AGMs are well underway

Watch your email for your meeting announcement and get ready to receive the general secretary's report, vote on continuation of the additional Defense Fund dues deduction, elect your Local representatives and more.

Contact your GSU staff rep to learn more or to schedule your meeting.

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Defense Fund Board of Directors to meet Dec. 2

The GSU Defense Fund board of directors will hold a Zoom meeting on Dec. 2.

The meeting agenda will include reviewing the latest investment information as well as making contingency plans in the event union members engage in active collective bargaining disputes in the coming months. The current market value of the Defense Fund investments exceeds $5 million.

The GSU Defense Fund originated in 1996 to protect the collective bargaining rights of union members and provide strike/lockout pay to members when they are involved in collective bargaining disputes with their employers. The Fund is administered by a board of five directors who are elected by delegates to GSU biennial policy conventions. Vacancies occurring between conventions are filled by members elected by GSU’s Joint Executive Council.

Members interested in serving as a Defense Fund director are urged to submit their expression of interest to a GSU delegate, a union staff representative or by email to gsu@gsu.ca in advance of GSU’s policy convention scheduled for March 23 to 25, 2023. Paid union leave and reimbursement for travel expenses is provided to members serving on the board of directors.

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GSU biennial policy convention - March 23, 24 & 25, 2023

The Joint Executive Council convenes a policy convention of GSU delegates once every two years prior to May 31. The location of the 2023 policy convention will be the Moose Jaw Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa.

Learn more here.

Members who are interested in being a delegate to GSU’s 2023 convention in Moose Jaw are asked to follow up by contacting their Local executive committee members, a GSU staff representative or by sending an email to GSUconvention@gsu.ca.

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Performance evaluations

GSU staff representatives have been busy assisting members who have questions or concerns about performance evaluations.

"GSU members need to be sure that they are comfortable with their performance reviews and ratings," said GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson. "If you get a rating you disagree with, you may have access to an appeal process with help from GSU. Talk to your staff rep to see what assistance may be available to you."

Check out these articles from our web page for additional information:

• Performance Review do and don'ts
• Are you getting the most from your performance evaluation?

No problem is too small, so don't hesitate to reach out to us with your questions, observations or concerns. Our services are provided to you as part of your union dues and there is never an additional charge for assisting you or a limit on the times you can seek advice. Contact information for GSU staff representatives is available on our web page at GSU.ca.

Tell the government to stop the sell-off of our profitable public liqour stores

Saskatchewan Liqour and Gaming Authority (SLGA) employees have lobbied for public liquor stores to be allowed to make simple improvements to increase profits, such as including expanding hours of operation; removing restrictions to allow for the sale of mix, ice and snacks; and installing large walk-in coolers—but the government refused.

Then, on Oct. 26, 2022, the Government of Saskatchewan announced their decision to exit the liquor retail market, resulting in the closure of the province’s 34 remaining SLGA stores and the layoff of nearly 400 SLGA employees. All stores will cease operations no later than March 31, 2023 and mark the final blow in the Government of Saskatchewan’s efforts to privatize our province’s public liquor stores. 

This move comes with a cost to Saskatchewan taxpayers, communities and families. 

These stores provide hundreds of reliable jobs with good benefits to people across the province, including in northern and rural communities.

These employees spend their income in their local communities which not only supports the community but also sends taxes back into the province’s general revenue fund.

These stores have remained profitable with sales more than covering their expenses.

Profits from public liquor stores help fund important programs and services including health care, education and highways.

Visit this SGEU site to send an email to help encourage the government to reverse their decision and keep these jobs.

Brown and Wagner attend WESTAC meeting

GSU president Jim Brown and general secretary Hugh Wagner attended the fall forum of the Western Transportation Advisory Council (WESTAC) in Calgary on Nov. 21 and 22.

WESTAC is a one of a kind organization of comprising representation from the transportation ministries of the four western provincial governments, Transport Canada, businesses and unions involved in the transportation system in Western Canada. ILWU Canada is a founding member and GSU’s membership began in 1978.

“WESTAC hosts two gatherings each year during which members are able to gain valuable insight into the myriad issues in the supply chain and engage in dialogue with key decision makers,” Brown said. “The WESTAC forums also provide a valuable opportunity to express the concerns of GSU members who work in the supply chain serving the agricultural sector.”

Your three basic rights for working safely

By GSU staff rep Brian Lark

As an employee, you have the right to participate in planning to minimize or eliminate hazards in the workplace.

One way to participate is by becoming a member of your workplace OH&S committee. Saskatchewan legislation requires workplaces with 10 or more employees to have an OH&S committee. The committee must be equally comprised of employer and employee representatives. Larger federal employers have additional responsibilities and committees to ensure the safety of their workers.

In the work place you can participate in OH&S by bringing forward ideas, risks, and concerns to the attention of your supervisor and OH&S committee. When asked to do a task, you have the right to participate in planning and control of the risks and hazards that are present, and you can make suggestions to your supervisor and OH&S committee.

Learn more in the following video, and don't hesitate to contact your GSU staff rep if you need assistance with an issue in your workplace.

Check back next week when we will examine the right to refuse.

Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) & Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) bargaining resumes Nov. 24, 25

Your GSU bargaining committee will meet their union counterparts on Nov. 24 and 25 for the second round of bargaining. A bargaining update was sent to members on Nov. 21 and another update will be sent to Local 1 and 2 members next week.

Dec. 14 and 15 have also been confirmed to continue negotiations.

GSU bargaining committee members are Local 1 – Jim Brown (Balgonie), Wilfred Harris (Carnduff), Shannon Antonenko (Lloydminster), David Barrett (Gull Lake) and Travis Brewer (Saskatoon); Local 2 – Sheila Tran, Howard Wilson and Kaylee Kruger with assistance from GSU staff representatives Mason Van Luven and Steve Torgerson (GSU bargaining committee spokesperson).

As bargaining proceeds, watch your email for updates and check out the VITERRA BARGAINING page (on GSU's main web page under the Bargaining menu tab) for additional information.

Local 5 (Western Producer) bargaining scheduled for Dec. 2

GSU Local 5’s bargaining committee met with their employer counterparts on Nov. 14 and 18. Revised bargaining proposals were exchanged and some progress was made in narrowing outstanding issues; however, there is a significant gap between the parties on key matters.

Bargaining is ongoing and a further meeting is planned for Dec. 2, so the Local 5 bargaining committee is not in a position to disclose details at this time.

A further update will be released following the Dec. 2 meeting.

The bargaining committee comprises Michelle Houlden, Sharlene Lark, Laurie Michalycia, Donna Driediger (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff) and Hugh Wagner (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff).



Local 7 (Heartland Livestock Services/Northern Livestock Sales) - awaiting company response on bargaining date availability

Dec. 20 has been set for the second round of bargaining. The union committee had hoped for an earlier resumption of negotiations and they are ready to continue addressing the significant gap in monetary and non-monetary issues between the parties.

The bargaining committee comprises Paige Lister (Moose Jaw), Lori Branton (Prince Albert), Melissa Little (Yorkton) and Mason Van Luven (bargaining spokesperson/GSU staff).

Updates will be issued directly to members after each bargaining session and as new information is available. Contact Mason@gsu.ca if you are not receiving updates and would like to be added to the list.

Bargaining proposals, a web page password and additional information were sent to Local 7 members by email on Oct. 31. You can learn more on GSU's web page under the BARGAINING menu tab at the top of the page.

Local 16 (Lake Country Co-operative) dates set

The first bargaining session will take place on Jan. 31, Feb. 1 and 2.

Bargaining will take place through virtual conferencing. Recognizing the value of being together to communicate and discuss proposals as they arise during the bargaining sessions, GSU’s committee plans to gather in person and meet with the company by virtual conferencing. 

Your bargaining committee will share bargaining updates by email and text message, so make sure your contact information is up-to-date.

GSU’s bargaining committee comprises Ward Tolley, Kara Thevenot and GSU staff representative/bargaining spokesperson Brian Lark. 

 

Locals 17 (Discovery Co-op) bargaining begins Dec. 7

Local 17’s bargaining proposal package is ready and two sets of bargaining meetings have been confirmed. The committees will meet Dec. 7 and 8 followed by a Dec. 13 and 14 session. 

At the company's request, bargaining will take place through virtual conferencing. Recognizing the value of being together to communicate and discuss proposals as they arise during the bargaining sessions, GSU’s committee plans to gather in person and meet with the company by virtual conferencing. 

Your bargaining committee will share bargaining updates by email and text message, so make sure your contact information is on file so you can stay informed. 

GSU’s bargaining committee comprises Kristen Keating, Nathan Rafuse, and GSU staff representative/bargaining spokesperson Brian Lark.  



Local 18 (Lloydminster & District Cooperative Association) bargaining scheduled in March

The first bargaining session has been scheduled for March 28, 29 and 30.  At the company's request, bargaining will take place through virtual conferencing.

GSU’s bargaining committee comprises Christina Jones, Trent Herring and GSU staff representative/bargaining spokesperson Brian Lark. 

There are countless ways to make one's views known and that can lead to normalizing things that just aren't okay in a civilized society.

Whether it's unfettered social media, the popular singer who regularly threatens his partner and fellow celebrities, or that friend who makes racist remarks because "that's just what she does," by regularly witnessing these behaviours the shock value is gone and the behaviour becomes normal.

This is not okay. Bad behaviour isn't a simple difference of opinion and it's dangerous if left unchecked.

Check out the following stories on things that have become normalized (but are anything but normal).

Learn more here:

• Five toxic behaviours that have been normalized by society
• 21 Toxic workplace behaviours we need to stop normalizing
• Normalizing toxic relationship traits is harmful