Calendar highlights and upcoming events: | |
Our Tuesday Members' Memo will be bi-weekly over the summer | |
Watch for our TMM every second Tuesday over the summer. We'll return to our weekly newsletters in September.
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GSU scholarship applications are in the hands of our scholarship committee | |
Thank you to everyone who applied to our scholarship program. Our scholarship committee will be meeting over the summer to select this year's five recipients who will each receive a $2,000 scholarship to assist them in their studies.
Applicants will be notified of the scholarship committee's decision.
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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. | |
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Reconciliation or Economic Development:
what is a false dichotomy?
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By GSU staff rep Mason Van Luven | |
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Often you will hear the classic stereotype that respect for Indigenous land claims is at the expense of economic development, and vice-versa. This is what is called a ‘false dichotomy’ where it would appear that there are only two choices and those choices are framed as an ‘either-or’ statement. For example, you either like vanilla ice cream or you do not. As you can plainly see, there are dozens of other reasons why someone might like vanilla ice cream or not, but that does not mean you either like it or despise it. There is nuance, and to describe your likeness for vanilla ice cream in this way is unbalanced. The same can be said for balancing reconciliation with economic development.
Indigenous land, and its people's relationship to it, are determined in a lot of different ways: historical bonds, the Indian Act, established bands, Treaties, and also ever-changing decisions in law. Additionally, this land represents only 0.2% of all the land that is Canada. However, as limited as this land is across the country, there is an abundance of examples where Indigenous people and their leaders butt-heads with industry who want to do x-project on their land.
In his published memoir, Chief Clarence Louie not only challenged this false dichotomy but succeeded in developing his home reservation into one of abundant economic independence. His priority, however, was for his people to have full ownership of their economic future, and he delivered on that promise. Additionally, there has been another revival of what is called "economic reconciliation” which respects the local authority of indigenous groups while also allowing them to fully participate in the Canadian economy. These are two specific examples that showcase that reconciliation is not entirely separate or in constant conflict with economic development. Instead, it is an advantage.
Another reason why it is important to know how a ‘false dichotomy’ works is that as union members - who may also be Indigenous - you have been confronted with them before. You have been told that to pay you better, or improve your benefits, would be a cost too high to bear in the name of ‘economic development’ or ‘competitiveness’. But as you know they are one in the same. Coincidentally, while employers deflate your purchasing power and encroach on Indigenous land claims and rights, both are done in the name 'economic development'.
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GSU calls on members, trade unions, and our communities to support a member whose home was burned down. | |
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On the evening of July 26, a Local 1 Viterra member Shane Holland was notified by Kindersley authorities that his home was on fire. Though the local fire department and Flaxcombe community did all that they could, his home and everything in it was lost.
In a Trade Union, one of our core tenets is that we see workers for what they are: a Whole Worker. This is to say that a worker is more than someone who punches in, punches out, and is assessed by their productivity. A Whole Worker is a caregiver, community member, parent, coach, volunteer, and everything else that makes somebody who they are. This is why when a member needs support, we stand with them. They have more in common with us than the workplace, and the high-viz vest with your company's logo on it.
Local 1 sub-locals have been contacted to vote on donating their annual dues rebates early for Shane. If your sub-local has made a decision on whether or not to do this, please contact your Staff Representative. Otherwise, there are more direct ways to contribute to and support Shane and his family.
a) You can make a cheque out to Shane Holland and mail it to the address below:
PO Box 2082 Kindersley, SK S0L 1S0
b) Shane is able to accept e-transfers to this email: fembotmcleesh@gmail.com
c) Shane's family has organized a GoFundMe available to the general public.
If you can, please support this member. If you are also interested in helping fundraise, do notify your Staff Representative. Please share this information on your social media and in your personal circles.
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Photo: GSU General Secretary Steve Torgerson standing with ILWU members | |
ILWU Canada Bargaining Update | |
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The International Longshoreman and Warehouse Union (ILWU Canada) and the employer group, the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) have been embroiled in industrial action since this newsletter last reported on the matter, with the status of negotiations changing on a near daily basis.
In our last newsletter, the elected 70-member Caucus of the ILWU had rejected the tentative agreement made between the BCMEA and ILWU Canada bargaining agreement on the basis that it failed to consider members' concerns about inflation and job security. In particular, that wages were falling behind inflation, and if left unchecked, the union is concerned that the employer group would insist that full-time maintenance work would be eroded in favour of contractors. Since then, another tentative agreement has been agreed to at the behest of the Canada Industrial Relations Board ordering all the Local's presidents to sign an endorsement letter.
Since relations between ILWU Canada, the BCMEA, and now the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) and the Federal Labour Minister have soured, we need to be reminded that the financial context in which these negotiations originally took place. Namely that throughout the pandemic years (2019-2022) the BCMEA - which in its membership has the six largest global shipping companies - celebrated unprecedented profits.
In a report done by the Centre for Future Work and Dr. Jim Stanford, between 2019 and 2022, amidst supply-chain disruptions, these shipping companies reported an increase of 1500% in profits -- as much profit as these companies have made in the six previous decades combined. This coincides with the average longshore base wage growing less than 10% over this same time period, with rising interest rates and inflation squeezing these gains down. Hence why the ILWU membership emphasized getting wage increases proportionate to inflation.
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In the midst of massive disruptions along the supply chain, the employer group increased terminal operator and standard service fees by 25%. This not only assisted in capturing profit, but contributed to our global inflationary crisis. This went unchecked, and it was the ILWU that went on to report about their employer's business decisions in their union's plethora of publications. Now that we are coming out of this crisis, it is the labour force being framed as greedy, not the companies.
In the face of this hypocrisy, ILWU Canada President Rob Ashton has this to say: “The federal government would not intervene to impose contract terms on the shipping companies, protecting Canadians from cost and disruption, and it’s sheer hypocrisy to now argue that government should force longshore workers back to work".
GSU will continue to stand and support our Western-most affiliates as they strive for a deal that worker's deserve.
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Local 1 (Viterra Ops & Maintenance) & Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) Board of Delegates rejects tentative agreement | |
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A tentative agreement was reached on July 13 with Viterra Canada Inc., and the Local 1 (Country Ops) Board of Delegates convened on July 27 after some delays due to Viterra's tardiness in providing the Local 1/2 bargaining committee a finalized and accurate tentative agreement. Local 2 (Head Office) and their executive will be convening this week Thursday, August 3.
The Board of Delegates are members voted in at annual Fall meetings whose role is to represent their sub-local at the provincial level. During bargaining, this means they convene with other BoD members to review bargaining material prior to its release to the membership.
As a reminder, if the Board of Delegates and Local Executive determine the agreement is sufficient to proceed to a vote, the tentative agreement will be presented to Local 1 and 2 members who will have the opportunity to either accept or reject the tentative agreement through a confidential ratification vote process.
However at the July 27 meeting, the Local 1 BoD voted to reject the tentative agreement.
"What we heard from the Board of Delegates is that the offer falls short on what member's need to make ends meet, though some strides were made elsewhere in the tentative agreement that were appreciated", said GSU General Secretary Steve Torgerson.
Watch your email and the GSU web page for details about voting and information on the tentative agreement.
If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact a bargaining committee member or your GSU staff representative.
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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 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: mediation to continue July 26 & 27 | |
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Above: A sign near the AIM site.
Below: Local 5 members sporting their GSU t-shirts and sharing some tea in their GSU mugs.
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After weeks of stalled talks, mediation took place on July 26 and 27. Through a mediator assigned by the provincial labour ministry, GSU and the company exchanged offers to maintain appreciated standards in the current collective agreement and make wage gains. However, the company issued a regressive final offer. To add to the frustration, the final offer is not nearly extensive enough to vote on, as it is vague and without substance.
Local 5 members were notified of these regressions in a bargaining update, and arrangements are being made to host a Local membership meeting to discuss the final offer and mediation.
Stay tuned for updates.
The bargaining committee comprises Michelle Houlden, Laurie Michalycia, Donna Driediger (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff) and Steve Torgerson (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU general secretary).
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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 collective agreement will be put on the web page by week's end and put in the queue for formatting into booklets for distribution to members. |
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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 | |
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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.
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Local 19 (Prairie Co-op) - current collective agreement expires Dec. 31, 2023 | |
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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.
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Our Labor Is Used to Create Wealth for Others
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When we all entered the labour market and began to get paid for our work, it often was a summer job, helping out around the farm or getting that first real job after high school. When we did we entered these arrangements, we traded our work for pay, we made these agreements with ourselves and our employers or parents because they needed our help.
Today is no different, our work is fundamental to the economy, and without our time and effort, things are not made, stuff is not delivered, and products are not sold. What is often forgotten is that our economy and society are here to help everyone, but we are being told more and more that corporations can't pay better wages and need more output from fewer employees.
We all need to remember that workers generate wealth. It is our work that generates corporate profits, economic growth and prosperity. Whey then are we told but our employers that they won't pay us more all the while making billions in profits and dividends to shareholders? What we deserve, which is just fair wages and respect, we must demand and fight for.
They won't give it to us unless we are willing to fight for it.
Read more here:
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