Pinned
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.
SEIU-WEST 2025 MEMBERSHIP SATISFACTION & ENGAGEMENT SURVEY
SEIU-WEST 2025 MEMBERSHIP SATISFACTION & ENGAGEMENT SURVEY
Are you an SEIU-West member? We want to hear from you!
SEIU-West is running a 10-minute online survey of its members. It will be open until Monday, March 17th.
Wherever you work, if you’re an SEIU-West member, we would really appreciate your feedback!
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:
Celebrate National Home Care Month!
November is National Home Care Month!
SEIU-West would like to celebrate all our valued Home Care members who work really hard to ensure that their clients are well taken care of every day. 
With an aging population and crowded hospitals, adequate home care is now a vital health care service.
Home care provides assistance which allows people to continue to live safely and independently in their homes; and recover from medical procedures at home.
Home care requires trust.
Health care providers who work in home care assist people with their most intimate care requirements including but not limited to: meal preparation, personal grooming, assisting with medications, and observation or ongoing assessment.
Unfortunately, stagnant wages, a lack of guaranteed hours and dangerous workloads in the sector have led people to leave for other jobs.
Add to that the rising cost of education and it makes it difficult to attract new people.
To all our SEIU-West Home Care Health Care Providers, we thank you for all you do particularly in light of the limited resources you have.
Tell the government to be fair to those who care; as our elected leaders they need to do more to ensure that people get the home care services they need. Our public health care sector needs to be fully funded and staffed to meet the needs of Saskatchewan’s growing population. Send your letter today at EndUnderstaffing.ca.
Letter: Resource Commitment - Minister of Health, Jim Reiter November 20, 2019
Fact Check: Wage Comparisons
FACT CHECK
Win of the Week! November 17 - 23
SEIU-West Education Program Helps Tackle Bullying and Harassment in the Work Place!
SEIU-West has an extensive education program designed for member needs. Recently, we received thanks from a workplace that participated in our Anti-Bullying and Harassment course because since the course, there has been a noticeable and positive shift in the workplace culture. We are proud to see the results of our educational programs result in a constructive impact – way to go!
Universal Children's Day 2019
November 20 is Universal Children’s Day!
This Universal Children’s day is extra special because it marks the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This legal framework states that children are not just objects who belong to their parents and for whom decisions are made, or adults in training. Rather, they are human beings and individuals with their own rights. Also children must be allowed to grow, learn, play, develop and flourish with dignity.
SEIU-West celebrates all children because we are fighting for their future.
As adults who are their mentors and guides, we need to ask ourselves how much have we invested in their future? What are we doing to safeguard a livable planet for them? What are we doing to ensure that when they grow up they would be guaranteed a livable wage and safe working conditions?
It’s our job to hold ourselves and the government accountable now to secure our children’s future.
Let’s promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare.
Check out this inspiring video:
Media Release: Put Care First: Tough Questions for the Health Minister
For Immediate Release - November 20, 2019
Regina – SEIU-West members will be on hand for question period today at the Saskatchewan Provincial Legislature to hear responses from the SaskParty government on health care questions from the New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan.
Win of the Week! November 10 - 16
SEIU-West helps Member win Disability Income Benefits Claim!
An SEIU-West member from the health care sector was unable to work due to a disability. In June 2017, the disability application for benefits was denied and resulted in no income and benefits from 2017 until 2019. The decision was challenged by the member and they were provided representation and assistance by SEIU-West.
This November, the claim was won and the member was awarded full back pay!
You might be wondering why this claim took so long to resolve? The answer is, this claim had to go through several levels of appeal. But SEIU-West was by this members side every step of the way and the claim was won at final adjudication.
SEIU-West works hard to ensure that every member is fairly represented!
Addiction Recovery is not a race- Addiction Awareness Week 2019
Millions of Canadians struggle daily with addiction.
Developing an addiction is not a character flaw, nor is it a sign of weakness. Addiction to certain substances can actually cause changes to the brain which might make sobriety seem impossible. It takes more than willpower to overcome addiction. With the right treatment and support, recovery is possible.
The dedication and hard work of SEIU-West members in the Health Care and the Community-Based Organization sectors help make it possible for people struggling with addiction to take that little step forward every day. 
One such individual is Justin, a maintenance worker, at the Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan (MACSI) in Prince Albert. Read more about his role as a part of the Community Based Organization (CBO) sector team.
This National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW), SEIU-West would like to bring attention to the millions who struggle with addiction every day.
- Addiction affects all walks of life
- Recovery is achievable and possible
- Choose your words wisely – words matter
- The cost affects us all
Call Healthline at 811 for professional health or mental health and addictions advice, education and support. It’s free confidential and open 24/7.
For more information visit: Canadian Center on Substance Use and Abuse and 211 Saskatchewan.
Canadian Blood Services: Bargaining Bulletin No. 2
Saskatoon, November 12, 2019
Click here to download a printable PDF file of Canadian Blood Services: Bargaining Update No.2
Workload Tracking Forms: Why Do We Fill Them out?
Click here to download a printable PDF file of Workload Tracking Forms: Why Do We Fill Them out?
A safe workplace with balanced workloads allows SEIU-West members to provide the best possible services to patients/clients/residents/students (P/C/R/S).
The SEIU-West Workload Tracking form has been developed for SEIU-West members to report workload issues that hinder the provision of safe quality services to P/C/R/S.
To resolve workload issues successfully, we need you and members of your department to fill this report out whenever a workload problem arises in the workplace.
WHY?
Workload data collection provides physical evidence – we use this evidence to meet with employers, government representatives, and for consultations and/or submissions.
This data is also useful to back up our claims in Occupational Health Committee (OHC) meetings in order to resolve workload issues.
One form per incident is recommended.
When working short, we advise that you also fill out an OH&S Workplace Incident report.
How to report a workload issue:
- Discuss your workload concerns with your supervisor. If concerns are resolved communicate to all members in your department.
- If your concerns are not resolved, fill-out the online or paper Workload Tracking form.
- Ensure your working short incident is always reported to the Occupational Health Committee (OHC).
SEIU-West Workload Tracking forms can be submitted online or by fax.
Click here for ways to fill out and submit an SEIU-West Workload Tracking form or ask your Unit Chair for a copy of the form
WIN OF THE WEEK! NOVEMBER 3 - 9
A member who works in the education sector was on an approved disability claim. After two years he was denied his disability benefits. Since October 2018, he went without any benefits. The Union submitted an appeal on his behalf and it was successful. The members’ benefits have now been reinstated and he was paid retroactive benefits for the past year. A win for the member, a win for us all.