Annual general membership meetings are well underway

Watch your email inbox for your meeting notice. Meetings run until mid-December, so if you haven't received your notice you can expect it to show up soon.

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Defense Fund Board of Directors will meet Dec. 13, 2023

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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It's important to attend your Annual General Membership meeting

Attending your union's Annual General Membership Meetings is a right and a responsibility. It ensures that you stay informed, have a voice, and actively participate in the decision-making process. By actively engaging in your union, you contribute to a stronger, more empowered workforce, ultimately benefiting both you and your peers.

AGMs foster a sense of community, familiarity and solidarity among union members.

When workers come together to discuss common goals and challenges, it builds understanding, perspective and familiarity among fellow union members and it strengthens the union.

This unity is important when facing adversities and advocating for better conditions.

Is it Vacation ... or Personal Family Leave?

GSU staff rep Donna Driediger assisted a GSU Local 1 (Viterra) member who was in a tough spot juggling work commitments and the needs of an ill spouse.

The member reached out to Driediger for advice, thinking vacation leave was the only option for the time they needed to assist their partner. Driediger pointed out something they missed in their collective agreement — the Personal Family Leave clause. Local 1 members are entitled to five days of personal family leave per year, and the first three days are paid from the member's sick leave credits.

For the GSU member, this was a relief knowing they didn't need to use vacation days to care for a loved one — thanks to a provision in the agreement fought for by the members. Driediger's intervention made a difference and demonstrated that sometimes just knowing your rights or calling your GSU staff rep to confirm the best action can make work life a bit easier for everyone involved. 

GSU staff representatives work with you to find answers to your questions, recommend what course of action is best to follow, and find the solutions that work for you. Contacting GSU does not mean you are obligated to file a grievance. We are here to assist you in any way that 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): Company presents their final offer to settle

GSU bargaining committees participated in conciliation with the assistance of a Federal Mediator on Nov. 14 and 15. On the final day, Viterra presented our bargaining committee with a final offer to settle negotiations.

What now?

1. We are thoroughly reviewing the company's offer.
2. GSU's elected Local 1 Board of Delegates and Local 2 Executive Committee will meet separately to review the final offer and arrange for ratification vote meetings for their members. The Local 1 Board meeting has been scheduled for Friday, Nov. 24.
3. Once the ratification process (meetings, dates, mail-in ballots, etc.) has been determined, we will update members.
4. GSU is preparing a written report on the final offer and will distribute it to members at the same time we share the company's final offer document with members.
5. Annual meetings and strike authorization votes are continuing as previously scheduled with Local 2's meeting scheduled for Nov. 22 and the last Local 1 meeting scheduled for Nov. 23.
6. Elected GSU officers will be in attendance at GSU's Regina office on the afternoon of Nov. 24 to count the strike authorization ballots. Results will be shared with members later that day.

Mail-in ballots must be returned to the GSU Regina office by Noon on Friday, Nov. 24 to be included in the count. If you have questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact your GSU staff rep.

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.

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact a bargaining committee member or your GSU staff representative.

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: New dates being sought in 2024 to continue bargaining

Due to scheduling conflicts of The Western Producer, our previously arranged bargaining dates have been canceled. GSU remains actively engaged on behalf of its members and we are diligently exploring opportunities for discussions early in 2024.

A scheduled hearing with the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board (SLRB) will take place Nov. 27 to 30. This hearing is a pivotal one and a critical step in safeguarding the rights and interests of GSU Local 5 members.

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

Local 6 (Wild West Steelhead) members prepare for bargaining in early 2024

When Local 6 members gathered at their annual general meeting, they also discussed their expiring collective agreement and upcoming bargaining slated for early 2024.

Members in Local 6 work at a fish processing plant in Lucky Lake, SK. This business is a fully-integrated producer controlling all stages of production from egg incubation to finished, boneless fillets ready for the consumer. Members work both inside and outside the facility in roles such as divers and processors.

This group is looking forward to a productive round of bargaining in 2024.

Local 9 (Trouw) agreement renewal bargaining begins today

GSU general secretary Steve Torgerson and staff rep Mason Van Luven are in Chilliwack for the first session of bargaining taking place Nov. 21 and 22. As a result of recent changes to GSU staff responsibilities, Torgerson has accompanied Van Luven to this first round of negotiations to ensure a smooth transition and transfer of responsibility for Local 9 and its members to Van Luven.

Local 9 members and elected GSU bargaining committee members Robert Macken and Kelly Saretzky round out GSU's bargaining committee and join Torgerson and Van Luven to sit across the table from their employer counterparts and begin negotiating the terms of a new collective agreement.

Depending on developments, Nov. 29 has also been set aside as a potential bargaining day.

The Local 9 (Trouw) collective agreement is set to expire at the end of 2023.

Your GSU bargaining committee comprises Rob Macken, Kelly Swaretzky and Mason Van Luven (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff).Jordan Jefferson will serve as alternate.

Local 19 (Prairie Co-op) - Notice to bargain has been served, bargaining dates have been set

GSU staff rep Mason Van Luven has been engaging with Local 19 members to assess their priorities and elect bargaining committee members before meeting with the company February 14 and 15.

The current collective agreement expired Oct. 31, 2023.

It's okay to disagree, but do it respectfully

When it comes to disagreements, it's important to remember it's about the problem, not the person you're arguing with. Keep things positive by not letting differences turn into personal conflicts. The idea is for both sides to hear and consider a different opinion than their own, and come out of the conversation without being enemies. Ideally, understanding different viewpoints should help us grow together, not tear each other down.



In the end, it's perfectly okay to agree to disagree. Diverse perspectives make the world an interesting place and embracing (or at least accepting) differences allows us to learn, grow, and see things from new angles. 

Learn more here:

• 11 ways to win an argument with kindness
• 4 steps to make any argument productive
• How to have healthier arguments

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.

Disclaimer: Things change rapidly. We strive for accuracy, but for the most up-to-date details, please contact your GSU staff representative with any questions or concerns.