February 25, 2020  

Calendar highlights and upcoming events:

Local 7 / Heartland bargaining - Regina, Feb. 27
GSU Local 7 (Heartland) bargaining committee will meet their management counterparts for bargaining on Thursday. Your Local 7 committee members are Heather Mackay, Tyler Sherwood, and GSU staff rep/committee spokesperson Donna Driediger. 

Local 5 / Western Producer bargaining - Saskatoon, March 24
GSU's collective agreement with The Western Producer expired July 31, 2019. Bargaining committee members representing GSU Local 5 are Sharlene Tetrault, Michelle Houlden, and GSU staff rep/bargaining spokesperson Dale Markling. Learn more here.

GSU biennial convention - Temple Gardens, Moose Jaw, March 19-21, 2020
Registration is now closed. 

CLC/SFL Spring School - Moose Jaw, April 20 - 24, 2020 
This is a GSU-sanctioned event*. Learn more by contacting your staff rep or checking out the school brochure here.

Contact your GSU staff rep if you are interested in attending or learning more about an event.

*GSU members who sign up and are approved to participate in GSU-sanctioned events will have their time off work, wages, and expenses covered in accordance with GSU's expense policies (child care included). GSU staff will also assist you with arranging the time off with your employer.


  


Thank you to everyone who registered to attend the GSU Biennial Policy Convention March 19 - 21 at the Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa in Moose Jaw.

Registration is now closed.

A registration confirmation was sent to delegates on Feb. 24. If you didn't receive an acceptance email from GSU, you are not registered to attend.

If you have questions about the upcoming convention, contact staff rep Donna Driediger at Donna@gsu.ca for assistance. 


   
A member working 13-hour shifts was ill for a number of days. During their time off sick, a statutory holiday occurred and the member's sick bank was deducted incorrectly, leaving them with less pay. 

After discussions with assistance from GSU, the member's sick bank was credited appropriately, resulting in time added to the member's banked time off, as well.

GSU helps sort things out.  When there are problems in the workplace there are many factors to consider. A GSU staff rep has access to information and can help gather all the facts and identify whether your rights have been violated.

These services are provided to you as part of your union dues. There is no additional charge for assisting you.




Kaylee Kruger (Local 1 - Viterra) just won two tickets to watch the Rush take on the Toronto Rock this Saturday 

Last week we asked you what you wished would only happen every four years. The overwhelming answers were birthdays and taxes, but it was Kaylee's entry and her wish for winter every four years that was drawn as our winner. Congratulations, Kaylee!

We have another chance for you to win Rush tickets. 

Enter this week's draw and you could win two tickets to the Rush's March 7 home game against the Vancouver Warriors. 

If you won the $70 million LottoMax, what would be the first thing you would do with your money?  

Send your answer to gsu@gsu.ca by 9:00 a.m. March 3  and we'll enter you in our draw. Good luck!




Major obstacles remain in Nutrien bargaining

The Nutrien and GSU bargaining committees met in Regina on Feb. 18 and 19 to continue bargaining. The two sides were unable to reach a settlement despite the GSU committee's best efforts. 

The main obstacles are:
  • company proposals to take the Sick Leave, Short Term Disability, Pension, and Paid Personal Leave days out of the collective agreement,
  • union proposal to provide a fair minimum increase in wages to all employees who meet an acceptable level of performance.
If you have questions or comments, contact a member of your GSU bargaining committee.

GSU Local 15 (Nutrien) bargaining committee members are Brian Cowen, Curtis Cousins, Lynn Shaw, GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson, and GSU staff rep/bargaining spokesperson Dale Markling.

Previous bargaining updates are available here.



Stop messing around and start doing the things you want to do

What are the things in life that you have not done, but want to do? You know the things. The ones that if it were to all end tomorrow you would regret not having done.

What is stopping you from doing those things?

Check out the following link to help you step back and identify what may be holding you back from doing the things you want to be doing:  What stops you from doing what you want to do?

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.


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