SFL OH&S Conference

Sept. 13-15, 2023 ~ Saskatoon, SK

The SFL Occupational Health and Safety Conference is held annually for workers in Saskatchewan to learn about the latest issues surrounding occupational health and safety.

GSU will sponsor up to three members to attend this conference.

Learn more about the conference here, and contact your GSU staff rep to learn even more or register.

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Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) board of delegates meeting - Sept 1

Your GSU bargaining committees are meeting their management counterparts on Aug. 31, and we will be updating and checking in with your elected GSU representatives on Sept. 1.



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GSU scholarship and bursary recipients will be announced in Sept.

Thank you to everyone who applied to our scholarship program. Our scholarship recipients have been contacted and we will be introducing them to you soon.

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We're anticipating and preparing for a busy autumn agenda

We've reached the final weeks of August, and GSU staff are beginning to examine timetables for upcoming annual general membership meetings; meetings of various GSU committees, councils and boards; and training opportunities for members.

More information will be available soon.

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GSU staff rep Donna Driediger supported and assisted a GSU member during their extended sick leave

Recognizing a member's desire to minimize stress and focus on recovery, Donna stepped in to help navigate the return of employer-provided equipment to the employer. By acting as an intermediary, GSU alleviated the burden on the individual, sparing them from direct interaction with the employer.

"GSU is committed to its members' well-being during difficult times," Driediger said. "The importance of compassion is often overlooked by employers when their management focus is centered around the business instead of the people." 

The role of GSU is to assist our members. We will help in any way we can, but we won't contact your employer or act on your behalf without consultation, direction and approval from you. Don't hesitate to contact us with questions or concerns about a workplace issue. Our services are provided and paid for by your union dues and there is never an additional charge for assisting you.

Environmental/Occupational Health & Safety

Avoid rushing, watch for mind fatigue throughout this busy season

By Brian Lark, GSU staff rep

As the summer comes to an end and fall draws near, the world fills with excitement. Farmers are busy in the fields as harvest gets into full production, children are getting ready to go back to school, and families are anxious to fit in one last vacation before school starts.

All of these tasks take time effort and focus, and as we hurry to get the most out of our days we often take our minds off the tasks we are doing and think ahead to the next task.

In order to ensure we stay safe, we need to stay focused on the task at hand. For instance:

• While driving to our favourite camping destination, the focus needs to be on driving and not how to get the campsite set up before dark.
• As children head back to their first day of school, they need to be reminded to stay focused on their surroundings and traffic as they cross roadways rather than being distracted while daydreaming about seeing friends and finding their new classrooms.
• For those of us driving in school zones, rather than calculating if we have time to grab coffee on the way to work, we need to be certain to follow speed limits, be ever vigilant for pedestrians and children darting out between parked cars, and anticipate the unusual driving habits of parents as they make their way to the front of schools to drop off children.

Producers and farmers are especially busy this time of year. With limited time and unpredictable weather creating urgency to get harvest completed, maximum effort is needed to secure the future of the farm. As they work their way through the field, they are already planning the next course of action, and often mind is not always on task.

If you are on the road, be aware that producers may be moving equipment from field to field, transporting grain from field to grain bin or grain bin to elevator. Whatever the situation is that causes them to be on the road, interacting with traffic is a necessity. Farm equipment travels slower than usual and they are wider than other traffic on the road. Take your time when passing them, allow more time to slow down, and give them a wider berth as they travel.

While interacting with others, watch for signs of fatigue and ensure that they are safe to continue. Even weekend warriors traveling on a last family adventure could also be at risk of fatigue. Working all day, packing up the camping gear and hopping into the car to drive hours to the perfect spot is mentally exhausting. Be sure that you are fit for the task of driving the distance and arriving safely. Watch out for these adventure seekers and give them - and yourself - time and room for safe travel.

I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable harvest/fall season. 

Local 1 (Viterra Ops & Maintenance) & Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) bargaining committees set to return to negotiations Aug. 31

Earlier this summer, your elected Local 1 Board of Delegates and Local 2 executive committee rejected the tentative agreement with a clear message: what was offered was not enough.

Aug. 31 has been confirmed for a bargaining session with your GSU bargaining committees and Viterra representatives. We’ll be looking for more dates in September if our upcoming session with company representatives is not fruitful.

Your hard work contributes to your employer’s record-breaking profits, and you deserve better than what you've been offered.

Here’s how you can support your GSU bargaining committee:

• Keep the lines of communication open with your fellow members and customers.

• Continue reminding management of the value of your contributions, and that you’ve earned a standard of living where you can support yourself, your family and community.

You can read the complete Aug. 18 bargaining update and previous bargaining updates here. 

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

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 - members vote and overwhelmingly reject company's *final offer*

Members met on Aug. 23 to review and vote on a final offer presented by the company on Aug. 11. An overwhelming 90.5% of Local 5 members voted to reject the offer.

Members haven't called for or taken a strike vote, and they aren't in a strike position. Rather, Local 5 members and their bargaining committee remain committed to working toward a negotiated resolution to bargaining.

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

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 new collective agreement is on our web page and we are formatting it into booklets for distribution to members. 

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

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.



Local 19 (Prairie Co-op) - current collective agreement expires Dec. 31, 2023

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.

Practice doesn't necessarily make you perfect, but it makes you better

PHOTO CREDIT: Meta

It's uncomfortable doing something new that you aren't good at, particularly if you have an audience. Your first attempt at something new will take bravery, a willingness to put yourself out there and the possibility things may not go as you would hope.

The first time you do something won't be as good as the tenth time you do it, and the more you do it the easier it will become. Practice may not make you perfect, but it will certainly help you to improve.

If it's worth doing, start doing it - even if you start slowly. And don't compare yourself to others because not everyone starts from the same place.

Learn more here:

• A guide to starting something new
• We all have to start somewhere
• Just keep going! Some inspirational quotes