There is currently a vacancy on the SEIU-West Executive Board for members that work for the Community Based Organizations Sector.
Pinned
Virtual town halls (VTHs) were scheduled for the evenings of May 27 and 28 to update SEIU-West members about SAHO bargaining and answer bargaining questions. Unfortunately, the VTH on May 27 ran into major technical glitches. We apologize if you were one of the hundreds of members whose experienced this failure. We were not satisfied that the supplier of the VTH platform would be able to properly fix these problems in time, so we decided to cancel the May 28 VTH.
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.
Disclaimer: the following information is based on what SEIU-West found on publicly available federal government websites. This information is subject to change as it comes from outside sources. We will update this post further as information becomes available.
SEIU-West Union Representatives:
Various
***In an effort to provide more effective representation, members who work at Saskatoon City Hospital, Royal University Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital, Saskatoon Home Care, and Parkridge Centre will now be serviced based on classification. Please click here for more detailed information.
For Immediate Release - June 16, 2020
Regina – Members of SEIU-West were on hand at the Saskatchewan Legislature to tell the public about what is happening in our health care system and how utterly dismissive and unresponsive the current Saskatchewan government has been when it comes to the front line experience. It’s time for our members to share what’s truly happening in health care with the public.
For Immediate Release - June 15, 2020
Regina – SEIU-West member leaders will be outside of the legislature by 11:30 am on June 16, 2020. This group intends to share information with the public and the Government of Saskatchewan about the continuing struggles of SEIU-West members who work in the health sector.
June 10, 2020
Sent Via E-mail and Regular Mail
Honourable Premier Moe
2405 Legislative Drive
Regina, Sask
S4S0B3
Dear Premier Moe,
RE: Conditions in Long-Term Care in Saskatchewan
SEIU-West has just completed an in-depth review of the 2019 SHA CEO Long-Term Care Facility Visits report (the Report), which your government released in the late afternoon of Friday, May 29, 2020. As part of this review, we have extensively consulted with our members who work in the long-term care (LTC) sector and the union staff who represent them. We have also reviewed our various internal resources that document our members' concerns and challenges.
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Health Care Workers Underappreciated by Provincial Government
I think the health care workers in Saskatoon deserve a huge thank you from our community. So far these individuals have successfully prevented any COVID-19 outbreaks in our long-term care homes and hospitals. Compared to other provinces, these dedicated people have done an impressive job.
Most of the health care workers in Saskatoon are members of SEIU West. These members include laboratory technologists, LPNs (nurses), continuing care assistants, housekeepers, and many other professions too numerous to mention. The sad fact is these people have been working without a contract for more than four years. They are not walking out or striking because their jobs are too important to walk away from.
The provincial government takes advantage of this dedication and throws crumbs at them. The current contract offer is five per cent over five years with the first two years having no increase at all.
If our teachers are worth six per cent over four years and our city employees are getting 6.9 per cent over four years, how can the province offer less over a longer period of time?
The offer to the health care workers is insulting and disrespectful. They are there for us to do all of the necessary testing, keep our facilities clean and safe for patients, and care for our loved ones, but the government is not there for them when a fair contract is overdue.
It’s time for the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO) to treat these people with respect instead of kicking them in the butt.
Shame on you Premier Moe for turning your back on this essential service group.
Trevor Gordon
Saskatoon
For Immediate Release - June 8, 2020
Saskatoon – The members of SEIU-West were alarmed by the public statements made by both Premier Scott Moe and the Minister of Health, Jim Reiter, that Saskatchewan Long-Term Care (LTC) sector does not have systemic staffing issues.
During the 2020 Nursing Week from May 11-17, SEIU-West highlighted the importance of the entire Nursing Team. However, on May 11, Sharon Garratt, (Chief Nursing Officer of the Saskatchewan Health Authority) shared a public thank you note that left out the vital role of Continuing Care Assistants (CCA) on the Nursing Team. In response, a CCA and member of SEIU-West named Michelle, sent a letter to Ms. Garratt inquiring about this omission - you can read that here. In response, Ms. Garrat send this letter, to which President Barb Cape responded to due to the lack of apology and acknowledgement for CCAs. We continue to await a response.
On June 5, Michelle's letter was shared as a letter to the editor, which became the letter of the day - check it out here.
June 4, 2020
Sent Electronically
Honourable Premier Scott Moe
Honourable Minister of Labour Relations & Workplace Safety, Don Morgan
Honourable Minister of Health, Jim Reiter
Honourable Minister of Rural & Remote Health, Warren Kaeding
Saskatchewan Legislative Building
2405 Legislative Drive
Regina, SK S4S 0B3
Dear Honourable Premier Moe & Ministers Morgan, Reiter & Kaeding,
I write to you today on behalf of the over 12,000 members who work as health care providers in the former Saskatoon, Five Hills, Heartland, and Cypress
Health Regions, along with their families, friends, and supporters.