Date: November 20, 2020
BARGAINING UPDATE
Greetings Sisters and Brothers,
Your SEIU-West Bargaining Committee was scheduled for conciliation talks with SAHO on November 16 and 17 together with Pete Suderman, the Conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety. These dates extended into November 18 and 19.
At the end of a number of late nights, we reached a tentative agreement that we will bring to our members for ratification. Details of the tentative agreement will be shared first with our members, before they are shared more widely.
Unfortunately, because of the public health orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we aren’t able to meet our members in their facilities. To ensure our members get an opportunity to review the contents of the agreement so everyone voting can make an informed decision, we are preparing the following:
- A document for members to review that will outline the changes and improvements.
- Numerous video conferences and virtual town halls to provide every member with ample opportunity to ask questions and understand the impact of the agreement.
- Multiple opportunities for members to meet the bargaining committee virtually to ask questions.
In addition, our voting process will be done electronically, rather than by paper ballot within the facilities.
We will have up to 60 days in which to complete the voting process according to The Saskatchewan Employment Act (SEA).
If you would like an electronic copy of the tentative agreement, please use the ‘contact’ link on SEIUWEST.ca. Provide your name, mailing address and facility so that we can cross reference you on our member database and we’ll send you an electronic copy.
There will be a number of questions along the way and we strongly recommend that members look for answers by attending our bargaining presentations or through the Member Resource Center (MRC) by phone 1-888-999-7348 ext. 2298 (or the contact form on SEIUWEST.ca) – we will not be answering questions through social media.
In Solidarity,
Your SEIU-West SAHO Provincial Bargaining Committee:
CHR: Janice Platzke (SEIU-West Treasurer) • FHHR: Brenda Berry; Donna Gallant • HHR: Colleen Denniss • SHR: Judy Denniss; Rick Brown; Carla Saworski; Kim Wyatt; Charlene Sarafin; • Staff: Bob Laurie (Dir. of Bargaining and Contract Enforcement); Russell Doell (Deputy Dir. of Bargaining and Contract Enforcement); Cam McConnell (Negotiations Officer) • President: Barbara Cape