Chantell Mollenhauer Second Vice President

05/03/2025

Thank You for Your Support

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to every single member who voted for me and stood by my side during the Second Vice-President election. Your support means the world to me, and I'm truly grateful for your confidence, encouragement, and belief in the vision I brought forward.

While the results didn't go our way this time, I remain committed to advocating for nurses and pushing for the changes we need. This journey has only strengthened my determination, and I’m proud of the campaign we ran together.

Thank you again for standing with me!

Chantell Mollenhauer
Local 107

04/22/2025

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported me during my campaign for Second Vice President. Your encouragement, belief in me, and kind words meant more than I can express. Whether you shared advice, lent an ear, or helped spread the word.... I’m truly grateful. I’m proud to stand alongside such dedicated and passionate members, and I look forward to continuing this work together if elected. Again, Thank you!

04/12/2025

04/05/2025

Still lots of time to vote! Let your voice be heard. Vote for change! I will be a strong, dedicated advocate for YOU!

04/03/2025

It’s Voting Day #1! Get out there and make your voice heard! It takes two min. Every vote counts! Let's shape the future together! April 2nd to 22nd...

Vote complete ✅✅✅

04/01/2025

Dear Members,

Every day, we show up, not just for our patients but for each other. We carry the weight of this profession, standing shoulder to shoulder in the face of challenges that only we truly understand. We have felt the strain, the exhaustion, the frustration of not being heard. But we have also felt the power of standing together.

On April 2nd to 22nd you have the chance to make your voice heard. This is not just about an election; it is about the future of nursing. It is about ensuring that those who advocate for you truly understand the struggles, the sacrifices, and the strength it takes to be a nurse.

To be a nurse in today’s world is very different from what it once was. The economy is different, demands are greater, the challenges heavier, and the responsibilities continue to grow. We work through short staffing, moral distress, and exhaustion, yet we continue to show up because we care. We care about our patients, about each other, and about the future of our profession.

Change is hard. It takes courage. But together, we can push for the respect, support, and recognition we deserve. When nurses feel valued, respected, and appreciated, it is not just about individual recognition; it is about affirming the true value of our profession. Nursing is the foundation of healthcare, and when we are supported, we can do what we do best: advocate for our patients, deliver exceptional care, and drive the changes needed to strengthen our healthcare system.

I want to see the biggest turnout in voting that SUN has ever had. Take the time to vote. Stand up for yourself (what you want), your colleagues, our patients and the future of nursing. Your voice matters! Your vote matters!

03/28/2025

Another educational question from a member: What is CFNU and Why is it Important?

The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) is the national voice for over 200,000 unionized nurses across Canada. CFNU advocates for improved working conditions, safer workplaces, and stronger public healthcare policies. By working closely with provincial unions like SUN, CFNU ensures that nurses' concerns are heard at the federal level.

One of CFNU’s key strengths is its ability to gather and analyze data on nurses’ wages, premiums, and benefits from across the country. This comprehensive information allows CFNU to highlight disparities, advocate for fair compensation, and push for policies that improve retention and recruitment in our profession. I encourage you to review this information.

CFNU has also been a strong advocate for nurse-patient ratios, recognizing that safe staffing levels are critical to both patient care and nurse well-being. By pushing for legislated ratios, CFNU has helped shine a light on the connection between staffing levels, patient outcomes, and nurse burnout.

At the forefront of this work is Linda Silas, CFNU’s long-standing president. Linda is a passionate and dedicated leader who has spent her career fighting for nurses and public healthcare. Her relentless advocacy, powerful voice, and unwavering commitment to frontline workers make her admirable in the world of union activism.

By educating yourself about CFNU’s work, you can become part of this movement for change. Knowledge is power, and by understanding national trends, wage structures, and successful advocacy strategies, you can be the voice Saskatchewan needs to help improve our profession.

As a candidate for Second Vice President, I believe that informed, engaged nurses are the key to driving positive change. CFNU’s work empowers us to fight for equity, respect, and the recognition that nurses deserve.

Here is the website https://nursesunions.ca/

03/22/2025

Education: What is COLA in a CBA? Why does this matter? — Protecting Your Wages in Uncertain Times

With Saskatchewan’s economy facing uncertainty, it’s more important than ever for nurses to understand how the Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) protects not just our wages — but our financial security and our families' well-being.

As nurses, we’ve already felt the strain — rising grocery bills, soaring utility costs, and the ever-increasing price of just getting by. Without COLA, even a wage increase can leave us falling behind, our hard-earned money stretched thinner every month. You feel it, I feel it. Some worse then others!

In British Columbia, nurses successfully secured COLA language in their contract, tying wage increases to inflation. This was a significant win that ensures their pay keeps pace with rising costs — protecting their financial stability now and in the future.

🔎 Why COLA Matters for Nurses:
➡️ It Protects Your Pay: COLA ensures your wages keep pace with inflation, so your hard-earned money maintains its value.

➡️ It’s Predictable and Transparent: COLA is typically linked to an objective measure like the Consumer Price Index (CPI) — meaning wage adjustments are based on real economic data.

➡️ It’s About Stability: In uncertain economic times, COLA provides peace of mind, ensuring nurses can continue supporting their families without worrying about falling behind.

Nurses in BC secured COLA because they knew its value — and Saskatchewan nurses deserve the same protection. We work tirelessly to care for others; our wages should reflect the realities we face at home.

Increased Job Satisfaction and Retention:
The inclusion of COLA helps improve job satisfaction among nurses because it provides them with a sense of stability and fairness. Knowing that their wages are protected from inflation helps reduce burnout and supports retention, as nurses feel their work is valued and their financial needs are met.

Want to see how inflation impacts your earning power? Try this Inflation Calculator to see how rising costs affect your wages.

I will educate you, because knowledge gives us the power to advocate for what nurses deserve. I will have that strong voice at the table. Together, we can create that environment we want to work in.

https://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/related/inflation-calculator/

03/18/2025

Will a new Second Vice President stall negotiations?

Though every nurse gets excited about pillows! We need more to feel valued!

I walk the frontlines with you today. I hear your voices — not from a distance, but right beside you as we face the same challenges. I know the exhaustion, the frustration, and the feeling of being undervalued — because I feel it too.

I may not get to speak with every one of you personally in your hospital, but that’s because I’m still working beside you every day — and then working some more. Whether it's on the floor or in meetings, I’m committed to fighting for better conditions for all of us.

I follow contract negotiations not just here, but across Canada and into the United States. I look beyond wages — I pay attention to premiums, leaves, and contract language that impacts how nurses live and work. I bring that knowledge forward because I believe we deserve the best — and I won’t stop pushing for it.

I know the power of collaboration. At our last conference, our local successfully pushed through not one, but many resolutions that shaped the principles being bargained today. I’m sure some of you were tired of hearing my voice — but that persistence comes from passion. I refuse to stay quiet when our profession and our patients are at stake.

I would be a great addition to the bargaining team — bringing frontline experience, a strong voice, and a deep understanding of what’s at stake for nurses across the province. I’m a quick learner, a collaborative leader, and I will continue to stand with you and for you — because together, we can make a real difference.

03/17/2025

🩺 Our Voices. Our Future. Our Strength. 🩺

I have walked with you in the ER. I have brought patients to you, in your already overcapacity unit and left feeling defeated. I have cared for those patients you have sent in from the community and rural areas when they were too sick to stay! I’ve seen the toll that short staffing, overwork, and lack of resources have taken on nurses — on us. I’ve held the hands of colleagues who were overwhelmed and exhausted, and I’ve watched dedicated nurses leave the profession because they felt unheard and undervalued.

As Local President at Saskatoon City Hospital, I’ve fought — and continue to fight — to change that. I’ve stood up for nurses in difficult conversations, pushed for better staffing, and worked to ensure our voices are heard.

But there’s more work to do. If elected Second Vice President, I will fight for real solutions — to keep experienced nurses in this profession, to create safer workplaces, and to ensure new nurses are welcomed and supported.

Nurses deserve respect, fair wages, and working conditions that allow us to care for our patients — and ourselves. Together, we can build a stronger, safer future for Saskatchewan nurses.

I believe in us. I believe in our strength!