December 21, 2021
Calendar highlights and upcoming events:
Please note that GSU offices will be closed on Dec. 27, 28 and Jan. 3.
The next Tuesday Members' Memo will be issued on Jan. 4, 2022.

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GSU Local 8 (Advance) bargaining - Jan. 2022

GSU and management bargaining committees will meet in early January. (See related story, below).

GSU bargaining committee members are Doug Murray, Dion Elliott, Steve Holiday, Doug Kampman, Mason Van Luven (GSU staff), and bargaining spokesperson Hugh Wagner (GSU staff).


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Local 14 (Richardson) bargaining - Jan. 11 and 12, 2022

See related story, below.

GSU bargaining committee members are Jerid Clark, Curtis Shiels, GSU staff members Donna Driediger and Mason Van Luven, and GSU staff/union bargaining spokesperson Hugh Wagner.


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Continue bargaining or declare impasse? Local 8 (Advance) committee to meet management committee in early January
AEA/GSU Local 8’s bargaining committee met with their counterparts from Advance Tank Production/Tank Centres Ltd on Dec. 16 as both sides presented revised positions on unresolved issues.
“While we can see a path forward in relation to most of the issues under consideration, there is a significant gap on the matter of wage increases as the union committee continues to propose across-the-board increases of five percent per year compared to the employer’s current position of 1.25 percent per year,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner.

“While the parties agree that a three-year agreement is on the table, we differ on retroactivity with respect to wage increases," Wagner said. "The union committee is proposing that the first year increase should be retroactive to Nov. 1, 2021 while the employer proposes the first year increase take effect on the first day of the next pay period following ratification of a settlement by union members.”

When the Dec. 16 bargaining meeting ended, the two sides agreed to touch base in the first week of the new year to determine whether there is merit in meeting again, or whether the bargaining is at an impasse and will enter the conciliation process provided in the Saskatchewan Employment Act.

“With the support of members, the union committee is determined to press for wage increases that reflect and protect against the rising cost of living,” said Wagner.

An update will be released following consultations with the employer in the first week of January.
(L-r) GSU's Local 14 bargaining committee members Curtis Shiels, Hugh Wagner, Jerid Clarke and Mason Van Luven. Missing from photo: Donna Driediger.
Some progress made in Local 14/Richardson bargaining; committees will meet again in Regina, Jan. 11, 12
GSU’s Local 14 bargaining committee met with their counterparts from Richardson International on Dec. 20 and 21 as both sides reviewed and revised the bargaining proposals they tendered during their first bargaining meeting the previous week.
“While we made some progress, there are key matters to be resolved and a significant difference between the two parties on the subject of wage increases. The union committee is continuing to press for across-the-board wage increases that reflect the rising cost of living,” said GSU general secretary and union bargaining spokesperson Hugh Wagner. “When the Dec. 21st bargaining meeting ended, it was evident that more work needs to be done to find the basis for a settlement, and we agreed to meet again on Jan. 11 and 12.”
 
GSU Local 14’s bargaining committee is comprised of Jerid Clark (White City), Curtis Shiels (Melville), Mason Van Luven (GSU staff rep), Donna Driediger (GSU staff rep), and general secretary Hugh Wagner. A further update will be released following the January bargaining meetings.

GSU members vote to continue Defense Fund dues
A majority of 72.81 percent of members voting at GSU annual meetings have voted to approve a motion to continue the additional dues being paid into the GSU Defense Fund for another year. Votes on the additional dues were conducted in conjunction with annual union Local and Sub-local meetings held this fall.

Each employee working in a GSU bargaining unit pays additional dues of one percent of regular pay to a maximum of $10 per month into the GSU Defense Fund. The additional union dues are accumulated in the GSU Defense Fund where they are invested and held in reserve to pay strike/lockout pay, benefits continuation and strike/lockout administrative expenses in the event GSU members are engaged in a strike or lockout stemming from a collective bargaining dispute.

Strike or lockout pay from the GSU Defense Fund is currently set at 75 percent of a member’s regular pay provided they are active participants in strike or lockout actions sanctioned by GSU.

The Defense Fund currently has assets of $5.4 million (market value) and is administered by a board of directors elected by delegates to GSU biennial policy conventions. The current directors of the GSU Defenses Fund are:

  • Wilfred Harris (Local 1 Carnduff),
  • Doug Kampman (Local 8 Regina),
  • Sharlene Lark (Local 5 Saskatoon),
  • Lynn Shaw (Local 15 Craik), and
  • Bruce Thompson (Local 15 Fielding).

The membership vote conducted this fall marks the 25th consecutive year that a majority of GSU members attending annual union meetings have voted to approve the additional dues being paid into the Defense Fund.

If you have questions or concerns about the GSU Defense Fund, contact your staff representative.
Just say yes ... or just say no!
You are the boss of you. You are also the one who will need to navigate the fallout of pushing yourself too hard or not hard enough when it comes to participating in holiday and family gatherings over the next couple of weeks.

When you say YES, commit to your yes. Don't say yes when you want to say no, and if you say yes, don't be a mopey party pooper because you should have said no. Live in the moment, remain open minded, and look for the best in the situation. At the very least, some of our worst experiences make the best stories.

If you say NO, commit to your no. If the fallout of you saying no looks decidedly better than the thought of taking on a yes, stand your ground. Be proactive by preplanning the explanation for your no so it's top of mind if (or when) your decision is challenged. Be kind and be honest in a firm but polite way.

If you just can't commit to a YES without compromising your mental wellness or the wellness of someone you are responsible for, you really need to say NO. Just gracefully bow out and give yourself permission to deflect and reject any criticism leveled at you for your decision.

Whether you say YES or NO to invitations this week, be content in your decision to do what's best for you and those you love. Afterall, taking care of yourself is a great way to start the New Year.



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.