May 15, 2018 
 
Anything can happen around here, but this is what we have scheduled for the week:
  • staff rep Steve Torgerson attended a grievance meeting on Monday
  • general secretary Hugh Wagner met with a member on Monday
  • 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 staff met to discuss a bargaining priorities survey for members. (More information will be available soon)
  • Steve Torgerson and Hugh Wagner will attend the Local 2 (Viterra Head office) membership meeting on Wednesday
  • Hugh Wagner will meet with a member on Wednesday
  • On May 3, staff rep Donna Driediger and the GSU Local 7 (Heartland) bargaining committee met with the company and reached a tentative settlement to form a new collective agreement. Ratification meeting are being arranged.
GSU's calendar of events is regularly updated and available on GSU's web page:  gsu.ca  


Staff rep Donna Driediger recently spoke with a member who had concerns about workplace bullying. Donna advised the member is was critical to document any and all situations of bullying, when and where the incident occurred, and details about who was involved, who witnessed the event, and what spurred the action on. 

"When members are able to document the issues, we are able to build a case and ensure a safe work environment," Donna said. " It is also very important for anyone who feels threatened in the workplace to tell the offender that the behaviour is not acceptable and tell them to stop."

Do you have questions about harassment in the workplace?
 
If you are experiencing or witnessing harassment in the workplace and need advice or assistance about how to handle the situation, contact your GSU staff rep.

Contact information for GSU staff is available here.



The Saskatchewan Rush have made it to the league finals and they will be taking on the Rochester Knighthawks in a best-of-three series beginning May 26 in Saskatoon.

Tickets go on sale this Thursday, and we are going to do our best to get four tickets to give away to two GSU members. With a little luck, we will be giving tickets away on our web page later this week.

Watch our web page at gsu.ca to see if we are successful in our ticket bid.


Local 7 bargaining committee reaches tentative settlement with Heartland Livestock Services

On May 10 the bargaining committee of  GSU Local 7's Heather MacKay, Larry Worobetz, and lead negotiator/staff rep Donna Driediger  reached a tentative agreement renewal bargaining settlement with Heartland Livestock  Services. The tentative settlement is subject to a membership vote.

A memorandum of agreement is being prepared and the settlement details will be provided to Local 7 members before they vote whether to approve or reject the tentative settlement.

The  bargaining committee will be  recommending members vote to approve the settlement which, among other things, provides for a two-year agreement with the equivalent of 2.5 percent wage increases to payroll in each year - including retroactivity  in the first year to January 1, 2018. 

Local 7 members are urged to watch their email for details about the settlement and ratification vote. 


GSU is offering five $2,000 scholarships to GSU members, spouses, and dependants in 2018
GSU is pleased to offer $2,000 scholarships to five students who demonstrate an ability and a passion to inspire positive change in their community.

The scholarship competition is open to GSU members, their spouses, and dependent children who have not previously won.

Scholarship applicants must be enrolled in a diploma, degree, or certificate program at a community college, university, trade school, or technical institute as a full-time student in any country. 

Learn more about the scholarship program and download your scholarship forms and guidelines here:  GSU scholarship program

Deadline for receipt of applications is June 15, 2018.

Are you spamming people with your wisdom?
If we are really honest with ourselves, most of us would admit we enjoy talking to people so we can talk - not so we can listen.

It's important to be sensitive to someone who involves you in conversation. Are they sharing information with you? Are they venting? Are they asking for your opinions and advice, or are they just looking for someone who will listen and let them share what's on their mind?

Even when you are asked for advice, inserting yourself into someone else's business is risky. You might find out that people are not receptive to what you have to say and that could damage a relationship or friendship.  

Learn more here: The best advice you can ever give

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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