GSU staff reps are nailing down dates and locations for annual general membership meetings

Our AGMs are underway and will continue until early December. Watch your email inbox for your meeting notice.

If your Local or Sub-Local has a meeting date or time in mind, 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. If you haven't completed Course 1 but think we should make an exception and include you, contact your GSU staff rep.

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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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Changes mark first meeting of union's governing body under the leadership of new general secretary

GSU’s Joint Executive Council (JEC) is the governing body of the union between biennial policy conventions. On Oct. 11 and 12, elected officers met in Regina for the council’s autumn meeting. Council meets semi-annually, and GSU’s March policy convention served as the spring meeting of the Council for 2023.

A view from the head table at the Joint Executive Council's Oct. 11 and 12 meeting in Regina.



(L-r) GSU president Jim Brown presents a lifetime membership award to former vice president Michelle Houlden. We will miss Michelle's involvement in the union and her graphic design talents that she shared with GSU, including the logo on the shirt she is wearing.



Council and GSU staff members got together after hours for an evening of socializing and a cornhole tournament.



We've been working closely with our lawyer

We advocate for our members individually and in their GSU locals by finding answers to questions, recommending courses of action and finding solutions. We also advocate for members in disputes, issues, contract interpretation and other problems with their employers. On occasion, this involves obtaining legal counsel.

These services are provided and paid for by your union dues. Even when legal counsel is involved, there is never an additional charge for assisting you, and there is no limit on the times you can seek our help or advice.

Don't hesitate to call your staff representative when you think there is a problem to be fixed.

Contacting GSU does not mean you are obligated to file a grievance. We are here to assist you in any way we can, but we will not contact your employer, file a grievance or act on your behalf without consultation, direction, and approval from you.

Local 1 (Viterra Ops & Maintenance) & Local 2 (Viterra Head Office): Viterra files Unfair Labour Practice, Conciliator appointed

Viterra has filed an Unfair Labour Practice (ULP) complaint against GSU Locals 1 and 2 for bargaining in bad faith and for failing to make every reasonable effort to enter into a collective agreement. We are not taking this ULP lightly and will respond and defend our actions. We will also continue to press the company on our bargaining issues and be as creative and direct as we have been through this bargaining process.

The complaint does not directly interfere with us being in conciliation, and we will continue with conciliation and work to set dates for conciliation.

As reported previously, your GSU committees filed a notice of dispute with the Federal Minister of Labour and stated that bargaining has stalled. We received a reply from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service that our notice of dispute was received and that a conciliator has been appointed to assist the parties in reaching an agreement.

We don't have conciliation dates agreed to yet, but we expect to know more soon. 

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. 20

As a result of scheduling issues, bargaining has been rescheduled to Nov. 20.

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

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.

It's not about how fast you arrive, it's about getting where you are going

Life can feel like an endless competition, and it's easy to get caught up in the pack racing to the finish line. When you have chosen your path, there's no need to worry about keeping up with others on the journey or feeling pressured by those who may be watching where you are headed.

The mantra 'slow and steady' holds true. As Dory from Finding Nemo reminds us, "Just keep swimming." Regardless of the pace, if you are moving forward you are making progress and that will get you where you want to go.

Learn more here:

• Your speed doesn't matter. Forward is Forward!
• There is hope if you just keep swimming

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.