In 2024, Canada experienced yet another record-breaking. year of extreme weather events driven by climate change, including heat waves, wildfires, and floods. Scientists project an increase in these events in the coming years.
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Important Message from Barbara Cape
Nominations: Shelly Banks Above & Beyond Award 2025
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.
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:
Win of the Week! October 7-13
Every day, SEIU-West members call or write their Member Resource Centre (MRC) asking questions about their rights at work. The questions range from who their Shop Stewards are, to what path to take if filing a disability appeal. Your MRC Union Reps are able to direct you to the appropriate persons required for your question, and they are always there to help when requiring assistance on your collective agreement. Each week, the MRC helps members find what they’re looking for, and we couldn’t be more proud to offer this unique 24/7 call service to our members. Indeed, SEIU-West is stronger together
Health Care Providers Week Celebrations 2018!
Health Care Providers Week is October 22 – 28, 2018!
The Political Action & Education Department would like to offer our members who work tirelessly in the health care sector an opportunity to celebrate Health Care Providers Week as a unit.
We offer your unit leader the following reimbursement so that either snacks/cake can be purchased or a contest (with prizes) can be undertaken. 
The rules are:
1st submit a request to [email protected] by Friday, November 2, 2018 with the following information:
- SEIU-West affiliated workplace name
- Number of SEIU-West members working in your facility
- How you plan to celebrate Health Care Provider Week
Then we will review your request & agree to reimburse you for your purchase of goodies, draw prize or gift card based on this pre-determined scale that is reflective of the size of the unit:
- Up to $40 for those units with up to 50 members
- Up to $65 for those units with between 51 to 100 members
- Up to $100 for those units with between 101 to 200 members
- Up to $125 for those units with over 200 members
To receive the reimbursement, we must receive a member expense form (indicating Celebration of Health Care Providers week) with original receipts by November 16, 2018. Please forward all member expense forms and original receipts to PA & E department to the attention of Shawna Colpitts ([email protected]).
Please note that we will cover the cost of cake, snacks or prizes only as our campaign fund is limited… so union leave will not be provided.
Please forward any pictures of your group enjoying the goodies or the draw winner(s) receiving the prize or gift card to [email protected] during Health Care Provider week so we can share the on our social media pages.
Please let us know whether your unit responds favourably or not…and share details with the appropriate Internal Organizer/Union Rep so that they know when the events will be occurring in the workplaces.
Thanks for all that you do!
Education Week Celebrations 2018!
The Political Action & Education Department would like to offer our members who work tirelessly in the Education sector an opportunity to celebrate Education Week as a workplace group.
We offer your unit/school SEIU-West leaders/contacts the following reimbursement so that either snacks/cake can be purchased or a contest (with prizes) can be undertaken.
The rules are:
1st submit a request to [email protected] by Friday, October 26, 2018 with the following information:
- SEIU-West affiliated workplace name
- Number of SEIU-West members working in your workplace
- How you plan to celebrate Education week
We will review your request and agree to reimburse you for your purchase of goodies, draw prize or gift card based on this pre-determined scale that is reflective of the size of the unit:
- Up to $20 for those units with up to 20 members
- Up to $40 for those units with over 20 members
To receive the reimbursement, we must receive a member expense form (indicating Celebration of Education week) with original receipts by November 9, 2018. Please forward all member expense forms and original receipts to PA & E Department to the attention of Shawna Colpitts ([email protected]).
Please note that we will cover the cost of cake, snacks or prizes only as our campaign fund is limited… so union leave will not be provided.
Please forward any pictures of your group enjoying the goodies or the draw winner(s) receiving the prize or gift card to [email protected] during Education week so we can share the on our social media pages.
Please let us know whether your unit responds favourably or not…and share details with the appropriate Internal Organizer/Union Rep so that they know when the events will be occurring in your workplace.
Thanks for all that you do!
Health Care Security and Safety Week: A Member Story
October 8-14, 2018 is Health Care Security and Safety Week and in recognition, we have an incredibly moving story from one of our proud Security Officers, Teegan Hunter. The whole health care team contributed significantly throughout the Humboldt tragedy, and this member story is a glimpse to the resilience of this amazing community we call home.
We understand the importance of quality, public health care at all times but particularly during heartbreaking events, when communities need it most. We thank the whole health care team for their efforts and would especially like to extend our gratitude for the hardworking Security Officers, like Teegan, who passionately work to ensure our health care environments are safe for all. Please be sure to give your thanks to your local Security Officers this week and support them by adding your voice to ensure strong security services in our care environments. You can also enter our Health Care Security and Safety Week Contest – just email [email protected] and let us know why public Security Officers add value to your care environment. The deadline to enter is October 17, 2018 and there are many great prizes to be won!
Member Story: Humboldt Strong
By Teegan Hunter, Security Officer
I’ve been a Security Officer for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) since September 2017. Our team handles over 1,000 calls a month at the four Saskatoon facilities where we’re stationed—including more than 700 calls a month at Royal University Hospital (RUH).
Being a Security Officer in the health care sector has many rewards and challenges. Each day brings new and different situations, and you have to adjust the services you provide while always remaining positive. April 6th, 2018 changed the lives of many forever.
The Humboldt Broncos tragedy impacted families, communities, the health sector, and the entire hockey world. Here is my story about my experiences as a Security Officer during this very difficult time.
I was first notified about the bus crash on the evening of April 6th. My heart instantly fell ill as I learned of the seriousness of the accident and the extent of the casualties. I didn’t know what to think—all I wanted to do was help. The next morning I arrived at RUH for my scheduled 7:00 shift. The emotion lay heavy in that large building. Green and yellow displays of support had already
begun forming in the hallways. While sitting at our post in the Emergency Department I saw a young man with blonde hair—one of the players--visibly injured but up and walking. He walked over to use the phone, and seeing me looking at him he did something which would change my entire day: he smiled.
I thought to myself – how unbelievable, how are you smiling on a day like today?
This small gesture was one of the first of many signs I saw of what a remarkable hockey organization the Humboldt Broncos are.
Around this time, local support began pouring in. The Saskatoon Police Chief, Troy Cooper, and some of his fellow officers arrived in full uniform to pay their respects. I thanked them, shook their hands and took them back to our ICU waiting area. The reality of what had happened was really starting to become clear. Very quickly, the media presence in and around the facility grew. This was challenging, because the SHA takes patient confidentiality and safety very seriously. I became stationed in the hallway outside our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Coronary Care Unit (CCU). My original duty was to ensure that families, friends, players, and organization staff had privacy during this very raw and difficult time. However, my duties very quickly widened as I began to spend time with these families and loved ones.
In the first week after the accident I handed out thousands of visitor tags—there were people everywhere. Donations and messages began pouring in from all over the country and beyond: food, gifts, gift cards, and notes from anonymous people offering to help however they could. The world was starting to come together. We were visited by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his team, players and representatives from numerous NHL teams, Don Cherry and Ron McLean, Hayley Wickenheiser, and singer Paul Brandt. Their support truly brightened everyone’s day.
My days quickly changed from being in a rotation with my team to immersing myself for 12-14 hours a day with the affected families. As I met more friends, hugged more billets, and held more parents I just naturally became very protective of everyone down there. I feel so honoured and blessed to have been able to offer my services to these amazing, strong individuals. These
people, who were living through the worst moments of their lives, who may have lost a loved one, often asked me how I was doing, if I was doing okay. This shows just the type of people the Broncos community are. I received a Humboldt Broncos bunny hug and a hockey stick from one of the player’s parents. I will never forget that nor will I ever part with them. That stick is on the bench with my hockey team at every game and hangs in our dressing room. As I sit and write this, almost five months after the tragedy, it still brings tears to my eyes. I cannot begin to explain how truly thankful I am to have met every single one of these people. Doing my job in the midst of this tragedy was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but these have been the most rewarding moments of my life. Growing up as an athlete, playing competitive hockey for 18 years as well as American college softball, this tragedy rocked me to my core. Your team is your everything. Your fans, your families, your billets – it’s one big, tight knit family and you build those core team relationships on your travel bus. In 2012, I experienced an accident in Nebraska when our sister school bus was broad sided. This experience was something I leaned on mentally to help me adjust accordingly and attempt to give these Broncos’ families, billets, players and friends a little extra effort in finding out what they needed. There are so many people I want to salute and thank for the vital roles they played during this crisis:
- the families, friends, billets and players for allowing me to go on this journey with them and trust me to stand tall for them. You have changed my life and I will forever hold the Broncos in my heart.
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and everyone who came to show their support. I saw firsthand how much your support and positivity meant to everyone. A glimmer of hope shone every time a visitor arrived.
- the elementary schools who wrote prayers or made wreaths for each player. As the one delivering them, I saw the bright and thankful smiles these gifts brought.
- the people who provided spiritual support. You made yourselves and your prayers available to everyone without forcing yourselves on anyone.
- the makers of the Broncos blankets. I can tell you the staff all enjoy them and it’s very comforting to be wrapped up in one.
- the medical staff, who provided consistently excellent care when faced with stress and emotion like they had never seen before
- EMS, STARS and first responders at the scene: you saved many lives due to great training, teamwork, and compassion.
And last, to my fellow security officers, for offering your hand out in support to me during this time. Knowing I had a team I could talk to and lean on if needed meant a lot to me. People ask, how do you add to the health care team? I have always known our value, but now I know in my heart, that as security, in times of crisis and tragedy we are willing and able to meet the challenge. We are all Bronco strong!
Win of the Week! September 30-October 6
This week, member leaders from across the province gathered to learn, engage and empower one another at our 'Leadership Conference: Building Strong Leaders.' Ten years ago, three SEIU Locals in Saskatchewan became a powerful force, now SEIU-West. We gathered to celebrate our successes over the past ten years and recommit our goal of improving the lives of communities for many more years to come. We know there's a lot of work ahead, but we're ready to face the challenges because we know, we're Stronger Together!
Win of the Week! September 23-29
Over the past two weeks SEIU-West held a new course named “Technical Course Level II: Investigations and Grievance Process” where experienced Shop Stewards and their Union Representatives gathered to learn and empower one another. During this course, the grievance process was clarified through comprehensive examination of real grievance files. Participants learned the life cycle of a grievance file, and all internal process aspects driving that cycle. Members gained knowledge around the applicable documents, and gained an in-depth understanding of the link between representation and documentation with regard to formal grievances. After taking this course, participants are better prepared to process grievances, and to advise members on that process, at the shop-floor level. SEIU-West knows that knowledge is power, and we’re so proud of our members for utilizing that knowledge on the shop floor!
Win of the Week! September 16-22
This week, SEIU-West was proud to graduate an awesome group of members who will introduce their union to brand new members during New Member Orientation at their new places of work. Our graduates have excellent presentation skills and passion to ensure new members to SEIU-West are proud and excited to engage with their new union. It's been another great week thanks to the solidarity and strength of our members!
Joint Bargaining Update: Coalition Unions Continue to Press SAHO for Fair Contract
September 17, 2018
We hope all of you had an enjoyable summer and were able to spend some time relaxing and enjoying the warm weather with family and friends.
Celebrate Therapy Assistants Week!
SEIU-West is excited to share in the celebration of Therapy Assistants Week from September 17-23, 2018!
In SEIU-West, the members who work as Therapy Assistants are classified as Occupational Therapy Assistants and/or Physiotherapy Assistants. Their work is invaluable to the success of improved health.
Therapy Assistants assist patients, residents, and clients (PRC’s) in their aim of increasing physical movement. By improving physical health, PRC’s are better able to expand their day-to-day activities. They also assist in the PRC’s mental state as enhanced mobility helps increase the self-confidence of those requiring care. In this sense, Therapy Assistants help rehabilitate PRCs to their fullest potential.
In recognition of Therapy Assistants Week we encourage all members of SEIU-West to complete this sentence by filling in the blank:
“Therapy Assistants are vital to the health care team because _____________.”
Get your answers in by September 23, 2018! Just email [email protected]
Win of the Week! September 9-15
SEIU-West is thrilled to announce our newest bargaining unit, the Town of Herbert, has ratified their first collective agreement with 100% turnout and 100% support! In an environment where employers and government continue to push rollbacks, SEIU-West successfully bargained general wage increases of 2% the first two years, and 1.5% in the third year. Some other highlights include:
- standby and call back language,
- the ability to bank overtime at time and a half
- better than vacation entitlements
- $200 for approved foot ware
It is clear that when we work together, we are Stronger Together! Congratulations to the entire Herbert team!
Wicihitowin: Indigenous People Engagement Conference - Apply Now!
SEIU-West is pleased to sponsor up to five (5) members to attend the Wicihitowin Aboriginal Engagement Conference 2018, taking place October 17-18 in Saskatoon. The conference will focus on Aboriginal engagement and human service delivery topics relevant to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal participants.
Anyone interested in attending this conference is asked to return your completed SEIU-West Expression of Interest form (below) on or before September 25, 2018 in order to allow us to complete the registration and selection process.
You can also send in a paper EOI form by clicking here.
Forward your paper EOI form to:
Barbara Cape, President of SEIU-West / [email protected]
#200 – 747 46th Street W, Saskatoon, SK S7L 6A1
Fax: 306-652-1392