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:
Increase in Long Term Care Funding?
SEIU-West members and leaders were surprised with our Minister of Health's public statements reported by CTV, on November 7, 2018, in a news story regarding a 40% funding increase to Long-Term Care (LTC) - we mailed him a letter with our many questions arising out of this statement:
November 29, 2018
Honorable Jim Reiter, Minister of Health, Room 204 - Legislative Building, 2405 Legislative Drive, Regina, Saskatchewan
Dear Minister Reiter:
RE: Increase in Long Term Care Funding
SEIU-West members and leaders were surprised with your public statements reported by CTV, on November 7, 2018, in a news story. You were reported as having confirmed that funding for Long-Term Care (LTC) has increased by over 40% under your watch. Our front-line members have not reported any relief to staffing shortages, particularly with respect to hands-on care providers, which may have come as a result of this increase in funding. Our follow-up efforts to obtain verification of this increase via communication with staff at your office, has not met with any reply to date.
In view of your announcement, we are inquiring when this additional funding was provided to the health care budget. We have been unable to ascertain the same in our review of the provincial government’s budget documents. Was this targeted funding directed towards capital funding or operational funding? Does the Ministry of Health have any accountability targets outlined with this additional funding? Is this funding temporary or permanent in nature? Our members have not experienced a funding increase in the provision of added staff to improve quality of care on the front line. On their behalf, we would like to know why funding increases of this nature have not been used to invest in safe staffing levels for front line caregivers.
Thank you for providing the requested information. SEIU-West members and leaders remain particularly interested in having a fulsome discussion about the need for improved staffing levels in the LTC sector, given the increased workload issues and complex resident needs facing our members on a daily basis.
Sincerely,
Barbara Cape
President of SEIU-West
cc: Minister of Rural and Remote Health, Greg Ottenbreit
Scott Livingstone, CEO – Saskatchewan Health Authority
SEIU-West Executive Board
Win of the Week! November 25-December 1
SEIU-West has a big win to share this week! Two group grievances were filed after it was discovered that an Employer wasn’t paying stand-by properly. Fourteen members were affected and after SEIU-West stepped in to ensure our collective agreement was followed, all fourteen members were paid properly! When SEIU-West wins, workers win!
SEIU-West Recognizes National Addictions Awareness Week: November 26- December 2
1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental illness or addiction problem. In respect to National Addictions Awareness Week, SEIU-West would like to recognize the members who work in addictions as well as the many people who suffer from substance abuse each day. The need to address mental health and addictions is urgent: people with mental illness and addictions are more likely to die prematurely than the general population as those suffering can have their life cut by 10 to 20 years. A huge problem for the lack of support is rooted in negative stigma – just 50% of Canadians would tell friends or co-workers that they have a family member who suffers with addictions and mental illness. It’s clear we have a lot of work to do, particularly in Saskatchewan where our suicide rates are among the highest in Canada.
Vital services such as treatment centres and programs are essential for recovery and support. Members like Allison and Janine work in a treatment centre, Metis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (MACSI). Janine works as a Day Program Counsellor and Allison works as a Cook – both positions are crucial to improving the wellbeing of those suffering through addictions.
Janine majored in Addictions Counselling in her Bachelor of Health Sciences. She also has her Applied Suicide Intervention and PTSD: Strategies and Techniques for Clinicians training. In her work she provides one-on-one counselling to Day Program clients. She also assists with intakes for the 28 Day Program, as well as Assessment Screening and Referrals. Janine is the facilitator for the Day Program each afternoon as well. Janine loves the teamwork and collaboration of all the staff involved with helping those who struggle with addiction. A memorable moment for Janine is the MACSI Saskatoon annual FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) Awareness Walk where clients lead the way. This Walk raises awareness and makes connections with members of the community, and SEIU-West is proud to support this Walk each year.
Allison works as the Head Cook at MACSI in Saskatoon. She has her Safe Food Handling Certificate and loves to cook for the clients each day. In her line of support for those experiencing addictions at MACSI, Allison provides nutritious meals and ensures their diet gets the attention it requires on the road to recovery. Healthy food is essential in helping the body rebuild itself and it is vital that the body gets the nutrients it needs. Allison values the work she does, and especially enjoys when clients tell her they love her food and thank her for her efforts.
We want to thank all our SEIU-West members who work with those suffering with addictions, and we extend our admiration for those battling with addictions – we know how stigma and lack of access to support systems can create huge barriers for recovery, and we hope our Saskatchewan Government will begin to take real steps to address this growing crisis in the near future. For more information on what these steps could look like, visit the links below:
A 10 Year Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan for Saskatchewan
Join Purple Day: November 28!
Our SEIU-West bargaining team is back at the bargaining table November 27-28 delivering the message:
NO Cuts! NO Rollbacks! Pay us what we’re worth!
Let’s show we support this message by wearing purple on November 28, 2018!
Take a picture of you and your fellow SEIU-West members to show your purple pride and support for bargaining a fair deal. You can then post that picture on our Facebook page or email [email protected] for your chance to WIN A PRIZE!
The SEIU-West YWC wants you to take action to stop violence against women
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women: The SEIU-West Young Workers Committee (YWC) wants you to take action to stop violence against women
December 6th – the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women – is meant to mark the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal who were killed because they were women. December 6 acts as a day to recognize and stop the ongoing gender-based violence women experience in Canada, and to ensure awareness and progress towards concrete solutions in eliminating violence against women.
In recognition of the National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women in Canada, the SEIU-West YWC encourages you to do your part in raising awareness on violence against women and to demonstrate your solidarity for those who provide support to women in need. You can do that by participating in their contest – plus you could win one of three fabulous pairs of earrings from Hillberg & Berk; proceeds of which go to survivors of domestic violence in Saskatchewan. There are three chances to be entered to win:
- Send picture of yourself or a group of SEIU-West members wearing red on December 6th by email to Catherine.[email protected]
- Sign and share the YWC petition that calls on the Saskatchewan government to pass legislation to ensure paid work leave for survivors of domestic violence: seiuwest.ca/campaign_paid_leave_for_survivors_of_domestic_violence
- Donate to your local woman’s shelter – you can take a picture of your donated items and email Catherine.[email protected] or bring donated items to your local SEIU-West office in Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, or Swift Current!
The deadline to enter is December 14, 2018!
For a list of requested items for women's shelters, visit the Moose Jaw Transition House donations list, the Saskatoon Interval House donations list, and the South West Crisis Services website.
Win of the Week! November 18-24
We have another awesome win to share! An Employer failed to pay overtime to one of our members so SEIU-West filed a grievance which was recently resolved to our members’ favour! They will now receive back-pay based on their proper amount of overtime hours worked - SEIU-West is proud to share in this celebration with them!
Security Services Update: Our House Needs In-house!
In April 2018, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) began a review of provincial security services in health care.
Win of the Week! November 11-17
It’s another great win this week after a SEIU-West member was reinstated with back pay!
Under the SAHO collective agreement, new hires are on probation for 480 hours. Management must tell them if their work is not meeting standards, and give them a chance to improve.
Recently, a member who works in health care was terminated for “unsuitability” after working 467 hours. The Employer didn’t tell the member why they were unsuitable or give them a chance to respond. SEIU-West filed a grievance.
On November 11 the arbitration panel ordered management to reinstate our member, pay them lost wages, and extend their probation by 320 hours.
Congratulations to our member and the SEIU-West team!
Media Release: Long-Term Care Investment Claims Questioned
For Immediate Release - November 14, 2018
Saskatoon – According to a recent media report, our Saskatchewan Minister of Health, the Honourable Jim Reiter is claiming that the SaskParty government has increased funding to Long-Term Care (LTC) by over 40%.
Win of the Week! November 4-10
This week, we reached an agreement with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) regarding Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) licensing requirements. This agreement provided our members with options if they are LPNs who have not completed the educational requirements of the Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (SALPN) to maintain their license in 2019. Prior to this agreement being reached, the employer had indicated that these members would be terminated with no available options given that licensing is a requirement to work in a LPN position.
To see the full Memorandum of Agreement, click here. And if you have any questions, please call the Member Resource Centre (MRC) at 1.888.999.7348 ext. 2298.
SEIU-West is proud to reach this agreement with the SHA alongside its health care coalition of unions – when we work together, we win together!
Celebrate Community Worker Appreciation Day!
SEIU-West is thrilled to celebrate Community Worker Appreciation Day on November 6, 2018! Community Workers work in Community Based Organizations (CBO), an immensely valuable sector that supports our most vulnerable populations. Our members who work in CBOs often work in group home settings where they’re able to improve the lives of those in need – people with addictions, those who cannot live independently, children in crisis, to name a few.
CBO workers are compassionate people who work in extremely stressful situations, but gain so much from the people they work with. Strong relationships are formed between CBO workers and those they care for, and we couldn’t be more proud of the people they are.
SEIU-West is particularly excited about this year’s Community Worker Appreciation Day as our Saskatoon Office is hosting the CBO province-wide conference! There will be CBO workers joining us from not only SEIU-West, but also from SGEU and CUPE. In recognition of this exciting conference and our Appreciation Day, we ask that you participate in our CBO Worker contest!
Simply visit our CBO coalition website, www.saskpeoplewhocare.org and tell us about a CBO worker from the website. For bonus points, please share the website on your social media! It is vital that we share the work of those who contribute so much to our communities – so please, participate today! Tell us about a CBO worker/whether you shared the website online by emailing [email protected] by November 13, 2018.
It’s Medical Radiation Technologist (MRT) Week!
MRT Week is November 4-10, and SEIU-West is proud to celebrate the vital role of MRTs in our health care team!
MRT’s work with ever-changing radiation technology that has helped patients around the world. With the use of medical imaging and treatment technologies, MRTs are able to identify and assist in the finding of causes, effects, and treatment of disease.
Due to advancements in medical radiation technology, MRTs must be current and innovate in their skillset – they must also have excellent communication and interpersonal skills as they work closely with patients. With the involvement of MRTs, our health care team can provide the best quality care for the members of our communities.
In recognition of their valued work, SEIU-West invites you to participate in the MRT Week Contest! We ask that you tell us – why MRTs are vital to the health care team? Email [email protected] with your answer, and you’ll be entered to win!
Contest Deadline: November 12, 2018