Win of the Week! Cheshire Homes Collective Agreement
Collective agreement reached between Cheshire Homes of Saskatoon and SEIU-West
Recently, SEIU-West was informed of several workers whose seats on their Occupational Health Committees (OHC) were expiring – in response, our union conducted investigations to determine these vacancies and sent a response back with our appointed members. One Employer aimed to retain the OHC members already on their list but as is outlined in the Saskatchewan Employment Act, unions have the right to determine our representatives on OHC’s where our members work. It is imperative that we retain this right and protect it because we know health and safety must include the feedback and experiences of frontline workers who are there representing their fellow union comrades, and not their Employer.
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Win of the Week! March 29-April 4
While COVID-19 is taking over much of our work lives, this win is a reminder that we must remain diligent in ensuring employers adhere to both our collective agreements and the Saskatchewan Employment Act (SEA). This week, a member informed SEIU-West that their employer was selecting Occupational Health Committee (OHC) members and that the worker co-chair was out of scope. As the SEA outlines, workers/their union have the right to select/elect their own worker representatives and there must be one employer co-chair, and one worker co-chair. As a result, SEIU-West drafted an urgent letter informing the employer of this right and immediately, the employer adjusted their behaviour. The right to have balanced worker representation on each OHC is vital to enforce as we know safety is a number one priority, and we must not let the employer forget that. If you are experiencing the same issues at your workplace, please contact the Member Resource Centre (MRC) through our website https://www.seiuwest.ca/contact or by phone 1-888-999-7348 ext. 2298
Win of the Week! March 22-28
We couldn’t wait to share this win of the week that occurred over the weekend! When we arrived to our Moose Jaw office on Monday morning, we found out a member of the general public in Moose Jaw surprised us with a thoughtful gesture. In bold, purple chalk was a message of thanks to SEIU-West members, alongside a large heart. It certainly warmed our hearts, and we hope it does for you too! Thank you, as always, to each of our members who are providing public services and demonstrating true leadership during this time of crisis.