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.
Pinned
Effective Tuesday, October 14, 2025 SEIU-West will resume mailing out member expense cheques via Canada Post.
If you have questions about the status of your MEV, please email [email protected] and one of our team members will be happy to help.
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 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!
For Immediate Release, May 7, 2020
(SASKATCHEWAN) The unions representing health care providers in Saskatchewan are calling for the Premier to follow in the footsteps of almost every other jurisdiction in Canada and provide a wage top-up for health care workers.
The Health Care Provider Unions have discussed strategies for fair and equitable recognition pay for members of the health care team who are demonstrating dedicated service during COVID19 which involves personal risk and sacrifice. This letter was sent to Premier Moe by the Unions today.
May 4, 2020
Honourable Scott Moe
Premier of Saskatchewan
226 Legislative Building
Regina, Saskatchewan
CANADA S4S 0B3
Dear Mr. Premier,
We write to you on behalf of the front line health care providers who have been at the forefront of the work being done to flatten the curve of infection with the COVID-19 pandemic. They have displayed an incredible amount of professionalism and courage in continuing the day to day work in this battle that benefits all Saskatchewan residents. Many have called them ‘heroes’, but we know they are heroes every day, not only during this pandemic.
In Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, provincial governments have deemed additional pay for those working in acute care, long term care, personal care homes, community and home care. For the anxiety and stress; for the personal sacrifice they make daily to reduce the risk of COVID at work and home; for the extra work and long, hot hours to ensure the safety of our patients, clients, residents and staff; for the lack of information and the ever changing policy directives; for being there to care, to serve, when visitors and family are not able. There is an incredibly diverse group of people who are keeping health care running and ensuring that we are not overwhelmed by the pandemic.
Mr. Premier, you have acknowledged these health care providers in your provincial address. Today we ask you to step forward to lead again. As we reopen the province, we cannot ignore the work that has happened, and continues to happen to keep the province safe. For all health care providers, we ask that you acknowledge this incredible team with ‘recognition pay’ or a wage top up.
- Medical and Diagnostic Technologists and assistants complete tests that identify not only COVID-19 but other diseases and pathogens that are still affecting our population: cancer, HIV, MRI, CT, and seasonal flu are among their tests.
- Licensed Practical Nurses provide dressing changes, dispense medications, work in operating rooms and emergency rooms, long-term care and home care to provide compassionate hands-on skilled care to our patients, clients and residents.
- Continuing Care Assistants work in acute care, long term care, and home care providing hands on services like dressing, bathing, medications, lifting and repositioning with care and compassion.
- Recreation and Physical Therapy who continually work to lift up the spirits of residents and give them some much needed distraction as well as something to look forward to each day.
- Security, maintenance, tradespeople and Information Technologists continue to keep our facilities running efficiently, to set up COVID units in hospitals across the province and keeping staff and patients safe.
- Food services prepare and provide nutritious meals to patients, long-term care residents and homecare recipients.
- Environmental services staff perform enhanced cleaning to ensure that our facilities do not harbor and are not a vector for transmission of any virus.
- Administration staff keep every part of the health system connected and communicating which is critically important at this time – this includes ward and department support, payroll, finance, health information, and schedulers who work in acute care, long-term care, home care, community care and primary care to ensure that our facilities are staffed and paid properly to provide the skilled professional care that is key to all health care services.
- Of particular note are those working in supply chain, materials management, and sterile processing who ensure that we have the health care materials and resources, such as Personal Protective Equipment and supplies, necessary to keep us all safe and to provide quality healthcare that Saskatchewan residents have come to expect.
It is with pride we acknowledge that there are over 42,000 front line staff who are part of the ‘health care team’…across CUPE, SGEU, SEIU-West, SUN, and HSAS. We are very proud of the work that front line health care workers perform every day and believe they are heroes not only during this pandemic, but every day of the year.
On behalf of these caring health providers, we ask that you take a moment to acknowledge the varied work that is being performed under some incredibly tense and stressful circumstances. They go into work every day, not sure if they will come into contact with COVID-19 or if they will take it home with them to their families. Yet, they continue to show up and lead our health care system. They do this for their patients, clients and residents. We believe their efforts and commitment are worthy of recognition, don’t you?
We look forward to your earliest reply.
|
Barbara Cape |
Tracey Sauer |
Sandra Seitz |
Cc: Jim Reiter, Minister of Health
Warren Keading, Minister of Rural and Remote Health
Scott Livingstone, CEO Saskatchewan Health authority
For Immediate Release, May 5, 2020
Saskatoon – Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Week has significant meaning for the members and leaders of SEIU-West in 2020.
Date: May 5, 2020
Greetings Sisters and Brothers,
As you are no doubt aware, due to the State of Emergency declared by the provincial government on or about March 17, 2020, our bargaining dates for the weeks of April 6 and 14 were cancelled. The focus for the Employer side was on managing the pandemic planning and the priority for the Union was providing support and assurance for our front line members.
SEIU-West recognizes Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Week from May 3-9 and Mental Health Week from May 4-10, two areas of particular importance as we face the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s understandable that many of us are struggling with our mental health these days – the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our daily lives and caused global grief and anxiety amongst our communities – so SEIU-West has developed this Mental Health Support During COVID-19 page in order to reassure you that you’re not alone, and that there are many resources that can help you during this challenging time.
On our Mental Health page, you’ll find resources in support of maintaining physical distancing while still being social (hello, Zoom!), mutual aid groups, Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP) information, as well as many free 24/7 call lines and websites available to those wanting mental health support. For example, the Canadian Mental Health Association now has a Saskatchewan-wide wellness support line for each community – visit this link for more information.
We have also launched our OH&S resources page – on this page, you’ll find valuable information on your rights at work, a descriptive step-by-step guide on your right to refuse, workload, Worker Safety Committee information, and Occupational Health Committee (OHC) information. On our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, you’ll also find information about personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety-related questions.
President Barb Cape has been sharing important safety information as well – check out her a sample of her President’s Message videos below:
Statistics Canada has recently shared a survey in relation to COVID-19 and your mental health – we encourage you to participate here.
The two recognition weeks of Mental Health Week and OH&S week go hand in hand because we know that mental health is an OH&S issue. Remember, if you need support in these areas, be sure to contact our Member Resource Centre at 1.888.999.7348 ext. 2298 or use the contact form.
Dear Premier Scott Moe,
I belong to the hard-working Filipino Community of Saskatoon. Every corner of the world a lot of Filipinos are directly taking care of COVID-19 patients and risking their lives and their families. For 18 years I have worked as a Continuing Care Assistant.
I cherish my job and appreciate the opportunity given to me to be in this line of work. This is work full of compassion, heart and empathy. I love my job knowing I can make a difference in people's lives.
I had the opportunity to personally asked you 8 months ago after 800 days without a contract, how would you address the difficulty in reaching a fair contract for all us. As expected, you told me that you tried but we voted against it. I respectfully disagreed and told you that I was clearly in need of a fair contract.
I don't think 0 for the first two years is fair knowing the cost of living keeps increasing. Then, I asked you if you have any plans to address the chronic understaffing in health care most especially in long term care, a question that was left unanswered.
Now more than ever, we felt the urgency and hardship in terms of critical low staffing. We are called all over the province for shifts in Prince Albert, La Loche, Lloydminster and Saskatoon. I don't want to say our union leaders told you so but I will say it anyway...
You're $400 temporary wage supplement is a good start but I feel like you never consider that all of us regardless of income, all are working under the same stressful circumstances. Every human being matters, every person deserves respect and spotlight.
Every day of this pandemic we are called essential workers or new heroes of this crisis. But it becomes clear that we are still left behind. Your government's offer to rollback wages and then offer zeroes - it's a slap in the face but we still continue to come to work, to care for our patients. With little to no recognition and compensation for going above and beyond for what we all do to save people's lives.
We all deserve far better because we have always been essential workers to this province even before this global pandemic. Your refusal to bargain fairly and negotiate is extremely disrespectful to all of us who have been out risking our own health. This shows a lack of empathy and understanding of the reality of our work and our lives. You're government has never given us the spotlight and recognition we deserve.
It took a global pandemic and fear of death for you to acknowledge that workers like us who are working at 2016 rates of pay, that we are the reason why this great province is the safest province to live in during this crisis. We put ourselves at risk to saves lives and we also put our family in danger. We will continue to face it as we start the first phase of the Reopening Saskatchewan plan.
As we start to reopen our province I would like to remind you and the entire ministry that we, the frontline health care workers need more than thank you. We need a decent wage increase to support our family. We have been here for the people of Saskatchewan and we will continue to do so to the aid and rescue of those who need us during the highest or lowest moment of their life.
This is not the first time we are in front of tragedy and won't be the last. We still show up to work regardless. We are asking you to think about us as we risk our own life to serve the people of Saskatchewan.
Respectfully,
Janine Lazaro
Here’s one of your SEIU-West Front Line Heroes. 
Providing hands on care during a pandemic is not easy but Stacey is offering some advice from her laboratory headquarters.
“These are trying and difficult times in health care, but we are all part of a large team, working together,” Stacey added. “And that’s how we’ll get through this – by working together, while staying physically distanced apart. And washing our hands. A lot!!”
We would like to round off National Medical Laboratory Week 2020 by featuring yet another SEIU-West Front Line Hero! 
A key part of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is the work done within our Medical Laboratories.
A part of the front line Lab team are Combined Laboratory & X-Ray Technologists (CLXTs) like our member Stacey who works at the Rosthern Hospital in rural Saskatchewan.
Stacey's day in the lab includes specimen collection/phlebotomy, admin/accessioning, sample testing and sample referral. It also includes performing X-Rays and ECG's!
What Stacey loves most about her job is the variety every day brings. Also the small moments “which mostly includes getting an opportunity to know our patients well. We see some people many times over the years and so many of our "regulars" become special to us” said Stacey.
“I’ve been a CLXT working in rural Saskatchewan for over 20 years. Medical Laboratories encompass many Laboratory professionals - from Phlebotomists, MLA’s, MLT’s, CLXT‘s, all the support and administration staff and so many more!! Laboratory staff, whether on the front lines, or working behind the scenes, are an essential and integral part of patient care. I’m proud to be a Heath Care Worker and part of the Medical Laboratory Team! Happy National Medical Laboratory Week to all of my amazing and hard-working co-workers!!
“These are trying and difficult times in health care, but we are all part of a large team, working together,” Stacey added. “And that’s how we’ll get through this – by working together, while staying physically distanced apart. And washing our hands. A lot!!”
We are proud to celebrate the health care heroes that make up the team in Medical Laboratories.
Listen and watch the latest President's Message from Barbara Cape! This week, she discusses the vital work of those who work and support Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLT) in recognition of MLT Week. Barb also recognizes May Day, discusses new COVID-19 modeling numbers, and shares information around our Frontline Heroes series - check it out:
This week of April 26 - May 2, SEIU-West is proud to celebrate National Medical Laboratory Week!
Anita is a Medical Laboratory Technologist at the Royal University Hospital. She is also certified in Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System and an author in Document Management System.
Part of Anita’s day includes ensuring staff competency, organizing workflow and area processes, ensuring area protocols are followed and that accreditation standards, as well as safety of medical laboratory staff are maintained.
Anita says about her job, “My job in the Diagnostic Molecular Pathology Lab is so interesting! Our lab uses the power of Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR) to identify difficult to culture pathogens. We have been hard at work lately processing samples from people suspected of having COVID-19”.
Anita and her fellow MLTs are working extremely hard through this pandemic. They are maintaining current testing on all patients, as well as, bringing in and working up new testing for the continuing and future care of the COVID-19 patients and all other patients.
We are proud to celebrate the health care heroes that make up the team in Medical Laboratories.