For Immediate Release
June 1, 2023
Saskatoon—Supporters of a strong public healthcare system joined SEIU-West members at the Saskatoon Cabinet Office to highlight the need for government investment in the patients, clients, and residents and the people who care for them in this province.
In our most recent update, we had identified to our SEIU-West members that vacation banks, time in lieu banks and stat/pro-stat banks would be posted in your workplaces by the end of March. Unfortunately, it was only recently brought to our attention that this did not happen
For Immediate Release
April 5, 2023
Saskatchewan—In what seems to be an attempt to ignore the legitimate concerns of the largest classification of union members in the health care sector, Minister Everett Hindley declared in a legislative committee that Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs) don’t deserve any retention initiatives because they are paid to do the job they do, and that’s retention enough.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and SEIU-West have resolved the outstanding grievances filed in response to the Proof of Vaccination/Monitored Testing Program.
After reporting a missed shift at double time, SEIU-West filed a grievance with the member who should have been called for this shift. This week, our member received back-pay at double time – when we work together to protect our rights, we win!
During Health Care Providers Week, SEIU-West members who work at Saskatoon City Hospital (SCH) held a contest asking how members connect/stay up to date with their union and why they work in health care. Suma, a LPN who works at SCH, was their lucky winner after sharing her moving story:
Click here to download Joint Bargaining Update: SAHO presents Coalition with "final" offer.
November 30, 2018
Dear Health Care Member:
Your SEIU-West, CUPE, and SGEU health provider bargaining committees met with SAHO in Regina on November 27 and 28, 2018 to resume bargaining.
With everyone’s assistance, the Coalition has made considerable progress over the course of bargaining, and the only outstanding issue that remains is wages.
During the last hour of bargaining, the employer presented the Coalition bargaining committee with a “final” offer that included a monetary proposal well below the cost of living. We know from past rounds of bargaining that a “final” offer is not actually the end of bargaining, and we are under no obligation to vote on the offer.
The Coalition partners will continue to fight for a fair wage increase which respects the work our members are proud to provide across our province. We remain confident that we will be able to reach a fair and reasonable deal at the bargaining table for all members, and ask for your continued support to help us demonstrate our resolve.
Please stay tuned for further updates in the near future. Remember: health care providers are an effective and vital part of patient-centered care. We are the backbone of the health care system in the province, and we deserve a wage increase that shows value for the work we do, attracts and retains needed staff, and keeps up with the increasing cost of living.
We need you to remain active in supporting the bargaining process throughout this holiday season, please contact your MLA with a holiday greeting to keep bargaining front and centre in their minds. Remind them that we deserve a fair wage increase!
We hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season.
In Solidarity,
SEIU-West, CUPE, and SGEU bargaining committees
SEIU-West members and leaders were surprised with our Minister of Health's public statements reported by CTV, on November 7, 2018, in a news story regarding a 40% funding increase to Long-Term Care (LTC) - we mailed him a letter with our many questions arising out of this statement:
November 29, 2018
Honorable Jim Reiter, Minister of Health, Room 204 - Legislative Building, 2405 Legislative Drive, Regina, Saskatchewan
Dear Minister Reiter:
RE: Increase in Long Term Care Funding
SEIU-West members and leaders were surprised with your public statements reported by CTV, on November 7, 2018, in a news story. You were reported as having confirmed that funding for Long-Term Care (LTC) has increased by over 40% under your watch. Our front-line members have not reported any relief to staffing shortages, particularly with respect to hands-on care providers, which may have come as a result of this increase in funding. Our follow-up efforts to obtain verification of this increase via communication with staff at your office, has not met with any reply to date. 
In view of your announcement, we are inquiring when this additional funding was provided to the health care budget. We have been unable to ascertain the same in our review of the provincial government’s budget documents. Was this targeted funding directed towards capital funding or operational funding? Does the Ministry of Health have any accountability targets outlined with this additional funding? Is this funding temporary or permanent in nature? Our members have not experienced a funding increase in the provision of added staff to improve quality of care on the front line. On their behalf, we would like to know why funding increases of this nature have not been used to invest in safe staffing levels for front line caregivers.
Thank you for providing the requested information. SEIU-West members and leaders remain particularly interested in having a fulsome discussion about the need for improved staffing levels in the LTC sector, given the increased workload issues and complex resident needs facing our members on a daily basis.
Sincerely,
Barbara Cape
President of SEIU-West
cc: Minister of Rural and Remote Health, Greg Ottenbreit
Scott Livingstone, CEO – Saskatchewan Health Authority
SEIU-West Executive Board
SEIU-West has a big win to share this week! Two group grievances were filed after it was discovered that an Employer wasn’t paying stand-by properly. Fourteen members were affected and after SEIU-West stepped in to ensure our collective agreement was followed, all fourteen members were paid properly! When SEIU-West wins, workers win!
1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental illness or addiction problem. In respect to National Addictions Awareness Week, SEIU-West would like to recognize the members who work in addictions as well as the many people who suffer from substance abuse each day. The need to address mental health and addictions is urgent: people with mental illness and addictions are more likely to die prematurely than the general population as those suffering can have their life cut by 10 to 20 years. A huge problem for the lack of support is rooted in negative stigma – just 50% of Canadians would tell friends or co-workers that they have a family member who suffers with addictions and mental illness. It’s clear we have a lot of work to do, particularly in Saskatchewan where our suicide rates are among the highest in Canada.
Vital services such as treatment centres and programs are essential for recovery and support. Members like Allison and Janine work in a treatment centre, Metis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (MACSI). Janine works as a Day Program Counsellor and Allison works as a Cook – both positions are crucial to improving the wellbeing of those suffering through addictions.
Janine majored in Addictions Counselling in her Bachelor of Health Sciences. She also has her Applied Suicide Intervention and PTSD: Strategies and Techniques for Clinicians training. In her work she provides one-on-one counselling to Day Program clients. She also assists with intakes for the 28 Day Program, as well as Assessment Screening and Referrals. Janine is the facilitator for the Day Program each afternoon as well. Janine loves the teamwork and collaboration of all the staff involved with helping those who struggle with addiction. A memorable moment for Janine is the MACSI Saskatoon annual FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) Awareness Walk where clients lead the way. This Walk raises awareness and makes connections with members of the community, and SEIU-West is proud to support this Walk each year.
Allison works as the Head Cook at MACSI in Saskatoon. She has her Safe Food Handling Certificate and loves to cook for the clients each day. In her line of support for those experiencing addictions at MACSI, Allison provides nutritious meals and ensures their diet gets the attention it requires on the road to recovery. Healthy food is essential in helping the body rebuild itself and it is vital that the body gets the nutrients it needs. Allison values the work she does, and especially enjoys when clients tell her they love her food and thank her for her efforts.
We want to thank all our SEIU-West members who work with those suffering with addictions, and we extend our admiration for those battling with addictions – we know how stigma and lack of access to support systems can create huge barriers for recovery, and we hope our Saskatchewan Government will begin to take real steps to address this growing crisis in the near future. For more information on what these steps could look like, visit the links below:
A 10 Year Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan for Saskatchewan
Our SEIU-West bargaining team is back at the bargaining table November 27-28 delivering the message:
NO Cuts! NO Rollbacks! Pay us what we’re worth!
Take a picture of you and your fellow SEIU-West members to show your purple pride and support for bargaining a fair deal. You can then post that picture on our Facebook page or email [email protected] for your chance to WIN A PRIZE!
December 6th – the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women – is meant to mark the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal who were killed because they were women. December 6 acts as a day to recognize and stop the ongoing gender-based violence women experience in Canada, and to ensure awareness and progress towards concrete solutions in eliminating violence against women.
In recognition of the National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women in Canada, the SEIU-West YWC encourages you to do your part in raising awareness on violence against women and to demonstrate your solidarity for those who provide support to women in need. You can do that by participating in their contest – plus you could win one of three fabulous pairs of earrings from Hillberg & Berk; proceeds of which go to survivors of domestic violence in Saskatchewan. There are three chances to be entered to win:
The deadline to enter is December 14, 2018!
For a list of requested items for women's shelters, visit the Moose Jaw Transition House donations list, the Saskatoon Interval House donations list, and the South West Crisis Services website.
We have another awesome win to share! An Employer failed to pay overtime to one of our members so SEIU-West filed a grievance which was recently resolved to our members’ favour! They will now receive back-pay based on their proper amount of overtime hours worked - SEIU-West is proud to share in this celebration with them!
In April 2018, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) began a review of provincial security services in health care.
It’s another great win this week after a SEIU-West member was reinstated with back pay!
Under the SAHO collective agreement, new hires are on probation for 480 hours. Management must tell them if their work is not meeting standards, and give them a chance to improve.
Recently, a member who works in health care was terminated for “unsuitability” after working 467 hours. The Employer didn’t tell the member why they were unsuitable or give them a chance to respond. SEIU-West filed a grievance.
On November 11 the arbitration panel ordered management to reinstate our member, pay them lost wages, and extend their probation by 320 hours.
Congratulations to our member and the SEIU-West team!
For Immediate Release - November 14, 2018
Saskatoon – According to a recent media report, our Saskatchewan Minister of Health, the Honourable Jim Reiter is claiming that the SaskParty government has increased funding to Long-Term Care (LTC) by over 40%.