January 10 , 2017  

Calendar highlights for Jan. 9 to 13:
  • your GSU staff reps will be on the road visiting non-union CPS locations this week. Contact information for the GSU staff is available here. 
  • the Tuesday Members' Memo was emailed to GSU members on Tuesday. If you know a co-worker who hasn't received the TMM and would like to they can call GSU toll-free 1.866.522.6686 or email at gsu.regina@sasktel.net. 
Upcoming events:

60th Annual SFL /CLC Spring School
April 3 to 7, 2017 ~ Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa, Moose Jaw, SK
Learn more about the school and read the course outline here.
Contact your GSU staff rep for more information or to register. 

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

 
SLRB Mails Ballots to non-union CPS Operations Employees in Vote on Being Represented by GSU


On January 9 the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board (SLRB) sent ballots by registered mail on the question of being represented by GSU to non-union CPS operations employees in Saskatchewan. The ballots were mailed to eligible employees' home addresses.

The vote ordered by the SLRB is a mail in ballot. Each employee eligible to vote should receive a notice of the vote, voting instructions and related information, including a return date for their ballot.

The return date for ballots is Monday, January 30. GSU is asking for there support. We hope they vote to be part of the union. We will always be stronger together!



A GSU member was able to use sick leave for his child's emergency health issue, but when a follow-up appointment was scheduled with a specialist in a major center, the union member's request for sick leave to attend the appointment was denied. 
 
The member was familiar with the collective agreement and knew that there was some provision for leave in these situations, but he couldn't remember exactly how the coverage worked. The member contacted GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson.
 
Steve explained how the Serious Illness Leave clause applied to the situation, and the member was able to access the required leave to attend the specialist appointment with his child.  

 
Do you need assistance addressing this issue or another problem in your workplace?
Contact a GSU staff representative.
 
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).

  
 

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

 

Discovery Co-op

A Notice of Impasse has been served to the Minister of Labour Relations with a request that a conciliator be appointed.

Union and company 
representatives last met November 22 and were unable to reach an agreement, even though they  previously came very close to reaching a tentative settlement when they met on October 14. 

GSU's Local 17 bargaining committee members are  Shelbi Prescesky, Glen Morrison, and GSU staff rep Dale Markling.   


Prairie Co-op
 
Master copies of the new collective agreement have been signed and copies of the agreement have been made available to members.

The company is working to process back-pay for members, and it is anticipated that same will be available on members' next paycheques.

A copy of the new agreement is available here.
 
GSU's Local 19 bargaining committee: Lindsay Hill (Strasbourg), Debbie Hillier (Cupar), and Steve Torgerson (GSU staff rep)

 
Western Producer

The new collective agreement is being prepared for signing and distribution to members.

The main terms of the settlement are salary increases of 1.25% Aug. 1, 2016; 1.5% Aug. 1, 2017; and 1.5% Aug. 1, 2018.

GSU's Local 20 bargaining committee members are Kim Quintin, Michelle Houlden, Laurie Michalycia, and Dale Markling (GSU staff rep). 


CHS Canada
 
The union and company have agreed on a tentative settlement and are continuing to work on final wording for the agreement document. 

Questions or Concerns? Contact GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson. 



How to Make Yourself Work When You're Not Feeling It




With the new year celebrations behind us and Winter is finally up and running, it is sometimes difficult to feel motivated. 

The hardest part of work is getting started. Splitting your work into separate tasks and defining today's workload as a discrete project can create a feeling of purpose. 

Learn more here with a few simple tips to make yourself work when it just isn't happening:  https://www.netcredit.com/blog/make-work-youre-not-feeling/ 

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.

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

This email and any attachment(s) are confidential and may be privileged. If you are not the intended recipient please notify GSU, delete this email and do not copy, use or disclose it.