January 5, 2021

Calendar highlights and upcoming events:
Local 6 (Wild West Steelhead) bargaining

The latest bargaining session was held on Nov. 26 in Lucky lake. Additional dates have not been scheduled at this time.

GSU Local 6 bargaining committee members are Amber Pearson, Pasha Mughal, Amanda Pearson, and GSU staff rep Dale Markling.

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GSU Executive Committee conference call - Jan. 6

Committee members will be addressing items of immediate interest and plans for GSU's 2021 policy convention.
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GSU Convention - March 18, 19, 20

We're still figuring out what this will look like. See the related story, below.

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What will a GSU convention look like during a pandemic?
We're working toward figuring that out.

The beginning of 2021 finds us all attempting to keep our heads above the so-called second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is no less the case at GSU where plans are underway to hold the union’s 2021 policy convention currently scheduled for March 18 to 20.
 
GSU’s options are limited. It's important to hold our policy conventions before the end of March so members who are engaged in ag retail and related jobs are available to participate before they face the annual spring rush to get new crops planted.
 
It seems unlikely that health restrictions on gatherings will be lifted or loosened much by mid-March. Taking everything into account, GSU’s Executive Committee will meet on Jan. 7 to consider a recommendation to proceed with the 2021 policy convention from March 18 to 20 under pandemic restrictions. The committee will discuss a format that involves a core gathering of up to 25 delegates/officers in Regina (if gatherings of that size are still allowed) plus remote participation by an additional 25 to 35 delegates.
 
“A lot of convention details need to be filled in and we don’t have a lot of time to spare before the March dates. Decisions about format, priority content and facilitating participation have to be made sooner rather than later," said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “Clearly the situation isn’t ideal, but GSU has a history of adapting, and we’ll do so again to get the members’ business done in 2021.”

Local 5 (Western Producer) members voting on tentative settlement

Today the members of GSU Local 5 are voting on whether to accept or reject the terms of the tentative settlement reached with their employer.

The voting will be complete by day's end and the results will be released to members and company representatives on Jan. 6.

GSU Local 5 bargaining committee members are Sharlene Tetrault, Michelle Houlden, and GSU staff rep Dale Markling.

GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson is assisting a member whose understanding of circumstances didn't coincide with the understanding management had on the same situation. Unfortunately, nothing is in writing, and when there is nothing in writing, it's harder to enforce.

The best way to ensure that things happen as you understand and expect is to ask for written confirmation or to confirm the understanding yourself in writing to the other party. Written confirmation doesn't need to be elaborate. It can be as simple as an email or a text exchange.

Click here to see an example of a quick email confirmation and to learn more about why written confirmation is important. 
Seek and ye shall find
“We find what we are looking for in life, her father had once said to her, which was true—if you look for happiness, you will see it; if you look for distrust and envy and hatred—all those things—you will find those too.”

― Alexander McCall Smith, The Full Cupboard of Life

It's true. When we look for the good or the bad in people and situations in life, we will find it.

Social media also does a great job of helping you find whatever you are looking for. Their algorithms ensure your feeds are stuffed to the brim with ads, items, stories and perhaps more than you ever wanted to know about the topics you have shown interest in. And if you really want to justify what you believe, you can search the internet to back up your theory (and to confirm why your ingrown toenail is most certainly being consumed by gangrene).

Choose the path that makes your day brighter. Seek out positive and uplifting things, and you will reap the benefits.


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.