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.
This week is Food Services Week and we are here to celebrate the care and commitment of our Food Services Team. We'd like to introduce you to Dorothy, a Food Services Supervisor in Saskatoon.
Welcome to our October Occupation Extravaganza!
October is jam packed with recognition days and weeks. Keep an eye on the Purple Works page to see everyone we're able to highlight this month!
And you know SEIU-West loves to celebrate you, our members. And what better way to do that than a massive month-long contest packed full of prizes!
Food service workers are vital to the care and well being of clients, patients and residents. Their care and attention to dietary needs are a critical part health care services, which is why we are celebrating Food Services Week! We heard from Evelyn, an Assistant Cook in Saskatoon, about what she loves about being a part of the Food Services Team!
September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We hope you take this day to pause and reflect on the history of Canada and its relationship with First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, as well as working towards a different future that respects and acknowledges the unique and independent role of all First Nations. We encourage you to challenge yourself to find your role in building a harmonious relationship with the original peoples of this land.
Angie is a member of SEIU-West's First Nations, Métis and Inuit Committee (FNMIC). Here is her story:
As most of us know, the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, has declared the day of the Queen’s funeral—Monday, September 19—as a day of mourning and has granted federal staff a day off. He has encouraged federally regulated employers to provide a day off and has asked the provinces to do the same. The province of Saskatchewan has decided not to declare September 19 a provincial holiday or to grant provincial employees the day off.
There is a lot of work that goes in to keeping a hospital clean, which is why each year we celebrate Environmental Services Week. They are the team behind keeping areas germ-free and tidy—a task even more vital the past few years. We spoke to Kendel, an Environmental Service Worker (ESW) at a rural acute care centre in the middle of Saskatchewan, to tell us what work in her area has been like.
Better uses for resource windfall
The recent announcement by the Saskatchewan Party government to share resource revenue is suspicious. If you recall, Saskatchewan experienced a record resource revenue boom from 2011 to 2014 and no one saw either cheques in the mail or an improvement of public services. We saw squandering.
The decision to dish out a ‘share-the-wealth’ $500 payment this fall won’t even cover the increases for many that the Saskatchewan Party government has quietly imposed, such as a new school fee to make up for a shortfall in funding for our education system, provincial sales tax on children’s clothing and used cars and transportation costs to find health care out of province.
A simple injection of much-needed dollars would go a long way to clear the backlog of surgeries that health care is experiencing right now. An investment in education is investing in the future of this province.
Finance Minister Harpauer insists that investments in our public services are not sustainable, but I argue that if it was a priority, it would be sustainable.
The Saskatchewan Party tells us that they are keeping Saskatchewan strong and on the right track. It appears we are on the track for a two-tiered health-care and education system, much like the United States.
The tragic events of the past week that began on James Smith Cree Nation have impacted our entire province and have resonated throughout Canada. Though we may never understand the reasons behind the attacks, it’s important for us to grieve for everyone involved. The victims who lost their lives, the survivors recovering from their injuries and coping with living through such horrible events, the families and friends grieving the loss, while supporting their loved ones and communities, the first responders, police, health care providers, and all people in the communities impacted by the horrific events.
When we celebrate Labour Day, it should be more than another Statutory Holiday or signal the end of summer. It should be a celebration—a moment to lift up, with pride, our skill, our craftsmanship, and our labour that contributes to the success of our team, our communities, and our families.
For Immediate Release - September 1, 2022
REGINA: The unions representing health care providers in Saskatchewan are questioning the creation of the Saskatchewan Health Care Recruitment Agency.
Labour Day is right around the corner and we've collected a list of events sponsored by district labour councils around the province.