The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives have published Caring for the Future: Frontline Workers on the Challenges in Saskatchewan's Long-Term Care Sector.
Pinned
Joint Bargaining Update: Coalition Unions will not be intimidated by SAHO
June 27, 2018
Your SEIU-West, SGEU, and CUPE bargaining committees resumed bargaining on June 21, continued bargaining through the weekend, and went late into the evening of June 25.
The Unions and SAHO exchanged proposals on extended health and dental plan funding, joint trusteeship process for the benefit plans, and monetary issues related to general wage increases.
The Union Coalition felt momentum building and was hopeful that a tentative agreement would be reached. However, on the evening of June 25, the positive tone at the table quickly turned. SAHO and the Ministry of Health questioned whether your bargaining committees were committed to reaching an agreement. SAHO made comments that the Coalition was delaying the process and splitting hairs. What this translates into for our membership is that we are not willing to sell out our hard-earned collective agreement protections and benefits to get a deal.
We were close to language that would help us to get joint trusteeship of all of our benefits plans; this is incredibly important in order to ensure the health and long-term viability of these plans. It should be noted that joint governance will be a requirement of the Canada Revenue Agency in 2019, and this joint trusteeship will help both our benefit plans and members by significantly reducing plan taxation liabilities.
Your coalition bargaining committee put forward a proposal on a general wage increase that we believe was fair and reasonable. It took into consideration fiscal restraint of the province. But we were told that we hadn’t moved enough! SAHO and the Government of Saskatchewan have offered health providers less than other public sector workers – yet they are demanding concessions.
It is clear that the government wants to end the 100% employer funding commitment for our Extended Health and Enhanced Dental Plan (EHD) plan and push some of the costs onto you. We believe that the Coalition’s unwillingness to agree to rollback the funding to the EHD plan has triggered SAHO and the Government of Saskatchewan to change their mood. SAHO ended the meeting until further notice. There are currently no scheduled bargaining dates. SAHO did not accept our suggestion to access voluntary mediation to assist in concluding a reasonable collective agreement.
It is clear the Government of Saskatchewan is very much involved in this bargaining process. Please continue contacting your MLAs, Minister of Health Jim Reiter, and Minister of Rural and Remote Health Greg Ottenbreit to insist they treat health care providers fairly and with respect.
Jim Reiter – Ministry phone number: 306.787.7345; Constituency Office number: 306.882.4105
Greg Ottenbreit – Ministry phone number: 306.798.9014; Constituency Office number: 306.783.7275
We’ve informed SAHO that we are going to meet with our members to get clear direction. Please watch for notices of upcoming meetings in your area.
In solidarity,
SEIU-West, SGEU, and CUPE
Celebrate Multiculturalism and Canada Day!
On June 27th we celebrate Multiculturalism Day! Canadians have an international reputation for their cultural diversity that brings all people together. We are renowned for having a better understanding and better supports for people representing minority groups in Canada and beyond.
Win of the Week! June 17 – 23
Congratulations to the SEIU-West bargaining team for achieving a renewed agreement for our members at the Saskatchewan Impaired Drivers Treatment Centre (SIDTC). We are pleased that our members have ratified the agreement that has several language improvements and future increases through wage reopeners over the next couple of years.
Thanks to the bargaining team for knowing their members and getting to the finish line with success. We are stronger together!
Join SEIU-West in Recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day – Saskatoon and Regina events!
Joint Bargaining Update from SEIU-West, CUPE, and SGEU: June 19, 2018
Your coalition bargaining committee met with SAHO in Saskatoon during June 13, 14 and 15 to work to achieve a fair collective agreement that treats our members with respect, and does not include the cuts, rollbacks or concessions that the government wants.
We have achieved agreement in principle on a number of items:
- Professional Fees;
- Recruitment and Retention initiatives;
- A moratorium on changes to our bargaining unit structure;
- A process to deal with transition issues with the Saskatchewan Health Authority;
- Workload (for SGEU and SEIU-West); and
- Interpersonal Violence Leave.
Outstanding is agreement on a joint trusteeship process for our benefit plans and a discussion about monetary issues related to a general wage increase.
We continue to work towards maintaining the current language in our CBAs regarding the Extended Health & Enhanced Dental (EH&ED) Plans. We have heard from you loud and clear that the fully funded benefits plan is a valued benefit.
Your bargaining committees value your continued support. In addition to the bargaining process, we are currently faced with Health Authority initiatives, such as IT transitioning to eHealth and the provincial security services review. The parties continue with the joint review process of the Joint Job Evaluation plan. There is a lot happening, and we need to keep focused on these issues – together.
Keep an eye on your union bulletin board, website and Facebook page for how to get involved in these campaigns and how to show your support for your union bargaining committees. We cannot forget that the Government of Saskatchewan is deeply involved in this bargaining process, so please be sure to contact your MLA, Minister of Health Jim Reiter, and Minister of Rural and Remote Health Greg Ottenbreit. Stay focused and stay connected.
In solidarity,
SEIU-West, CUPE and SGEU
Win of the Week! June 10 – 16
SEIU-West has reached another successful tentative agreement in the education sector! Our members at Holy Family School Division will experience wage increases of 1.25-1-1 & 2% over the next four years! They’ll also have 100% of their EFAP paid for by the employer. They reached better language provisions around breaks and accommodations, and also obtained cell phone allowances and updated OH&S language. This agreement will certainly set a standard for workers across the education and public services sector, and we’re proud of the bargaining team for overcoming the pressured rollbacks and freezes – together, we are indeed stronger!
Member letter to SEIU-West: We Are All Purple Family!
We received a letter from one of our members sharing her daughter’s art work. SEIU-West is proud to have such talented and supportive family members! Check out their message and drawing!
June is National Indigenous History Month!
June is National Indigenous History Month!
Win of the Week! June 3 – 9
SEIU-West is proud to announce a big win for the members who work for Town of Shaunavon! The SEIU-West bargaining committee reached a tentative agreement with their employer, and some of the highlights include a market adjustment for maintenance staff, worth approximately 2.5% and which applies to the majority of the members at this bargaining unit. They also achieved a 1-1 & 2% wage increases over the next 3 years! Members saw their pension plan employer contribution increased, and also saw improvements to working at a higher paid classification. In a climate where rollbacks are pressured, our bargaining team did an excellent job raising expectations for future bargaining.
Thank you to the bargaining team for their hard work in reaching a fair deal!
Purple Day: June 14!
Young Workers Present: Shining A Light On…Service Animals
Young Workers Present: Shining A Light On…Service Animals
Win of the Week! May 27 – June 2
This week we are celebrating the successful pay raise Support Workers at Elmwood Group Homes (EGH) achieved through their solidarity and commitment to fairness! Their win at the bargaining table has been resonating through many news articles across several provinces in Canada! We are proud of their enormous achievement and we congratulate them on their accomplishment.
The solidarity and strength of our members at EGH has been remarkable; these Support Workers are People Who Care. Support Workers at EGH, in an effort to assist other Community Based Organizations (CBOs) are hosting a Community BBQ this week. It’s a Thank You BBQ celebrating the successful bargaining process and highlights the need to support other CBOs. For the upcoming BBQ on June 11, all donations will go to the Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre who have recently cut services due to funding shortfalls. EGH Support Workers demonstrate true solidarity and we’re proud to call them members of our SEIU-West family.