Effective Tuesday, October 14, 2025 SEIU-West will resume mailing out member expense cheques via Canada Post.
If you have questions about the status of your MEV, please email [email protected] and one of our team members will be happy to help.
Pinned
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 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!
The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Young Workers Program and the United Way Centraide Canada (UWCC) are pleased to present the annual CLC/UWCC Post-Secondary Scholarship.
The CLC and the UWCC are long-time partners in taking action to create prosperous, inclusive, diverse and respectful communities, safer workplaces, and a fairer Canada for working people. Two years ago, we created a post-secondary scholarship in recognition of the important opportunities college or university education can provide for young people. Too often, these opportunities are out of reach for working-class people due to ever-increasing tuition fees.
This $2,500 scholarship is offered in recognition of the efforts of young workers across Canada who have demonstrated a commitment to positively impacting social and workplace issues in their community.
The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, June 7, 2019.
Please see the application form for eligibility criteria: www.canadianlabour.ca/scholarship.
This week we saw nearly 200 members, staff, and special guests come together for our bi-annual SEIU-West convention. Our theme this year was SEIU-WEST – Together Strong, Together Safe. This theme carried throughout the two days as members shared ideas, listened to one another, asked questions, held debates, and all the while learned steps to build a stronger SEIU-West and a vigorous labour movement here in Saskatchewan and across borders. We had guests and staff share their informative expertise around safety issues, and took part in workshops to enhance our shop floor skills around OH&S. We also held elections and wish to congratulate the members who were elected, and a give special thanks to all members who put their name forward for election – the fact that we have so many members interested in leadership positions is a true sentiment to the vast skillset and power that shapes our union. This week was yet another demonstration that we are Stronger Together!
Want to know why your elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) think it’s okay to mandate rollbacks and offer zeroes to health care providers while at the same time giving themselves a 3.5% wage increase last year and a 2.3% raise this year? Now is your opportunity to find out.
Your SEIU-West Political Action and Awareness Committee (PAAC) has identified a number of MLA BBQs occurring this month, and we encourage you to attend in order to speak to your MLA about how their actions devalue the hard work of those who provide health care in this province. There will be members of the PAAC there so if you’d like to meet with your fellow health care workers, please email [email protected] to coordinate.
Here are the details:
- Don Morgan – MLA for Saskatoon Southeast (and Minister of Labour): Free BBQ May 21st from 5-7pm at St Bernard School (203 Whiteshore Crescent, Saskatoon)
- Don Morgan – MLA for Saskatoon Southeast (and Minister of Labour): Free BBQ May 22nd from 5-7pm at St. Luke School (275 Emmeline Rd, Saskatoon)
- Don Morgan – MLA for Saskatoon Southeast (and Minister of Labour): Free BBQ May 25th from 11:30am-2pm at the Independent Foods in Briarwood (315 Herold Rd, Saskatoon)
- Lisa Lambert – MLA for Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood: Free BBQ May 27th from 4:30-6:30pm at the Nutana Kiwanis Park (3003 Porter St, Saskatoon -across from Market Mall)
SEIU-West is also able to provide a series of questions if you’d like assistance. Again, just email [email protected] in order to get a copy.
SEIU-West members understand that while we bargain with Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO), it is our government that provides the budget SAHO has to work with. When we see MLAs give themselves raises while offering us zeroes, and when we know that the same budget that funds MLA salaries, funds ours – we must ask: where are the increases for health care providers so we can keep our heads above water?
It is vital that every health care provider have their voice heard. We hope you will attend at least one of the above-mentioned BBQs and if you are aware of any other MLA BBQs occurring, please let us know by emailing [email protected]
SEIU-West Committees keep us at the forefront of the Labour movement in Canada, and provide an excellent opportunity for members to learn from each other. Committee members serve for two years, and we have now approached the end of a two-year term so we are requesting SEIU-West members and all current committee members to submit their Expressions of Interest form should they wish to serve or remain on committees.
This year, Sexual Assault Awareness Week is recognized in Saskatchewan May 12-18. SEIU-West stands against sexual assault and recognizes the need for a robust level of services that support those who experience assault, for it is clear we must do more to address sexual assault in our communities.
Saskatchewan has the second highest rate of reported sexual assaults amongst all provinces, and the highest rate of intimate partner violence. Yet studies have shown most sexual assault survivors do not report. This failure to report might be attributed to the lack of action – many survivors have said they’ve felt re-victimized by the system of reporting – an investigation from Globe and Mail found that 19 per cent of sexual assault allegations in 2010 -2014 were considered “unfounded,” meaning Canadian police did not believe a crime had actually occurred.
Still, we’re seeing a rise of those who report sexual assault. Police reported that sexual assaults were up 38.6% from 2017 to 2018 in Regina, and are up 10.3% in Saskatoon over the same period. However, many support services are not able to meet these growing needs. In fact, service organizations like the Saskatoon Sexual Assault Information Centre saw their provincial funding freeze for three years and in the latest 2019-20 budget, women’s shelters had a mere one per cent funding increase. This lack of support is having severe consequences for those who have experienced sexual assault - staff at these organizations say there is a growing demand for counselling services, but their resources are inadequate to meet the growing needs. This has led to staff turnover and many of these service centres have had to make program cuts to ensure they can provide basic services with the limited amount of resources they have.
In order to address these ineffective justice and service needs, advocates are demanding increased education. The questions from the police and justice system during a sexual assault case often question the credibility of the survivor’s actions. We therefore need education for judges and police but also for our communities who often act as juries. That is why SEIU-West is applauding the announcement of a new action plan to end sexual violence.
Announced in May 2019 – during Sexual Assault Awareness Week - Saskatchewan now has a 22-point action plan to end sexual violence in this province. We were the last province in Canada to develop a sexual assault strategy, and the Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan (SASS) attributes support for this initiative from the funding provided by federal government. SASS travelled to over 22 communities and spoke to survivors, family members, and service providers in order to develop this plan. This report has a focus on prevention and education, support and intervention, responsive legal and justice systems, and collaborative leadership and accountability. SASS found that the legal system was where many people were having the most difficulties - in response to the lack of trust in reporting, there was also an announcement for a pilot project involving a review protocol in Regina.
On a quarterly basis, members of organizations like the SASS will review Regina’s police sexual assault investigations, and the reviews will involve cases where charges haven’t been laid. SEIU-West supports this step as this process will involve people who have spent their lives working with and supporting those who are survivors of sexual assault.
Members and leaders of SEIU-West were also relieved to learn that the government has announced Bill No. 172, The Saskatchewan Employment (Paid Interpersonal Violence and Sexual Violence Leave) Amendment Act. This amendment will allow access to paid leave from work for survivors of domestic violence.
It’s appropriate that this first reading should take place during Sexual Assault Awareness Week and is welcoming news for all workers within Saskatchewan – as we have highest rates of intimate partner violence in Canada and better support is needed. We know domestic violence deeply affects people at work, and that job security is not enough, so the addition of paid leave is a great step forward in addressing the urgent need to increase support systems for those experiencing domestic violence.
Saskatchewan was one of the last provinces to legislate paid leave. The SEIU-West Young Workers Committee, partnered with the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS), the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL), and the Saskatchewan NDP, in order to help ensure paid leave become a priority for our government.
Now that we have this legislation, awareness is key. Each workplace should have a clear and communicated workplace policy so workers know they can access paid leave should they require it. How many persons who experience domestic violence would tell their employer of their experiences if they do not have, or are not aware of, any support? How many more would be fearful of persecution if they did share their experiences? Research has shown that many people do not report because of the stigmas associated with domestic violence - these stigmas act as a barrier to communication and support. That is why employers should now take the steps to provide education and training for themselves and their staff. We are hopeful these steps will result in concrete and enforced support for those who experience domestic violence.
For more information on sexual assault, please visit http://sassk.ca/resources/
To find your nearest support services provider, visit http://sassk.ca/finding-support/ or call 211.
If you experience sexual assault at work or if it’s affecting your work, please call the SEIU-West Member Resource Centre at 1.888.999.7348.
Members who work in Chinook School Division are celebrating after ratifying their latest collected agreement! The agreement includes general wage increases totaling 4% over 3 years, as well as a signing bonus of up to $675 for all employees. In a climate where we’re hearing rollbacks are inevitable for public sector workers, our union’s strength demonstrates our ability to resist and achieve gains. We’re stronger together!
It’s an honour to take a moment to show our appreciation for the thousands of front line members of the health care nursing team. While a whole team of professionals contribute to our health and well-being, during this week we recognize the nursing team.
On May 9, 2019, communities, organizations, and people around the world are joining together for the annual international day of celebrating and honoring Youth Workers on Thank a Youth Worker Day!
SEIU-West is proud to join the festivity of Thank A Youth Worker Day – we know how hard our members work to improve the lives of the youth they care for.
The dedicated SEIU-West members who care for our community’s youth and children often work in emergency or schools settings – their role is to ensure children and youth experiencing crisis situations are cared for in a home-like setting, or to provide personal care to students who require extra assistance. For youth in either of these situations, comfort and support is essential, and that is what our Youth Workers are trained to provide.
Our communities’ youth rely on encouraging environments to thrive, and Youth Workers help facilitate personal growth and empower youth to transition from dependence, to independence.
It is clear Youth Workers are vital to the success of our communities so please, join SEIU-West in thanking our incredible members who work as Youth Workers!
(Click here for a printable PDF of this Bargaining Bulletin)
Greetings Sisters and Brothers,
Your SEIU-West bargaining committee provided notice to SAHO of the outcome of our ratification vote. SAHO provided their notice and confirmed receipt of our document.
The Union committee has now met to discuss our next steps with regard to returning to the bargaining table after our rejection of the tentative agreement. We’ve looked at a few scenarios and developed responses to both: returning to the table to only negotiate monetary improvements; or starting from ‘square one’ as was proposed by SAHO in previous joint bargaining meetings. The parties have agreed that bargaining dates won’t be set until after May 17. We have asked for a process meeting with SAHO to discuss how we will move forward. Stay tuned for an update that will be posted once dates are set.
On behalf of the bargaining committee, we wish to thank you all for your numerous questions to the SEIU-West website, Facebook, and via email. We are going to take this return to the bargaining one step at a time; being very intentional in our membership communications. The strength and conviction of our members in this rejection gives a very clear message to your bargaining committee and to SAHO and the Government of Saskatchewan.
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; Carla Saworski; 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
In anticipation for Nursing Week next week, we have a great win to share! We’ve had an awesome level of response for our Nursing Week celebrations – Unit Executives were asked to complete this survey in order to receive some financial help in recognizing the amazing Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs), and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who work in their facilities. We’re excited to see the celebrations that await! And if you’re a part of your facility’s Unit Executive, there’s still time to request funding! We ask that you submit requests by May 13, 2019.
May Day (May 1st) is a day to recognize, celebrate, and demonstrate workers’ historic and ongoing struggles. Also known as International Workers’ Day, May Day symbolizes the common struggles of workers everywhere. Historically, May 1st signifies the gains workers achieved in the late 19th century in North America. Workers were faced with unsafe working environments and long hours which led to workplace injuries and fatalities. Workers had had enough with these unjust conditions and fought back to demand an 8 hour work day with no cut in pay. Thousands of workers took to the streets and many workers lost their lives in this struggle. In 2019, Canada celebrates a particularly monumental May Day as this May, we recognize the 100th anniversary of the Winnipeg General Strike.
The Winnipeg General Strike is a significant part of our working-class history. In May and June of 1919, more than 30,000 workers went on strike for six weeks. The strike grew out of frustrations with the inequities at work, including rising prices and stagnant wages, and a government that worked on behalf of employers, and not workers. Together, workers stood in unison to demand better, but not without backlash. Two workers were killed and many were injured as they fought for working-class justice, and when we remember that people put their lives on the line for the rights we enjoy today, we understand that we cannot take anything we’ve gained for granted. We must therefore celebrate but also recognize there is an urgent need for us to keep up the fight for our rights today. To learn more, visit the Building A Better World: 1919-2019 Winnipeg General Strike 100th Anniversary website.
To get involved in a local May Day event, click on the links below (email [email protected] if you have another event to add):
Regina – May Works Week
Saskatoon - May Day 2019
Members of SEIU-West are reporting that a fellow member has stepped up to assist Biggar during their community's time in need. This member is a volunteer fire fighter and has been active in this duty to combat the fires blazing in Biggar. Their willingness to help demonstrates the leadership and care that runs through the veins of our members. It is clear that SEIU-West members not only take a stand for their communities at work, but outside of work as well. Thanks to our members for showing that purple cares!