The SEIU-West First Nations, Métis and Inuit Committee (FNMIC) is hosting a contest to design an image for orange shirts that the committee provides yearly to members. Submit your design to enter to win a $100 Co-op gift card.
Pinned
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.
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!
Dwayne Kindt works in maintenance at Royal University Hospital and also volunteers as a firefighter out of Asquith. We’re proud to call him our Member of Distinction after his efforts in the Biggar wildfires this past Spring.
Dwayne got the call after local Biggar firefighters had been battling the fire all afternoon and night – he and a group of volunteers from Asquith responded to the state of emergency call for aid immediately so they could relieve the personnel that had been there since the fire
started. Dwayne and his fellow volunteers arrived at 5:30 am and fought the fires continually until 9:00 pm that night. For more than 15 hours, Dwayne helped put out the fires; he also helped save at least one home and workshop by redirecting the fire, all the while surrounded by flames.
The whole community came together to combat the fires, and we’re proud of volunteers like Dwayne who put their life at risk to aid a community in need. While he was not alone in his efforts, his bravery is just one example of how every person can make a positive
difference. Thank you Dwayne!
Send your MOD nominations to [email protected].
We recently held our kick off for the renewal of SEIU-West committees. Each committee had discussions about improvements to worker safety and how this goal might fit into 
their future work. Worker safety has been a regular theme this year for the work done within SEIU-West.
When you think about it, so much of our work flows to and from worker safety: educating and mobilizing around the three rights (the Right to Know; the Right to Participate; the Right to Refuse); building knowledge and skills with young workers, new Canadians, and more seasoned staff; providing awareness about avenues to become involved and active within the scope of workplace safety; and combating racism, discrimination and stereotypes that affect the emotional and mental wellbeing of all of our members.
The committees have been tasked with how they will incorporate worker safety into their work over the next two years. And I’m excited to see the innovative ways that they reach out to build our membership with that goal in mind. Our committees are:
- Aboriginal
- Education
- Member Organizing
- Nursing Care
- Political Action & Awareness
- Retirees
- Worker Safety
- Workers of Colour
- Young Workers
These committees are comprised of members from every sector we represent: industrial and allied, education, community-based organizations, retirement homes, and health care. We want to ensure that our members have opportunities to engage with and help lead our union. We should also be looking at how we build a wider movement to encompass people whose principles and beliefs align with ours.
This is the work of our union beyond bargaining, grievances and arbitration…it builds on our vision of a more just and humane society. Each one of our committees has brought forward something unique: great opportunities, radical ideas, strong advocacy, and solid history…I look forward to seeing what they accomplish over the next two years.
SEIU-West members were invited once again to march in support of awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). This walk is held annually by MACSI in Saskatoon on the ninth day of the ninth month at 9:09 am to highlight the nine months of pregnancy.
MACSI is committed to helping women have safe and healthy pregnancies and to supporting individuals and families living with FASD.
We are proud to be a partner in their efforts to educate the public and help put an end to this preventable disorder.
In order for CBOs like MACSI to continue their community-based work, they need stable, reliable, multi-year funding from our governments.
We continue to accept complete CBO petitions with the goal of presenting them to the Legislative Assembly of
Saskatchewan on or around November 6, 2019 - Community Worker Appreciation Day.
Anyone can participate!
Go to the 'what we believe' section on SEIUWEST.ca and click on the 'People Who Care' campaign (or type in this: http://www.seiuwest.ca/ provide_stable_reliable_multi_year_funding_to_cbos).
Download a copy of our paper petition and print several out, and gather signatures.
Return the original, signed petitions using the instructions that are at the bottom of the petition by October 31, 2019.
For Immediate Release - December 13, 2019
Saskatoon – SEIU-West health care providers voted on a job action mandate Wednesday, December 11, 2019. An overwhelming majority agreed to authorize the SEIU-West bargaining committee to use any and all job actions needed to get a fair contract.
The members of SEIU-West have spoken!
Saskatoon, December 12, 2019
Click here to download a printable PDF file of YWCA Saskatoon: Bargaining Update No. 3
Greetings Sisters and Brothers,
Our last update indicated the Union and the Employer reached an impasse in bargaining in the summer of 2019, after the membership voted to reject the Employer’s last offer of a 1.5% wage increase effective July 1, 2019, with no provision for retroactive pay.
Members Seniority Re-Instated after SEIU-West Files Grievance
A member had all of their 18 years of seniority removed from the recent seniority list. The Employer did not respond when member advised them of the situation. A grievance was filed and the Employer corrected the seniority list right after receiving the grievance. This is a good reminder to not be silent. Speak up! You have the strength of SEIU-West behind you!
FACT CHECK
Member Awarded Position Denied due to Pregnancy
An Employer denied a member from taking a temp position because the member was pregnant and expecting in January. This employer had a past practice – if a pregnant employee couldn’t work 50% of the temp, they would not be awarded the position. Prior to filing a grievance, the Union raised both discriminatory action and Human Rights issue as arguments for the employer to stop this action. The employer agreed and awarded the position to the expectant mom – what a great win!
The United Nations has established each December 3rd as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). The theme 2019 is The Future is Accessible. IDPD is a day intended, “to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.”
SEIU-West is committed to ensure that people with disabilities do not face exclusion and discrimination. Ensuring inclusion empowers them to fully participate and contribute to society. We must all do our part in removing those barriers so those with disabilities can lead full and productive lives.
On December 2, front line workers Community-Based Organization (CBO) workers representing SEIU-West, SGEU and CUPE, were at the Saskatchewan Legislature to present petitions calling for multi-year funding in their sector – read more here.
CBOs are non-profit groups that work at a local level to help improve life for residents by providing vital services to some of the most vulnerable people in our society including providing support for the disabled. – watch this video to find out more about CBOs.
There are limited resources for people with disabilities as it is and CBO’s are currently one of the few available to them. CBO’s often work to develop innovative solutions on a very restricted budget and to ensure that they continue with their service, find out more about these Sask People Who Care.