Last year, SEIU created a survey for members about climate change and the impact on your lives.
Pinned
June is National Indigenous Peoples Month. This is a time to honour the rich history, resilience, and diversity of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. It is an opportunity to reflect on historical and current injustices and commit to true reconciliation in Canada.
The First Nations, Métis and Inuit Committee would like to share some events and resources with you and encourage you to participate in events in your area.
SEIU-West is hosting our first Asian Pacific Islander Summit in Saskatoon on September 24-26, 2026 — an event to bring together workers from across Canada and the U.S.
Being an API member in Canada or the U.S can sometimes feel isolating. You might not have seen yourself in leadership. You may not have always felt seen or understood. But you can find a home with us. We believe in you. We see you. And most importantly, you belong.
Welcome home.
There is currently a vacancy on the SEIU-West Executive Board for members that work for the Community Based Organizations Sector.
You may have noticed there hasn't been an announcement about bbqs for the summer yet.
The SEIU-West First Nations, Métis and Inuit Committee (FNMIC) is hosting a contest to design an image for orange shirts that the committee provides yearly to members. Submit your design to enter to win a $100 Co-op gift card.
For Immediate Release - December 10, 2020
Regina – While details continue to emerge, SEIU-West leaders and members have been both shocked and saddened as the daily heart-breaking reports are revealed about the extent of the outbreak at Extendicare Parkside, a long term care facility in Regina.
REMINDER! Our virtual town hall meeting for SEIU-West/SAHO members is happening tonight @ 7 pm.
This post covers questions asked as of December 2, 2020. If you are an SEIU-West/SAHO member who wants to sign up to take part in the Video conferences, please visit our events page to RSVP.
December 6th - the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women - is meant to mark the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal and to spark the development of concrete solutions in eliminating violence against women. This has not happened. In Canada and around the world, women, girls, LGBTQ2 (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two spirit) and gender diverse individuals face unacceptable violence and discrimination. Gender-based violence in Canada has only intensified throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been reports from police services and shelters of an increase in calls related to gender-based violence across Canada during the pandemic.
The fact that these murderers targeted women is an act of misogyny (hatred of women), and the fact that these acts continue to occur 30 years from the proclamation of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is appalling.
But women are speaking out against misogyny, and fortunately, people are listening. Meaningful and important expressions of support, like ‘I believe you’ are growing and increasingly, allies are offering solidarity to end the violence.
SEIU-West encourages you to join the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which began International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25 and ends on International Human Rights Day on December 10. It also includes today’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. The 16 Days of Activism is a time to both reflect on violence against women and to take action to end it.
SEIU-West stands against violence, and actively equips women with the tools to empower themselves, corresponding to an integral part of changing this system of misogyny. Having a voice at work can translate into a powerful tool; it can lend a hand in recognizing the strength that is women. If you’re an SEIU-West member experiencing gender-based violence, be sure to contact our Member Resource Centre (MRC) as we have trained professionals able to assist you. Together, we are stronger in demanding action to end the violence.
The United Nations has established each December 3rd as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD). The 2020 theme is not all disabilities are visible.
This theme is particularly relevant given the mental health affects COVID-19 has had on our lives – yet mental illness is often unapparent. It’s therefore vital that we spread awareness and understanding of disabilities that are not obvious in order to ensure our communities have the support they need.
SEIU-West is committed to ensure that people with disabilities do not face exclusion and discrimination. We must all do our part in removing those barriers so if you would like to learn more, visit the IDPWD website here. We also remind all our SEIU-West members that they have access to supports such as the Employee Family Assistance Program or 211 in Saskatchewan – a resource that connects you with mental health services. SEIU-West has also put together a helpful list of resources for mental health support during COVID-19.
While the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the world, another health crisis remains in Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan has the highest rate of HIV in Canada – more than twice the national average – and injection drug use is the largest source of HIV infection in our province.
Saskatchewan must do more to combat the stigma associated with addictions and HIV – that means ensuring proper education, regular HIV testing, and support for treatment is accessible.
Treatments have come a long way and if used successfully, a person can no longer transmit HIV to anyone else. Treatment for this crisis also includes harm reduction; it not only saves lives but also lessens the strain on our provincial health care system.
As a union with many health care and addictions workers, SEIU-West understands that the need to take action is urgent. We encourage you to write your MLA about the need for improved support for those with HIV – you can also visit the Saskatchewan Union of Nurse’s campaign about the effects of HIV here: https://makingthedifference.ca/hiv
In order to ensure SEIU-West members who are voting on the SAHO Tentative Agreement (TA) have plenty of opportunity to ask questions about the TA document, we will be holding various meetings over the coming weeks.
National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW) is from November 22 to 28, and this year is a particularly important year to recognize how much addictions affect our communities – as the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction shared, people who use substances report a loss of social connection and supports and an increase in isolation, fear and anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That’s why the SEIU-West members who work in addiction services are so vital to the wellbeing of our communities because treatment centres and programs are essential for recovery and support. Members who work at Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (MACSI), the Saskatchewan Impaired Driver Treatment Centre or within the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) are crucial to improving the wellbeing of those suffering through addictions.
We want to thank all our SEIU-West members who work with those suffering with addictions, and we extend our admiration for those battling with addictions – we know how stigma and lack of access to support systems can create huge barriers for recovery, and we hope our Saskatchewan Government will take steps to address this growing crisis.
From November 22-28, SEIU-West is proud to recognize and celebrate Education Week!
SEIU-West is pleased to acknowledge the work that Education Assistants, Library Technicians, Custodians, Tradespeople, Food Service Workers, Administrative Assistants, and School Bus Drivers do to prepare students for tomorrow. The SEIU-West education team ensure our children experience quality education by:
- Assisting teachers to provide tailor-made education for students;
- Ensuring school offices and administrative details run smoothly;
- Providing healthy meals to keep young minds strong;
- Driving and maintaining the buses so our children make it home safely; and
- Creating safe schools and grounds for students to enjoy.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, Education Workers are going above and beyond to ensure the safety of students. We know you’re working hard, and are often faced with inadequate plans from our government – as with all front line workers during COVID-19, you should have a wage supplement to demonstrate the value you bring to our communities during these trying times. We continue to work on this front and hope you will connect with your newly elected MLA on this issue as well.
In recognition of our Education team, we encourage you to participate in the Education Week Contest!
Let us know about an Education Worker (must be a SEIU-West member) who goes above and beyond in their work – you and your nominee could win a gift card or SEIU-West swag!
Enter the contest by November 29, 2020 to [email protected] for your chance to win!
For Immediate Release - November 20, 2020
Tentative Agreement Reached – SEIU-West Members to Vote
Saskatoon – After over 1300 days without a new collective agreement, SEIU-West members achieved a tentative agreement (TA) with SAHO and the Employers late on Thursday November 19th.
“Our members have been engaged and vocal and active in sending letters to decision makers and local papers; signing and submitting petitions to the government; holding physically distanced public #DoneWaiting demonstrations; and meeting with their MLAs (prior to the pandemic). All of these actions have made a difference in getting us to this point,” says Barbara Cape, President of SEIU-West. “Bargaining in the midst of a worldwide pandemic has been challenging. For the SEIU-West bargaining committee, ensuring the work our members do on the front line of this pandemic is recognized has been our priority."