GSU Defense Fund board of directors to meet

A meeting of the Defense Fund board is being scheduled to conduct a year-end review in preparation for GSU's upcoming policy convention. Election of a new five-person board will also take place during the convention.

Current director Sharlene Lark (Local 5 - Western Producer) has advised that she is moving on to new opportunities and she will be stepping down from her position on the Defense Fund board. We extend our thanks to Sharlene for her service on the board and within the union in many other capacities, and we wish her all the very best.

Lark's departure leaves two vacancies on the Defense Fund board. If you are interested in becoming a board member immediately or letting your name stand for election at our policy convention, please send your expression of interest to Hugh@gsu.ca.

.....

GSU Shop Steward/New Officer Training - March 1, 2023

GSU shop stewards and officers recently received an invitation to attend GSU's annual Shop Steward and New Officer training. Training will take place online and the registration deadline is Jan. 31. Contact Steve@gsu.ca for more information.

.....

GSU biennial policy convention - March 23, 24 & 25, 2023

The Joint Executive Council convenes a policy convention of GSU delegates once every two years prior to May 31. The location of the 2023 policy convention is the Moose Jaw Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa.

Learn more here.

Members who are interested in becoming a delegate to GSU’s 2023 convention are asked to follow up by contacting their Local executive committee members, a GSU staff representative or by sending an email to GSUconvention@gsu.ca.

.....



Check us out on Facebook and Instagram

Local 17 (Discovery Co-op) members vote, accept memorandum of agreement

On Jan. 11, 2023 members of Local 17 attended their ratification meeting to vote on the proposed memorandum of agreement that – if accepted - would form a new collective bargaining agreement. With 100 percent voter turnout, 83 percent of members voted in favour of accepting the bargained settlement.

“While some may say there was not a lot gained from this round of negotiations, we were able to protect a number of collective agreement provisions," said union bargaining spokesperson Brian Lark. "We worked hard to protect current extended sick leave and keep the Supplemental Employment Benefit, and we were also able to make improvements to the members' collective agreement."

The company had looked at removing supplementary unemployment benefits (SEB) in the agreement. The union committee initially refused the removal but indicated a willingness to reduce the number of weeks an employee is eligible for SEB and the number of days required to be eligible for SEB. 

With increases to the annual boot allowance from $175 to $200, there was also agreement that members would receive up to $200 for a replacement pair of boots within the year if a replacement pair is required.

Continued benefit coverage was also secured for individuals while on maternity, adoption or parental leave, provided the employee continues to pay their portion of benefits (just as they do when they are at work).

Over the term of the three-year agreement there will be guaranteed annual wage increases of 2%, 2% and 1.75% for everyone. These increases are on top of separate annual performance increases that will still be available to all members. 

Thank you to bargaining committee members Nathan Rafuse, Kristen Keating and GSU staff rep Brian Lark for serving on the committee and the work they put in to reach this agreement for Local 17 members. 

Mental Health

What are you prepared to do to support mental health?

Jan. 25 is Let's Talk Mental Health day. For many of us this gives a moment for reflection on mental health awareness but, sadly, mental illness doesn't go away on Jan. 26. 

By GSU staff rep Donna Driediger

There seems to be a lot of buzz around mental health, but I find myself questioning just how much is lip service and how much is actual concern. If you've suffered from poor mental health in your life, you likely know all too well the judgements and micro-aggressions that flow from others. Many folks will tell you they support mental health and appear to have empathy, but after some time has passed and you still aren't at the top of your game, the empathy erodes and the judgements seep in. 

Depression and anxiety are my struggles; however, mental health shows up in all facets of day-to-day life for all of us. More than 200 people in Canada will attempt suicide every day. The number of opioid overdose deaths in Canada went up more than 90 percent during the pandemic. It’s now at 20 deaths per day. 

Winnie the Pooh stories are a great example of friends living life with mental health issues. Eeyore had many sad days, but no one judged him, they still invited him to play and didn't place expectations on how he should act when he was with his friends. Piglet seemed to struggle with anxiety, yet no one condemned him for not being confident. Instead, his friends bonded together to help relieve his stress and find self love. We all need friends like these. 

Before you change your profile pictures on Jan. 25 to say you support mental health awareness, ask yourself "Am I compassionate, supportive and genuinely looking to end the stigma of mental health concerns and illness, or am I looking to fit in and make sure I give lip service to a cause I don't truly support?"  

Be a Pooh Bear -- but wear pants. 

If you have concerns about your mental health and safety in the workplace, don't hesitate to contact Donna Driediger or one of our other GSU staff reps.

Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) & Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) - new bargaining dates set

Two sets of dates are scheduled to resume bargaining. The first session will be either Jan. 26, 27 OR Jan. 31/ Feb. 1 followed by a session Mar. 7 and 8. The two sides have not met since Dec. 14 and 15.

"We're pleased that the company is finally bringing their financial package to the table. Now we can get down to negotiations," said GSU bargaining spokesperson Steve Torgerson. "These last few months haven't been as useful as they could have been because Viterra did not come fully prepared to bargain."

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) and Travis Brewer (Saskatoon); 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).

Local 5 (Western Producer)

GSU has reached out to the employer to resume bargaining. We will provide an update when it occurs.

GSU's bargaining committee will soon lose a member as long-term Local 5 member Sharlene Lark is moving on to different pastures and will no longer be an employee of WPP. In addition to being a bargaining committee member, Sharlene has served on your Local 5 executive as president and vice president where she always had the best interest of GSU members at heart. Sharlene will be missed and we thank her for her dedication to the service of the membership and we wish her well in her new endeavours.

The bargaining committee comprises Michelle Houlden, Sharlene Lark, Laurie Michalycia, Donna Driediger (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff) and Hugh Wagner (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff).



Local 7 (Heartland Livestock Services/Northern Livestock Sales) bargaining committee to hold local-wide membership meeting

The Local 7 bargaining committee met their management counterparts for a third bargaining session on Jan 10. David Nilsson (Nilsson Bros.) also attended the session as an observer.

"We had hoped that this session would result in a tentative agreement but significant disagreements remain regarding monetary-related issues," said GSU bargaining spokesperson

Mason Van Luven. "This is a seasonal business which has often put workers in precarious employment situations. It’s time to ensure these workers are protected and have the same rights that other workers benefit from.”

On Jan. 20 the union bargaining committee will consult members at a local-wide meeting.

The bargaining committee comprises Paige Lister (Moose Jaw), Lori Branton (Prince Albert), Melissa Little (Yorkton) and Mason Van Luven (bargaining spokesperson/GSU staff).

Updates will be issued directly to members after each bargaining session and as new information is available. Contact Mason@gsu.ca if you are not receiving updates and would like to be added to the list.



Local 16 (Lake Country Co-operative) to begin Jan. 31

The first bargaining session will take place on Jan. 31, Feb. 1 and 2.

Bargaining will take place through virtual conferencing. Recognizing the value of being together to communicate and discuss proposals as they arise during the bargaining sessions, GSU’s committee plans to gather in person and meet with the company by virtual conferencing. 

Your bargaining committee will share bargaining updates by email and text message, so make sure your contact information is up-to-date.

GSU’s bargaining committee comprises Ward Tolley, Kara Thevenot and GSU staff representative/bargaining spokesperson Brian Lark. 

 

Local 18 (Lloydminster & District Cooperative Association) bargaining scheduled in March

The first bargaining session will take place March 28, 29 and 30. At the company's request, bargaining will take place through virtual conferencing.

GSU’s bargaining committee comprises Christina Jones, Trent Herring and GSU staff representative/bargaining spokesperson Brian Lark. 

Assume people like you until they prove otherwise

Want to boost your confidence when you enter a room? Assume everyone there already likes you.

This chosen perspective will help take the pressure off the situation and allow you to simply be yourself. Even if someone is grumpy or disengaged, if you assume they like you it's not much of a stretch to understand that their behaviour has absolutely nothing to do with you.

Learn more here:

• Assume everyone likes you until you see proof to the contrary