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Your SAHO Bargaining Team will be coming to your facility/community over the course of the coming weeks to talk about how the negotiations are going and listen to your questions regarding bargaining. Below is a list of all meetings taking place so far – you can also click on the ‘quick links’ for your area:

Quick links:

Saskatoon Health Region: Urban Meetings

Saskatoon Health Region: Rural Meetings

Heartland Health Region Meetings

Cypress Health Region Meetings

Five Hills Health Region Meetings

Date	Location: Saskatoon SEIU-West Office	Time	BBQ Time
Aug 10, 2017	SEIU-West Office #200 – 747 46^th Street W. First Floor Meeting Space	11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Aug 10, 2017	SEIU-West Office #200 – 747 46^th Street W. First Floor Meeting Space	5:30 pm – 7:00 pm	5:00pm
Date	Location: Heartland Health Region	Time	BBQ Time
Aug. 11, 2017	Davidson Health Centre Board Room	2:00 pm
Aug. 14, 2017	Wilkie & District Health Centre Board Room	10:00 am
Aug. 14, 2017	Unity & District Health Centre Board Room	12:00 pm	11:30 am
Aug. 14, 2017	St. Joseph’s Health Facility – Macklin Board Room	2:30 pm
Aug. 14, 2017	Kerrobert Integrated Health Facility Board Room	7:00 pm
Aug. 15, 2017	Rosetown & District Health Centre Rosevilla Activity Room	12:00 pm	11:30 am
Aug. 15, 2017	Biggar & District Health Centre Board Room	3:00 pm	4:00 pm
Aug. 16, 2017	Elrose Health Centre Activity Room	12:00 pm
Aug. 16, 2017	Eston Integrated Health Facility Multipurpose Room	2:00 pm
Aug. 16, 2017	Kindersley & District Health Facility Fischer Lounge (in the Hospital)	6:00 pm	5:30 pm
Aug. 17, 2017	Kyle & District Health Centre Multi-purpose Room	10:30 am
Aug. 17, 2017	Lucky Lake Health Centre Solarium	12:30 pm
Aug. 17, 2017	Dinsmore Health Care Centre Family Room	3:00 pm
Aug. 17, 2017	Outlook & District Health Centre Activity Room	5:30 pm

Date	Location: Saskatoon Urban	Time	BBQ Time
Aug. 18, 2017	Royal University Hospital SaskTel Theatre	11:00 am
Aug. 22, 2017	Royal University Hospital SaskTel Theatre	7:00 pm
Aug. 24, 2017	City Hospital Room 1911	11:00 am
Aug. 24, 2017	Parkridge Centre Multi-Purpose Room	4:00 pm
Aug. 24, 2017	City Hospital Downstairs Side Café Room	7:30 pm
Aug. 24, 2017	St. Paul’s Hospital Auditorium	7:00 pm
Aug. 25, 2017	St. Paul’s Hospital Auditorium	11:00 am
Aug. 25, 2017	Sherbrook Community Centre Veterans Common Room	3:00 pm	4:30 pm

Date	Location: Saskatoon Rural	Time	BBQ Time
Aug. 21, 2017	Humboldt District Health Complex/ St. Mary’s Villa Connexus Room (HDHC)	4:00 pm
Aug. 21, 2017	Quill Plains Centennial Lodge – Watson Common Room	1:30 pm
Aug. 22, 2017	Bethany Pioneer Village – Middle Lake Activity Room	12:00 pm
Aug. 22, 2017	Good Will Manor – Duck Lake Lounge Area	1:15 pm
Aug. 22, 2017	Cudworth Nursing Home Craft Room	2:15 pm
Aug. 22, 2017	Rosthern Union Hospital Resource Room	3:00 pm
Aug. 22, 2017	Lakeview Pioneer Lodge – Wakaw Meeting Room	6:00 pm
Aug. 23, 2017	Wadena Union Hospital Craft Room	10:00 am
Aug. 23, 2017	Watrous District Health Complex Common Room	12:00 pm	11:30 am
Aug. 23, 2017	Wynyard Golden Acres/Wynyard District Health Centre Recreation Room	12:00 pm
Aug. 23, 2017	Last Mountain Pioneer Home – Strasbourg Activity Room	3:00 pm
Aug. 23, 2017	Central Parkland Lodge – Lanigan Multi-purpose Room	3:30 pm	4:30 pm
Aug. 23, 2017	Nokomis Health Centre Nokomis Legion	5:00 pm

Date	Location: Cypress Health Region	Time	BBQ Time
Aug. 28, 2017	The Meadows – Swift Current Admin Room Behind Reception	11:30 am	11:00 am
Aug. 28, 2017	SEIU-West Swift Current Office Board Room	5:00 pm	4:30 pm
Aug. 29, 2017	Prairie Care Health Care Centre – Cabri Multi-Purpose Room	11:30 am
Aug. 29, 2017	Leader Hospital Media Room	2:00 pm
Aug. 29, 2017	Southwest Integrated Health Facility – Maple Creek Large Conference Room	6:00 pm
Aug. 30, 2017	Wolf Willow Health Centre – Eastend Conference Room	10:30 am
Aug. 30, 2017	Shaunavon Hospital & Care Centre Teaching Room	12:00 pm
Aug. 30, 2017	Gull Lake & Dist. Special Care Home/Health Centre Multi-Purpose Room	2:30 pm
Aug. 31, 2017	Prairie View Health Centre – Mankota Solarium	10:00 am
Aug. 31, 2017	Herbert & District Integrated Health Facility Upper Meeting Room	3:00 pm

Date	Location: Five Hills Health Region	Time	BBQ Time
August 29, 2017	Grasslands Health Centre, Rockglen Conference Room	10:00 am
August 29, 2017	Assiniboia Union Hospital, Board Room	12:00 pm	11:30am
August 29, 2017	Ross Payant, Assiniboia Staff Room	2:00 pm
August 29, 2017	Lafleche Health Centre, Board Room	4:00 pm
August 29, 2017	St. Joseph’s Foyer D’Youville, Gravelbourg Cafeteria	6:00pm	5:30pm
August 30, 2017	Dr. F.G. Wigmore Hospital, Moose Jaw Catherine Klassen Room “B”	12:00pm	11:30am
August 30, 2017	SEIU-West Moose Jaw Office, Board Room	5:30pm	5:00pm
August 31, 2017	Pioneer Housing/Lodge, Moose Jaw Staff Room	11:00am
August 31, 2017	Providence Place, Moose Jaw Private Dining Room	2:30pm

Joint Health Provider Bargaining Update: Strong Coalition Continues with Tough Round of Negotiations

August 2, 2017

Dear Health Care Member:

Your SEIU-West, CUPE, and SGEU bargaining committees met with SAHO from July 25 to August 1 in Regina. We were originally scheduled to bargain from July 25 to 27, but we worked through the weekend and into August 1 in an effort to build on momentum that we believed was being generated.

As mentioned in our most recent joint update, we presented a comprehensive proposal package to SAHO, which included a letter of understanding (LOU) on the creation of a bargaining association for all three unions and articles designed to bring us to a collective agreement.

Unfortunately, we didn’t make it over the finish line this week. With more than eight days spent at the table, your bargaining committees focused on the question of “What would our members want?” in order to achieve a fair collective agreement for all. We believe we presented a proposal package that recognizes the needs of the provincial government, while also making real progress for our members. We have seen some movement on the part of SAHO, and we are hopeful that this will continue.

We have held the line on the issues of standby and callback; we have promoted the payment of professional fees for our members who need to pay these fees in order to remain licensed in Saskatchewan to do their jobs within the health regions; we have put forward articles that will build a more inclusive workplace for new Canadians; we have listened to our members as we seek to strengthen the language around scheduling and hours of work.

We want our collective memberships to know that we are keeping our eye on the impact of transitioning to one Saskatchewan health authority. How will this impact our jobs and what we do? Will our day-to-day work remain the same? If not, what will those changes look like? How will one provincial health region affect union representation and rights? These are questions that we are asking SAHO, the Transition Team, and health regions. We will continue to push SAHO for the answers.

We would like to thank all frontline health care workers for supporting the work of the bargaining committees. Your bargaining teams have seen a shift in the momentum at the bargaining table because of the work and support of our members: your engagement in bargaining; your calls, emails, and meetings with MLAs; and your knowledge and frontline expertise are evident in the meetings that are held with elected politicians. We need to keep up this work: continue to make phone calls, send emails, and meet with your MLAs. This pressure is making a difference at the bargaining table, and we mustn’t stop now: make another call; send another email; and schedule a follow up meeting with your MLA — and bring your co-workers!

Our next bargaining dates are scheduled for September 5 to 7 and September 14 to 24 (including weekends). Stay tuned for more updates!

In solidarity,

CUPE, SGEU, and SEIU-West bargaining committees

Click here to download a printable PDF of Joint Health Provider Bargaining Update: Strong Coalition Continues with Tough Round of Negotiations

MEDIA RELEASE

Health Provider Bargaining Update: collective bargaining with SAHO extended as provider unions table comprehensive proposal package

Coming Soon: SAHO Bargaining Update Meetings

Join an SEIU-West Committee

MEDIA ADVISORY

SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Update No. 6

Click to download a printable PDF of SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Update No. 6

Greetings Sisters and Brothers,

Your SEIU-West bargaining committee met with SAHO on July 5, 6, 7 in Saskatoon.

We spent a considerable period of time discussing each of the parties’ proposals and exchanging information on the rationale that guided our proposals.

The issues we identified with the Employer had a common theme. The Employer proposals were to maintain language that our members identified as unclear or inadequate. The union’s proposals addressed those issues, but the Employer was resistant to ideas that could conceivably generate a cost to the Employer. The provider unions are still waiting to get more information on the new Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and how the new employer will be able to administer three health care provider collective agreements.

SEIU-West, SGEU and CUPE spent about a day with SAHO going over outstanding questions related to the Employers’ initial proposal package. We continue to ask for further information and clarification around the rationale and calculations that were used to justify a proposal of -3.5% in remuneration to SEIU-West members working in the health system. What we heard is that the Government’s take-away proposals were simply and solely based on forcing health care workers to pay for the Government’s agenda and budget.

We want to thank all of our members who have reached out to explain how badly SAHO’s proposals would affect them and their department or site…we were able to share these concerns and real-world examples of how cuts to standby, call-back, overtime and other recruitment and retention of staff initiatives would not only increase waiting lists, drive patients to other provinces or private clinics for health care, but also increase the already crushing workload all members are experiencing. We also talked about the impact of the loss of transportation allowance & professional fees compensation; the employers appear to be fixated on addressing ad hoc issues around taxable benefits and professional associations increasing their rates.

It is abundantly clear, saving money from health care is the primary driver of the proposed reductions or elimination. We have all heard about the pressures on health region budgets; on Ministry of Health budgets; on the Government of Saskatchewan’s budget. What we were able to do is identify the unfairness about is the off-loading of those budget pressures onto our members’ individual budgets; how it will affect you and your families. We talked about how reducing the benefits in our collective agreements will decrease our ability to meet the demands for care/services/analysis in health care. We have talked about improving communications with new staff so they can be successful with their career in Saskatchewan’s health system. We have talked about the impact of others doing our bargaining unit work; how that erodes opportunities for our members to work in their classification.

When we first met in May, SAHO had shared the government’s arbitrary deadline of achieving a tentative agreement by the end of June. That deadline has come and gone and we are still offering up dates to meet with SAHO over the summer. We still want our members to help us reach out to the elected MLA’s over the summer to help us change this money grab mandate.

We are currently setting up membership meetings throughout the province to come to your community or area and talk face to face about bargaining and answer any questions you might have. That schedule will be coming out to your workplaces shortly. Plan to attend the meeting closest to you – even if you are on holidays!

Your bargaining committee wants to thank everyone who has reached out to their MLA about bargaining. If you’ve already contacted them once, do it two more times; if you have written an email, make a phone call. Or better yet, make an appointment to meet! Your voices, your experiences and your stories are making a difference… please keep it up. Find your MLA by visiting: http://www.legassembly.sk.ca/mlas/. Lost for words? Here is a letter template for your use.

We encourage you to share your questions and concerns about bargaining with your SEIU-West bargaining committee by contacting us through the Member Resource Center (MRC) at 1-888-999-7348 Ext 2298 or contact us through the “contact us” form on SEIUWEST.ca.

Your participation in your Union makes SEIU-West strong.

In Solidarity,

Your SEIU-West SAHO Provincial Bargaining Committee:

CHR: Janice Platzke (SEIU-West Treasurer) • FHHR: Brenda Berry; Donna Gallant • HHR: Colleen Denniss • SHR: Judy Denniss; Rick Brown; Simone Corriveau; Kim Wyatt; Charlene Sarafin; • Staff: Bob Laurie (Dir. of Bargaining and Contract Enforcement); Russell Doell (Deputy Dir. of Bargaining and Contract Enforcement); Cam McConnell (Negotiations Officer) • President: Barbara Cape

WCB Board of Review submission

National Aboriginal Day 2017

SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Update No. 5

Click to download a printable PDF of SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Update No. 5

Greetings Sisters and Brothers,

Your SEIU-West bargaining committee met with SAHO on June 13 & 14 in Saskatoon.

SAHO finally concluded presenting their counter proposals to the SEIU-West initial proposal document. It was surprising how much time that took, since the SAHO consistent response was to maintain the status quo (except when they proposed take-aways) or telling the Union to resolve issues at the ‘local’ level. We told them that the members’ frustration at their inability to problem solve issues at the ‘local’ level, either because the Employer has no interest or no authority to do so, is what generates our proposals. It was puzzling to hear that SAHO and the Employers are not interested in or not comfortable with a lot of the progressive ideas that we are putting forward. SEIU-West wants to work proactively to determine what the future with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) will bring and to negotiate a fair collective agreement for frontline health care providers.

We have achieved a modicum of success in that we have agreed to change a reference to another Article in the Call-in Posting Language. We want to set up a sub-committee to address challenges we have with electronic information related to dues. SEIU-West and SAHO are working towards an interest-based (as opposed to adversarial based) process to look at the challenges we have across the province with Article 11.10 Call-in. This is an issue that continues to rear its head for members, schedulers and managers alike and we are committed to trying to make this process more fair and logical for everyone.

We had a number of non-bargaining type discussions: developing a protocol for how SAHO will provide us with an “heads up” on impending layoffs or changes to a facility’s hours of operation in a bargaining unit or RHA. SEIU-West has a pretty robust process for how layoffs are addressed, but because we are bargaining, SAHO is of the view that they have an obligation to share such information with us. As well, we talked about eHealth and their role in the creation of the Saskatchewan provincial health Authority and its IT capabilities.

SAHO stated during this bargaining session that RHA budgets for 2017-2018 are being developed this month and go to the Ministry of Health in September; that there is a great deal of pressure on the RHA’s regarding budgets. We say, “welcome to the club.” We know that you all have been carrying an incredible amount of pressure for a number of years: short staffing, constant overtime, access to and quality of equipment, positions being left vacant, and increasing workloads. We have also heard the message, “enough is enough!” We know that there is a demand for fairness in the air!

We will be working on setting up town hall-style membership meetings over the course of the next 6-8 weeks. We know that summertime meetings are not ideal, and we also know that you all want to meet us so we can tell you what’s been going on at the bargaining table. We will provide updates and information as they come forward.

Your participation in your Union makes your Union strong.

In Solidarity,

SEIU-West Bargaining Committee.

Your SEIU-West SAHO Provincial Bargaining Committee:

CHR: Janice Platzke (SEIU-West Treasurer) • FHHR: Brenda Berry; Donna Gallant • HHR: Colleen Denniss • SHR: Judy Denniss; Rick Brown; Simone Corriveau; Kim Wyatt; Charlene Sarafin; • Staff: Bob Laurie (Dir. of Bargaining and Contract Enforcement); Russell Doell (Deputy Dir. of Bargaining and Contract Enforcement); Cam McConnell (Negotiations Officer) • President: Barbara Cape

SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Update No. 4

Click to download a printable PDF of SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Update No. 4

Greetings Sisters and Brothers,

Your SEIU-West bargaining committee met with SAHO during the week of May 29 – June 1. We reviewed the proposals SAHO and the Employers provided last week in order to develop our questions of clarification on both the language and the financial information behind each proposal.

CUPE and SGEU met with their SAHO bargaining committees at the same time.

The bargaining committee received a lot of feedback after Bargaining Update #3 and we want to thank each and every one of you for contacting us with your concerns, questions and suggestions. This kind of engagement means so very much to the bargaining committee and it also helps us provide the stories and rationale behind our proposals. We ask that you take the next step and also contact your elected Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) to ensure they understand our concerns. We need all of us working together to get government to change their demands for concessions and rollbacks.

Your bargaining committee sent out the last bargaining update in order to let you know what we are all up against. Never before has a government so blatantly tried to have certain health care workers pick up the tab for the entire provincial out-of-control spending. Members from across the province were vocal in their condemnation of the government’s actions. Anger, a sense of injustice, and incredible sadness and empathy for members who would be most heavily impacted by these proposed cuts were the themes of the messages we received. We are determined to carry these messages forward, so keep your texts, emails and phone calls coming!

SEIU-West has put forward a proposal package that reflects the mandate our members have given the bargaining committee:

Hours of work issues:

We have proposed a modest increase in wage premiums, as well as standardizing overtime to 2x; we proposed ways to identify problems and develop solutions to the challenges with our call-in system; we want to improve scheduling so no member is scheduled for more than 6 consecutive days; we want to allow for a pay out of any time in lieu banks over 80 hours every year; and we believe that standby and callback rates should be increased.

Workplaces:

We want to preserve our bargaining unit work; strengthen language around harassment and get serious about stopping this insidious behavior in our workplaces; improve and promote cultural diversity in our rapidly changing workplaces; create a more robust system for return to work and duty to accommodate; and create a process for reporting workload concerns that includes a review of staffing levels and practices.

Other improvements:

We have proposed increases in transportation allowances, a supplementary maternity and parental benefits plan and improved compensation when our members are required to take on more responsibility in the workplace. We have proposed that anyone who has to pay professional or licensing fees are PAID IN FULL by the employer.

Your bargaining committee is scheduling town hall meetings in all of our health regions to talk with our members, and hear their concerns, over the course of the next six to seven weeks. We will be sending posters and meeting information to all our facility executive. Watch for information on our website and stay in touch via the ‘contact us’ link on the website!

Don’t forget to contact your MLA to ensure they understand our concerns. We need all of us working together to get government to change their demands for concessions and rollbacks. Find your MLA by visiting: http://www.legassembly.sk.ca/mlas/. Lost for words? Here is a letter template for your use.

Your participation in your Union makes your Union strong.

In Solidarity,

SEIU-West Bargaining Committee

Your SEIU-West SAHO Provincial Bargaining Committee:
CHR: Janice Platzke (SEIU-West Treasurer) • FHHR: Brenda Berry; Donna Gallant • HHR: Colleen Denniss • SHR: Judy Denniss; Rick Brown; Simone Corriveau; Kim Wyatt; Charlene Sarafin; • Staff: Bob Laurie (Dir. of Bargaining and Contract Enforcement); Russell Doell (Deputy Dir. of Bargaining and Contract Enforcement); Cam McConnell (Negotiations Officer) • President: Barbara Cape

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