Check out this year's Holiday Greetings from SEIU-West members, and keep an eye out for the video on CTV!
Win of the Week! December 9-15
We have a major win to share this week! A member who had been denied at all previous levels has now been awarded coverage through the Disability Income Plan final adjudication process. This is an enormous relief for our member and we’re so proud to stand with them every step of the way to this huge success. The work of our union often leads to results like this one, and we particularly appreciate the role our Benefits Officer has in helping our members achieve fairness. When we work together, we win together!
Chinook School Division - Ratification Update, December 14 2018
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Date: |
December 14, 2018
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Questions? Call the MRC: 1-888-999-7348 |
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Location: |
Saskatchewan
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Units: |
Bone Creek Hutterian School • Shaunavon High School• Shaunavon Public School • Spring Lake Hutterian School• Val Marie School • Vanguard Community School • Swift Current Maintenance and Facilities Personnel |
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Join the Bargaining Telephone Town Hall - Tonight at 7pm!
Our virtual bargaining meeting for SAHO/Extendicare is happening tonight at 7pm! If you are an SEIU-West member who works in health care, you should receive a phone call from your president, Barbara Cape, today (close to 7pm) - you can also join online via this link (it will only become active at 7pm): https://video.teleforumonline.com/video/streaming.php?client=16853
Save the date! Telephone Town Hall
We’re excited to announce another live and interactive virtual town hall meeting for our health care sector members.
The call will be taking place on Thursday, December 13, 2018 at 7:00 pm.
Your SEIU-West SAHO and Extendicare bargaining committees are looking forward to providing you the inside scoop on negotiations.
During the call, you will be able to ask questions and take part in on-the spot polling that will help guide our continuing talks with your employers.
How do you get on the call? All you have to do is pick up your phone when we call.
If for some reason you are unable to pick up when we call you, instructions on how to join will be left on your voicemail (if you have voicemail or answering machine).
You will also be able to live-stream the call on your computer, tablet, or smart phone. The link will be posted around 6:45pm on December 13, 2018 on seiuwest.ca.
Make sure we have the right phone number on file! Use the ‘contact’ form on seiuwest.ca or contact the MRC at 1-888-999-7348 ext. 2298 to ensure we have your preferred phone number on file.
Win of the Week! December 2-8
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!
Suma: LPN at Saskatoon City Hospital
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:
Joint Bargaining Update: SAHO presents Coalition with “final” offer
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
Increase in Long Term Care Funding?
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
Win of the Week! November 25-December 1
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!
SEIU-West Recognizes National Addictions Awareness Week: November 26- December 2
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
Join Purple Day: November 28!
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!
Let’s show we support this message by wearing purple on November 28, 2018!
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!