July 12 , 2016  
 
Congratulations to GSU's 2016 scholarship and bursary recipients  

The following individuals were selected and will each receive $2,000 from GSU's scholarship and bursary program(s):  
  • Kayla Friesen [dependant] - GSU scholarship
  • Jordyn Pelechaty [dependant] - GSU scholarship
  • Jenna Zimmer [dependant] - GSU scholarship
  • Trevor Dubois - GSU's First Nations University of Canada bursary.
Detailed information on our recipients will soon be available on GSU's web page .

Congratulations to this year's recipients and thank you to Jim Brown (Local 1), Brett North (Local 1), and Michelle Houlden (Local 5) for serving on our scholarship committee.



 
GSU staff rep Lawrence Maier is looking into the employment of a temporary employee to determine if they are classified correctly. 

No problem is too small. Identifying problems as soon as they arise benefits everyone. Call us toll-free if you have a question or a problem you would like addressed. Call 1.866.522.6686 (Regina) or 1.855.384.7314 (Saskatoon).

Work continues on Canada Labour Code health and safety, confined spaces rules

For the past five years GSU staff rep Lawrence Maier has served as a union representative on the Government of Canada co-ordinated committee which reviews and advises on changes to the Canada Labour Code with respect to occupational health and safety. Committee p articipants include representatives from Labour Canada , employers and unions in the federal sector.

The committee held a conference call meeting on July 6 to discuss Part XI of the health and safety rules under Part II of the Code, specifically relating to confined spaces. Discussion centered on changes and issues arising out of revisions to the confined spaces legislation.

"Government officials will be writing out the changes and sending them to the committee members for comment," Maier reported. "That process is moving along."

"GSU works hard to represent its members, including advocating for improved health and safety in the workplace," said GSU secretary manager Hugh Wagner. "We're proud to have a role on this and other influential committees."
  
 

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. 

Congratulations to our most recent ticket winners Karen Briere (Local 5 - Western Producer) and Rod Kennedy (Local 14 - Richardson).

Karen and Rod have each won two tickets to this Saturday's Rider home game against the BC Lions. 

Four tickets to the July 22 Riders v. Redblacks game are up for grabs.

We are giving two tickets to two GSU members, but there is a small catch.  

To enter, send us your name and the name of a fellow GSU member who you would like to win tickets. If we pull your name, we will give you two tickets and we'll give two tickets to the GSU member you have named.

Get your entry to us by 9:00 a.m. on Monday, July 18 to be eligible for the draw. You can enter by email at [email protected], fax to 306.565.3430, or getting your entry to our Regina office at 2334 McIntyre Street (S4P 2S2).

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.

Could you fit your 8-hour workday into 6 hours?

As several companies in Sweden are testing shorter working hours, they are noticing a shift in employee attitudes and production. 

According to Paul Corcoran, managing director at the British marketing agency Agent, there is a big difference between people being at work and people being dynamic at work. Corcoran and Agent conducted a 6-hour-workday experiment to see if the shortened workday would work well in countries other than Sweden.

Agent and other companies who have experimented with the shorter workday report happier employees, fewer conflicts and negative feedback at work, and a sharpened focus on work to be done. When the experiment concluded, Agent wasn't inclined to stick with the 6-hour day, but they did see benefit to incorporating some of the changes they had made during the experiment.

What do you think? Could the 6-hour workday work in Canada?  Learn more 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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