GSU Offices will be closed on Friday, Sept. 29.

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GSU's annual general membership meeting schedule will be released soon

Our AGMs will begin in October. Information will be available soon.

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Joint Executive Council meeting - Oct. 11 & 12, Regina, SK

The Joint Executive Council is the governing body of GSU between policy conventions. A meeting of the council is scheduled for Oct. 11 & 12 in Regina.

If you have business which would be properly addressed by Council, reach out to your GSU staff representative.

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Steward Training 2 - Nov. 8 & 9, 2023, Regina, SK

This training is available and will be shared with our GSU officers who have completed Course 1.

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Defense Fund Board of Directors - Nov. 2023, (video conference)

These elected directors oversee the administration and investment of the GSU Defense Fund assets and set policy for payment of strike/lockout pay for union members engaged in collective bargaining disputes.

The board meets three or four times a year (or more often, if required) to review the Fund’s financial position, investment strategy and other administrative matters. Most meetings are held via conference call or video technology and paid union leave is arranged for participation in the meetings.

Learn more about the Defense Fund Board of Directors here.

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Our path to reconciliation includes listening, learning, and creating opportunities for education and participation within GSU. Each month we will share a short piece of information that we hope will inspire you to learn more about the topic and ultimately contribute to a shared future of reconciliation.

The Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC) is working to support a provincial movement for truth and reconciliation in the Treaty territory of Saskatchewan.

The OTC uses its stature as a neutral provincial facilitator to encourage honest conversations about the nature of successful reconciliation – both within the public at large, and by bringing together influential leaders from all walks of life. They hope to inspire action and innovation by finding, showcasing and learning from the many examples of reconciliation underway in Saskatchewan, by seeking and supporting “champions” for reconciliation, and by connecting these champions and initiatives.

As we approach Truth and Reconciliation Day, take the opportunity to learn more about the work of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner and participate in an event:

• Office of the Treaty Commissioner recommended reads and resources
• Cadmus Delorme: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (online event)
• Office of the Treaty Commissioner calendar of events

There is so much more to learn!

GSU is building a truth and reconciliation lending library. If you have resources you would recommend for our library or are interested in borrowing a book, contact staff rep Mason Van Luven at Mason@gsu.ca.

GSU assisted a 30-year employee through a difficult position elimination

When the employer decides to restructure their work environment, it can have very significant impacts on the work and the employees who do that work. GSU and your negotiated collective agreements work to ensure when these restructures take place that employees are not put on the back burner.

"There are clauses in our collective agreements that speak to how the employer is required to treat employees in order to minimize the implications for the restructuring and to provide appropriate notice and possible severance when navigating that path," said GSU staff rep Donna Driediger.

Without a collective agreement, employees would be subject to the bare minimums that the law provides. Collective agreements hold employers accountable for the choices they make in order to maintain their business while still respecting the integrity of the employees. 

Knowing your rights and making sure you are treated fairly strengthens your collective agreement.

The role of GSU is to assist our members and help them make informed decisions. We encourage members to take the time to consider and understand what their collective agreement is saying, what their employer is saying, what GSU is saying, and to ask questions.

GSU Annual General Membership Meetings

Consider volunteering to become a GSU officer

This autumn during our AGMS we will be asking GSU members to volunteer to become union officers. 

Generally, being a GSU officer is not a large time commitment. The main responsibility of our officers is to serve as a conduit between the union and its members. Whether you are willing to simply relay bargaining or other messages from GSU to your coworkers, attend a meeting to represent the concerns and interests of your coworkers, or serve on your Local's bargaining committee, there is a place for you in GSU. 

Contact your GSU staff rep or attend your upcoming membership meeting to learn more.  

Local 1 (Viterra Ops & Maintenance) & Local 2 (Viterra Head Office): Notice of Dispute filed, waiting for appointment of conciliator/dates

GSU’s Local 1 and 2 bargaining committees returned to the bargaining table on Sept. 11, hoping to hear a counteroffer to their August 31 proposal. Instead, the company indicated they wouldn't be providing another offer or negotiating unless the union’s committee made major concessions.

At the direction of the GSU Local 1 (Operations) Board of Delegates and the Local 2 (Regina Head Office) Executive Committee, GSU filed a Notice of Dispute with the Federal Minister of Labour, stating that bargaining has stalled. The next step is conciliation, which is comparable to bargaining with the assistance of a Federally-appointed conciliator. Members will be kept up-to-date as dates are announced and the process unfolds.

The Local 1 Board of Delegates and Local 2 Executive Committee have begun work to organize their Locals. This includes sharing information from their Sub-Locals with GSU staff and getting their members the information required so they will be ready should we find ourselves in a lockout or strike position.

In the meantime, members are encouraged to continue assisting the bargaining committee by doing what they have been doing so well: Keeping the pressure on their managers by telling them what we need from these negotiations.

“It is even more important now to keep talking to your co-workers, talk to your newer staff and help them understand what has been going on in the previous years,” said GSU general secretary and bargaining committee spokesperson Steve Torgerson. “Understand that you all have value and contribute to the success of the company and deserve to be treated with respect. Continue to support each other at work and keep speaking with a unified voice.”

As conciliation proceeds, your elected officers and GSU staff reps will be in close touch with members.

You can read additional details in past Bargaining Updates which are regularly sent to GSU Local 1 and 2 members. 

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact a bargaining committee member or your GSU staff representative.

You can read previous updates on the VITERRA BARGAINING page on GSU's main web page under the Bargaining menu tab. Contact Mason@gsu.ca to be added to our bargaining update email list.

GSU bargaining committee members are Local 1 – Jim Brown (Balgonie), Wilfred Harris (Carnduff), Shannon Antonenko (Lloydminster), David Barrett (Gull Lake), Travis Brewer (Saskatoon), Dale Lysitza (Lloydminster) and Broc Goodwin (Moose Jaw); Local 2 – Sheila Tran, Howard Wilson and Kaylee Kruger with assistance from GSU staff representatives Mason Van Luven and Steve Torgerson (GSU general secretary and bargaining committee spokesperson). Don't hesitate to contact your bargaining committee with any questions or concerns you may have.

Local 5 (Western Producer) bargaining impasse: Bargaining set to resume Nov. 15 & 16

Bargaining will resume Nov. 15 and 16 with both sides agreeing to get back to the bargaining issues. We look forward to fruitful dialogue between the parties and an opportunity to work collaboratively to negotiate a settlement for all involved.

The bargaining committee comprises Laurie Michalycia, Donna Driediger (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff) and Steve Torgerson (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU general secretary).

Local 16 (Lake Country Co-op) - final wording of the new collective agreement is approved, the agreement is signed

Lake Country Co-op and GSU representatives have completed their review, final wording has been agreed upon and the new collective agreement has been signed. The new collective agreement is on our web page and we are formatting it into booklets for distribution to members. 

Local 17 (Discovery Co-op) - the new collective agreement is now available on our web page

The agreement has been signed and it's available on our web page at GSU.ca. We'll be also be formatting the new collective agreement into new collective agreement booklets for Local 17 members soon.

Local 18 (Lloydminster & District Cooperative Association) - new collective agreement wording being finalized

On May 25, members of Local 18 voted in favour of accepting the proposed memorandum of agreement. Steps have been made toward incorporating the changes into the collective agreement. Once wording is finalized and agreed upon, we will make copies of the agreement and distribute them to members.



Local 19 (Prairie Co-op) - current collective agreement expires Dec. 31, 2023

With their collective agreement set to expire on Dec 31, 2023, Local 19 will be our last Co-op local to round out what has been nearly two consistent years of negotiations with Federated Co-operatives Limited and other Co-ops across Saskatchewan, headed by GSU staff representative Brian Lark. Local 19 will benefit from the lessons learned and the priorities shared at those tables as we gear up for negotiations that will likely center on the cost of living. 

In the coming months, GSU staff rep Mason Van Luven is planning to engage with the members of Local 19 to assess their priorities, hear from them, and elect bargaining committee members.

Do it because it's the right thing to do, not because others are watching

In today's age of social media, it's easy to get caught up in the desire for recognition and likes. We often see stories and shares of good deeds online seeking validation from virtual communities.

There is beauty and satisfaction in doing the right thing even when no one else is watching. Being the person who acts with integrity, even in the absence of an audience, is a statement about our character. 

Strive to make a difference because it is the right thing to do and it aligns with your values, not for the potential praise or recognition it may bring from others.

Learn more here:

• Integrity - Doing the Right Thing

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.