September 5 , 2017  

Anything can happen, but these are a few things we have scheduled this week: 
  • general secretary Hugh Wagner attended Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board hearings on Tuesday
  • staff rep Lawrence Maier has a Step 3 grievance meeting on Tuesday
  • staff rep Steve Torgerson is at Local 4 (Grain Millers) on Tuesday
  • 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]
  • staff rep Dale Markling has a meeting at the Western Producer on Thursday
  • staff rep Steve Torgerson has a Step 2 grievance meeting on Thursday.
Upcoming events:

Grain and General Services Union's Joint Executive Council Meeting
October 19, 2017 | Saskatoon, SK
Learn more about the  GSU's  Joint Executive Council  here.

Saskatchewan Federation of Labour 62nd Annual Convention
October 18 - 20, 2017 | Saskatoon, SK
Learn more about convention here.  


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.  


Notice of Job Elimination Sorted Out
 
A member of GSU Local 15 (CPS) was notified that her job was being eliminated. Since the member was on maternity leave, the effective date of the position elimination was delayed until her maternity leave ceases. However, Article 24 - Position Elimination of GSU's collective agreements with CPS Canada stipulates that employees whose jobs are being eliminated are entitled to 120 calendar days' notice or pay in lieu.
 
In the particular circumstances of this case, paid notice or pay in lieu of notice could not be made until after the member's maternity leave ends. The problem was that the notice of position elimination made no mention of paid notice or pay in lieu of notice. Upon being alerted to the anomaly in the notice of position elimination, GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner raised the issue with CPS management on several occasions but did not receive any response. As a result, he commenced grievance action on August 24 and the matter was resolved the next day. The member in question will receive her paid notice of position elimination or pay in lieu when her maternity leave ends.
 
"This matter was probably more about miscommunication on the employer's part as opposed to a disagreement over the application of the members' rights under the collective agreement," Wagner said. "The grievance procedure was used effectively to make sure the matter was clearly resolved in a timely manner. A formal grievance is not a declaration of hostilities. As the outcome of this case demonstrates, it can be an effective means to assist in resolving workplace issues."

Contact your GSU staff rep for assistance with questions or concerns.
 
Your inquiry will be treated with strict confidentiality. Contact information for our staff reps is available here. 

Labour Day fun in the park

GSU officers, staff, and their families were in Regina's Wascana Park on Labour Day to serve up oatmeal breakfast and hand out frisbees to families who came to celebrate the achievements of workers.

GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson organized GSU's event table - including the labeling and packaging the oatmeal breakfasts and a number of tasty accompaniments.

When Torgerson approached Grain Millers (Yorkton) with an idea for providing an oatmeal breakfast at Regina's Labour Day at Wascana Park, they generously agreed to donate enough western-Canadian instant oatmeal to hand out to more than 700 people who stopped by GSU's table. Grain Millers is one of the largest oat processors in North America and  GSU Local 4 members are proud to provide union labour at the Yorkton processing plant. You can learn more about Grain Millers, here. 


Above, left. (L-r) GSU officer Dave Boulding and GSU staff reps Lawrence Maier and Steve Torgerson take a shift at the GSU booth topping up the breakfast bowls with brown sugar, Craisins, coconut, and other accompaniments 

Above, Right. GSU/Grain Millers oatmeal breakfasts lined up and ready to hand out.

GSU Defense Fund reaches new high

According to the second quarter portfolio report, the GSU Defense Fund had assets of $3.8 million invested with RBC Dominion Securities in addition to $317,000 in cash on deposit at Affinity Credit Union. Total assets currently stand at $4.117 million.

"This is a new high in terms of the market value of the Defense Fund investments," said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. "The main purposes of the Fund is to provide members with income support in the event they are on strike or locked out in a collective bargaining dispute and to defend the collective bargaining and union representation rights of GSU members."

Each year since 1996 GSU members attending annual union meetings have voted to continue to pay additional dues of $10 per member per month into the GSU Defense Fund. Continuation will be voted on again at the fall 2017 annual meetings of GSU Locals and Sub-Locals.


 
21 things hiring managers want you to know before your interview  

The job is exactly what you are looking for and you made it to your interview without spilling coffee on your shirt. The office door swings open and you are invited in for an  interview with your potential new employer. 

Will you make a good impression? Increase your odds of being offered the job by learning how hiring managers think and operate:  21 things hiring managers wish you knew .

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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