SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Update No. 7
Date: September 1, 2023
Sisters, Brothers, and Friends,
Your SEIU-West Bargaining Committee was unable to meet over the summer due to scheduling conflicts.
Date: June 18, 2021
Greetings Sisters and Brothers,
I know it’s hard to believe that we’re still providing bargaining updates, but there have been some matters that we wanted to communicate to our members.
We’ve reviewed and corrected some errors in the wage schedules; provided some edits and corrections to the new collective agreement language; and we are having some issues with last minute additions that SAHO put on the new letters of understanding (LOUs). Normally these are signed by SAHO and SEIU-West’s bargaining team, as the parties to the collective agreement; however, now the Saskatchewan Health Authority has been added as a third signatory.
So why does this matter? SAHO is legally the official and exclusive bargaining agent for the healthcare employers and affiliates listed in the Collective Agreement. What does it mean if one employer now is superior to all the other employers in the collective agreement and enjoys potentially the same bargaining position as SAHO, which is supposed to be the SHA’s bargaining agent? Does this mean that the SHA can now withdraw from the LOU that everyone signed? Does it mean that an LOU signed by more Employer entities than SAHO (a potential violation of the Saskatchewan Employment Act) may be deemed null and void, or does it mean that only the SHA’s participation would be voided? The union has asked SAHO for their opinion on these matters, and awaits their response.
Beyond that, bargaining and reaching a tentative agreement is predicated on the notion that all issues have been thoroughly canvassed by the parties and there would be no surprises in the final collective agreement document. There was no discussion between the parties at the bargaining table regarding adding a separate signature line for the SHA in our new LOUs, and in the renewal of one particular LOU which sets out the Employer funding formula for the extended health and enhanced dental benefits plan. The union wants to be absolutely sure that this last-minute SAHO amendment to the LOUs will have no effect on the legality of the LOUs or on the commitments made in those LOUs.
While we resolve this issue, the production of the collective agreement books is being delayed.
As an interim measure, please refer to the current collective agreement and read it in conjunction with the language of the tentative agreement. We provided those electronically, and will put a copy on our website. If you want an electronic copy, just use the ‘contact us’ link on the website and we’ll get one in the mail to you. If you wish to check your rate of pay, please call the MRC for assistance.
In solidarity and respect,
Your SEIU-West Bargaining Committee
To download a PDF copy of this bulletin, please click here.
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
SEIU-West/
SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Bulletin No. 6
Date: June 28, 2023
Sisters, Brothers and Comrades,
Your SEIU-West Bargaining Committee hasn’t had much to report on the bargaining front because of the excessive periods of time SAHO takes before it provided responses to our requests regarding setting up a meeting to discuss logistical issues prior to setting dates for our bargaining sessions.
SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Bulletin No 5
Date: February 24, 2023
Sisters, Brothers and Comrades,
On February 22 and 23, your SEIU-West Bargaining Committee met to review and finalize the package of proposed changes that we are intending to make to the SEIU-West/SAHO collective agreement.
We’ve heard from our members, very clearly, that the cost of living and its impact on healthcare workers is not sustainable. Members have identified their priority is to be paid more money, and to be respected for their contributions to keeping the Saskatchewan healthcare system afloat.
April 30th Claims Submission Deadline
All extended health care and dental expenses incurred in 2022 must be submitted to Canada Life before April 30, 2023.
SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Update No. 4
Date: January 27, 2023
Sisters, Brothers and Comrades,
Your SEIU-West Bargaining Committee met January 25 and 26, to conclude our review of the SEIU-West proposal package. We also reviewed a package of “common proposal”, where SEIU-West, SGEU Health Providers and CUPE have the same language, to identify improvements our members have identified in their replies to the bargaining updates, in their calls and emails to the Member Resource Center and in their responses and comments in the bargaining survey that our members completed.
SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Update No. 3
Date: January 20, 2023
Sisters, Brothers and Comrades,
Your SEIU-West Bargaining Committee dug in to review several past and present documents that would guide the development of our proposal package.
SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Update No. 2
Date: January 13, 2023
Your SEIU-West bargaining committee met to caucus from Jan 11-13 in Saskatoon.
Our focus continues to be reviewing the information we received on the member bargaining surveys and finalizing our proposal package and bargaining strategy.
SEIU-West/SAHO Bargaining Update No. 1
Date: December 16, 2022
Sisters, Brothers and Comrades,
This is our first update for the upcoming SEIU-West/SAHO 2023 round of bargaining. We’ve been busy already!
AIMS Feedback Opportunities
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is looking for feedback from health care staff on the AIMS program. Please check the SHA Daily Rounds - December 5, 2022 email for more information and other opportunities to participate.
If you have any questions about your collective agreement, please contact the Member Resource Centre (MRC).
Save the Date: SAHO/Extendicare Bargaining Conference
It's that time again. We're hosting the SAHO/Extendicare Bargaining Conference this fall in Saskatoon.