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:
Purple is Everywhere – Advertising!
For the first time ever, SEIU-West developed two professional TV commercials in 2015 – one highlighted our members with our Purple Works campaign, and the other encouraged non-unionized workers to SEIU-West in order to achieve fairness in their workplace.
Here are some of our videos below, and don't forget to subscribe SEIU-West on YouTube!
Win of the Week! July 22-28
SEIU-West is celebrating another victory in health care this week as yet again we acted to correct an oversight by the Health Authority. This time they underpaid a member by shortchanging them on their overtime hours. After pointing out the facts in a meeting with the Employer, the SEIU-West member was paid in full and the issue was resolved. It’s a good reminder to keep checking to make sure you are getting paid according to the Collective Agreement for the hours you’ve worked. When there is a potential discrepancy, call the MRC and we can fight together because We’re Stronger Together!
West Park Crossing, Bargaining Bulletin No. 1: July 25, 2018
Date: July 25, 2018
Location: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Greetings Sisters and Brothers:
The SEIU-West Bargaining Committee reached a first tentative agreement with the Employer on July 19, 2018. A ratification vote was held on July 25, 2018.
International Self-Care Day – July 24!
We often get so busy we forget to take care of ourselves and end up having too much stress in our lives. Most of us can relate to this reality. This is why SEIU-West is celebrating International Self-Care Day! This day is earmarked for us to take time for ourselves.
There are many definitions of Self-Care. Something simple like visiting your doctor is also considered to be self-care. Here is a definition provided by World Health Organization: ‘Self-Care is what people do for themselves to establish and maintain health, and to prevent and deal with illness. It is a broad concept encompassing hygiene (general and personal), nutrition (type and quality of food eaten), lifestyle (sporting activities, leisure etc.), environmental factors (living conditions, social habits, etc.) socio-economic factors (income level, cultural beliefs, etc.) and self-medication.’ For more information on Self-Care you can visit the official website of the International Self-Care Foundation.
Here are seven pillars of Self-Care provided by International Self-Care Foundation:
- Health literacy – includes: the capacity of individuals to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions;
- Mental wellbeing, Self-awareness & Agency – includes: knowing your body mass index (BMI), cholesterol level, blood pressure, and engaging in health screening;
- Physical activity – practicing moderate intensity physical activity such as walking, cycling, or participating in sports at a desirable frequency;
- Healthy eating – includes: having a nutritious, balanced diet with appropriate levels of calorie intake;
- Risk avoidance or mitigation – includes: quitting tobacco, limiting alcohol use, getting vaccinated, practicing safe sex, using sunscreens;
- Good hygiene – includes: washing hands regularly, brushing teeth, and washing food; and
- Rational and responsible use of products, services, diagnostics and medicines – includes: being aware of dangers, using responsibly when necessary.
Contest!
To celebrate International Self-Care Day, SEIU-West is inviting you to participate in this word search puzzle! Send the complete puzzle to [email protected] and be entered to win tickets to the Regina Folk Festival 2018. There cannot be anything better than Self-Care through music.
The deadline to enter into the ticket draw is August 3rd! One winner will be selected to receive a pair of tickets for a fun weekend at the festival, so make sure you send in those completed puzzles before the deadline!
Virtual Town Hall: SAHO and Extendicare Bargaining Meetings in August
If you are an SEIU-West member who works in health care, you should receive a phone call from your president, Barbara Cape on August 14, 2018 inviting you to take part in our upcoming Virtual Town Hall SAHO and Extendicare bargaining meetings that are happening on August 15, 2018 at 7pm, and August 16, 2018 at 2pm!
The number that appears on your phone should be our Member Resource Centre (MRC) toll-free number 1.888.999.7348. If you do not receive this call and want to be involved in this telephone town hall, please call the MRC at 1.888.999.7348.
Please join us for an update on bargaining and to provide your input as to next steps to guide our SEIU-West bargaining team.
Thanks!
Billboard Selfie Contest and Ticket Giveaway!
SEIU-West is excited to announce our new billboard campaign. You will be able to find the new billboards across the whole province of Saskatchewan. This is why we are launching a Selfie/Photo contest. All you have to do is to find one of our billboards and take a selfie or ask a friend to take a picture with you in front of the billboard.
Just keep in mind while participating that safety comes first - be careful, especially on the roads!
This contest is a summer long contest, where we will announce winners every week! We have some exciting giveaway prizes that include concert tickets, Co-Op gift cards, and all of our contest winners are SEIU-West members! So bring out your selfie game!
The deadline to enter is September 26!
Win of the Week! July 15-21
An employer thanked our Union Representative for sending an email to raise a concern on behalf of our member. This employer met with our union member to discuss a possible error that had occurred. The concern was investigated and the employer immediately realized that a genuine mistake had been made; this resulted in our member continuing their job at the specific facility. Our Union Representative was impressed by this employer and their ability to acknowledge their mistake and fix it. It is positive that there are some good employers that appreciate their employees and respond positively to matters brought forward by their union. Indeed, we are stronger together when we can work together for the betterment of our community!
Chinook School Division - Bargaining Update, July 18, 2018
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Date: |
July 18, 2018
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Questions? Call the MRC: 1-888-999-7348 |
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Location: |
Saskatchewan
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Units: |
Bone Creek Hutterian School • Shaunavon High School• Shaunavon Public School • Spring Lake Hutterian School• Val Marie School • Vanguard Community School • Swift Current Maintenance and Facilities Personnel |
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MEDIA RELEASE: Public Health Care Facilities Need Public Security
For Immediate Release—July 16, 2018
Saskatoon – SEIU-West announces the release of Our House Needs In-House, SEIU-West’s response to the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s (SHA’s) ongoing provincial security services review.
“The evidence is clear,” said Barbara Cape, President of SEIU-West. “The best way to keep patients, staff, and visitors safe in Saskatchewan’s health care facilities is for the SHA to hire and train its own in-house security teams.”
On July 13th SEIU-West submitted Our House Needs In-House to SHA CEO Scott Livingstone, Health Minister Jim Reiter, and several other health system leaders. (Click here to read SEIU-West President Barbara Cape’s submission letter.)
In recent years, Saskatchewan’s health authorities have reviewed health system services like laundry, information technology, and food services, in order to assess their potential for privatization.
“Our members are concerned that yet another vital piece of our public health care system is about to be privatized,” said Cape.
The SHA launched its security review this spring. The consultant hired to conduct the review was previously in charge of security for Alberta’s provincial health authority. While he was in charge, in-house officer numbers were cut, and services were contracted out to a large private security firm.
“Healthcare security is uniquely challenging,” Cape continued. “It’s different than mall security. It’s much too important to the SHA’s mission to just be contracted out to the lowest bidder.”
SEIU-West represents the 100 SHA-employed Security Officers who work at the three Saskatoon hospitals and Parkridge Centre.
As reported in Our House Needs In-House, SEIU-West surveyed SHA employees and members of the public in the Saskatoon region about the state of security at the three Saskatoon hospitals and Parkridge Centre. More than 90% of respondents felt that these facilities have greater security needs than others in the province, and that those needs have risen in the past five years.
“We heard from nurses, care assistants, housekeeping staff, members of the public,” Cape added. “They told us loud and clear: when an incident happens, they trust our in-house teams more than any outside contractor to provide a quick and professional response.”
SEIU-West represents more than 13,000 working people in the province of Saskatchewan. They include members who work in health care, education, municipalities, community-based organizations, retirement homes and other sectors. They are joined by one colour – purple – and one union – SEIU-West. Purple works in our communities!
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Win of the Week! July 8–14
This week we are continuing to celebrate successful negotiations by our Union Representatives in the CBO sector! Once again, a member was dealing with an unfair employer who unjustly terminated them. This member filed a grievance which led to compensation for their lost time during the unjust termination. We are glad to serve our members by improving their rights and working conditions. Indeed, we are stronger together!
Laurie - Security Officer at RUH
"Sometimes it doesn’t take much to make a difference in someone’s life.”
SAHO Bargaining Update Road Show
SEIU-West bargaining committee members will be holding member meetings in various locations across Saskatchewan in the former Cypress, Five Hills, Heartland, and Saskatoon Health Regions starting the week of July 16, 2018.