SEIU-West Collective Agreement 2020: Everything You Need to Know
SEIU-West, the largest health care union in Saskatchewan, has recently reached a new collective agreement with the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO) for the years 2020-2024.
The agreement covers over 13,000 health care workers, including nursing and support staff, and contains several notable changes and improvements for workers.
Wages and Benefits
Under the new agreement, workers will receive a 3% wage increase in each of the four years, as well as a one-time signing bonus of $750. This represents a significant increase from the previous agreement, which had included a wage freeze.
Workers will also see an increase in their shift premium, with evening and night shift premiums increasing by $0.25 per hour, and weekend shift premiums increasing by $0.50 per hour.
Additionally, workers will be eligible for an increased health spending account, with an annual amount of $550 for full-time employees and a pro-rated amount for part-time employees.
Workload and Staffing
One of the main concerns for health care workers is workload and staffing levels. Under the new agreement, there will be additional funding for staffing, with $6 million allocated over the life of the agreement.
This funding will be used to address staffing shortages and ensure that workers have the support they need to provide quality care to patients.
Other Changes
The new agreement also includes several other changes, such as improvements to vacation entitlements and scheduling arrangements.
Workers will now have the option to cash out up to one week of their vacation entitlement each year, and there will be an increase in the amount of time off for personal business.
There will also be improvements to scheduling arrangements, with workers now having the ability to request a compressed work week or job sharing, and improvements to the scheduling of breaks during shifts.
Conclusion
Overall, the new SEIU-West collective agreement for 2020-2024 represents a significant improvement for health care workers in Saskatchewan.
With increased wages and benefits, funding for staffing, and improvements to workload and scheduling arrangements, workers can feel confident that they are being supported in their efforts to provide quality care to patients.
If you are a health care worker in Saskatchewan, be sure to review the full agreement and speak to your union representative to learn more about how it will impact you.