September 10, 2019 

Upcoming events:

GSU Local 15 (Nutrien) Board of Delegates' bargaining preparation meeting - Sept. 19 - Regina 

Delegates will discuss agreement renewal bargaining proposals and elect a bargaining committee to meet with the employer's representatives.

 

Joint Executive Council meeting - Sept. 26 - Regina
This body of elected officers governs the union between policy conventions.

Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Convention - Oct. 23-25 - Saskatoon
GSU is affiliated of the SFL and our members are eligible to attend convention.

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.


Sept. 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day



There are some pretty alarming statistics floating around today.
  • Globally, one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds. And for each person who takes their own life, there are 25 other people who tried, but were unsuccessful.
  • High-income countries, including Canada, have the highest suicide rates.
  • Nearly three times as many men as women die by suicide in high-income countries.
Make today better for someone
  • Talk to someone you are worried about. 
  • Show your support for mental health by sharing a message of hope on your social media
  • Use the hashtags #WorldSuicidePreventionDay, #WSPD2019, and #YouMakeTodayBetter to share the message you care.
Help is right here, whenever you need it


(Canada) Crisis Services Canada - Suicide Prevention and Support - 24/7 Hours
1-833-456-4566

Prince Albert Mobile Crisis Unit - Mon - Fri 4 pm - 8 am, Sat - Sun 24 hours
306-764-1011

Regina Mobile Crisis Services - Suicide Line - 24/7 Hours
306-525-5333

Saskatoon Mobile Crisis - 24/7 Hours
306-933-6200


Unions are there when members need help interacting with the business that employs them. Being a union member gives workers the opportunity to negotiate more favourable working conditions and benefits through through collective bargaining. And union members earn better wages and benefits than workers who don't belong to a union.

Workers at Canada's Goodlife locations across Canada are working to improve their working conditions by joining a union. This is their story.



NO DUMBELLS. Fitness workers exercise their rights in union drive

By: Canadian Labour Institute / CALM

There are more than 12,000 of them. They work as group fitness instructors and personal trainers in more than 300 Goodlife locations from coast to coast. They have already won a $7.5 million class action lawsuit to collect back pay from Goodlife. Their union drive continues to build momentum.

Tanya Ferguson is a union organizer with Workers United Canada Council (WUCC). She recalls it wasn't hard to connect with Goodlife workers. "At the first union meeting a broken elevator had instructors carrying their bikes up 10 flights of stairs. They wanted to see something happen and were willing to do something about it."

Workers United is the first union in North America to represent fitness workers. Over 600 GoodLife Fitness personal trainers in Toronto, Ajax, and Peterborough have joined the union. Group fitness instructors are slower to join in. However, union density has reached 25% and workers are seeing the benefits.

Paying for the privilege of working

I spoke to Michelle,* a Goodlife yoga instructor, who was not part of the union organizing, but she agreed Goodlife was not always a good boss.

As a yoga teacher with Goodlife, even though she is a certified teacher through the Yoga Alliance ... read the rest of the story on our web page at www.gsu.ca 




You're wrong? Change your life by admitting it.

It can be hard to admit when you are wrong. Whether it's a matter of pride, a fear of retaliation, or the realization that you might not be perfect, it's important to admit you were wrong and offer a sincere apology.

Learning to admit when you are wrong can make positive changes to how people in your personal and professional life relate to you.


This article has been printed for entertainment purposes. The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of GSU, its members, officers, or staff.



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