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:
Committee Position: Multicultural Mentorship
Our SEIU-West Multicultural Mentorship Committee (MMC) is currently seeking to fill two vacant positions.
The successful applicant will have the opportunity to expand their union involvement and activism in this position, and play an active role in making the connections for SEIU-West members as to why multicultural mentorship is important.
The remaining term for this position is for approximately one year and four months.
We are inviting interested members to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) You can submit online or by downloading the printable PDF file of the EOI and sending it in by fax- 306.692.2807 or by email to Vice President Neil Colmin’s attention.
Once submitted, President Barbara Cape will work with the Top Officers and together they will make a recommendation to the Executive Board to appoint an eligible member to fill the vacancy for the remaining term.
If you or any of the member in your unit are interested in applying, please apply by Friday February 28, 2020.
As always, if you or your members have any questions please use our Contact form.
Shining A Light On...Mental Health and Addiction
By Janell Kachuik, Co-chair – Young Worker Committee (YWC)
The SEIU-West Young Workers Committee (YWC) is shining a light on issues that often get pushed into the shadows and aims to break down stigma associated with important issues in our communities.
Mental health and addiction are topics that people don’t like to talk about due to the stigma around them, but we need to stop fearing it and start embracing it. As Canadians, 1 in 5 experience a mental illness or addiction problem. Roughly 50% of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance use. We have to stop believing that mental health and addictions are just going to get better without treatment.
Young people are more likely to experience mental health and substance use disorder than any other age group. The question is, how can we help? Don’t give up on them, make sure that they know they are loved – sometimes they have to hit rock bottom before they get help.
I’m one of those young people. My name is Janell – I’m the Co-Chair of the SEIU-West Young Workers Committee (YWC) and I suffer from depression and anxiety. It started in high school and it was really bad. I started to cut – first it was on my legs so people couldn’t see but then I started to cut my wrist – to me it was a way to release what I was feeling because when I cut it took my pain away for a little bit. I had stopped but then I started working in a workplace where I was the only person under the age of 30 and was feeling isolated. The way I would cover it up is wearing long sleeve clothing and if someone would ask me about it, I would say I fell.
In 2015 it got really bad. A year when I should have been happy and enjoying life. But in October my life changed and I started cutting. I wasn’t able to sleep. I wasn’t talking or being myself. I finally decided to end things, but with the help of my family and friends I’m still here. They started to see the signs, and told me to get help – my family had to tell me that they didn’t want a headstone, they wanted me.
The first step was to get a doctor to listen, and this doctor took me off work and then made it so I couldn’t be alone. The doctor started me on medications, and with the help of my mother I was able to get into counselling. I started going twice a week then I went to three times a week – one session was one-on-one and the other was in a group setting.
There are things you can do to get on the road to recovery. With the right support, self-help and treatment, you can overcome a re-occurring disorder, reclaim your sense of self and get your life back on track. What’s important is that we’re creating a supportive environment where people know they can ask for help.
If you need support, call 211 or go to https://sk.211.ca/ to find mental health and addictions support services across Saskatchewan.
Call to Annual General Meeting of the Saskatoon & District Labour Council
The 61st Annual General Meeting of the Saskatoon and District Labour Council will be held at the Heritage Inn, 102 Cardinal Crescent, on February 7 and 8, 2020.
SEIU-West is sponsoring up to four people to attend; to register for a chance to attend, fill out an Expression of Interest. Members have until January 30, 2020 to apply.
We are inviting interested members to submit an EOI. You can submit online or by downloading the printable PDF file of the EOI and sending it in as described.
Come join us in celebration!
AGENDA
February 7, 2020
Registration ...........................................................................................................................................5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Meeting....................................................................................................................................................6.00 pm - 7:00 pm
Labour Community Achievement Award Banquet and Social.......................................7:30 pm
February 8, 2020
Registration...................................................................................8:30 am
AGM..................................................................................................9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Top 6 Wins of 2019!
2019 was filled with ups and downs and it is important to celebrate the moments of triumphs. Here are the top 6 Wins Of The Week for 2019 based on social media engagements.
1. SEIU-West/SAHO Votes for Job Action!
2. Member Awarded Position Denied due to Pregnancy
3. Members Participate ‘Unionism 101’ Training
4. SHA withdrew the Hotline proposal thanks to SEIU-West push-back
5. Member Receives Double Time for Changed Schedule
6. SEIU-West Provides Support for Member in Need
Here’s to 2020 and a year filled with even more wins!
Join Purple Day January 28!
Send a Message on Purple Day!
SAHO/SEIU-West Bargaining Bulletin (2nd edition) No. 10
Click here to download SAHO/SEIU-West Bargaining Bulletin (2nd edition) No. 10
Date: January 17, 2020
Greetings Sisters and Brothers,
On behalf of your SEIU-West provincial bargaining committee, we want to wish all of our members a Happy New Year. We hope that 2020 brings you incredible peace and (of course) a fair collective agreement.
Alzheimer Awareness Month - 2020
January is Alzheimer Awareness Month in Canada and this year, the Alzhei
72% of all Canadians living with Alzheimer’s disease are women. This is because women live longer than men so there are more of them than men. Who are these women? They’re our mothers, wives, sisters, grandmothers, or friends – maybe even you.
Stigma is one of the biggest barriers for people with dementia to live fully with dignity and respect. When a person is diagnosed with dementia, they need the support of family and friends more than ever.
Do you think memory loss is the only warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias? That’s what most people believe but there are nine other signs which are often misunderstood or ignored. Recognizing the signs as soon as possible is critical for getting the treatment and support you need to live well with the disease and start planning for the future.
Check out the warning signs below. 
For more useful information and resources to help you learn more and take action to end dementia stigma, check out ilivewithdementia.ca.
Win of the Week! January 12- January 18
MEMBER GETS DISCIPLINARY ACTION REMOVED FROM FILE
A member was recently suspended for a month due to a personal incident that had absolutely no bearing or impact on their job. SEIU-West intervened and the employer agreed to withdraw the disciplinary action and remove all reference to it from the members file. Rather, the employer offered support.
SEIU-West will always be in your corner, call the MRC (1.888.999.7348) for advice and clarification.
Join Pink Shirt Day 2020!
On the last Wednesday of February, SEIU-West members across this province demonstrate their willingness to tackle workplace bullying by participating in Pink Shirt Day.
Pink Shirt Day began after a young student was bullied for wearing pink to school so the next day, hundreds of students came to school wearing pink as an act of solidarity to stand against bullying. From there, Pink Shirt Day has grown to international fame.
Once again the very popular SEIU-West Anti-Bullying Pink Shirts are up for grabs and wearing pink on February 26, 2020 could win your unit or department a pizza party!
How to participate:
- Request pink shirts, email [email protected] – 2020 shirts are in limited supply (available sizes are: Small; Medium; Large; XL and 2XL), so be sure to request early!
- Wear pink shirts on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 – one of our 2020 SEIU-West pink shirts; one from a previous year if you have one; or one of your own.
- Take a picture of you and your coworkers wearing pink and send it to [email protected] or post it to our Facebook page. Don’t forget to tell us your workplace and/or department name!
Each participating department/unit will be entered to win a pizza party.
Stay tuned to our FB page for updates and to see who’s participating in 2020.
Apply to the CLC/SFL 2020 Spring School!
Apply to attend the 2020 CLC/SFL Spring School being held April 20th – 24th at Temple Gardens in Moose Jaw! The Education Committee will be sponsoring up to 6 delegates to attend. They will cover registration costs, lost wages, travel costs and meal expenses for those who are selected to attend.
Anyone interested in attending this school is asked to complete the SEIU-West Expression of Interest Application form either online or with our paper form.
Your completed Expression of Interest form must be received in our office on or before March 20, 2020 in order to allow us to complete the registration and selection process. In this brochure, you can determine what courses interest you most.
Forward your completed form to:
Colleen Denniss, Chair, Education Committee at #200 – 747 46th Street W, Saskatoon, SK S7L 6A1 or fax: 306-652-1392 or by email at [email protected]
Once delegates are chosen we will complete an online registration.
Delegates attending the school must submit a brief report to the SEIU-West Executive Board through the Education Committee Chair following the completion of the event. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this regard.
Related Documents:
Contest: Family Literacy Day
Every year, Saskatchewan communities celebrate Family Literacy Day on January 27, and in recognition, SEIU-West is excited to announce our annual Family Literacy Day Contest!
This year we want to know what everyone is reading right now, maybe some of you bookworms are already on your second book of 2020!
To enter, simply share with us what books you or your kids are currently reading, email [email protected] or post your picture to our Facebook page (www.fb.com/seiuwest) with #FamilyLiteracyDay2020 by January 27, 2020.
All participants’ names will be entered into a draw to win one of five gift cards for a bookstore.
Win of the Week! January 5- January 11
Member denied 3s Health Disability Benefits gets EI Sickness Benefits
A member was on medical leave in August 2019 but was recently denied 3s Health Disability Benefits and the member was left with absolutely no financial support. SEIU-West intervened and the member was successful in retroactively applying for EI Sickness Benefits.
Members should remember that when applying for Disability Benefits, they should also apply for EI Sickness Benefits and Canada Pension Disability Benefits. Also do not hesitate to call MRC for assistance or clarification. SEIU-West is always here for our members.