Date: February 15, 2024
Sisters, Brothers, and Friends,
Your SEIU-West bargaining committee met with the SAHO/SHA bargaining committee Feb 13-15 in Saskatoon.
This week we continued to compare SAHO/SHA proposals with our current Collective Agreement language and our proposed language. We had identified quite a few Employer proposals that are concessionary. We asked what are the cost savings that the SAHO/SHA proposals will provide to the employer and are waiting for a response.
So far, we are quite far apart in our proposals. We are seeking to enhance your rights and benefits in our Collective Agreement. They include (but aren’t limited to):
- Improvements to the list of classifications covered by market adjustments;
- Improvements to the grievance process to allow for more opportunities to get to resolves in a more timely way;
- Introducing language regarding a representative workforce that will recognize the cultural diversity needs of our members;
- Defining seniority to maintain employment opportunities and accessing the benefits of our collective agreement;
- Enhancing the language related to posting/filling of vacancies and how multi-site positions are managed;
- Improvements to the transportation allowance that will address volatile fuel costs;
- Full payment of professional fees that are charged by a member’s licensing body;
- Increasing overtime and premium pay from 1.5x to 2xs;
- Improvements to shift and weekend premiums;
- Expanding bereavement leave provisions; and
- Improving benefits for maternity or paternity leave.
Some of these proposals are specific to SEIU-West. Some of these proposals are traditionally common between SEIU-West, CUPE 5430, and SGEU Health providers. Some proposals deal with the ongoing issues resulting from the transition to a provincial health authority—yes, we are still determined to address these issues!
We appreciate the emails and messages that have been sent by our members. We know all too well the frustrations that our members are feeling with short staffing, workload challenges, and the pressure felt because of the cost of living/inflation. It’s at the top of our minds every day.
Bargaining is about asking questions, getting clarity and understanding what is driving a particular proposal. When we bargain, we don’t get to the ‘salary conversations’ immediately—because there is a lot of language that impacts what monetary proposals will be. We continue to be focused on getting a fair and reasonable tentative agreement that you will be able to review and vote on.
If you have collective agreement questions or issues, contact the Member Resource Center at 1-888-999-7348 ext 1, email [email protected], or complete the Contact Us form on our website, www.seiuwest.ca.
In Solidarity on behalf of the SEIU-West Bargaining Committee
Barbara Cape
President
SEIU-West
Your SEIU-West SAHO Provincial Bargaining Committee:
CHR: Janice Platzke (SEIU-West Treasurer) • FHHR: Brenda Berry, Barbara Bubyn • HHR: Colleen Denniss • SHR: Rhonda Bzdel, Chris Clark, Jeanne Javinal, Carla Saworski, Charlene Sarafin • Extendicare: Kevin Martin • Staff: Bob Laurie (Dir. of Bargaining and Contract Enforcement), Russell Doell (Deputy Dir. of Bargaining and Contract Enforcement • President: Barbara Cape