April 19, 2016  
 
Here's what is keeping us busy April 18 to 22:  
  • staff rep Dale Markling and the Local 16 (Prince Albert Co-op) bargaining committee met with company management representatives for bargaining on Monday, and they negotiated a tentative settlement
  • general secretary Hugh Wagner met with a GSU member on Monday
  • staff rep Steve Torgerson is a collective bargaining facilitator at the SFL/CLC spring school April 18 to 22
  • staff rep Dale Markling and the Local 17 (Discovery Co-op) bargaining committee are meeting for a session on Tuesday
  • Lawrence Maier has a grievance hearing scheduled for Wednesday
  • Lawrence Maier is heading to Chilliwack on Thursday morning to join the Local 9 (Hi-Pro Feeds) bargaining committee for a Thursday morning and Friday bargaining session with company management
  • Hugh Wagner will attend the Local 8 (Advance) membership meeting on Friday. 
GSU's calendar of events is regularly updated and available on GSU's web page - www.gsu.ca  

Local 8 (AEA/GSU) members to meet this Friday

A membership meeting of AEA/GSU Local 8 members working in Regina will be held on Friday, April 22 starting at 3:45 p.m. at the Austrian Club, 320 Maxwell Crescent, in Regina. 

The agenda of the meeting will include the following items :  
  • Minutes of the last meeting
  • Current issues and general questions
  • GSU annual report to members
  • Wage Earner Protection Plan
  • Other business of the Local. 



We will save a seat for you!
Attend the meeting and encourage your co-workers to do likewise.

GSU members set the direction for the union, so it's important that you tell us what we are doing well and what you would like to see done differently.







GSU bargaining committees work hard to negotiate settlements, not strikes. When unions are front and centre in the media it is often because of a strike or lockout. In reality, the majority of collective agreements are settled without any job action. 

In the last 30 days GSU bargaining committees have reached three tentative settlements - one which members recently voted to accept as the base for their new collective agreement and two which will be voted on by members in the coming month.

Congratulations to our bargaining committees from Local 1 and 2 (Viterra), Local 4 (Grain Millers), and Local 16 (Prince Albert Co-op) for their recent tentative agreements, and thank you to our other bargaining committees who are continuing their work to successfully negotiate settlements for their fellow GSU members.

GSU's goal is to expand on and improve its collective agreements for members. Collective bargaining provides a way to do collectively what you can't do on your own. It's about GSU members working together for better workplace conditions. 
 
  
 

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 
 
On April 15 GSU and Viterra reached a tentative settlement in agreement renewal bargaining covering union Local 1 (Operations and Maintenance) and Local 2 (Head Office). The tentative settlement, which is subject to approval by GSU members and senior Viterra management, was reached with the assistance of Federal Conciliator Michelle Glubrecht.
 
Details of the settlement will not be released until the necessary documents are finalized. Plans for conducting a GSU membership vote are being developed and will be announced in the near future. GSU's Local 1 and 2 bargaining committee intends to have the voting completed by mid-May or earlier, if possible."

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).
 

Grain Millers 
 
Congratulations to our Local 4 members and their bargaining committee for reaching and subsequently voting to accept tentative settlement.

The Local 4 bargaining committee's March 29-31 bargaining session resulted in the tentative settlement which was ultimately voted on and accepted by members of the local on April 12.
  
GSU's Local 4 bargaining committee comprises Terry Schultz, Glen Wlaschuk, Jasey Nagy, Ron Hannant, Dave Korb (alternate), Tyler Chorneyko (alternate) and GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson.
  
 
Hi-Pro Feeds
 
After a long delay to get bargaining started, bargaining for a new collective agreement at HiPro Feeds in Chilliwack got underway on April 13 and 14. The contract expired December 31, 2015. Management has assured the union committee that retroactivity will not be an issue.
 
The three-year agreement that expired was the first agreement for the group and they are anxious to make changes to shore up worker rights and fix some of the issues that did not make it into the first agreement. Since the operation is a seven-days-per-week 24-hour-per-day facility, there are a lot of issues regarding shift schedules, and changes to start and quitting times.
 
Wages are a big issue, too, as the housing boom in Vancouver has spread to Chilliwack and costs for shelter are rising substantially. Wages are also picking up and members want to catch up with others in the industry.
 
The next bargaining session is April 21 and 22.  
 
GSU's Local 9 bargaining committee comprises Kelly Saretzky, Kev Clark, and GSU staff rep Lawrence Maier.
 
  
Agrium/CPS 

Local 15 bargaining spokesperson Hugh Wagner reports that he spoke with CPS management representatives in connection with unresolved issues on April 18.
 
"We've made some progress, but there are still a few hurdles to overcome," Wagner said. "I anticipate hearing from management later this week."
   
The status of ag retail managers and employees working at non-union ag retail outlets will be determined by the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board beginning on May 19 and 20. 

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 

Local 16 has reached a tentative settlement with Prince Albert Co-operative Association Limited.  The tentative settlement came after a long day of bargaining as the list of outstanding issues narrowed to a few. The union's bargaining committee held firm to retaining some important rights.
 
The terms of the settlement are not being released as the final documents have to be drafted. 

"We were not able to get everything we hoped to achieve; however, we were able to make some gains and maintain some important areas where the Co-operative was looking for cutbacks," Local 16 president Kara Kilden reported. "Overall we are pleased with the tentative settlement."
 
Ratification meetings will be held in the coming weeks.

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

The two sides are meeting today.  
 
GSU's Local 17 bargaining committee members are  Shelbi Prescesky, Robbie Reed, and GSU staff rep Dale Markling. 
 
  
Lloydminster & District Co-operative Association 

The previously booked bargaining date of April 28 is being rescheduled. The GSU Local 18 bargaining committee last met on March 29.   

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 and spokesperson on March 24. 

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


Do you speak Millennial? Maybe you should

Millennials are the 20- to 30-year olds of the Millennial Generation (or Generation Y), and if you know, work with, or you are a Millennial you have likely discovered that this generation has a language of their own.

When we work in changing and competitive environments it's important to be able to understand each other and work together as a team. A little insight into Millennial speak will keep you on fleek at your next meeting and help you avoid the side-eye when you are chatting about Netflix at the water cooler.


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