July 13, 2021
Calendar highlights and upcoming events:


The Sask. government's July 11 removal of COVID-19 restrictions has left everyone to sort out how best to proceed in their particular circumstances. If you need some assistance or advice as you navigate masks/no masks or other changes in your workplace, don't hesitate to call your GSU staff rep.
This week's Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) summer contest - gift cards!

GSU Local 2 executive members Howard Wilson, Sheila Tran and Kaylee Kruger are putting a little extra fun into summer with some great contest giveaways, food trucks, and more. Today's executive committee email is giving Local 2 members a chance to win Rider tickets. If you are a Local 2 member, watch your email or check-in with your executive to learn more.
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GSU scholarship committee to announce recipients in mid-July

This week GSU scholarship committee members are meeting and selecting our five $2,000 GSU scholarship recipients. Winners will be chosen based on their essays and community involvement reference letters. It is anticipated the recipients will be announced in next week's Tuesday Members' Memo.
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Local 15 (Nutrien) collective agreements are hitting the mail

If you haven't already received your new collective agreement, watch for it to arrive at your workplace soon. We've bulk packaged agreements and sent them to the attention of all GSU members at their workplaces. We've based our numbers on reports of dues-paying members, but if your workplace comes up short, get in touch with your GSU staff rep and we'll send more agreements your way.
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We're still accepting expressions of interest from GSU members wanting to become a GSU Defense Fund director

Would you like to be a director on GSU's Defense Fund? Let us know you are interested by July 30, 2021. You can learn more about the requirements and expectations of the position here.

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Grievance action results in pay boosts for several GSU members working in Local 1 (Viterra)
Persistence has paid off for several GSU members working in Viterra country operations and maintenance. They will soon see pay boosts as a result of GSU grievance action on their behalf.
 
The grieving members questioned the fairness of their rates of pay following implementation of the 2021 wage increase provided in the collective agreement between GSU and Viterra. Grievance action was taken and arguments were made in support of the affected employees’ complaints. And, while Viterra did not concede the merit of the grievances, the employer did conduct a local labour market assessment resulting in mid-year adjustments to the employees’ rates of pay. As a result the grievances were resolved/withdrawn.
 
“Each individual grievance on pay rates or pay increases brings its own set of facts to bear and this is what we work with to secure a better result for the member or members involved, ” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “These particular grievances were resolved and a couple of others are headed to arbitration.”
 
“A fair wage and recognition for employees’ labour is one of the pillars of being represented by GSU,” said Wagner.

If you need some advice about how to approach management with a problem, don't hesitate to call your GSU staff rep. No problem is too small and sometimes a brief comment, email, or meeting is all that's needed to address a situation. Call us when you think there is a problem to be fixed. Our services are provided to you as part of your union dues and there is never an additional charge for assisting you.


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(Above, l-r) Our renovation progress to date; the former soffit area storage; one of the newspaper clippings that helped insulate the building.
Renovations continue at the GSU Regina office building
The stucco work has come to a halt while we await the arrival and installation of new windows. Roughly 80 percent of the building has been covered in a scratch coat, with the final 20 percent awaiting window installation before the remaining scratch coat and stucco can be cleanly and precisely applied.

It's been an interesting process, particularly when the aged wooden soffits were torn down. GSU staff watched dirt, straw, substantial dust bunnies, newspaper, and even a pair of old dress shoes fall past their windows.

Undertaking renovations during a global pandemic has proved interesting as manufacturers struggled to get supplies and keep their reduced workforces safe with COVID protocols, and that slowed down and sometimes stopped the flow of products. We remain hopeful that our window company is able to get our windows put together and shipped to us by mid-August so the stucco project can be completed by early autumn.

In the meantime, if you are missing your old dress shoes, let us know.

Here are our GSU clear bag contest winners


Thank you to everyone who entered our stadium bag contest last week. Here are our five lucky winners:

Glenda Hunter-Craig
David Barrett
Heather Wiebe
Mark Lannigan
Tarah Buo

Hopefully there are many opportunities to give away and use clear bags as we get back out in the world and make some memories at concerts, sporting events, and more.

Stay well, stay safe!
Grudges. Who are you hurting?
If you aren't careful, holding a grudge can hurt you as much or perhaps more than the person you are holding it against. Is it actually worth that much time and energy?

Find our more and learn how to process your feelings:


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.