Build Power, Win Justice: An Exercise in Democracy
On September 23, 2024, SEIU-West staff member Dennel joined the Speak Up Saskatchewan campaign and sent a letter to her MLA, who offered to meet with her.
As I sit with our bargaining committee, I am reminded that I didn’t introduce them to the members who joined us on the virtual town hall conference call. If you attended any of the roadshow meetings in August, you would have met some of the members of the bargaining committee, but here is my introduction of who they are:
- Brenda Berry – CCA at Central Butte Regency Manor – Five Hills Health Region;
- Judy Denniss – LPN at Saskatoon City Hospital – Saskatoon Health Region;
- Simone Corriveau – Medical Lab Tech II at St. Paul’s Hospital – Saskatoon Health Region;
- Kim Wyatt – Security Officer – Royal University Hospital – Saskatoon Health Region;
- Rick Brown – Systems Analyst – Royal University Hospital – Saskatoon Health Region;
- Charlene Sarafin – LPN at Saskatoon Homecare – Saskatoon Health Region;
- Colleen Denniss – CCA – Rose Villa – Heartland Health Region;
- Donna Gallant – Drug Distribution Tech – Five Hills Health Region;
- Janice Platzke – SEIU-West Treasurer & Food Services Worker, Cypress Health Region;
- Cam McConnell – Northern Negotiations Officer, SEIU-West;
- Russell Doell – Deputy Director of Contract Bargaining and Enforcement, SEIU-West;
- Bob Laurie – Director of Contract Bargaining and Enforcement, SEIU-West; and
- Barbara Cape – Cook at Extendicare Parkside & SEIU-West President.
These are front line health care workers who not only share their experiences in their workplaces, but everyone on this committee has hands-on experience with what is happening in our health care system.
Onto the next series of questions (these are continued from the Oct 13 and Oct 17 posts):
8. Are they proposing to take away health benefits (dental, eyeglasses, etc) – Linda, Shaunavon.
There is no proposal to take away current benefits. And in fact, there have been some modest increases to some of our benefits recently. What is being proposed by SAHO and the government of Saskatchewan is a contribution holiday, for the employer, on their required contributions to the Extended Health and Dental (EHD) Plan to reduce the surplus in our plan…to a point. They are also proposing that members co-pay 25% of the benefit contributions which is another rollback.
9. In past bargaining tables, monetary items are discussed at the end of bargaining, have the non-monetary items been concluded? – Carrie, Saskatoon.
No they have not. You describe the past process correctly, but this round has been odd from the very start, with the Minister of Finance’s ‘invitation’ for front line workers to take -3.5% (a direct and obvious intrusion in the negotiation process by government). We are also facing their arbitrary deadlines imposed on us to get a tentative agreement. We had begun to work on the non-monetary items specific to SEIU-West (as did CUPE and SGEU), however SAHO pushed to get the health care coalition to a common table where monetary items are usually dealt with, before we had finalized those issues.
10. Is bargaining right now hearing any risk to pensions? – Barb, Rockglen.
There is no discussion at bargaining regarding pensions. Remember, SHEPP (Saskatchewan Healthcare Employees’ Pension Plan), is a jointly trusteed plan; with representatives from both union-side and employer-side.
11. Is the rollback at 1% and is there any wiggle room to move them down more? – Dave, Saskatoon.
The general wage decrease currently being proposed by SAHO is a 1% reduction. The process of bargaining is to try to find that ‘wiggle room’. As well as other reductions and cuts, it amounts to about -3.65%. Keep in mind that this is only what SAHO/Government of Saskatchewan has proposed…we don’t accept that any cuts or rollbacks; we don’t accept them because it is disrespectful of the incredible work and skill of our front line experts…YOU!
If you want to stand against these cuts, if you want to voice your objection, then come to the rally with workers from across the province at the Legislature in Regina on October 25. Register for the bus by going to this link [email protected].
We need your voice, your strength, your solidarity and your continued engagement.
In solidarity,
Barbara Cape
President, SEIU-West
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