May 3, 2022
Calendar highlights and upcoming events:
Less than one month remains to apply!
Deadline for receipt of applications is June 1
We have five $2,000 scholarship for five GSU members, their spouses and dependents. Detailed information on our scholarship program is available at gsu.ca.

.....
Prairie School for Union Women – June 13-16
This annual school will be held with virtual options and in-person workshops at the Delta Bessborough in Saskatoon.

GSU will sponsor up to three attendees on a first come, first served basis. Learn more below and contact your GSU staff rep to reserve your spot or learn more.

Brochure: PSUW 2022 Brochure

.....
SFL Summer Camp – August 5-11
This year's summer camp will be held at the Shekinah Retreat Centre near Waldheim. Young people between the ages of 13-16 who are children of union members are eligible to attend.

GSU will sponsor up to three GSU campers on a first come, first served basis. Learn more below and contact your GSU staff rep to learn more.

Register Online: SFL Summer Camp

.....
Check us out on Facebook and Instagram
Questions? Concerns? Here's another opportunity to share them with us
It's spring visitation time for GSU members
GSU staff reps are hitting the road in May and June with a goal of checking-in with as many GSU members as possible.
Conversations will vary between Locals, but at a minimum you can expect to receive a physical copy of the Joint Executive Council's annual report to members and an opportunity to tell your staff rep what challenges you are facing in your workplace and address any concerns you may have.

We don't anticipate a shortage of topics and questions from members as a number of Locals are finalizing negotiated bargaining settlements and others are preparing to hit the bargaining table later this year; Board meetings are being planned in June for Locals 1 (Viterra) and Local 14 (Richardson); and clarification of collective agreement application is always requested. Nothing is off the table for discussion, so start lining up questions for your staff rep.

If you have a preferred date or time you and your co-workers would like to meet with your GSU staff rep, reach out to us by email, phone or text and reserve a time and place that works for you.

Contact information for our representatives can be found on our web page at gsu.ca.
Each year members patiently await their annual performance review in anticipation of their annual pay raise which is purportedly based on demonstrated performance in their job.

But what if an employee doesn’t have a demonstrated performance as a result of an approved absence from work?
A member on maternity leave reached out to GSU as she was worried her year-long leave would affect her eligibility for a salary increase. GSU staff representative Mason Van Luven looked into the matter on behalf of the member.
 
Since the employer's policy wasn’t clear on this particular type of situation it took some digging, reviewing and persuasion. After some delay, the employer issued what the member deemed was a “fair” salary increase.
 
It is essential for employers and unions alike to ensure that policies and collective agreement provisions are adaptive and inclusionary in order to make the workplace more equitable for all employees.

Our services are provided to you as part of your union dues and there is never an additional charge for assisting you. Contact information for GSU staff representatives is available on our web page at gsu.ca.
Strike averted as slim majority of members vote to accept revised offer
A strike by members of AEA/GSU Local 8 at Advance Tank Production / Advance Tank Centres in Regina did not occur on April 28 as planned.
On the afternoon of April 27 a very slim majority of Local 8 members (53 percent) voted to accept a revised offer from the employer. As a result, settlement of a new collective agreement was reached and notice of strike action that was to take effect the following morning was withdrawn.

Key sticking points in the bargaining dispute were retroactivity of a wage increase to Nov. 1, 2021 and the amount of the wage increases.

The offer that lead to the settlement was received from the employer during the afternoon of April 27 and provides for an across-the-board wage increase of 3 percent effective May 1, 2022 with payment of the equivalent of 3 percent retroactive pay for the period Nov. 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022. A second across-the-board wage increase of 3 percent will apply effective April 30, 2023. The new collective agreement will expire on April 27, 2024.

“This round of bargaining went right to the brink,” said Local president Doug Murray. “Members stood strong and united in their determination to make significant changes to the employer’s position and two so-called final offers were rejected before the settlement was reached.”

“When push came to shove, the members’ succeeded,” Murray said. “The new collective agreement document will be drawn up in the near future.”

Updates from previous bargaining sessions are available here.

The AEA/Local 8 bargaining committee is comprised of Doug Murray (president), Steve Holliday (vice president), Dion Elliott (OH&S co-chair), Doug Kampman (secretary treasurer), Mason Van Luven (GSU staff rep) and Hugh Wagner, (union spokesperson and GSU general secretary).
Local 4 (Grain Millers) bargaining held April 26; scheduled for May 22, 23 and 24
The Local 4 bargaining committee met with the company representatives on April 26 to resume bargaining. This was the second bargaining session after the opening round of negotiations on March 22, 23 and 24. 

Employee medical benefits (prescription, dental, life insurance, etc.) were the focus at this bargaining meeting. Your committee made headway in understanding the costs of current coverage, what costs are associated with increased coverage and how it all fits in with the entire bargaining package. 

Bargaining is scheduled to continue May 22, 23 and 24 in Yorkton.

If you have any questions please reach out to a member of your bargaining committee. Members are encouraged to join Local 4's bargaining update group by sending their email or cell number to Steve@gsu.ca.

GSU's bargaining committee comprises Brandon Allin, Carter MacKay, Ryan McNabb, Glen Wlasichuk, Brian Lark (GSU staff) and Steve Torgerson (bargaining spokesperson and GSU staff).
Local 6 (Wild West Steelhead) has a tentative settlement; membership meeting to be held May 18
Since serving notice to bargain on Nov. 15, 2021 the two sides met April 28 and 29 to begin bargaining a renewed collective agreement for members at the Wild West Steelhead fish farm. Long days of open and constructive discussion on both sides resulted in an agreement on a tentative settlement. 

The wording of the memorandum of settlement document is being prepared for approval by both sides before GSU's Local 6 bargaining committee shares the memorandum with members for review. Members are encouraged to closely examine the memorandum, discuss it with co-workers and raise any questions or concerns they have with their bargaining committee.

A membership meeting will be held in Lucky Lake on May 18 where members can hear about the terms of the settlement and ask questions before voting to either accept or reject the proposed settlement. 

"This may seem like a quick series of negotiations, but I think it is a testimony to the relationship between the Local and the Company," said GSU staff rep and bargaining spokesperson Steve Torgerson. "They have a direct, reasonable but tough relationship that allows for honest dialogue and real decisions."

GSU bargaining committee members are Dan Grenier, Connor Hartley, Logan Farwell, Paul Kennedy (alternate), Brian Lark (GSU staff), Steve Torgerson (GSU staff/union bargaining spokesperson).
It's important to resolve unresolved trauma
A physical wound left unattended will fester. Emotional wounds are no different. While they may not be as obvious as a gaping wound on your body, traumas and unresolved injuries to our psyche work behind the scenes to infect our happiness and thwart our ability to enjoy or welcome good things into our lives.

It is important to address emotional injuries in order to heal. Doing less will hamper your ability to fully enjoy and live your life.

Learn more here:


If you need help dealing with emotional injury or trauma, contact your employee and family assistance program or reach out to a mental health professional. If you aren't sure where to turn, don't hesitate to contact your GSU staff rep for assistance.
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.