GSU Shop Steward/New Officer Training - March 1, 2023

This online training course starts tomorrow. It's being facilitated by GSU staff representative and general secretary incumbent Steve Torgerson.

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GSU Defense Fund board of directors to meet before GSU convention

A meeting of the Defense Fund board is being scheduled to conduct a year-end review in preparation for GSU's upcoming policy convention. Election of a new five-person board will also take place during the convention.

If you are interested in becoming a board member immediately or letting your name stand for election at our policy convention, please send your expression of interest to Hugh@gsu.ca.

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Organizing every day for our freedoms, our families, & our futures.

As part of the International Women's Day celebrations, join women and gender-diverse people to share your voice. Bring your signs, voices & allies. After the March, there will be a community social in the basement gym of the Regina YWCA with organizations that are supporting women and gender-diverse people in our community.

Download or view the 2023 Women's March Poster here.

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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 is the Moose Jaw Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa.

Learn more here.

Members who are interested in becoming a delegate to GSU’s 2023 convention 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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Local 16 (Lake Country Co-op) members have a new collective agreement

On Feb. 23, 2023, members of Local 16 attended their ratification meeting to vote on the proposed memorandum of agreement that – if accepted - would form a new collective bargaining agreement. Over 90 percent of members came out to vote, and they voted 100 percent in favour of accepting the memorandum of settlement.

“We didn't gain as much ground as we initially hoped, we were able to hold off some big advances from the company,” reported GSU staff rep and union bargaining committee spokesperson Brian Lark. 

Continued benefit coverage was secured for individuals while on maternity, adoption or parental leave provided the employee continues to pay their portion of benefits (just as they do when they are at work). The committee also secured reduced vacation thresholds, modest increases to family leave and compassionate leave and they are pleased that temporary employees will now be eligible to participate in medical benefits and the pension plan.

Over the term of the four-year agreement, there will be guaranteed annual wage increases of 2%, 2%, 1.75% and 1.5% for everyone. These increases are on top of separate annual performance increases that will still be available to all members. 

The company had sought to remove supplementary unemployment benefits (SEB) in the agreement. The union committee refused the complete removal but agreed to a reduced number of weeks an employee is eligible for SEB. As well, there was a reduction in the maximum sick leave credits, removal of the weekend premium and changes to the demotion formula.

Members of Local 16 thank their bargaining committee members Ward Tolley, Kara Thevenot and GSU staff rep Brian Lark for their hard work.

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 power of one small word

By Mason Van Luven, GSU staff rep

For those who tuned in to the NBA All-Star game, if you blinked you might have missed a small but powerful modification made during the Canadian National Anthem.

Canadian R&B singer Jully Black altered one word in our anthem to, in her eyes, more accurately reflect Canada’s history. Rather than sing “Our home and native land”, Jully instead sang “Our home on Native Land.” She was inspired to amend the anthem after refusing to sing the song for many years when unmarked graves of Indigenous children were discovered across Canada.

Jully certainly brought attention to the amendment, she can't accept credit for the amendment. To Indigenous people, this is commonplace. This lyrical change to those first hearing it sparked outrage or introspection, or both. For Indigenous peoples, this lyrical change respects their history in this country.

The power of this moment is that in the midst of expecting an entertaining basketball game, viewers and spectators were granted a moment to reflect, introspect and remind themselves that even while in an arena, they’re still on native land. With that comes responsibilities as Settlers we may take breaks from, but not entirely dissociate ourselves from. 

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 Biennial Policy Convention ~ Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa, Moose Jaw, SK

Today is your last chance to register!

Participating in GSU's policy convention is your opportunity to make the changes you want to see in your union (and meet some great people while doing it).

This year's convention is being held at the Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa in Moose Jaw, SK. Let us know that you would like to join us and we'll help co-ordinate your paid leave from your workplace, feed you some fantastic food (Bannock with honey butter and Saskatoon berry pork chops, anyone?) and take great care of you during your time with us.

All you need to bring is a swimsuit for the spa, a change of clothes and a willingness to speak on behalf of your peers and let us know what is important in your workplace and local.

Sound interesting?

Talk to your staff rep or send us an email at GSUconvention@gsu.ca.

Don't wait! We need to reserve your private hotel room at the spa before the extra rooms are released back to the spa on Friday.

Today is the deadline to register for convention.

If you think you might be interested in attending or you want to learn more, contact your GSU staff rep or send an email to GSUconvention@gsu.ca.

GSU's 2023 policy convention will be held March 23 to 25 at the Moose Jaw Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa. Learn more here.

Thank you to everyone who has already registered. We sent you an email on Feb. 27 and you'll be hearing from us soon.

Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) & Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) committees scheduled to meet March 7 and 8

Bargaining is scheduled to resume Mar. 7 and 8. The two sides last met Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

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) 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).

Local 5 (Western Producer) - watch your email for updates

Things are moving quickly. Watch your email and check in with your bargaining committee members for updates.

The bargaining committee comprises Michelle Houlden, 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) bargaining - no new dates set

No further dates are currently set to resume bargaining. The union bargaining committee consulted with bargaining unit members Jan. 20 after meeting their management counterparts for a third bargaining session on Jan 10.

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.



Local 16 (Lake Country Co-operative) have a new collective agreement

Members voted in favour of the Memorandum of Settlement and a new collective agreement. See the detailed story, above.

Congratulations and thank you to the bargaining committee members Ward Tolley, Kara Thevenot and GSU staff representative Brian Lark.

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

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

The first bargaining session will take place 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. 

Make someone's load a little lighter

While some of us have no problem asking for help, others find it awkward and difficult.

Can you tell when someone is struggling and could use a hand? Whether the assistance is psychological or physical, letting someone know that you are available to help now or in the future is a kindness worth extending.

Even if your offer to assist isn't accepted immediately or otherwise, that's okay. You've signaled that you cared enough to pitch in and that is never a bad thing. Everyone likes to know they are noticed and someone cares.

• Three ways to recognize when someone needs support
• Never ask for help? Nine reasons you go it alone
• Three myths that stop people asking for help