March 3, 2020  

Calendar highlights and upcoming events:

Local 7 / Heartland bargaining - Regina, March 5
This will be the third bargaining session.  Your GSU Local 7 (Heartland) bargaining committee members are Heather Mackay, Tyler Sherwood, and GSU staff rep/committee spokesperson Donna Driediger. 

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

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.

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.

Prairie School for Union Women - Waskesiu Lake, June 7 - 11, 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.


  


Resolutions from the GSU membership

Your Executive Committee is issuing a call to all GSU members to, should they so choose, submit resolutions to be voted on at the upcoming GSU biennial policy convention on March 19-21, 2020. 

If there is something you would like to see implemented or changed, consider submitting a resolution to convention. 

Almost anything can be the subject of a resolution, such as:
  • GSU issues (such as the GSU Defense Fund, workplace bullying, dues, or union direction or structure),
  • larger provincial issues (such as lobbying the government to ban asbestos, increasing the minimum wage, and improvements to Occupational Health and Safety regulations),
  • local issues in a community (such as road improvement, maintaining rural schools, and support for local organizations).
Resolutions submitted, debated, and adopted by vote at the GSU Convention become GSU policy.

Contact your  GSU staff rep or an elected GSU officer if you have a resolution you would like to discuss or submit. Resolutions can also be submitted to gsu@gsu.ca.

Please submit your resolutions by 5:00 p.m. March 13.


     
GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner is working on a grievance submitted by a GSU member who is seeking temporary performance of higher duty pay.
 
"Quite often employees are asked to step up and do the work of someone in a higher paid position when that person is away for an extended period of time. The employee in question has been filling in for another employee in a higher paid classification for more than two months and we're aiming to have the relieving employee's pay adjusted as provided in the collective agreement," Wagner said. "This type of case involves an examination of the work the relieving employee is doing during the absence of the person they are replacing."
 
Wagner advises that this grievance is in its early stages and the next step is a grievance meeting with employer representatives.

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.



Kyle Lanthier (Local 1 - Viterra) just won tickets to watch the Rush take on the Vancouver Warriors  

Last week we asked you to daydream and tell us what would be the first thing you would do with your money if you won $70 million. 

There were touching answers, there were hilarious answers, but ultimately it was Kyle's answer that was pulled in the draw. Congratulations, Kyle. We can't give you $70 million, but we are happy to hand over two tickets to the March 7 Rush game.

Check back next week when we will be giving away tickets to the Rush's March 20 game against the Georgia Storm. 




 
Have you been accepted into university or tech school? 
Are you a GSU member, spouse or dependant of a GSU member? 

If your answer is YES, you are eligible to apply for a GSU scholarship.

GSU is pleased to offer $2,000 scholarships to five students who demonstrate an ability and a passion to inspire positive change in their community.

The scholarship competition is open to GSU members, their spouses, and dependent children who have not previously won.


Deadline for receipt of applications is June 1, 2020.



If it's important, get it in writing

If you have ever been in the unfortunate position of arguing to enforce a verbal contract, you will understand how important it is to get agreement details in writing.

A written agreement is proof of the terms you discussed. It clarifies what has been agreed upon and helps to identify misinterpretations. It also prevents people from forgetting what was agreed to, denying what was said, or changing their story. 

There are many opportunities to protect yourself with a written agreement.

Whether you are getting a pet, building a fence, or doing volunteer work, a written contract offers you protection. A written contract can help protect you from losing any deposits or payments, help you avoid additional charges without your written approval, and it can even guard you against personal risks such as lawsuits resulting from accidents, work-related injuries, or damages. 

Collective agreements are example of a written agreement in the workplace.

Collective agreements describe the terms and conditions of employment for the employees in their workplace and for the employers they work for. Your collective agreement clearly outlines what has been agreed upon regarding salary and benefits, hours of work and overtime, transfers, protection against arbitrary disciplinary actions and much more. That is good business for everyone.

Whether it's written in a contract, an email, or on a napkin, protect yourself by confirming an agreement in writing.


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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