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.
Pinned
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:
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: Virtual Town Hall Follow Up Part Three
As I sit with our bargaining committee, I am reminded that I didn’t introduce them to the members who joined us on the virtual town hall conference call. If you attended any of the roadshow meetings in August, you would have met some of the members of the bargaining committee, but here is my introduction of who they are:
- Brenda Berry – CCA at Central Butte Regency Manor – Five Hills Health Region;
- Judy Denniss – LPN at Saskatoon City Hospital – Saskatoon Health Region;
- Simone Corriveau – Medical Lab Tech II at St. Paul’s Hospital – Saskatoon Health Region;
- Kim Wyatt – Security Officer – Royal University Hospital – Saskatoon Health Region;
- Rick Brown – Systems Analyst – Royal University Hospital – Saskatoon Health Region;
- Charlene Sarafin – LPN at Saskatoon Homecare – Saskatoon Health Region;
- Colleen Denniss – CCA – Rose Villa – Heartland Health Region;
- Donna Gallant – Drug Distribution Tech – Five Hills Health Region;
- Janice Platzke – SEIU-West Treasurer & Food Services Worker, Cypress Health Region;
- Cam McConnell – Northern Negotiations Officer, SEIU-West;
- Russell Doell – Deputy Director of Contract Bargaining and Enforcement, SEIU-West;
- Bob Laurie – Director of Contract Bargaining and Enforcement, SEIU-West; and
- Barbara Cape – Cook at Extendicare Parkside & SEIU-West President.
These are front line health care workers who not only share their experiences in their workplaces, but everyone on this committee has hands-on experience with what is happening in our health care system.
Onto the next series of questions (these are continued from the Oct 13 and Oct 17 posts):
8. Are they proposing to take away health benefits (dental, eyeglasses, etc) – Linda, Shaunavon.
There is no proposal to take away current benefits. And in fact, there have been some modest increases to some of our benefits recently. What is being proposed by SAHO and the government of Saskatchewan is a contribution holiday, for the employer, on their required contributions to the Extended Health and Dental (EHD) Plan to reduce the surplus in our plan…to a point. They are also proposing that members co-pay 25% of the benefit contributions which is another rollback.
9. In past bargaining tables, monetary items are discussed at the end of bargaining, have the non-monetary items been concluded? – Carrie, Saskatoon.
No they have not. You describe the past process correctly, but this round has been odd from the very start, with the Minister of Finance’s ‘invitation’ for front line workers to take -3.5% (a direct and obvious intrusion in the negotiation process by government). We are also facing their arbitrary deadlines imposed on us to get a tentative agreement. We had begun to work on the non-monetary items specific to SEIU-West (as did CUPE and SGEU), however SAHO pushed to get the health care coalition to a common table where monetary items are usually dealt with, before we had finalized those issues.
10. Is bargaining right now hearing any risk to pensions? – Barb, Rockglen.
There is no discussion at bargaining regarding pensions. Remember, SHEPP (Saskatchewan Healthcare Employees’ Pension Plan), is a jointly trusteed plan; with representatives from both union-side and employer-side.
11. Is the rollback at 1% and is there any wiggle room to move them down more? – Dave, Saskatoon.
The general wage decrease currently being proposed by SAHO is a 1% reduction. The process of bargaining is to try to find that ‘wiggle room’. As well as other reductions and cuts, it amounts to about -3.65%. Keep in mind that this is only what SAHO/Government of Saskatchewan has proposed…we don’t accept that any cuts or rollbacks; we don’t accept them because it is disrespectful of the incredible work and skill of our front line experts…YOU!
If you want to stand against these cuts, if you want to voice your objection, then come to the rally with workers from across the province at the Legislature in Regina on October 25. Register for the bus by going to this link [email protected].
We need your voice, your strength, your solidarity and your continued engagement.
In solidarity,
Barbara Cape
President, SEIU-West
Celebrating Healthcare Provider’s Week!
We all have those stories of a time when we or our loved ones were vulnerable and needed health care.
Someone greeted us with a smile, someone sat and explained the needed procedures to us, someone helped us with personal care, or someone held your loved ones hand as they were passing. Sometimes it’s a simple gesture like getting you ice water or a warm blanket, and sometimes it’s more difficult like having someone else bathe your spouse or assist on your surgery. T
hose gestures come as second nature to health care frontline staff but to the one receiving the care, it can mean the world of difference to have that compassionate care.
Often we find that our members work short staffed, without supplies and equipment needed and with an ever increasing day to day workload. They do this with a smile on their faces and kindness in their voices. Interestingly, when asked, most health care workers will report that their greatest satisfaction as a care provider is a recollection of how a patient, client or resident made their day by sharing a story or a laugh.
Health care providers work in dietary, housekeeping, laundry, nursing, administrative support, technologies, operating room, pharmacy, recreation, rehabilitation, maintenance and in supplies, processing & distribution and many other areas. They work in public health, in home care, in long term care and acute care. Our members are providing essential support to people throughout their lives, from their first breaths to their last.
SEIU-West would like to say thank you to all our members that provide care. You are essential pieces of the health care team.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – Health Care Bargaining Update
Greetings Sisters and Brothers,
Your SEIU-West bargaining committee met with our coalition partners, CUPE, SGEU and SAHO for three days in Moose Jaw this week.
Before we get too far into the details, we want to salute our members at Leader Hospital and Western Seniors Home in Leader. This week the town of Leader was evacuated because of the grass fires spreading across southwest Saskatchewan due to hurricane force winds. These members assisted with the safe evacuation of residents and patients from Leader to Swift Current. Thank you all for your incredible patience, skill and dedicated efforts in the care of residents of Leader. I would also like to thank the first responders, volunteers, RCMP, firefighters and all those who worked so hard to get the wildfires under control. Thanks to everyone for their dedication in service.
We had a fair bit of discussion with SAHO this week. We are still some ways apart in our positions. Your SEIU-West bargaining committee has continued to push the message you have sent us – NO cuts, NO rollbacks, Pay us what we’re Worth! And Treat us with Respect! However, at this point, it does not appear that the Government of Saskatchewan is feeling enough pressure to move off the rollback of 3.5%. So we need you to amplify the message and add more pressure by contacting your elected MLA so that we can get this mandate changed. Find your MLA by visiting: http://www.legassembly.sk.ca/mlas/. Lost for words? Here is a letter template for your use.
We have now (this week) developed a set of principles that underline the priorities for our members and the full range of professional skills we bring to health care. Our principles include things like: a reasonable general wage increase, joint trusteeship of our benefits plans and no employee co-pay of Extended Health and Enhanced Dental Benefits plan premiums. We want security of our union representation rights and our collective agreements as we move to a single health region and a ‘me too’ clause for any future public sector union bargained improvements that the provider unions did not get. We still have workload and short-staffing issues our SEIU-West members have identified that need to be addressed.
The response from SAHO and the Government of Saskatchewan was they believe that what our members told us they need in a Collective Agreement is not acceptable. They asked that we re-examine our proposals. We continue to reiterate that our members are serious in their demands for safety and fairness in the workplace, in their demand for the removal of the regressive and punitive Government proposals as well as about protecting our health care system and the quality of service we provide to our patients, clients and residents each day. Let’s face it – we cannot provide patient first health care services if the Government and SAHO continue to put us last!
We do need your help to get the attention of our Government about changing this mandate. As we have asked before – and we will keep asking – call your MLA, send an email, ask for a meeting. Tell them how serious you are and how serious this round of bargaining is. Let them know how they seriously need to change the current mandate. Please watch the website and Facebook for future updates.
We encourage you to share your questions and concerns about bargaining with your SEIU-West bargaining committee by contacting us through the Member Resource Center (MRC) at 1-888-999-7348 Ext 2298 or contact us on SEIUWEST.ca.
In Solidarity,
Barbara Cape: President of SEIU-West & member of the Bargaining Committee
Joint Bargaining Update: limited progress in bargaining, future talks planned
October 20, 2017
Dear Health Care Member:
Your CUPE, SEIU-West, and SGEU bargaining committees resumed bargaining with SAHO October 16 to 18 in Moose Jaw.
The Provider Unions have communicated clearly to SAHO that our memberships will not accept the proposed rollbacks. We continue to insist to SAHO and the Employers – No cuts, No concessions, and No rollbacks. Pay us what we’re worth! Treat us with respect! We also continue to send a strong message to SAHO and the government that increasing workloads and continuing with short staffing is a threat to the quality of care we provide to our patients, clients and residents, and their families.
The parties acknowledged that while the position of the provider unions (CUPE, SEIU-West and SGEU) and the position of SAHO/Government remain far apart, there is a continued willingness on the part of the unions to negotiate as we recognize the importance of achieving fair and reasonable collective agreements for our members that don’t include concessions.
CUPE, SEIU-West and SGEU will resume bargaining with SAHO on October 30 through to November 3 in Saskatoon.
Thank you to all health service providers for your ongoing support for your committees. Call/write/email your MLAs to protest the cuts, be active within your respective unions, and stay strong.
Remember: we are in this together and we can, and will, win against these rollbacks.
Don’t forget to come out to the Rally to Reverse the Cuts on October 25 at the Legislature in Regina – visit: https://www.rallytoreversethecuts.org/
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: Virtual Town Hall Follow Up Part Two
I want to continue to share the questions from our recent virtual town hall meetings. And as I do that, I want to point out an interesting piece of information: these questions are focused on the health care sector, but our education sector is being pressured to accept these cuts as well.
Think about this: the provincial government cut tens of millions of dollars from the education sector budget and is looking to find these savings by eliminating the positions of front line Education Assistants, bus drivers, maintenance and custodial staff, cafeteria staff and Administrative assistants. These are the very people who, through their actions, help teach our children strong values, fairness and achievement! Eliminating essential positions in any sector is a short sighted response and will ultimately defeat our ability to attract people to our province.
I was at a recent rally in front of Warren Michelson’s office (Moose Jaw Sask Party) protesting the cuts to the education sector with CUPE members and his response to the message to ‘reverse the cuts in the education sector’ was to claim that, while it was a tough budget, it was done so that future generations weren’t saddled with debt. We already know that argument is so full of holes even the Sask Party no longer runs the Brad Wall “Tim Horton’s lineup” ad. We all realize that the reversal of corporate taxes breaks could have assisted with that; the proper stewardship of our finances and resources could have assisted with that; even some oversight on Bill Boyd’s activities could have assisted with that… but instead, this government has determined to create a head tax on front line education workers (and all public sector workers) to shoulder a debt that we had no part in creating!
I am outraged at the sacrifices we are all being asked to make, while politicians willfully ignore the impact of the decisions they make.
Now, onto the next series of questions from the virtual town hall: (these are continued from the Oct 13 post)
4. How much do the increments affect part-time people? – Helen, Humboldt.
In SAHO’s proposal regarding the two lower pay bands, they indicated that it wouldn’t affect current staff, but would only affect those new staff hired after the Collective Agreement is signed… if it was agreed to.
5. How much does the government want employees to pay into the benefit plan? – Kara, Moose Jaw.
What is being proposed is 25% of benefit contributions would be paid by individual employees. Now the specific amount is different for each person, as our collective agreement sets out that funding for the Extended Health and Dental Plan is set at 3.1% of payroll. But further to this, think about it this way: we negotiated that percentage for EHD in previous years; we gave up other proposals, and monetary increases in past rounds of bargaining in order to get (and keep) this funding amount…so we’ve already paid for this EHD funding… I don’t think we should have to pay for it again via a co-pay of 25% of benefit contributions!
6. If the date goes by and we haven’t settled can the government impose their will with regard to cutbacks, etc? – Terry, Moose Jaw.
The Sask Employment Act (SEA) sets out that an employer can issue a last offer to a union, which would trigger a vote of the membership on that final offer. If it’s not an offer that we think is good, your SEIU-West bargaining committee would likely recommend against it. But you would still have a vote – and be able to decide. While other provincial governments have attempted to legislate collective agreement terms, most of these laws are challenged in the courts as violating the unions right to collective bargaining. To date, no provincial government has successfully legislated roll back terms for a collective agreement.
7. If they’re going to have smaller health division, the southeast corner is going to be shafted because they already are. It doesn’t make any sense. It didn’t work before, why will it now? I don’t feel we should be paying for MR. Wall’s mistake. – Kathy, Langham.
Well, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) will be a province-wide health region, essentially. (This is the same model that Alberta and Nova Scotia went to). There will be ‘integrated service areas’ that outline general service areas where primary care teams will operate as outlined in the map. 
I think we need to be aware that local, rural voices are being severely scaled back on their input into the direction of the SHA. With the integrated service areas, there may be some local working groups…but this has not been finalized. SEIU-West has reached out to towns and rural municipalities across the province to raise our concerns about the provision of funding and local health care services and make sure they are aware of future changes to the health system.
Thanks for your interest in these updates and the huge importance for all of us to support public sector workers – and workers in general – who are paying a huge price for these changes to funding, governance, and service provision. I’m proud of the engagement that our members have shown by reaching out to our elected MLAs…but the message is still the same, we need each of you to take the time to make one phone call, write one email, or better yet, set up a meeting with your MLA to talk about your job and why it’s important to our community and what a negative impact a -3.5% cut would have.
Together, let’s keep our message strong – NO cuts – NO rollbacks – PAY US what we are worth – TREAT US with respect! We need to step up the pressure and hold our politicians accountable for the decisions they make…and they made the decision to put this in front of the bargaining table.
Don’t forget to check in for the October 25 rally at the Legislature to Reverse the Cuts to public services… we need all of you there! There will be a free bus ride in it for you!
In Solidarity,
Barbara Cape
President, SEIU-West
MEDIA RELEASE
The Lab Experience – Essential to Patient Health Outcomes
PATHS Donation Drive A Success!
SEIU-West and the Young Workers Committee has been working diligently to ensure those experiencing domestic violence do not face barriers to job security and their right to a safe working environment.
SEIU-West Stands With MACSI In FASD Awareness March
SEIU-West was proud to sponsor and march alongside the Metis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (MACSI) at the annual Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness March on September 8, 2017.
Joint Bargaining Update: Marathon bargaining session sees limited progress
September 27, 2017
Dear Health Care Member:
Your CUPE, SEIU-West and SGEU bargaining committees resumed bargaining with SAHO September 14 to September 23 in Saskatoon.
In the most recent bargaining session, limited progress was made.
SAHO’s response to the revised comprehensive proposal put forward by CUPE, SEIU-West and SGEU on Sept. 7, 2017 maintained a significant number of the concessions and rollbacks from their initial proposal package. The provider unions remained strong in their message to SAHO – remove the concessions and rollbacks from their mandate! All of the provider unions have heard from their membership, in the strongest terms, that they did not want wages and benefits that were hard won in previous rounds of bargaining to be stripped away. The provider unions believe SAHO and the Employers heard our message and SAHO will convey it to their “principals” – the government. SAHO put forward a package that amounts to a total reduction in compensation of 3.65% – down only slightly from the 3.8% reduction in total compensation that SAHO was demanding in its previous package.
The Provider Unions and SAHO exchanged revised proposals regarding joint trusteeship of all benefit plans and a Letter of Understanding regarding a moratorium on changes to the bargaining unit structure and representation rights of health services provider unions. There was also further discussion about how the three provider unions would form a bargaining association that would move towards negotiating one collective agreement for all health services providers.
SAHO indicated that the launch of the SHA is now December 4th 2017 which would coincide with the proclamation of the new Provincial Health Authority Act. This launch date and related information was communicated to your union bargaining committees only shortly before this information was made public.
CUPE, SEIU-West, and SGEU will resume bargaining with SAHO on October 16, 17, 18 in Moose Jaw.
Thank you to all health service providers and workers for your ongoing support in these times. Call your MLA’s, be active with in your respective unions, and stay strong. Remember we are in this together and we can will win against these concessions. Please make another call to your MLA or send another email and schedule a follow up meeting with your MLA — and bring your co-workers!
In solidarity,
CUPE, SGEU, and SEIU-West bargaining committees
Worker Safety Conference: Apply Now
Worker Safety Conference: Apply Now!
MEDIA RELEASE
Scarce Information About the New Saskatchewan Health Authority
SAHO Bargaining Telephone Town Halls
Your SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Committee is pleased to announce that there will be two telephone town hall meetings taking place in September.
- September 27, 2017 at 7:00 pm
- September 28, 2017 at 2:00 pm
You will have the opportunity to:
- Get the latest information on bargaining
- Ask questions about bargaining
- Hear questions from other SEIU-West members
Make sure you are on our list!
If you haven’t already signed up through a ProCAT meeting, visit our website and fill out the form prior to September 21, 2017.
We will do a pre-call notice on September 26, 2017 to ensure we have the correct phone number on file for you.