June 21, 2016  
 
GSU calendar highlights for June 20 to 24: 
  • general secretary Hugh Wagner met with a member on Monday morning
  • staff rep Lawrence Maier had a Local 9 (Hi-Pro) bargaining conference call on Tuesday (learn more in the bargaining update stories, below)
  • Lawrence Maier attended a grievance hearing by conference call on June 21 to discuss four separate grievances filed challenging the filling of a vacancy for the pellet mill (Local 9 - Hi-Pro). While the management has a lot of discretion in who gets appointed to postings, the members are challenging the fact that they feel they are better qualified than the person appointed. Management has seven days to respond. 
  • Hugh Wagner has an unjust dismissal meeting scheduled for Wednesday
  • staff rep Steve Torgerson will attend a mental health forum on Wednesday and Thursday
  • Lawrence Maier has a grievance hearing Thursday
  • on Thursday Hugh Wagner will attend a meeting on gender-based violence

June 21 is National Aboriginal Day. Learn more here.

GSU's calendar of events is regularly updated and available on GSU's web page - www.gsu.ca  

                                                
 
GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson assisted a GSU member who was being given the gears for not staying in close contact with company management while on sick leave.

"While it is polite to respond if you are able, you are not required to respond to inquiries from your employer while you are on sick leave," Steve advises. "You do have to stay in touch with your insurance provider to assist you with your sick leave claim, but you aren't required to deal directly with workplace issues and you aren't required to worry about what's going on at work."

The role of GSU is to help its members. We are here to assist you, so don't hesitate to call us with your workplace questions or problems. 

Just want advice? GSU can help. If you need advice or ideas about how to handle a workplace situation, call your GSU staff rep. GSU toll-free:  1.866.522.6686 (Regina) or 1.855.384.7314 (Saskatoon). Contacting GSU doesn't mean you are obligated to file a grievance and we won't contact your employer or act on your behalf without consultation, direction, and approval from you.

Canada ratifies international treaty, takes stand against child labour and exploitation

Canada has officially ratified the International Labour Organization's Minimum Age Convention, 1973. The convention seeks to eliminate child labour and ensure children do not leave school to join the workforce full time.

Ratifying members, such as Canada, are required to set a minimum age for employment of at least 15 years and to prohibit hazardous work for young workers under the age of 18, unless specific measures are put in place. This  is not expected to negatively impact Canadian businesses and operations such as family farms, or part-time work by Canadian teens working at babysitting, camp counselling or other similar jobs.

The Convention will come into force in June 2017.

Learn more here. 

Would you like to be in the Mosaic Stadium stands for the Riders' June 30 season opener against the Argonauts?

Enter our draw and you could win two tickets to the game. 

To enter, tell us one of GSU's toll-free numbers and which GSU office it belongs to. 

Make sure to include your name and a method to contact you in case you win. 

You can enter by email at gsu.regina@sasktel.net, by fax to 306.565.3430, or get your entry to our mailbox at 2334 McIntyre Street in Regina. Just be sure your  entry reaches us by Friday, June 24 at noon to be entered in the draw because we will be drawing our two winners on Friday afternoon.

Good luck!

Watch upcoming   Tuesday Members' Memos for more chances to win!

Entry in GSU contests and acceptance of prizes constitutes permission to use winner's name, city, province, name of employer, and winning entry for promotional purposes. Please refer to GSU's contest rules and regulations for more information.
  
 

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.

 

Hi-Pro Feeds
 
Bargaining is on hold until August 10 and 11, and again August 18 and 19 in the presence of Conciliator Kathy Peters from Labour Canada. 

The Conciliator's appointment runs out August 6, and we still have no word from the Company if they agree to extend the Conciliator's appointment at least until the two bargaining sessions are over. If no extension is agreed to, there is a cooling-off period of 21 days after August 6. Both management and the union have the right to initiate job action after the 21 days ends.

GSU's Local 9 bargaining committee comprises Kelly Saretzky, Kev Clarke, and GSU staff rep Lawrence Maier.
 
  
Discovery Co-op

Scheduled bargaining dates in June have been postponed and the two sides have agreed to meet July 25.

The most recent Local 17 bargaining session occurred April 19. Several outstanding issues remain. 
 
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. Dale Markling is working to arrange a ratification vote with union members.
  
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. There has been a change in employer counsel and 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). 


Western Producer

The local's current collective agreement expires July 31, 2016.  

Questions or Concerns? Contact GSU staff rep Dale Markling. 

Sneaky ways to get noticed in the workplace

Looking for a promotion or job security? Trying to keep yourself top-of-mind when office opportunities arise? 

Self-promotion is a slippery slope that can give others the impression you are more invested in yourself than you are in the betterment of your co-workers and employer as a whole. 

Fortunately there are several easy - and slightly sneaky - ways to get noticed at work. Check them out here.

This article has been printed for entertainment purposes. The views and opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of GSU, its members, officers, or staff.

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