May 10, 2016  
 
Here's what is keeping us busy May 9 to 13:  
  • staff reps and officers will be on the road Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week completing Local 1 ratification meetings. Ballots will be counted at GSU Regina and Saskatoon offices on Wednesday afternoon. 
  • Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) members voted on their proposed settlement Tuesday at noon. Ballots will be counted at the GSU Regina office on Wednesday afternoon.
  • general secretary Hugh Wagner will meet with GSU legal counsel Ronni Nordal on Thursday
  • Arrangements are being made for Local 15 (CPS) ratification meetings where members will vote on a tentative settlement. Details will follow soon. The tentative settlement report is available on GSU's web page - www.gsu.ca
  • staff rep Dale Markling will be in Lucky Lake on Thursday for a Local 6 (Wild West Steelhead) membership meeting over the lunch hour
  • Dale Markling will head to Prince Albert on Friday when GSU Local 16 (Prince Albert Co-operative Association) members vote on their Local's tentative settlement.
GSU's calendar of events is regularly updated and available on GSU's web page - www.gsu.ca  
GSU is offering five $2,000 scholarships in 2016


GSU is pleased to offer $2,000 scholarships to five students who demonstrate an ability and a passion to inspire positive change in their community.  GSU members and their immediate families - including spouses - are eligible to apply. 

Applicants must be enrolled in a diploma, degree, or certificate program at a community college, university, trade school, or technical institute as a full-time student in any country.

Visit GSU's web page at  www.gsu.ca for information and scholarship application forms.

Deadline for receipt of applications is June 1, 2016.

  
 

We have a web page dedicated to GSU bargaining. 
Check it out at  www.gsubargaining.ca .

 Bargaining updates and reports are also available on GSU's web page -  www.gsu.ca.

 

Viterra 
 
The final Local 1 (Operations & Maintenance) settlement ratification vote will be held on Wednesday at the Saskatoon terminal elevator . The Local 2 ( Regina Head Office) meeting and vote  was held today at noon.
 
On Monday, May 9 GSU was informed that Viterra has ratified the tentative settlement. Ballots cast by GSU members  in both Locals will be counted on Wednesday afternoon and the result s will be released shortly thereafter. 

GSU bargaining committee members are  Michelle Hofer (Regina),  Kevin Wagner (Regina), Brett North (Moose Jaw),  Jim Brown (Balgonie), Wilfred Harris (Carnduff), Travis Brewer (Saskatoon), Lynn Woods-Nordin (assistant general secretary), and Hugh Wagner (general secretary).
 
 
Hi-Pro Feeds
 
A second bargaining session took place on April 21 and 22.  As a result, the union's bargaining committee reported back to Local 9 members on May 1. 
 
GSU's Local 9 bargaining committee comprises Kelly Saretzky, Kev Clarke, and GSU staff rep Lawrence Maier.
 
  
Agrium/CPS 

Information on the tentative settlement has been sent to Local 15 members by email and made available on GSU's web page.

GSU administration is in the process of organizing a membership vote on the tentative settlement . Watch your email and the GSU web page for details. 

GSU's Local 15 bargaining committee members are Carolyn Illerbrun (Shaunavon), Brian Cowan (Ag R&D Saskatoon/Watrous), Brent Pelechaty (Canora), Lynn Woods-Nordin (GSU assistant general secretary), and  Hugh Wagner (GSU general secretary) .
 
  
Prince Albert Cooperative Association 

This Friday Local 16 members will vote on the tentative settlement their bargaining committee recently reached with Prince Albert Cooperative Association Limited.  

GSU's Local 16 bargaining committee members are Kara Kilden, Jennine Couldwell, and GSU staff rep Dale Markling.
 
 
Discovery Co-op

The most recent Local 17 bargaining session occurred April 19. The two sides remain apart on several issues. 

It is anticipated the next round of bargaining will be scheduled sometime in June.
 
GSU's Local 17 bargaining committee members are  Shelbi Prescesky, Glen Morrison, and GSU staff rep Dale Markling. 
 
  
Lloydminster & District Co-operative Association 

A tentative settlement has been reached. Information and details on a ratification vote will be available to Local 18 members soon.
  
GSU's Local 18 bargaining committee members are Christina Jones, Les Strueby, and GSU staff rep Dale Markling


Prairie Co-op  

GSU's bargaining committee last met with the company's representatives on March 24. Dates for additional bargaining sessions are being determined.  

GSU's Local 19 bargaining committee members are Lindsay Hill (Strasbourg), Debbie Hillier (Cupar), and Steve Torgerson (GSU staff rep). 

  
Young Workers' Summit:
Building Young Workers' Power

Precarious work. Income inequality. Climate change. We are at a pivotal point in time where these phrases have come to define the challenges facing our generation of workers.

The Canadian Labour Congress's YWS 2016 will bring together hundreds of young workers and activists from across the country and from many different unions to address these issues.

This Summit will grow leadership, organizing, and political action skills that will build our power as young workers. It will be a space for young workers to exchange stories, skills, and strategies about unions and social justice issues.

Participants will build solidarity with a diverse group of other young activists, and leave energized and more knowledgeable about how to build stronger unions.                                                                       
YWS 2016 is about building, energizing, and strengthening the union movement. 






Who can attend: union members age 30 and under
Starts:  October 23, 2016 at 3:00 p.m.
Ends:    October 25, 2016 at 3:00 p.m.
Where:  Ottawa, ON

Learn more here:  www.yws2016.ca






Are you a young worker? Are you interested in attending? Contact your GSU staff rep.



If every day is a bad day, you may be suffering from burnout  

Do you feel like you are in a constant state of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion? Are you surrounded by excessive and prolonged stress?  When you are feeling constantly overwhelmed and unable to meet the demands of your work and personal life, you may be suffering from burnout.

Are you coping reasonably well or on the verge of burning out?  Take this on-line test. 

If you can identify the warning signs of burnout and make some modifications to reduce your responsibilities and stress, you can avoid a complete breakdown. Burnout will continue to get worse if you don't take steps to make changes to your life and bring things back to a manageable balance. 

Learn more about burnout warning signs, prevention, recovery and the difference between burnout and stress here.

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