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:
SAHO/SEIU-West Bargaining Bulletin (2nd edition) No. 2
Joint Media Release: Unions launch campaign calling on Sask Party government to provide multi-year funding to CBOs
Saskatchewan – Community workers represented by SGEU, SEIU-West, and CUPE Saskatchewan are asking Saskatchewan people to lend their voices in support of their call on the Saskatchewan government to provide multi-year funding to our province’s Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).
Celebrate Paramedic Services Week!
SEIU-West is proud to acknowledge the incredible work of those who work in Paramedic Services as we recognize Paramedic Services Week May 26-June 1. Often, they’re the first to care for those who need emergency medical attention, and they do not take this important role lightly.
The Paramedic Services team works in a stressful and demanding environment; our members respond to calls that range from heart attacks to collisions – in every situation, immediate medical attention is required. It is therefore vital for those who work in Paramedic Services to function well under pressure and be highly organized.
Members who work in Paramedic Services must also have a reliable, supportive team. By working with partners, the Paramedic Services team can count on each other for assistance in providing a safe work environment, as care is being provided to the person(s) in need.
Our communities depend on those who work in Paramedic Services and their ability to ensure quick, calm and competent care under pressure. Thank you for providing such a fundamental service within the health care team!
Win of the Week! May 19-25
This week, we saw SEIU-West members join MLAs for their summer BBQs in order to speak with them about the negative impact of government decisions to their everyday lives. They shared their frustration at feeling devalued by this government, and explained their experiences of doing more with less within the health care system. They made clear that zeroes are unacceptable and that they expect their elected representatives to treat their constituents as they treat themselves. If cost of living is increasing for one, then it’s increasing for all. We’re proud of the many members who have taken an active role in democracy – it is vital for our government to hear from the people they represent and we encourage you to write letters, set up meetings, and visit your MLA at community events in order to share your concerns and demand better. If you need any assistance, please email [email protected]
SFL Summer Camp: Applications Open!
The Annual Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) Summer Camp will be held on August 10-16 at Shekinah Retreat Centre, near Waldheim. This 6 day camp focuses on issues relevant to young people – including social justice and equality – and combines learning with cooperative recreation activities. See the brochure and registration form here.
To support this initiative, the SEIU-West Executive Board has agreed to sponsor 2 children of SEIU-West members to attend the camp. If you or someone you know has a child that would be interested in attending the camp, please submit a completed camp registration form by June 28, 2019 to:
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 306 652 1392
Mail: #200 – 747 46th St W Saskatoon SK S7L6A1
CLC/UWCC Post-Secondary Scholarship
The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Young Workers Program and the United Way Centraide Canada (UWCC) are pleased to present the annual CLC/UWCC Post-Secondary Scholarship.
The CLC and the UWCC are long-time partners in taking action to create prosperous, inclusive, diverse and respectful communities, safer workplaces, and a fairer Canada for working people. Two years ago, we created a post-secondary scholarship in recognition of the important opportunities college or university education can provide for young people. Too often, these opportunities are out of reach for working-class people due to ever-increasing tuition fees.
This $2,500 scholarship is offered in recognition of the efforts of young workers across Canada who have demonstrated a commitment to positively impacting social and workplace issues in their community.
The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, June 7, 2019.
Please see the application form for eligibility criteria: www.canadianlabour.ca/scholarship.
Win of the Week! May 12-18
This week we saw nearly 200 members, staff, and special guests come together for our bi-annual SEIU-West convention. Our theme this year was SEIU-WEST – Together Strong, Together Safe. This theme carried throughout the two days as members shared ideas, listened to one another, asked questions, held debates, and all the while learned steps to build a stronger SEIU-West and a vigorous labour movement here in Saskatchewan and across borders. We had guests and staff share their informative expertise around safety issues, and took part in workshops to enhance our shop floor skills around OH&S. We also held elections and wish to congratulate the members who were elected, and a give special thanks to all members who put their name forward for election – the fact that we have so many members interested in leadership positions is a true sentiment to the vast skillset and power that shapes our union. This week was yet another demonstration that we are Stronger Together!
We Need To Ask: Where's The Fairness?
Want to know why your elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) think it’s okay to mandate rollbacks and offer zeroes to health care providers while at the same time giving themselves a 3.5% wage increase last year and a 2.3% raise this year? Now is your opportunity to find out.
Your SEIU-West Political Action and Awareness Committee (PAAC) has identified a number of MLA BBQs occurring this month, and we encourage you to attend in order to speak to your MLA about how their actions devalue the hard work of those who provide health care in this province. There will be members of the PAAC there so if you’d like to meet with your fellow health care workers, please email [email protected] to coordinate.
Here are the details:
- Don Morgan – MLA for Saskatoon Southeast (and Minister of Labour): Free BBQ May 21st from 5-7pm at St Bernard School (203 Whiteshore Crescent, Saskatoon)
- Don Morgan – MLA for Saskatoon Southeast (and Minister of Labour): Free BBQ May 22nd from 5-7pm at St. Luke School (275 Emmeline Rd, Saskatoon)
- Don Morgan – MLA for Saskatoon Southeast (and Minister of Labour): Free BBQ May 25th from 11:30am-2pm at the Independent Foods in Briarwood (315 Herold Rd, Saskatoon)
- Lisa Lambert – MLA for Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood: Free BBQ May 27th from 4:30-6:30pm at the Nutana Kiwanis Park (3003 Porter St, Saskatoon -across from Market Mall)
SEIU-West is also able to provide a series of questions if you’d like assistance. Again, just email [email protected] in order to get a copy.
SEIU-West members understand that while we bargain with Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO), it is our government that provides the budget SAHO has to work with. When we see MLAs give themselves raises while offering us zeroes, and when we know that the same budget that funds MLA salaries, funds ours – we must ask: where are the increases for health care providers so we can keep our heads above water?
It is vital that every health care provider have their voice heard. We hope you will attend at least one of the above-mentioned BBQs and if you are aware of any other MLA BBQs occurring, please let us know by emailing [email protected]
Join a SEIU-West Committee!
SEIU-West Committees keep us at the forefront of the Labour movement in Canada, and provide an excellent opportunity for members to learn from each other. Committee members serve for two years, and we have now approached the end of a two-year term so we are requesting SEIU-West members and all current committee members to submit their Expressions of Interest form should they wish to serve or remain on committees.
Sexual Assault Awareness Week May 12-18
This year, Sexual Assault Awareness Week is recognized in Saskatchewan May 12-18. SEIU-West stands against sexual assault and recognizes the need for a robust level of services that support those who experience assault, for it is clear we must do more to address sexual assault in our communities.
Saskatchewan has the second highest rate of reported sexual assaults amongst all provinces, and the highest rate of intimate partner violence. Yet studies have shown most sexual assault survivors do not report. This failure to report might be attributed to the lack of action – many survivors have said they’ve felt re-victimized by the system of reporting – an investigation from Globe and Mail found that 19 per cent of sexual assault allegations in 2010 -2014 were considered “unfounded,” meaning Canadian police did not believe a crime had actually occurred.
Still, we’re seeing a rise of those who report sexual assault. Police reported that sexual assaults were up 38.6% from 2017 to 2018 in Regina, and are up 10.3% in Saskatoon over the same period. However, many support services are not able to meet these growing needs. In fact, service organizations like the Saskatoon Sexual Assault Information Centre saw their provincial funding freeze for three years and in the latest 2019-20 budget, women’s shelters had a mere one per cent funding increase. This lack of support is having severe consequences for those who have experienced sexual assault - staff at these organizations say there is a growing demand for counselling services, but their resources are inadequate to meet the growing needs. This has led to staff turnover and many of these service centres have had to make program cuts to ensure they can provide basic services with the limited amount of resources they have.
In order to address these ineffective justice and service needs, advocates are demanding increased education. The questions from the police and justice system during a sexual assault case often question the credibility of the survivor’s actions. We therefore need education for judges and police but also for our communities who often act as juries. That is why SEIU-West is applauding the announcement of a new action plan to end sexual violence.
Announced in May 2019 – during Sexual Assault Awareness Week - Saskatchewan now has a 22-point action plan to end sexual violence in this province. We were the last province in Canada to develop a sexual assault strategy, and the Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan (SASS) attributes support for this initiative from the funding provided by federal government. SASS travelled to over 22 communities and spoke to survivors, family members, and service providers in order to develop this plan. This report has a focus on prevention and education, support and intervention, responsive legal and justice systems, and collaborative leadership and accountability. SASS found that the legal system was where many people were having the most difficulties - in response to the lack of trust in reporting, there was also an announcement for a pilot project involving a review protocol in Regina.
On a quarterly basis, members of organizations like the SASS will review Regina’s police sexual assault investigations, and the reviews will involve cases where charges haven’t been laid. SEIU-West supports this step as this process will involve people who have spent their lives working with and supporting those who are survivors of sexual assault.
Members and leaders of SEIU-West were also relieved to learn that the government has announced Bill No. 172, The Saskatchewan Employment (Paid Interpersonal Violence and Sexual Violence Leave) Amendment Act. This amendment will allow access to paid leave from work for survivors of domestic violence.
It’s appropriate that this first reading should take place during Sexual Assault Awareness Week and is welcoming news for all workers within Saskatchewan – as we have highest rates of intimate partner violence in Canada and better support is needed. We know domestic violence deeply affects people at work, and that job security is not enough, so the addition of paid leave is a great step forward in addressing the urgent need to increase support systems for those experiencing domestic violence.
Saskatchewan was one of the last provinces to legislate paid leave. The SEIU-West Young Workers Committee, partnered with the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS), the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL), and the Saskatchewan NDP, in order to help ensure paid leave become a priority for our government.
Now that we have this legislation, awareness is key. Each workplace should have a clear and communicated workplace policy so workers know they can access paid leave should they require it. How many persons who experience domestic violence would tell their employer of their experiences if they do not have, or are not aware of, any support? How many more would be fearful of persecution if they did share their experiences? Research has shown that many people do not report because of the stigmas associated with domestic violence - these stigmas act as a barrier to communication and support. That is why employers should now take the steps to provide education and training for themselves and their staff. We are hopeful these steps will result in concrete and enforced support for those who experience domestic violence.
For more information on sexual assault, please visit http://sassk.ca/resources/
To find your nearest support services provider, visit http://sassk.ca/finding-support/ or call 211.
If you experience sexual assault at work or if it’s affecting your work, please call the SEIU-West Member Resource Centre at 1.888.999.7348.
Win of the Week! May 5-11
Members who work in Chinook School Division are celebrating after ratifying their latest collected agreement! The agreement includes general wage increases totaling 4% over 3 years, as well as a signing bonus of up to $675 for all employees. In a climate where we’re hearing rollbacks are inevitable for public sector workers, our union’s strength demonstrates our ability to resist and achieve gains. We’re stronger together!
President's Message: Nursing Week 2019
It’s an honour to take a moment to show our appreciation for the thousands of front line members of the health care nursing team. While a whole team of professionals contribute to our health and well-being, during this week we recognize the nursing team.