November 6, 2 017  


  Anything can happen, but here is what we have scheduled for the week: 
  • annual meetings continue and GSU staff will be on the road throughout the week. Haven't had your meeting yet? Watch your email for meeting announcements and updates.
  • the Tuesday Members' Memo is emailed to GSU members weekly on Tuesday. If you know a co-worker who doesn't receive the TMM and would like to, have them call GSU toll-free at 1.866.522.6686 or send an email to [email protected] 
  • GSU is hiring a staff representative to fill a vacancy in the Regina office. Interested? Learn more below, or on our web page at gsu.ca. Deadline for receipt of applications is Nov. 14.
Upcoming events:

GSU membership meetings  
Autumn 2017  
Whether we drop by and see you or schedule a meeting in your local, we'll be in touch. Can't wait to hear from us? Contact your GSU staff rep.

Contact your GSU staff rep for more information about these events, GSU's expense policy, or to register. 

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



A Local 8 member was approaching his ninth employment anniversary date when he would become eligible for four weeks' vacation. He was concerned that his vacation pay bank wasn't accruing at the appropriate rate (i.e. 4/52nds in his instance). The member contacted GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner who, in turn, communicated with the employer's HR director.
 
After a few email exchanges, a meeting was held where the administration of vacation pay accrual was reviewed. In the process, the employer's practice was explained and it appeared to provide the appropriate vacation pay accrual as required by the collective agreement. 

The member's concern has been addressed.
 
"GSU encourages members to ask rather than wonder, and this is the most effective way to administer collective agreements, " said Wagner.

Contacting GSU doesn't mean you are obligated to file a grievance. We can help gather facts and identify whether union member rights have been violated. Contact information for GSU staff is available here.
 


Cana da's unions are proud that we've won health insurance coverage for many of our members. But we believe anyone with a health card should have coverage for the medicines they need. 

That's why we're working to win a universal prescription drug plan that covers everyone in Canada, regardless of their income, age or where they work or live.

Attend the town hall meeting Nov. 23 in Regina to learn more.

 

Without a universal prescription drug plan, coverage in Canada vastly differs depending on where you live. In Saskatchewan, even publicly-funded programs require co-payments or deductibles, which have proven to reduce access.
  • 20 percent of respondents in Saskatchewan said they or someone else in their household hadn't taken medication as prescribed because they couldn't afford to.
  • Public spending in Saskatchewan covers roughly half the cost of prescription medicine.
  • In Canada,  only about 27 percent of part-time workers have prescription drug coverage. That means that in 2015, about three quarters of Saskatchewan's 100,900 part-time workers didn't have prescription drug coverage.
  • In 2015 there were 104,500 self-employed workers in Saskatchewan without employer-based health benefit coverage.
  • In Saskatchewan, children in low-income families who qualify for Family Health Benefits are covered for prescription drugs, but adults and legal guardians pay $100 semi-annual deductibles and 35 percent co-payments for each prescription.
  • The Children's Drug Plan covers children 14 and under, and the Seniors' Drug Plan covers seniors, but beneficiaries are still expected to make co-payments of up to $25 per prescription.
  • Even charges as low as $2  have been found to be a barrier to taking medication as prescribed.
This patchwork coverage leaves many in Saskatchewan without access to the medication they need, either because they don't have a prescription drug plan or have plans that don't cover the cost.

Everyone should have equal access to the prescription drugs they need regardless of where they live. It's time for a universal prescription drug plan.

Source: www.aplanforeveryone.ca


GSU logo
Job posting: GSU Staff Representative

The Joint Executive Council of Grain and General Services Union (ILWU Canada) has approved advertising a staff representative vacancy in the union's Regina office. The objective is to fill the position by early January 2018. A copy of the job description for the GSU staff representative classification can be viewed and downloaded  here  or by using the link at the bottom of this posting.

GSU staff reps are unionized and are covered by the terms of the collective agreement between GSU and the Independent Union Services Union (IUSU). The salary range for staff reps is $6,119 to $7,605 per month. Competitive benefits and working conditions are provided via the GSU/IUSU collective agreement which is currently subject to agreement renewal collective bargaining.

Interested candidates are asked to submit their applications and resumes to GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner at  [email protected].


The deadline for submitting applications is Tuesday, November 14, 2017.


Following the close of the applications period, a hiring/recruitment committee approved by GSU's Joint Executive Council (JEC) will conduct interviews with selected candidates. 

The hiring/recruitment committee is charged with the responsibility of making a hiring recommendation to the JEC.

Related:
 
Adapt your message, get better results

Imagine there are always dirty dishes lying about the kitchen area of your office. Suddenly, an all-caps note appears, and it says: "PLEASE PUT YOUR DIRTY DISHES IN THE DISHWASHER. THANKS IN ADVANCE." Do you obligingly put away your own dishes and the dishes of others? Or do you defiantly leave your half-filled coffee cup beside the sign?

Chances are it's not what you are asking for that creates the problem - it's about who you are asking and how you are asking. According to author Gretchen Rubin, we try to persuade others by using methods that would work on us. Sometimes we have success bending things our way, and sometimes it's a spectacular fail. 

Check out the following link to learn more about how to adapt your message to get better results :  This is why your passive-agressive office note didn't work .

Then take this quick quiz  to find out if you are an Upholder, Obliger, Questioner or Rebel, and learn how to influence people with these tendencies.

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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