This award has been established to honour Shelly Banks who led by example and served as SEIU-West vice-president from 2008-2015.
Her invaluable and outstanding contributions have made a significant and lasting impact on our members and our union.
Pinned
SEIU-WEST 2025 MEMBERSHIP SATISFACTION & ENGAGEMENT SURVEY
SEIU-WEST 2025 MEMBERSHIP SATISFACTION & ENGAGEMENT SURVEY
Are you an SEIU-West member? We want to hear from you!
SEIU-West is running a 10-minute online survey of its members. It will be open until Monday, March 17th.
Wherever you work, if you’re an SEIU-West member, we would really appreciate your feedback!
N/52nds Overpayment
If you are an SEIU-West member working for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and you receive a communication from your employer indicating that you owe them money back for an N/52nds overpayment, please:
Info Pickets
Info pickets provide an opportunity for SEIU-West members to send a message to their employer and to the general public, that bargaining needs to progress and SEIU-West members deserve a fair contract!
Janice Platzke Receives Larry Hubich Lifetime of Service Award
We are so excited to announce that your SEIU-West Treasurer, Janice Platzke, received the Larry Hubich Lifetime of Service Award at the 2024 Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Convention in late October. Congratulations, Janice!
Here's what her nominator had to say about Janice and her years of service:
Celebrate Family Literacy Day Contest: What Was Your Top Pick of 2018?
Every year, Saskatchewan communities celebrate Family Literacy Day on January 27, and in recognition, SEIU-West is excited to announce our annual Family Literacy Day Contest!
We know SEIU-West members value the power of books because they are an opportunity for us to sit back and relax, learn something new, or take our imagination to places we’ve never been.
This Family Literacy Day, we want to share our members’ favourite books with each other in order to expand our ‘to-read’ lists for 2019!
So for this year’s contest, we want to know: what was your favourite book you read in 2018 and why?
To qualify, share your favourite 2018 read with us by January 30, 2019.
Email [email protected] or post your top 2018 book to our Facebook page.
All entries will be entered into a draw – if selected, you could win a gift card to a local restaurant, performance, and/or movies tickets.
Who knows, your top 2018 book might become someone’s top 2019 read? We’ll be posting entries on our Facebook page.
Tampon Tuesday: Collection Drive
In recognition of International Women’s Day on March 8, SEIU-West is participating in the Labour & United Way Partnership’s 3rd Annual Tampon Tuesday collection drive.
Menstrual products are a necessity, but they’re also expensive – this creates barriers for many women to access what should be a basic right. Women and girls who live in poverty often have to choose between food or feminine hygiene products. For homeless women it is even worse.
While there are on-going campaigns to ensure free access to menstrual products in Canada, we’re not there yet. That’s why each SEIU-West office is participating in Tampon Tuesday, a collection drive that provides SEIU-West members the opportunity to collect and support the provision of menstrual products to women in need.
WHEN: All SEIU-West Offices will be collecting products until March 15, 2019.
WHERE:
Saskatoon Drop-Off Location (items will be donated to the United Way Saskatoon and Area for distribution):
#200 – 747 46th Street West
Open Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm
Moose Jaw Drop-Off Location (items will be donated to a local women’s shelter):
39 Athabasca Street West
Open Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm
Swift Current Drop-Off Location (items will be donated to a local women’s shelter):
333 Central Avenue North
Open Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm
You can also take up your own workplace tampon collection drive! Click to download the Collection Drive Registration form.
If you’re in Saskatoon, there is a special Tampon Tuesday event on March 12 as well – hope you can make it! Let’s end the stigma and work together to ensure access to menstrual products for all women.
SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Update No. 11
Click here for a printable PDF of SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Update – No. 11
January 21, 2019
Greetings Sisters and Brothers,
The provider unions, SEIU-West, CUPE, and SGEU have concluded a letter of understanding (LOU) with SAHO and the employer regarding the education factor in the JJE plan.
The LOU sets out that, when there is information available about changes to the education required for a job classification; the unions, SAHO, and the employer, will jointly assess the changes. If the key work activities, duties, responsibilities and/or qualifications have not changed, the education factor rating for the JJE plan job classification will not change.
In order for there to be a change to the education factor rating for the JJE plan job classification, another factor rating, such as decision making, impact of action, sensory demand, etc. would have to change as well.
If the unions, SAHO, and the employer cannot agree on the education factor assessment, there will be an independent review of the education factor rating by third party adjudicator.
This new education factor review process will apply to all new job classifications created with the same educational requirement as existing classifications.
We encourage you to contact the MRC at 1-888-999-7348 ext. 2298 to ask any further questions. Please watch for updates on www.SEIUWEST.ca. You can also follow our Facebook and Twitter feeds.
In Solidarity,
Your SEIU-West SAHO Provincial Bargaining Committee:
CHR: Janice Platzke (SEIU-West Treasurer) • FHHR: Brenda Berry; Donna Gallant • HHR: Colleen Denniss • SHR: Judy Denniss; Rick Brown; Simone Corriveau; Kim Wyatt; Charlene Sarafin; • Staff: Bob Laurie (Dir. of Bargaining and Contract Enforcement); Russell Doell (Deputy Dir. of Bargaining and Contract Enforcement); Cam McConnell (Negotiations Officer) • President: Barbara Cape
Cape's Corner: Winter 2018
Communication… it’s key to explaining yourself; being responsible for your actions; and working to do better for everyone. Whether you are a shop steward, the Premier of a province, or a union President, we all have a responsibility to communicate as effectively as possible. I’ve had the opportunity to talk with our members, shop stewards, staff, and even our Minister of Health and the message that keeps rising to the top is how we need to communicate better.
Our members have been earnest in their effort to communicate with their Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) about concerns with funding in the education sector; short staffing in the health care sector; a lack of accountability in the Community-Based Organization (CBO) sector… and always, bargaining! The public deserves quality services that their taxes pay for. And the people who provide those services deserve a decent wage… there’s nothing controversial about that.
But I don’t think that the politicians have been very forthright or honest in their responses. Recently, our Minister of Health said publicly – in the news – that funding in long-term care has been increased by 40%... since when?! Since the 1980’s? Let’s be frank, we haven’t felt a real increase in funding for public sector services for a very long time. It’s actually quite demoralizing that our Minister of Health makes this kind of public statement when those who provide hands-on care report unsafe staffing levels in long-term care on a chronic basis. Previously, our Minister of Finance has reported to media that the 3.5% cuts were off the bargaining table for all public sector workers… but who else did she tell?! Because there are plenty of bargaining tables where the cuts are
still a living proposal!
We have called for public audits in the CBO sector to ensure that the funding is actually reaching the front line for staff and clients… but the Minister of Social Services didn’t even respond… all we have heard are crickets! For a government that keeps talking about consulting, transparency, and accountability, it’s interesting that they have such a checkered record.
We should all be accountable – not just at election times. And we need to recognize that the key to building our workplace, our union, and our province is creating a space where more people can be heard; where we can answer questions with honesty, not political spin; and where we can make sure that we are actually lifting up the people of this province… not picking winners and losers.
Sometimes we’re moving so fast that we don’t take the time to communicate – to explain – to consult – to actively listen – effectively... and it’s frustrating! So maybe, the first step in changing our communications is to start telling the truth… we can do better.
We Care: Drive For Seniors
SEIU-West members at Parkridge Centre in Saskatoon launched a drive to help seniors in our community. A lot of seniors don’t have enough money at the end of the month to get few extra things they might want or need. To fill that void, our unit has set up “purple boxes” in various locations throughout Parkridge to collect items. Even our families have gotten involved. Some of our
members’ grandchildren have gotten into the project by creating colourful signs that invite donations. All the items collected will be distributed in the community with help from the United Way of Saskatoon.
Young Workers Present: Shining A Light On…Domestic Violence
The SEIU-West Young Workers Committee (YWC) is shining a light on issues that often get pushed into the shadows and aims to break down stigma associated with important issues in our communities by interviewing experts in the field. In the last installment, the YWC shone a light on mental health. In this issue, YWC member Brittney interviews Andrea Howe from the United Way of Saskatoon about domestic violence.
Q: Why is there stigma associated with Domestic Violence (DV)?
A: Some reasons why stigma is often associated with DV are because individuals either do not understand the issue; are not educated about the issue; and/or believe it is a private issue.
Q: How does the stigma affect someone who is seeking help?
Some reasons why stigma could deter a woman from seeking help are she may be ashamed; be fearful about being judged; be afraid to be on her own; be afraid of losing her job; and/or not know what resources or supports are available to her.
Q: How do you help someone who discloses at work that they are a victim of Domestic Violence?
Your role is to show concern and offer support. Do not try to “fix” the situation. Below is a list of ways to assist if a co-worker discloses that she is a victim of DV:
- Tell her you believe her and will support her
- Suggest speaking with a union staff rep to talk about supports available
- Be prepared with information about where to find help at work and in the community
- Ensure she is included in all the decision-making and respect her decisions – even if you do not agree with her choices
How can SEIU-West members help de-stigmatize DV?
SEIU-West members can help by:
- Completing the two-day DV training offered by SEIU-West. Your union is the first union in Saskatchewan who has offered the two-day training to its members because this issue is important! Encourage other members to take the training too.
- Starting the conversation – at work; at the kitchen table; at the gym – the more we talk about this issue, the less stigma will be attached to it
- Continuing to advocate and lobby for better legislation for DV protections and entitlements
- Bargaining for DV leave and supports into your collective agreement
Thank you!
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Win of the Week! January 13-19
We have a major win to report this week: members at Valley Action Group Homes have reached an agreement that includes a significant pay increase of 5% as well as a $500 signing bonus! We also successfully negotiated an increase in the night shift premium, as well as non-monetary improvements including:
- better access to vacation
- improved shift trade language
- restrictions on scheduling and schedule changes
- improved call in rules
- the addition of paid leave for citizenship ceremonies
- the addition of son-in-law and sister-in-law to the bereavement list
- improvements to the grievance process
- the addition of reimbursement up to $750.00 for personal property loss or damage at work
- improved personal floating day options
In addition, this agreement ensures new letters of appointment to all staff which will make their guaranteed hours the same as their regularly scheduled hours. This new collective agreement demonstrates the strength of our union and we’re happy to report members voted unanimously in favour! The best way for workers to improve their working conditions is to come together and collectively bargain. If you know anybody who could benefit from Joining SEIU-West, have them call the SEIU-West Organizing Department at 1-888-999-SEIU.
SFL: Temporary Ready For Work Coordinator Position
The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour is currently recruiting to fill a vacancy to the position of Ready for Work Coordinator at the Federation’s Regina office.
The job description for the position is here.
The position is full-time (30 hours per week – Appendix A), and offers very competitive compensation, with excellent benefits, and flexibility. Terms and conditions of employment are set out in the collective agreement between the staff union (CUPE 4828) and the SFL.
Deadline for submission of applications and resumes is 12:00 noon, Monday, January 28, 2019.
Commencement date: As soon as can be arranged.
Please submit applications, complete with resume to:
Recruitment Committee
c/o Lori Johb, President
Saskatchewan Federation of Labour
220 – 2445 – 13th Avenue
Regina, Sask.
S4P 0W1
Fax: (306) 525-8960
e-mail: [email protected]
Win of the Week! January 6-12
Here’s another great way SEIU-West has your back - an Employer hired for a position externally and by doing so failed to hire the in-scope member who applied for the job. SEIU-West was able to resolve this grievance at step 1 with the member being offered the position, which they accepted. This member was compensated for lost wages and seniority. Our member loves their job and we’re so happy to share in their celebration!
Win of the Week! December 30-January 5
We have another great win that demonstrates the value of being a member of SEIU-West! An employer posted a vacant in-scope position but posted it as out of scope. When SEIU-West discovered this issue it was identified as a problem & the employer agreed to re-post the position as in-scope. There were no internal candidates but the out-of-scope employee (incumbent) applied. The employer awarded the position to this employee and then put them on probation. SEIU-West grieved this as this employee had already completed their probation period. Our union was able to reach an agreement that gave this member full seniority rights and completion of their probation period. Way to go!
Win of the Week! December 23-29
Members in Security Services in the former Saskatoon Health Region held a festive and fun Holiday Party. Some of the members who coordinated the fun event arranged ways to raise funds for a member who is suffering financial hardship due to family health issues. The fundraising initiative was a great success that demonstrated to this member that their sisters and brothers in Security have their back not just at work, but out of work too. It’s amazing to see these members organizing this kind gesture and demonstrates SEIU-West has strong, caring leaders in our union and community!