Calendar Highlights & Upcoming Events | |
Burger Night Fundraiser - Support Mason Van Luven and the ILWU Canada Young Workers' Committee - Tonight! April 9, Regina, SK | |
The proceeds from this event will help Mason and the ILWU Canada Young Workers' Committee attend the 2024 Labor Notes Conference in Chicago.
The Date: Tonight - April 9 - 6:00 p.m. start
Location: Tap Brewhouse, Regina
Tickets: $30
If you are interested in attending, contact Mason Van Luven or simply head to The Tap Brewhouse this evening and buy your ticket from Mason or a GSU staff member.
Enjoy delicious burgers and a beverage, participate in a silent auction and a 50/50 draw, and say hi to some GSU staff and other familiar faces.
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AEA/GSU Local 8 membership meeting - April 18 | |
Presentation of bargaining proposals is on the agenda. | |
Local 14 (Richardson) Board of Delegates meeting to be set | |
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We're convening a meeting of Local 14 delegates to identify and address concerns and to ensure that members are feeling adequately represented and able to reach out to GSU officers and union staff for support when needed.
Even though Local 14’s collective agreement remains in effect until the end of 2025, it's important to use the time between agreements to observe, reflect and prepare. This meeting will identify issues, assess priorities, and note what is working well and what isn't working at all so we are well prepared for future negotiations with the employer.
Are you interested in attending this meeting and representing GSU members in your workplace? Contact GSU staff rep Donna Driediger to learn more.
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Prairie School for Union Women - June 9–13, Regina, SK
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Earlybird registration deadline is May 3 | |
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The Prairie School for Union Women offers trade union women an intensive four days of learning and sharing in a supportive environment. The goals of the school are to develop women’s personal and leadership skills and to build solidarity among women workers.
Whether you are a woman who is a seasoned union advocate or just starting to get involved in your union, this school is open to you. This year, the school will be held in person in Regina from June 9 – 13 at the University of Regina
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Receiving a suspension from work can be a challenging experience that is often accompanied by questions, uncertainty, and anxiety. If you are facing suspension, don't hesitate to contact your GSU staff rep.
"Simply put, being suspended means just that – you're suspended from working," says GSU staff rep Mason Van Luven. "If you receive a suspension, it's essential not to bend over backward to accommodate your suspension around your employer's workflow or preferred dates."
When you're suspended, you're effectively off-duty immediately. If there is any employer expectation of having you work while you are suspended or delaying the suspension until a future date, contact your GSU staff rep immediately.
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If you need advice on any employment issue, don't hesitate to reach out to your GSU staff rep.
GSU representatives are committed to offering the support you need, and we will never contact your employer or take action on your behalf without your approval or consent. Our services are paid for by your union dues, there is never an additional charge for assisting you, and there is no limit on the times you can seek advice or assistance.
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Competition open to all GSU members, their spouses, and their dependents | |
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Every year, GSU offers $2,000 scholarships to five students who demonstrate a passion for driving positive change in their community. For the first time, if you have already won a GSU scholarship in the past you are encouraged to apply again.
Previously, recipients could only receive one scholarship per lifetime, but GSU's Joint Executive Council members voted to remove that restriction.
The scholarship competition is open to GSU members, their spouses, and dependents, regardless of previous scholarship awards. Applicants must be enrolled full-time in a diploma, degree, or certificate program at any community college, university, trade school, or technical institute.
Learn more, download the forms or complete them online at GSU.ca.
Deadline for receipt of applications is July 1, 2024.
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Youth advocacy results in free transit for Regina's under-13 kids | |
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The influence of politics spreads through our daily lives and there are many ways each of us participate in political action, often without even realizing it.
We will be exploring politics and political action in our upcoming newsletters by highlighting the ways politics affects our daily lives and the power each of us holds as active participants in the process.
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Late last year, the City of Saskatoon considered following Regina's lead by changing their transit fare structure to provide free rides for kids under 13 years of age. Youth activist Sophia Young played a significant role in the 2022 change to Regina transit fees for children under 13, earning much credit for her efforts in driving forward the necessary reforms.
“Not every child can afford to have parents pick up and drop them to different activities, which leaves youth, particularly marginalized youth, out of the equation,” Sophia said.
Sophia founded Better Bus Youth - a youth-lead organization aiming to create accessible communities for every child. Sophia and Better Bus Youth saw a change they wanted and engaged in their local city politics in ways that mattered to them. To accomplish their goal, they used various methods of speaking to city council, engaging the public with art projects, public events, and asking people to support them by signing a petition.
Changes at work and in our communities can be small but significant. Often, dedicated people are needed to raise an issue and push for improvements.
Learn more about Sophia Young and Better Bus Youth, and how they campaigned to get free transit for kids:
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Local 1 (Viterra Ops & Maintenance) & Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) - Step 3 hearing being scheduled for Executive Grievances | |
Collective Agreements
View the new agreements on GSU's web page at gsu.ca.
In addition to PDF versions of the collective agreements, they are also available on the web page as online text documents to assist members who cannot easily access or download PDF versions. You will find the text agreements under a flyout menu option on our web page under the COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT>VITERRA menu tabs.
We will be printing booklets for members. As soon as they are available we will work with our elected delegates to get copies into members' hands.
Executive Grievances on 4.5% increase and retro pay
The Step 3 hearing in the executive grievances process is being scheduled. The executive grievances were filed with Viterra on Feb. 26. Copies of the grievances and background information are available here.
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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 Yanoshewski with assistance from GSU staff representatives Mason Van Luven and Steve Torgerson (GSU general secretary and bargaining committee spokesperson).
| Local 5 (Western Producer) members vote, accept terms of tentative settlement | |
The outcome of the member ratification vote held on April 3 has been determined, with the majority of members approving the tentative settlement.
After a prolonged negotiation process we have finally reached an agreement, concluding bargaining. Both parties will now begin work on writing the new, updated collective agreement. Once the final wording has been agreed upon, GSU members will be able to access the new agreement on our web page and collective agreement booklets will be made for our members.
Congratulations to the members at Local 5 for solidifying an agreement.
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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) bargaining scheduled to resume April 16 | |
GSU's Local 6 negotiating committee met on Feb 13 to complete their bargaining package before they met with the employer on Feb 14. Both sides presented proposals and while progress was made, a tentative settlement was not reached.
The committee is look forwarding to fruitful dialogue when bargaining resumes next Tuesday.
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The bargaining committee comprises Connor Hartley, Logan Farwell, Kassie Freeland and Donna Driediger (lead negotiator/GSU staff).
| Local 9 (Trouw) agreement renewal bargaining continues by email | GSU's Local 9 committee is awaiting a company's response following their review of an amendment to overtime language. Once received, the our bargaining committee will determine the next steps, including a goal of conducting a ratification vote at the earliest opportunity. | |
Your GSU bargaining committee comprises Rob Macken, Kelly Swaretzky and Mason Van Luven (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff). Jordan Jefferson is serving as alternate.
| Local 19 (Prairie Co-op) committee to meet, strategize for June 4-6 bargaining session | |
On Feb. 28 and 29, GSU's Local 19 (Prairie Co-op) bargaining committee attended virtual negotiations to renew the collective agreement with their employer counterparts. This marked their second meeting following the initial bargaining session on Feb. 14.
Members of Local 19 are advocating for improved benefits, better pay, and a compensation framework that considers performance, annual adjustments, and progression through pay ranges.
The two sides will meet for their next bargaining session on June 4 through 6.
The current collective agreement expired on Oct. 31, 2023.
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Your GSU bargaining committee comprises Colter Spence, Lindsay Hill, Jennifer Schmidt, Mackenzie Walter and Mason Van Luven (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff). | |
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Life is a series of ups and downs, dotted with the mistakes we make and the failures we experience along the way. While it's natural to cringe at our missteps, each one contributes to our life experiences and the person we have become. Without mistakes and failure, we're not truly living, trying, or learning.
Embrace your blunders as signs of growth and experience. Don't ever stop pushing forward and trying new things. Life is really short, so get out there and experience it - even (and perhaps especially) if you are screwing a few things up along the way. It is a meaningful part of life's journey and becoming our best selves.
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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. | | | | |
