SEIU-West member Carla works in an urban hospital as a Medical Lab Tech (MLT), specifically in hematology. She manages coagulation therapy and analyzes blood counts for patients with leukemia, gastrointestinal bleeds, heart attacks, and monitors patients during surgeries.
Carla's life and job were busy before COVID-19 hit and both have just gotten busier over the past year. Rural hospitals from across the province send in COVID samples to be processed and analyzed. The pressure of knowing someone is waiting on results as the samples stack up has been draining. Her team is doing their best in these circumstances, but the daily worry of whether they themselves catch COVID, or bring it home to their loved ones only adds anxiety to an already stressed work environment. Like so many health care workers, MLTs patiently await their vaccine and hope the virus numbers go down soon. She’s watched her coworkers exit the system over the past year, likely in part to the anxiety of COVID and the stress it’s added to the field.
One of Carla’s favorite memories this winter was when she left work after a night shift knowing that there were COVID samples that had yet to be processed and when she returned the next day they were caught up. It took a snow storm to assist in getting through the backlog.
Carla would love to send a message to thank everyone that has assisted us to limit transmission by using masks and sanitizer, and limiting themselves to essential travel and needs.
We are proud to send a message back to everyone on Carla’s team during National Medical Laboratory Week thanking all who work in our provincial lab services for their incredible dedication and work to help diagnose and protect everyone across the province.
Tucked away in the kitchen of the Last Mountain Pioneer Home in Strasbourg, Saskatchewan, you'll find Crystal.
As a Dietary Aid, Crystal spends her shift doing food preparation for the home's cook.
She lays out the dining settings for her residents and then serves them their delicious, home-cooked meals.
It's an aspect of the job she loves the most.
After everybody has enjoyed their meal, Crystal heads back to wash and sanitize the dishes.
Then the process begins all over again, to get ready for the next meal.
As Dietary Aid, Crystal has completed the Food Safe Course.
Her training in Transfers, Lifts & Repositioning (TLR) and Gentle Persuasive Approach (GPA) helps her deliver resident-centered, compassionate care.
Thank you for everything you do Crystal!
National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW) is from November 22 to 28, and this year is a particularly important year to recognize how much addictions affect our communities – as the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction shared, people who use substances report a loss of social connection and supports and an increase in isolation, fear and anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That’s why the SEIU-West members who work in addiction services are so vital to the wellbeing of our communities because treatment centres and programs are essential for recovery and support. Members who work at Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (MACSI), the Saskatchewan Impaired Driver Treatment Centre or within the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) are crucial to improving the wellbeing of those suffering through addictions.
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 take steps to address this growing crisis.
From November 22-28, SEIU-West is proud to recognize and celebrate Education Week!
SEIU-West is pleased to acknowledge the work that Education Assistants, Library Technicians, Custodians, Tradespeople, Food Service Workers, Administrative Assistants, and School Bus Drivers do to prepare students for tomorrow. The SEIU-West education team ensure our children experience quality education by:
- Assisting teachers to provide tailor-made education for students;
- Ensuring school offices and administrative details run smoothly;
- Providing healthy meals to keep young minds strong;
- Driving and maintaining the buses so our children make it home safely; and
- Creating safe schools and grounds for students to enjoy.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, Education Workers are going above and beyond to ensure the safety of students. We know you’re working hard, and are often faced with inadequate plans from our government – as with all front line workers during COVID-19, you should have a wage supplement to demonstrate the value you bring to our communities during these trying times. We continue to work on this front and hope you will connect with your newly elected MLA on this issue as well.
In recognition of our Education team, we encourage you to participate in the Education Week Contest!
Let us know about an Education Worker (must be a SEIU-West member) who goes above and beyond in their work – you and your nominee could win a gift card or SEIU-West swag!
Enter the contest by November 29, 2020 to [email protected] for your chance to win!
Celebrate Medical Radiation Technologist (MRT) Week!!
For the week of November 8-14, SEIU-West is proud to celebrate the important role of MRTs in health care.
The work of MRTs are vital for quality patient care as MRTs perform imaging and radiation-related therapy, which is so often needed in our public health care system. MRTs deliver safe and professional care by relying on the important skills and experience they’ve gained in their line of work and education – MRTs will start IVs, prepare equipment, perform biopsies, angiograms, feeding tube placements and support a proper diagnosis for their patients – just to name a few responsibilities!
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 a Visa gift card or SEIU-West swag!
Contest Deadline: November 15, 2020
Want to be featured as a MRT Frontline Hero? Fill out a profile here – be sure to include a photo!
Good luck!!
SEIU-West is proud to recognize the dedicated members who work in the community-based organization (CBO) sector.
In celebration of Community Worker Appreciation Day, SEIU-West CBO workers joined their fellow CBO workers from across Saskatchewan for their online 2020 CBO Worker Conference on November 5, 2020.
Hosted by the CBO Committee comprised of SGEU, CUPE, and SEIU-West members, the day gave the chance for CBO workers to dig deeper in order to improve their working lives and the vital care they provide to others.
This discussion led to a deeper dive into how to better understand the six basic human needs – certainty, variety, significance, love/connection, growth, contribution – and how communication improves when we understand which of these six needs is motivating ourselves and others around us.
Our members told us that the speaker, Natasha Finell-Sukarukoff, was enjoyable and made the content fun and relatable. One attendee said: This day allowed me to pause and reflect on how the pandemic has affected me and that self-care is not selfishness. Taking care of myself means I can be better at taking care of others.
We’re delighted CBO workers were able to gather in solidarity and we can’t thank them enough for their dedication in the work they do – whether that be in a group home, a crisis centre, a child care facility, or an addictions treatment centre – the work they do is invaluable!
In recognition of Community Worker Appreciation Day, SEIU-West invites you to enter our contest! Let us know why CBO workers are important to your community – by entering, you could win a Visa gift card or SEIU-West swag!
Email your entries to [email protected] – the deadline to enter is November 13, 2020!
November is Home Care Month and SEIU-West is proud to celebrate alongside our valued Home Care members.
Home Care is an essential part of our health care system – it allows people to stay in the comfort of their home while ensuring their health care needs are met. Health Care Providers who work in Home Care visit clients’ homes to ensure they have assistance with their personal care including medication administration or assistance, dressing changes, oral care as well as non-medical needs such as bathing and meal preparation. Importantly, those who work in Home Care also provide valued relationships that enhance clients’ lives. As many clients face the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, these relationships are especially vital. It’s no wonder those who provide home care services are called frontline heroes.
Yet those in power have seen home care services cut by 8% since 2014 in Saskatchewan – it is vital that we connect with our newly elected MLAs to let them know this important service for seniors must be restored.
In recognition of Home Care Month, we invite you to participate in our contest! Let us know how a Home Care Worker has benefited your wellbeing – those who enter could win a Visa gift card or SEIU-West swag! Please note: only SEIU-West members are eligible to enter.
Please send your entry to [email protected] – the deadline to enter is December 1, 2020.
To all our SEIU-West Home Care Health Care Providers, we thank you!!
Check out some of our frontline health care heroes for Health Care Providers Week! The below health care providers are just an example of the caring people who enter the health care sector for the benefit of others, and it’s important to take the time to recognize the skills, experience and professionalism that all health care providers bring to their work. They not only have quality foundational education, health care providers are constantly learning the most current skills and putting them into practice in order to ensure the people of Saskatchewan are receiving the best quality care available. This means is that all members of the health care team should be respected for their valued contribution to client, patient and resident care.