There is currently a vacancy on the SEIU-West Executive Board for members that work for the Community Based Organizations Sector.
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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.
Join us as we celebrate November 6th – Community Worker Appreciation Day.
Community-Based Organization (CBO) workers are there for our communities every day. They work in residential/group home settings, they assist with crisis services, they provide day programs for people with disabilities to support their independent living, they work in child care programs, and they support clients in addictions counseling/treatment programs.
They do this with instability from their government. Funding is offered on a year to year basis, some years with cuts; underfunding and unstable funding has caused recruitment and retention issues. Our CBO workers truly care about the wellbeing of their communities, even at their own personal cost.
It’s important to recognize this group whose work is crucial to the success of communities across the province.
In recognition of their valued work, SEIU-West invites you to participate in the Community Worker Appreciation Day Contest!
- Tell us up to three practical actions that the government can take to strengthen community-based services, ensuring these vital services will remain pillars in our community for decades to come.
- For an additional entry, name one of the Community-Based Organizations that are represented by SEIU-West and tell us why they are important to their community.
Send your answers to [email protected] by November 14th for your chance to win a gift card.
Date: November 1, 2021
Greetings Sisters and Brothers,
Finally, your Extendicare Bargaining Committee has met with the Employer to commence bargaining.
SEIU-West members at Extendicare:
We’ve all heard the announcement that the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is taking over the Extendicare (ECI) five long-term care homes in Saskatchewan. We know that that announcement has created a lot of additional stress and anxiety in the workforce already worn out through COVID. Now, not knowing what will happen in this transition is one of the greatest stressors of all.
Here at SEIU-West, we love contests that celebrate YOU!
They named the following devices:
- PSN Knee instruments for Total Knee replacement
- Emergency Suture Trays
- Laproscopic General Pan
- Stethoscopes
- Endoscopes and
- Forceps
We had a Food Services Worker contest and our gift card winner was: Connie H.
Connie loves morning muffins and gave us the great idea to add whipping cream to Mac and Cheese.
We had a Facilities and Engineering nomination contest and our gift card winner was: Donald S.
Donald says his coworkers are highly skilled people from various backgrounds that work continually to ensure the hospital can function. Donald says his team is working through a heightened level of anxiety that is managed by having such positive relationships with one another. Leaning on each other has really helped to get through these trying times.
Stay tuned for our winners from Education Week and Health Care Providers' Week!
Regina, Saskatchewan – Canadian Blood Services (CBS) workers took to the streets of Regina on the corner of Regina’s Broad Street and Broadway Avenue today to get the word out to the public on what’s going on in blood donor clinics across Saskatchewan.
“Our members are tired of their employer ignoring their reasonable requests which have only delayed bargaining,” said Barbara Cape, President of SEIU-West. “This employer has set road block after road block and expect our members to cave and accept an unacceptable offer.”
CBS has forced their Saskatchewan employees to work without a contract for four years. They’ve been forced to go far more without even a decent pay increase. In fact, CBS has gone out of its way to ensure workers know how little they’re regarded.
“When it came to light that CBS was violating Saskatchewan’s Employment Act (SEA) by not providing their blood donor clinic staff with proper meal breaks, CBS refused to resolve the issue and didn’t increase meal breaks for their staff until compelled to do so by the Saskatchewan’s Employment Standards Enforcement division,” continued Cape.
And, CBS has made it harder to donate blood in Saskatchewan. CBS has been quietly closing rural blood donor clinics in Saskatchewan for years while reducing service hours in the cities, forcing urban clinics to manage more with less. Donors from communities like Swift Current and others who used to have access to mobile clinics, now have to travel to donate in Regina or Saskatoon.
“Not only is it harder for people to donate blood in this province, they now have to book appointments and travel to make their donations which they used to be able to do in their own communities,” added Cape. “On top of this they have reduced clinic hours in the two cities which make it even more of a mess. A secure and safe supply of Canadian blood products depends on safe and secure jobs.”
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:
Tammy Robert
Project Coordinator
306-652-1011 ext. 2225
SEIU-West Multicultural Mentorship Committee is pleased to announce our new initiative to assist up to eight of our new Canadian members on their path to Canadian Citizenship.
If you are an SEIU-West member who is applying for Canadian Citizenship, writing your test for Canadian citizenship, or if you need financial assistance to go to an interview/test/hearing, please apply for assistance. The SEIU-West Multicultural Mentorship Committee is providing financial support of $200 to help with these costs.
We would love to share with the world your moment when you officially become a Canadian citizen, so please send along a photo of you in your moment!
How to apply: Email [email protected] with the subject line "SEIU-West Multicultural Mentorship Committee" by December 5th. Explain what you need the assistance for, and what becoming a Canadian citizen will mean to you! Leave us your name, phone number (cell preferably) and SEIU-West affiliated workplace so we can follow up with you.
We will notify the successful applicants by December 15th.
You can print a poster 
SEIU-West Multicultural Mentorship Committee is thrilled to announce their first Coffee Break. This is a 20 minute presentation followed by 40 minutes for questions and conversation.
Our first guest speaker is from the Saskatoon Open Door Society. This is open to SEIU-West members, their family, friends, and their communities.
Please join us to find out how you can help more people on their pathway to immigrate to Canada. Grab a coffee, a comfortable chair and bring your questions.
When: November 10th, 2021 at 4:30pm
Topic: What assistance exists to help with immigration, what are the steps to sponsoring family to immigrate and what assistance is there to process citizenship.
Where: Zoom
The spotlight has been on healthcare workers as we all struggle through this pandemic. We wish we could tell the world about each and every one of you because we know how special and important you are. Health Care isn't just about a couple of classifications. It's about hundreds of classifications that pull together as a team to provide the very best care. Both front and center staff and those behind the scenes truly care about patient care as they go through their work day.
Each and every day, the hard work and dedication that you put in to your career means that our clients/patients/residents are cared for in the most compassionate way. You have been asked to do the impossible, every day, and you do it.
We know you still smile behind your mask, as you offer words of encouragement. We know you still cry behind your face shield; you feel the pain, frustration, and loss that the province feels fighting COVID 19. We know you hate the gowns as you are ran off your feet, exhausted and hot.
This might not exactly be the job you thought you were signing up for, but there you are. Doing your best. Every. Single. Day. Your skills, experience and professionalism that you bring to work makes a difference.
Health Care workers should be respected for their valuable contribution to client, patient and resident care, now more than ever.
In recognition of the amazing team you work with, SEIU-West asks that you participate in our Health Care Providers' Week Contest!
Enter for a gift card draw for both you and your nominee by: emailing [email protected] your story of how your SEIU-West coworker(s) contributes to the wellbeing of your workplace or community by Friday November 5, 2021. Please note that you have to be an SEIU-West member to enter the contest. Please remember to include your name and workplace.
Thank you for being there for our province. We appreciate our Health Care Workers!!