February 18, 2020  

Calendar highlights and upcoming events:
  • GSU's Local 15 (Nutrien) bargaining committee met in Regina Monday evening in preparation for meeting with their company counterparts for bargaining in Regina on Feb. 18 and 19. Your GSU bargaining committee members are Brian Cowen, Curtis Cousins, Lynn Shaw, GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson, and GSU staff rep/bargaining spokesperson Dale Markling.
  • Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) executive board will meet in Regina this week.

Local 5 / Western Producer bargaining - Saskatoon, Feb. 25
GSU's collective agreement with The Western Producer expired July 31, 2019. Bargaining committee members representing GSU Local 5 are Sharlene Tetrault, Michelle Houlden, and GSU staff rep/bargaining spokesperson Dale Markling. Learn more here.


GSU biennial convention - Temple Gardens, Moose Jaw, March 19-21, 2020
If you are a GSU member, we want to hear from you. Join us, share your thoughts and experiences, and let us know what you think your union should be doing for members.  All members of GSU are eligible to attend, but space is limited. Learn more and register here.


CLC/SFL Spring School - Moose Jaw, April 20 - 24, 2020 
This is a GSU-sanctioned event*. Learn more by contacting your staff rep or checking out the school brochure here.


Contact your GSU staff rep if you are interested in attending or learning more about an event.

*GSU members who sign up and are approved to participate in GSU-sanctioned events will have their time off work, wages, and expenses covered in accordance with GSU's expense policies (child care included). GSU staff will also assist you with arranging the time off with your employer.


GSU Defense Fund board receives year end investment portfolio report
 
The Board of Directors of the  GSU Defense Fund received RBC's 2019 year end investment portfolio report on February 4, 2020.
 
The e nding portfolio value at Dec. 31, 2019 was just short of $4,390,000 (market value). Together with $513,000 on deposit at Affinity Credit Union, the Defense Fund's assets stand at slightly more than $4.9 million.
 
At their board meeting in December, the directors approved the transfer of $250,000 from Affinity to RBC.
 
The primary purpose of the GSU Defense Fund is to provide income security for union members who are on strike or locked out as a result of a collective bargaining dispute with their employer. Strike/lockout pay is set by the Defense Fund directors and currently stands at 75 percent of a striking or locked out member's regular pay. In addition, the premium cost of continuing members' group insurance benefits is paid from the Defense Fund.
 
In order to receive strike/lockout pay GSU members must be active participants in authorized union activities during a strike or lockout. Strike/lockout pay is not subject to income tax.

2020/2021 Defense Fund directors will be chosen at the GSU Convention

The current GSU Defense Fund delegates are Ron Gerlock (Local 1 - Viterra),  Wilfred Harris (Local 1 - Viterra), Darryl Knelsen (Local 1 - Viterr), Dennis Piasta (Local 14 - Richardson), and Sharlene Tetrault (Local 5 - Western Producer). 

Elections for the Fund's 2020/2021 directors will be held at GSU's upcoming Biennial Policy Convention.

Contact your GSU staff rep If you are interested in becoming a director or learning more. 


This is your last opportunity to register. 
Registration closes at 5:00 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 21.
  


This is your last chance to register if you want you to join us for what is shaping up to be a fantastic convention. Registration closes on Friday. 

We are counting on GSU members - like you - to come to convention, share your thoughts and experiences, and let us know what you think your union should be doing for its members.

We'll have great people, conversation, food, entertainment, and it's all being held at the Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa in Moose Jaw.

All members of GSU are eligible to attend, but space is limited. Approved convention delegates will have the costs of hotel, mileage, food, and wages covered by GSU. 

Learn more about the upcoming convention  here.

If you haven't received your acceptance email from GSU, you are not registered to attend. 




How about spending Leap Year 2020 watching the Saskatchewan Rush take on the Toronto Rock?  

Enter our draw by sending us your answer to the following question:

What do you wish happened only on Feb. 29 so you only had to deal with it every four years?

Send your answer to gsu@gsu.ca by 9:00 a.m. Feb. 25 and we'll enter you in our draw where you could win two tickets to the Feb. 29 Rush home game against the Toronto Rock. Good luck!




 
General secretary Hugh Wagner is assisting a member whose job title and duties changed as a result of a workplace reorganization.
 
"When the employer changes the title of a job or revises the duties in a significant way they are obliged to notify the union. In turn, GSU can advance an argument that the changes should result in a higher salary grade," Wagner said. "In this instance GSU wasn't notified until the affected union member raised the subject. We're now pursuing a review of the job and whether the salary should change."
 
Wagner anticipates a meeting with the employer in the next the next two weeks.

GSU helps sort things out.  When there are problems in the workplace there are may factors to consider. A GSU staff rep has access to information and can help gather all the facts and identify whether your rights have been violated.

These services are provided to you as part of your union dues. There is no additional charge for assisting you.


Congratulations to Kevin Roszell, Jamie Schultz, and Deb Marcischuk - our Scotties Tournament of Hearts ticket winners

Last week we asked GSU members to enter their fellow members in our Scotties ticket draw. We were happy to see lots of teamwork with members nominating each other and many positive messages about great co-workers who deserved to win tickets to watch the championship games.

In the end, we could only draw three winners. Congratulations to Kevin Roszell (Local 1 - Viterra), Jamie Schultz (Local 14 - Richardson), and Deb Marcischuk (Local 15 - Nutrien). We hope you have a great time taking in all the action in Section P at the Scotties tournament championship playoffs.
  • Package 1 - Deb Marcischuk 
    • Draw 18 Friday, Feb. 21 - 12:30 p.m. - Championship Round
    • Draw 19 Friday, Feb. 21 - 6:30 p.m. - Championship Round
  • Package 2 - Jamie Schultz
    • Draw 20 Saturday, Feb. 22 - 8:30 a.m. - Tie Breaker
    • Draw 21 Saturday, Feb. 22 - 1:00 p.m. - Page Playoff Game
    • Draw 22 Saturday, Feb. 22 - 6:00 p.m. - Page Playoff Game
  • Package 3 - Kevin Roszell
    • Draw 23 Sunday, Feb. 23 - 11:00 a.m. - Semi-Final
    • Draw 24 Sunday, Feb. 23 - 6:00 p.m. - Championship Final.


It's time to stop beating yourself up

We are human, we are imperfect, and we have flaws. Even when we work hard, plan meticulously, and move forward with the best intentions, life isn't always something we can control. Add personal expectations, work and family pressures, friends, family and co-workers into the mix, and you can find plenty of opportunities to feel inadequate and less than the person you would choose to be.

When things go sideways, plans fail, and relationships test you, do you afford yourself the kindness and compassion you would give to others in a similar position? Most of us would agree that being kind and compassionate are admirable qualities, but the thought of being self-compassionate and treating yourself with kindness can feel uncomfortably self-indulgent. 

Next time things don't go your way, take note of whether you are more inclined to beat yourself up than to give yourself a break.

Learn more here:  If you can't stop beating yourself up, ask yourself these 5 questions


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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