Date: June 7, 2024
Greetings Sisters, Brothers, and Colleagues,
The membership responded overwhelmingly in support of their Bargaining Committee. Thank you! The membership participation in the April 15 Strike Vote demonstrated unanimous support to take strike action against the Employer, should that become necessary.
The Union, with the assistance of our legal counsel, is completing an application to the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board (SLRB) for assistance in concluding a first collective agreement under The Saskatchewan Employment Act (the SEA) 6-25 (1).
Once the application for assistance has been submitted, the Legislation in the SEA states that employees shall not strike or continue to strike and the Union shall not declare, authorize or counsel a strike and the Employer shall not lock out or continue to lock out the employees.
Your Bargaining Committee wants you to know this means neither we, nor the Employer, can take any job-related actions while we move through the application for assistance to conclude our First Agreement.
The Union has maintained contact with the Employer throughout the past eight weeks. The parties have discussed a return to bargaining, with the Union wanting Employer assurance they have changed their position on the Seniority Provisions the Union has proposed (date of hire seniority).
The Bargaining Committee met with SEIU-West staff on Friday June 7 to discuss our next steps in getting to a First Agreement. The membership will be notified of any upcoming meeting dates with the Employer and Bargaining Unit meeting dates via personal email, the use of posters in the facility, and communication through a Facebook group.
On behalf of the Committee, if you have questions about bargaining and mediation, contact the Member Resource Centre (MRC) by phone at 1-888-999-7348 ext 2298, by email at [email protected], or by using the contact form at www.seiuwest.ca. The MRC will ensure you get a quick response.
Your participation in your Union makes us all strong!
In Solidarity,
The SEIU-West Stonebridge Crossing Bargaining Committee
Christine Derkach (Unit Chair) • Nathalie Ahotoh (Unit Vice-Chair) • Ivy Krueger (Communicator) Staff: Tracy Goodheart (Union Representative) • Larry Buchinski (Southern Negotiations Officer) • Bob Laurie (Director, Contract Bargaining & Enforcement)
