There is currently a vacancy on the SEIU-West Executive Board for members that work for the Community Based Organizations Sector.
Pinned
Virtual town halls (VTHs) were scheduled for the evenings of May 27 and 28 to update SEIU-West members about SAHO bargaining and answer bargaining questions. Unfortunately, the VTH on May 27 ran into major technical glitches. We apologize if you were one of the hundreds of members whose experienced this failure. We were not satisfied that the supplier of the VTH platform would be able to properly fix these problems in time, so we decided to cancel the May 28 VTH.
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.
Disclaimer: the following information is based on what SEIU-West found on publicly available federal government websites. This information is subject to change as it comes from outside sources. We will update this post further as information becomes available.
Unionism 101 is designed for any member who has not taken any other union training. The course will touch on the basics of unions from where dues go to how members stay current on union activities – an introduction to the virtual bulletin board will be included. Deadline for Applications: April 7, 2021
This award has been established to honour Shelly Banks who led by example and served as SEIU-West vice-president from 2008-2015.
Her invaluable and outstanding contributions have made a significant and lasting impact on our members and our union.
Reminder SEIU-West members who:
- have received confirmation that they are eligible for the vaccination under Phase 1 ; or
- believe they are eligible to receive the vaccination under Phase 1 parameters
should call the number - 1-833-SASKVAX (1-833-727-5829) - and book their vaccine today, March 16, 2021.
Exciting one day course offered April 12 - 15, 2021
Relaxed Rules Disrespectful of Health Care Providers
March 9, 2021
Saskatoon, Sask – On the heels of Premier Scott Moe’s announcement that public health restrictions will be relaxed, SEIU-West members and leaders are concerned that this decision is premature and guided by politics rather than science or the needs of our health care system.
“It’s too soon to let our guard down like this,” says Barb Cape, President of SEIU-West. “The signs that the second wave is subsiding aren’t strong enough to justify relaxing restrictions. With the rise of the variants and lower testing numbers, we need to keep our public health restrictions in place for just a little longer to see if our efforts are really working.”
Two of Saskatchewan’s key health system leaders, Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab and Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) CEO Scott Livingstone, both expressed concern about the impending risk of a third wave of hospitalizations, especially among younger people and those unvaccinated.
“Ignoring the advice of two of your top advisors doesn’t seem like a sound way to go about protecting the people you were elected to serve,” adds Cape. “There are still a lot of unknowns about the variants and how quickly vaccines will be put into people’s arms.”
Experts agree that caution is key for the next 8 to 12 weeks based on the experience of jurisdictions in Europe noting that there is still potential that another wave would overwhelm our health care system.
“With the recent warmer weather, we’re already seeing a bit of a ‘spring fever’ effect and people are itching to push the envelope. We understand,” continues Cape. “But loosening Saskatchewan restrictions now will encourage folks to take risks… and in a couple of weeks, the heat will be back on again in our ICUs and acute care units. Let’s remember the restrictions in our province remain the most moderate in the country.”
Though Saskatchewan’s rate of COVID hospitalizations has fallen to levels not seen since Christmas, they are still the highest per capita in Canada, and the number of COVID patients in our ICUs remains high.
“Our acute care members have spent a year keeping our health care system running throughout this pandemic,” adds Cape. “And we still have 40% of the health care team who haven’t received their first dose of vaccine. A decision to relax restrictions will lead to a rise in cases and another crisis in our health care system.”
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
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