe
Ph: 306-747-3422 / 1-855-793-3422 (Shellbrook office)
306-787-9433 (Legislature office)
Health Minister Paul Merriman
Ph: 306-244-5623 (Saskatoon office)
306-787-7345 (Legislature office)
If you're looking for even more to do, contact your nearest Sask Party MLA and demand they push their colleagues to do the right thing.
Hey Moe… Where’s Our Dough?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2021
Saskatoon – SEIU-West members who work in hospitals, community-based organizations, and for employers such as Canadian Blood Services are still being left out of the province’s Temporary Wage Supplement (TWS) program. In many other provinces these crucial workers have received a wage supplement.
“The work that our members do in hospitals, child care, group homes, crisis intervention, and blood collection puts them in close contact with the general public on a daily basis – they can’t do their work from home. These workers are at as much risk as our members who work in Long-Term Care and Home Care setting. All of them should be included in the wage top up,” says Barb Cape, President of SEIU-West.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, SEIU-West members who work as Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs), Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Environmental Service Workers (ESWs), Patient/Client Intake, Direct Care workers, and Security Officers, to name a few, have been coming into their workplaces every day facing steady interactions with people in the public.
“I’m not sure if the public knows that people who are processing COVID tests aren’t getting the TWS,” continues Cape. “And that the people who clean hospitals are on the first line of defense against the spread of viruses aren’t receiving the top up. These are two of the many classifications in the health care team that are key in fighting this deadly disease.”
The government is not being honest on the reason for not issuing the Temporary Wage Supplement broadly for all front line workers who work in close proximity to people and are exposed to bodily fluids. The Minister of Finance’s office have given different reasons to different members. Ultimately, if this is intended to keep people working, then all front line health care staff, allied health, and community-based workers should be eligible; the Premier and his Minister of Finance shouldn’t be picking winners and losers.
When it was launched, the first phase of the TWS was for people who worked in Long-Term Care homes and completely left out both Hospital and Home Care workers. While phase two of the program now includes home care workers, it still leaves out many vital workers who are in a position of high risk.
“The public should be aware that this government is being selective about whose contribution to our public services are more valuable,” adds Cape. “I do not believe that this government actually understands the impact of this pandemic on front line staff and values saving lives, particularly when the focus is open keeping Saskatchewan open, rather than keeping us safe.”
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 united 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:
Christine Miller
Communications
306-477-8733