In early December, the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board (the LRB) issued a decision about the five former Extendicare facilities. The decision was based on an interpretation of the regulations that governed a previous restructuring of the healthcare system in 1997, commonly called the ‘Dorsey regulations’. In that decision, the Saskatoon and Moose Jaw facilities remain within the SEIU-West family. However, the 3 Regina-based facilities were moved, without a vote of the membership, into the CUPE 5430 jurisdiction.
Pinned
Notice to Members in the Education Sector - Re: STF Strike
January 12, 2024
Good afternoon,
As you may have heard, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) has announced that its members across Saskatchewan will be conducting a one-day strike on Tuesday, January 16th.
SEIU-West Education Support Staff Stands with the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation
The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (the STF) has been bargaining with the Government and Trustee bargaining committee. They have reached an impasse and are unable to make any progress. The STF has notified their members that they will be holding a vote on sanctions against their employer.
Convention 2023: Constitutional Amendments
The following Constitutional Amendments were debated, voted on, and passed during Convention:
Health Information Professionals Week Profile - Sherry
SEIU-West is proud to celebrate Health Information Professionals Week March 22-28, 2020!
Media Release: Provincial COVID-19 Plan Deficient
For Immediate Release, March 25, 2020
Saskatoon – The front line health care providers of SEIU-West are not surprised with the recent media reports about the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and Ministry of Health ‘planning challenges’ in dealing with COVID-19.
Memo - SEIU-West Annual Vacation
If you are an SEIU-West member who works for the Sask Health Authority please see the attached resolve that has been reached (due to COVID-19) and the end of the vacation year which is March 31.
Win of the Week! March 22-28
We couldn’t wait to share this win of the week that occurred over the weekend! When we arrived to our Moose Jaw office on Monday morning, we found out a member of the general public in Moose Jaw surprised us with a thoughtful gesture. In bold, purple chalk was a message of thanks to SEIU-West members, alongside a large heart. It certainly warmed our hearts, and we hope it does for you too! Thank you, as always, to each of our members who are providing public services and demonstrating true leadership during this time of crisis.
Media Release: SEIU-West Responds to Provincial Spending Plans
For Immediate Release: March 23, 2020
Saskatoon – Members of SEIU-West are concerned about the Saskatchewan government’s recently released spending plan for the 2020-21 fiscal year. The plan is not good news for the sectors and workers who stand to be among the most affected by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, and who have a critical role to play in mitigating the crisis.
COVID-19: Additional Measures to Protect Saskatchewan Residents
Released on March 20, 2020 - from the Government of Saskatchewan
Expanded Public Health Order For Mandatory Self-Isolation, Gatherings
The Chief Medical Health Officer is updating the public health order under The Public Health Act to further reduce the risk of potential COVID-19 transmission in the province. At the same time, Premier Scott Moe today signed an order pursuant to the provincial State of Emergency directing that all orders of the government and Chief Medical Health Officer must be followed and that law enforcement agencies in Saskatchewan have the full authority to enforce those orders.
Moe said he was particularly concerned that some individuals returning from international travel were not following the 14 day self-isolation policy.
“I know that the vast majority of Saskatchewan people are taking their personal responsibility seriously and following this order,” Moe said. “But a few are not. This is not a suggestion. It is not a guideline. It is the law and it must be followed.”
In consultation with the Minister of Health, the following measures are effective immediately:
• Public gatherings of more than 25 people in one room are prohibited except where two metre distancing between people can be maintained; workplace and meeting settings where people are distributed into multiple rooms or buildings; and retail locations (ie. grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations).
• The closure of all nightclubs, bars, lounges and similar facilities. Take out of alcohol or food products so permitted with two metre distancing between customers and the delivery of alcohol or food products.
• In-person classes in all primary and secondary educational institutions both public and private are suspended.
• Visitors to long-term care homes, hospitals, personal care homes, and group homes shall be restricted to family visiting for compassionate reasons.
Mandatory Self-Isolation
• Effective immediately, all persons that have travelled internationally shall go into mandatory self-isolation for 14 days from date of arrival back into Canada.
• Health Care workers who have traveled internationally, truckers, rail, airline or other working crews are exempt from this advisory only if they are required to work to maintain essential services, provide emergency health care services and maintain supply chain, and are supervised by Infection, Prevention Control Officers and/or Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace.
• All persons who have been identified by a Medical Health Officer as a close contact of a person or persons with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) shall go into mandatory self-isolation for 14 days from the date of last having been exposed to COVID-19.
• All persons who have become symptomatic while on mandatory self-isolation shall call HealthLine 811 and follow HealthLine’s directives.
• All persons who are household members of a person having laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 shall immediately go into mandatory self-isolation, call HealthLine 811 and follow HealthLine’s directives.
Effective March 23, 2020
• The closure of restaurants, food courts, cafeterias, cafes, bistros and similar facilities. Exceptions are take out with two metre distancing between customers during pick-up; drive through food services; delivery of food products; soup kitchens, not-for-profit community and religious kitchens with two metre distancing between tables.
• The closure of all recreational and entertainment facilities including fitness centers, casinos, bingo halls, arenas, curling rinks, swimming pools, galleries, theatres, museums and similar facilities.
• The closure of all personal service facilities including tattooists, hairdressers, barbers, acupuncturists, acupressurists, cosmetologists, electrologists, estheticians, manicurists, pedicurists, suntanning parlours, relaxation masseuses, facilities in which body piercing, bone grafting or scarification services.
• The closure of dental, optometrist, chiropractic, registered massage therapy and podiatry clinics except for non-elective procedures.
• All daycare facilities are limited to maximum of eight children unless they can configure the facility so that a maximum of eight children are kept in room and be in accordance with the Saskatchewan child care guidelines for care.
• All daycares that are co-located with a long-term care or personal care home that meet the above restriction shall be segregated with a private entrance so that there are no shared common areas with the home and no interaction between daycare children and residents of the facility.
COVID-19 Surveillance
As of March 20, 2020, Saskatchewan has six new, presumptive positive cases. The province now has 26 cases of COVID-19: eight cases are confirmed and 18 cases are presumptive.
Twenty-four of the 26 cases are well enough to self-isolate at home at present; two individuals are currently in hospital, admitted for medical reasons not related to respiratory illness.
• An individual in their 20s was tested in Regina following travel to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
• An individual in their 20s was tested in Regina following travel in the U.S.
• An individual in their 50s was tested in Regina following travel to Jordan.
• Two individuals in their 60s were tested in Prince Albert following travel from Arizona.
• An individual in their 60s was tested in Regina.
Public health is actively compiling additional information on this case; additional detail is not yet available.
Public health officials are completing contact investigations on all cases.
COVID-19 Information
Online Current information on self-isolation, personal protection measures and information for care providers is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19. Use the online symptom self assessment tool to determine if you should contact HealthLine 811.
Public inquiries may be directed to [email protected].
Membership Update – March 20, 2020
As we come to the end of the week, we know a few things for certain: we all need more information from our managers, government, workplace leaders (health care, education, retirement homes, group homes…the list goes on)!
Because of the State of Emergency declared by the Government of Saskatchewan, SEIU-West is giving our staff the option of working from home. We are available via phone, email, and video conferencing with any of our members and the Member Resource Center (MRC) is still available at 1-888-999-7348 ext. 2298.
SEIU-West is raising your issues on our daily calls with the other health care unions, the Ministry of Health and the Saskatchewan Health Authority. We have all identified our demand for access to PPE; stronger communication about the plans for this pandemic; concerns with moving staff to different locations; stronger oversight of manager decisions; working to only the most important human resources issues; options for working remotely; and, again, stronger communications on what is the plan and how its evolving.
We are also reaching out directly to employers in retirement homes, Extendicare Canada Inc., Canadian Blood Services, the education sector, and the Ministry of Education. All of us are looking for details about our work, our pay, our lives and this pandemic.
In talking with SEIU locals across the country and North America, this level of stress and anxiety regarding the COVID-19 pandemic is overwhelming us all. The lack of leadership is of great concern; the lack of access to personal protective equipment is causing all workers – not only in health care – to question the safety of their workplaces. We need to call on government to make sure that our workplaces are safe, that our jobs are secure and that we can continue to do our work without that fear hanging over our heads.
Even though we can’t be there in person, we are still working on your behalf and making sure that your issues are addressed. The world is moving pretty fast these days, but we are doing our best to keep up through technology.
Thank you for the incredible work and patience as we retool to get ourselves working in a different way during this pandemic. I am honored to be working for all of our members.
In Solidarity, on behalf of SEIU-West,
Barbara Cape, President
COVID-19: Saskatchewan Declares State of Emergency, Imposes Additional Measures to Protect Saskatchewan Residents
Released on March 18, 2020 - Released by the Government of Saskatchewan
The Government of Saskatchewan today declared a provincial State of Emergency, giving the government broad powers to address the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes measures like the ability to limit travel to or from a community or region of the province and directing that property or equipment be deployed to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Health Officer, also made a number of new orders to reduce the risk to Saskatchewan people, prevent transmission and ensure that acute care services are preserved for residents most at risk for severe illness.
The following measures are effective immediately:
- Public gatherings larger than 50 people are prohibited.
- All restaurants, bars and event venues must limit their seating to 50 per cent of capacity or up to a maximum of fifty people, whichever is lesser. All must be able to ensure social distance of one to two metres between customers. Retail spaces including grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations are exempted from this policy but must have processes to maintain a one to two metre separation.
- All gyms, fitness centres, casinos and bingo halls are ordered to close until further notice.
- Residents are advised to limit any non-essential travel outside of Saskatchewan, with the exception of people who live in border communities and are commuting for work.
- Any licensed restaurants and taverns in Saskatchewan will be permitted to sell alcohol as an offsale according to SLGA regulations indefinitely.
- All crown utilities will implement bill-deferral programs allowing a zero-interest bill deferral for up to six months for Saskatchewan residents whose ability to make bill payments may be impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions.
- All Government of Saskatchewan ministries, agencies and Crown corporations will implement a phased-in work from home policy effective Monday, March 23, applicable to employees deemed non-essential. This means that any employees able to work from home should do so immediately, while providing managers a period to plan for work-force continuity.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) will be discontinuing all non-urgent/elective surgeries, procedures and diagnostics as of March 23. This action will allow the SHA the ability to redeploy nurses and other staff and ensure medical supplies and personal protective equipment are available when needed and reduce risk of further exposure to our care providers and patients.
The SHA will continue to provide services to patients who require emergent and urgent care. Cancer, urgent and emergent surgeries will continue as planned. Patients will be contacted regarding their scheduled service.
Parents with children in daycares should be preparing for further restrictions.
COVID-19 Information Online
Starting today, residents can go to www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19 for the latest information reorganized to make it easy for residents to find what they need. It includes information on travel guidance and preventative measures as well as information for care providers.
Unsure of your symptoms?
Visit www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19 and use the self-assessment tool to determine if you should contact HealthLine 811.
Note that any use of the former URL will redirect residents to the new site. Public inquiries may be directed to [email protected].
Virtual Appointments
A new option has been added for patients who would like to connect with doctors. A new payment code for Virtual care by secure video link is available as of today, with physicians who offer that option. This is in addition to virtual care by telephone, which provides residents with options for access to health care away from clinical settings during this time of elevated risk from COVID-19.
Member Interview: World Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
To mark the World Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we spoke to one of our Multicultural Mentorship Committee members, Hassan, about his experience and thoughts on racism.
Q: What are some things that people have said to you that you found racist or offensive?
Things such as “go back to your country.”
Q: What are some things that people have said to your friends/family that were racist or offensive?
Stupid questions such as “what do you use for transportation, do you own a camel or a horse for transportation?” or “How does it feel to see the snow?”
Q: How often are you asked ‘where are you from’?
I'm always asked where I come from. Personally it doesn't bother me, it’s not shaming for me to answer.
Q: What’s it like working with predominantly Canadian European seniors?
I never notice it.
Q: Given the most recent scare with COVID-19, do you feel that you’re treated differently than the general population?
I don't feel like I’m treated differently than anyone else.
Q: How do you handle racism when it’s projected at you and your loved ones?
I stand up for myself and I don't tolerate it.
Q: What would you like to see change in society?
I would like to see society recognize racism as it is and not sugar coat it. We have to be honest with ourselves and learn to celebrate our diversity.
Q: Has racism gotten worse or less from your parents’ generation to yours and what would you like to see for your kids’ generation?
I think it’s getting better as people are talking more about it.
Q: Is there anything you’d like to add?
As you become a part of a society, the on-on-one racism is not the larger problem because society starts to accept you and know who you are. There is some structural racism that’s in our systems – that is the one that is hard to beat because it keeps you away from reaching your full potential.
Win of the Week! March 15-21
With many changes occurring by the minute lately, we are happy to announce our familiar win of the week! This week, we had a member who recently returned from oversea travels and as per our provincial guidelines, took seriously their responsibility to self-quarantine. It’s times like this that we truly recognize the importance of looking out for each in order to provide safe and healthy societies – we encourage all members to continue their leadership role to do what is necessary to keep others safe and, of course, in their ongoing provision of support to those in need.
COVID-19: Cancelled Events Information
On this page, you will find event updates/cancellations that relate to SEIU-West members.
In an effort to maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak, SEIU-West is postponing all in-person educational courses until further notice. We will advise of any new developments and/or potential new training dates. For now, the following in-person courses are cancelled:
- OH&S: From Knowledge to Action (March 17 – Moose Jaw, March 18 – Swift Current, March 19 – Saskatoon)
- Stewards in Action Level II (March 26 – Saskatoon, March 30 - Moose Jaw)
- Unionism 101 (April 1 – Saskatoon, April 6 – Moose Jaw, April 7 – Swift Current)
- Domestic Violence Workshop (April 8-9 – Saskatoon)
- Technical Course I: Investigations & Progressive Discipline (April 21-22 - Saskatoon, April 28 - Moose Jaw, April 29 - Swift Current)
- Leadership Conference (May 27-28 - Regina)
- Unit Leadership (June 1 - Saskatoon, June 2 - Moose Jaw, June 3 - Swift Current)
- Unit Leadership: Advanced (June 9 - Moose Jaw, June 10 - Swift Current, June 11 - Saskatoon)
In addition to these courses, the SEIU-West Leadership Conference scheduled for May 27-28 has been cancelled – notifications will be going out the week of March 23, 2020.
SEIU-West was also in the process of selecting members to attend a number of upcoming events, however the below events have also been cancelled:
- SASWH AGM & Conference (March 24 – Regina)
- SAMRT AGM & Conference (April 25 – Regina)
- SFL/Spring School (April 20-24 – Moose Jaw)
- Prarie School for Union Women (June 7-11 - Waskesiu Lake)
- SFL Summer Camp (August 8- 14)
Apologies for any inconvenience this may case, and thank you for your understanding.
President’s Message: Thank You to our Frontline Heroes
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not seeing our members shy away from challenges, but face them head-on with the courage and professionalism that I, for one, cannot thank them enough for.
Our members are continuing to provide the best care possible. Whether its Environmental Service Workers ensuring the vital need for clean health care environments, or the Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs) and Direct Care Workers (DCWs) providing hands-on care for people who are feeling particularly vulnerable in our health care and community-based sectors. Our education sector members are supporting their students as they head home for an indefinite period of time, while uncertain about what happens for themselves and their families after March 27.
It is this selflessness that I find so remarkable, and prompted a friend of SEIU-West to say ‘My thoughts and gratitude are with every health care worker’.
It is workers like these that make our society run, and their leadership makes them everyday heroes.
It is imperative that we look out for each other in times of crisis, and that means ensuring workers have what they need to provide care and services to our communities. We are hearing that members are concerned about a lack of supplies, staff, and direction or communication in all areas of work.
Our government must demonstrate better leadership and stop sending mixed messages. If we want to encourage social distancing and not put further stress on our health care system, paid support for child care and sick leave is necessary in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be in stock, and measures to limit related purchases at stores should be put into effect provincially.
As SEIU-West has been expressing for years, understaffing is a serious crisis in Saskatchewan’s health care sector – this will be made only clearer during this outbreak. Returning provincially legislated safe staffing levels would immediately address this growing concern. The health care sector is continually facing retention and recruitment issues, so it is vital that our government value and respect our province’s health care team – it takes more than just words, and requires action.
As we navigate our way through the current pandemic, SEIU-West wants to thank each and every one of our members who work in health care, CBOs, education, municipalities, and private facilities. Remember to look out for one another and if you’re not feeling well, do not go to work. Let your employer know and please contact 811 for COVID-19 medical/health related questions. We will continue to provide updates as we receive them and know that as always, your union has your back.
Our members are heroes…not just during a crisis or an outbreak – but every damn day! Thank you all.
In Solidarity,
Barb Cape, President of SEIU-West