Last year, SEIU created a survey for members about climate change and the impact on your lives.
Pinned
June is National Indigenous Peoples Month. This is a time to honour the rich history, resilience, and diversity of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. It is an opportunity to reflect on historical and current injustices and commit to true reconciliation in Canada.
The First Nations, Métis and Inuit Committee would like to share some events and resources with you and encourage you to participate in events in your area.
SEIU-West is hosting our first Asian Pacific Islander Summit in Saskatoon on September 24-26, 2026 — an event to bring together workers from across Canada and the U.S.
Being an API member in Canada or the U.S can sometimes feel isolating. You might not have seen yourself in leadership. You may not have always felt seen or understood. But you can find a home with us. We believe in you. We see you. And most importantly, you belong.
Welcome home.
There is currently a vacancy on the SEIU-West Executive Board for members that work for the Community Based Organizations Sector.
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.
Member Awarded Position Denied due to Pregnancy
An Employer denied a member from taking a temp position because the member was pregnant and expecting in January. This employer had a past practice – if a pregnant employee couldn’t work 50% of the temp, they would not be awarded the position. Prior to filing a grievance, the Union raised both discriminatory action and Human Rights issue as arguments for the employer to stop this action. The employer agreed and awarded the position to the expectant mom – what a great win!
The United Nations has established each December 3rd as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). The theme 2019 is The Future is Accessible. IDPD is a day intended, “to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.”
SEIU-West is committed to ensure that people with disabilities do not face exclusion and discrimination. Ensuring inclusion empowers them to fully participate and contribute to society. We must all do our part in removing those barriers so those with disabilities can lead full and productive lives.
On December 2, front line workers Community-Based Organization (CBO) workers representing SEIU-West, SGEU and CUPE, were at the Saskatchewan Legislature to present petitions calling for multi-year funding in their sector – read more here.
CBOs are non-profit groups that work at a local level to help improve life for residents by providing vital services to some of the most vulnerable people in our society including providing support for the disabled. – watch this video to find out more about CBOs.
There are limited resources for people with disabilities as it is and CBO’s are currently one of the few available to them. CBO’s often work to develop innovative solutions on a very restricted budget and to ensure that they continue with their service, find out more about these Sask People Who Care.
Sisters and Brothers,
Your Provincial Contract Action Team (ProCAT) is looking to ramp up our efforts to demand fairness and safety in health care.
We’ll be looking to our members to help ensure their communities are aware of the severe understaffing happening in health care.
A fair contract would definitely help.
If you are interested in setting up a Put Care first end understaffing event (i.e. info picket, leafleting, etc.) in your community, reach out to your ProCAT member or use the event request form to let us know.
We will provide the resources such as leaflets, necessary funding, checklists, etc. but it is vital to have a local unit members engaged and involved.
We all have to work together to keep up the pressure so we can successfully resolve this collective agreement.
Please remember to show your support for our bargaining efforts. You can contact the Minister of Finance, Donna Harpauer (306) 787-6060 OR [email protected]; the Minister of Health, Jim Reiter (306) 787-7345 OR [email protected]; the new Minister of Rural and Remote Health, Warren Kaeding (306) 798-9014 OR [email protected]; or your very own MLA. Explain to them the need for a fair offer; and how an adequate monetary package is necessary to recruit and retain quality staff. You can also send a letter to your MLA with a simply click on our www.EndUnderstaffing.ca campaign. If you would like some assistance, call the MRC at 1-888-999-7348 extension 1 and an officer will put you in contact with someone who will help you.
Remember we’re all in this together!
Please keep an eye on the SEIU-West website and your union bulletin board. And follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for information updates.
In solidarity,
Barbara Cape, SEIU-West President
A vacancy has arisen on the SEIU-West Young Workers Committee so we are inviting interested members to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form to fill this vacancy.
The successful applicants will have the opportunity to expand their union involvement and activism in this position, and play an active role in engaging young workers into our union.
If you are interested in applying, please complete this online form or this pdf EOI form and submit it to Barb Cape’s attention by Monday, January 13, 2019 via email: [email protected] or fax: 306 652 1392.
SEIU-West helps member that was passed over despite seniority
A member who works as a casual housekeeper was denied a posted position they were qualified for and found out that a less senior person was awarded the position. Their Unit Chair and Rep met with employer. The employer argued that this person wasn’t senior because of the last seniority list but the Rep insisted that the employer look at day of seniority and based on that, the employer agreed to give the position to the member who brought forward the issue. It was a win that the employer listened as we described the problem and agreed to fix it.
FACT CHECK
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 pairs of earrings from Hillberg & Berk; proceeds of which go to survivors of domestic violence in Saskatchewan. There are two chances to be entered to win:
- Send picture of yourself or a group of SEIU-West members wearing red on December 6th by email to [email protected]
- Donate to your local woman’s shelter – you can take a picture of your donated items and email [email protected] or bring donated items to your local SEIU-West office in Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, or Swift Current!
The deadline to enter is December 14, 2019!
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.
November is National Home Care Month!
SEIU-West would like to celebrate all our valued Home Care members who work really hard to ensure that their clients are well taken care of every day. 
With an aging population and crowded hospitals, adequate home care is now a vital health care service.
Home care provides assistance which allows people to continue to live safely and independently in their homes; and recover from medical procedures at home.
Home care requires trust.
Health care providers who work in home care assist people with their most intimate care requirements including but not limited to: meal preparation, personal grooming, assisting with medications, and observation or ongoing assessment.
Unfortunately, stagnant wages, a lack of guaranteed hours and dangerous workloads in the sector have led people to leave for other jobs.
Add to that the rising cost of education and it makes it difficult to attract new people.
To all our SEIU-West Home Care Health Care Providers, we thank you for all you do particularly in light of the limited resources you have.
Tell the government to be fair to those who care; as our elected leaders they need to do more to ensure that people get the home care services they need. Our public health care sector needs to be fully funded and staffed to meet the needs of Saskatchewan’s growing population. Send your letter today at EndUnderstaffing.ca.
FACT CHECK
SEIU-West Education Program Helps Tackle Bullying and Harassment in the Work Place!
SEIU-West has an extensive education program designed for member needs. Recently, we received thanks from a workplace that participated in our Anti-Bullying and Harassment course because since the course, there has been a noticeable and positive shift in the workplace culture. We are proud to see the results of our educational programs result in a constructive impact – way to go!