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.
SEIU-West is thrilled to recognize September 12-18 as Environmental Services Week!
Environmental Service Workers (ESWs), housekeeping, janitorial and custodial staff have been integral during this pandemic and always in ensuring a safe and clean environment. Their infection control practices have kept us safer in schools, healthcare facilities and public spaces.
Environmental Service workers work with a variety of chemicals to ensure superbugs like CRE, MRSA, ESBL, VRE, and more don’t spread. They continued using diligence when COVID-19 was introduced as a threat.
To help celebrate ESW week, we have a contest!
Identify these WHMIS labels and send your answers to [email protected] by September 24th for your chance to win a prize!
Click here to download a printable a copy of the quiz.
The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is engaging with the Federal Election and is inviting you to join along in their events.
CLC President, Bea Bruske will be present at both prairie canvasses, one in Saskatoon and one in Regina. To RSVP, simply click on the canvas you'd like to join and enter your details.
This is a chance to engage with folks on the doorstep about issues that are important to you, practice your speaking skills and connect with other labour activists!
For more information, check out CLC's Prairie Region Facebook Page.
(SASKATCHEWAN) The unions representing health care providers in Saskatchewan are concerned by the government’s failure to do everything necessary to protect health care workers and patients, clients and residents in the health care system.
“Requiring health care workers to either be vaccinated or present a recent negative COVID-19 test is one tool to prevent COVID-19 infections, but it is not enough on its own,” said Sandra Seitz, President, CUPE Local 5430. “The province must follow the advice of medical professionals and do everything in its power to keep people safe.”
The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and all three unions are encouraging everyone who can be vaccinated to do so as soon as possible.
“Vaccinations alone will not hold back this fourth wave,” said Neil Colmin, Vice-President, SEIU-West. “The province needs to return to public health orders including indoor masking, mandatory self-isolation, physical distancing, and enhanced cleaning. We can’t fight rising case counts of COVID-19 without a combination of safety measures.”
While there is a minority of health care workers who are either unable or unwilling to be vaccinated, the unions are encouraged to see that those members can continue to work so long as they produce a negative COVID-19 test result.
“Health care workers have been on the front lines of this pandemic for a year and a half,” said Tanya Schmidt, Acting Chair of the SGEU Health Providers Bargaining Committee. “To see the government refuse to implement sensible measures that we know are effective is an insult to all those who work so hard to sustain the health care system.”
Long-term care homes have been of particular concern. Visitors have not been required to wear masks in LTC facilities since provincial health orders were lifted on July 11, despite the fact that residents in those homes are one of the populations most vulnerable to COVID.
Together, SGEU, SEIU-West and CUPE represent approximately 30,000 health care providers working in acute care, home care and long-term care across Saskatchewan.
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To download a printable copy of this media release, please click here.
For more information, please contact:
Christine Miller
Communications, SEIU-West
Phone: 306-477-8733
To celebrate YOU on Labour Day, we have a fun contest. Enter by September 10th for your chance to win one of three prizes!
Labour Day is a day for you, your families, and your coworkers to celebrate the many ways your work – otherwise known as labour – contributes to your communities and the economy.
SEIU-West is entering into a process to review the Local’s constitution.
Check out SEIU-West President Barb Cape's video message for August 20, 2021:
Joey works at a hospital in Protective Services (formerly Security Services) where he is honored to be able to serve the public.
Nola has been a Continuing Care Assistant (CCA) for the past 11 years, working in the field of Home Care.
Nola goes to people’s houses to provide care such as assisting people to get washed, dressed, transferred to their wheelchairs, toileting, bathing and administering medication, along with other tasks one needs to live independently in their homes.
Working through the pandemic has been crazy because she never knew if she was walking into an contagious setting and faced clients that didn’t believe the pandemic was real. She lived in fear for many months.
Approximately 115 workers at Stonebridge Crossing in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, part of Esprit Retirement, have voted overwhelmingly to join SEIU-West.
Workers contacted the Organizing experts at SEIU-West earlier in the summer because they are fed-up with the chronic understaffing that they feel is contributing to declining Occupational Health and Safety standards throughout the workplace.
"These workers have stepped up to help residents throughout the pandemic for Esprit Retirement, now it's time for Esprit to recognize this stellar work and provide safe staffing, job security and better wages for their families," says Lead Organizer Stacey Lolacher.
Workers persisted in forming their union despite Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and were able to achieve their goal because SEIU-West is able to provide a safe method for any workplace to fulfil the requirements to form a union under the Saskatchewan Employment Act.
Throughout the pandemic, front line workers were called heroes for taking risks to keep business and health care operating in Saskatchewan.
It's time for front line heroes to come together and form a union to ensure their health and safety is prioritized, which includes earning livable wages and benefits, so they can continue working for the good of us all.