International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.

Learn more here.

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GSU Defense Fund board of directors meeting - March 9, 2023

A meeting of the Defense Fund board will be held this Thursday by conference call. The purpose of the meeting is 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.

If you are interested in becoming a board member, please send your expression of interest to Hugh@gsu.ca.

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Organizing every day for our freedoms, our families, & our futures.

As part of the International Women's Day celebrations, join women and gender-diverse people to share your voice. After the march, there will be a community social in the basement gym of the Regina YWCA with organizations that are supporting women and gender-diverse people in our community.

Download or view the 2023 Women's March Poster here.

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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.

There are still a few credential spaces available. Learn more here and contact your GSU staff rep with questions or to register.

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Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Education Opportunities

Contact your GSU staff to learn more.

2023 CLC/SFL Spring School 

Temple Gardens Hotel, Moose Jaw, SK

April 2-6, 2023

Prairie School for Union Women

Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon, SK

June 12-15, 2023

SFL Summer Camp

Shekinah Retreat Centre (Near Waldheim, SK)

August 19-25, 2023

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GSU officer training builds strong foundation for member service

Twenty-one elected GSU officers met online March 1 for a one-day officer training course. The shift to an online training format started last year in response to the pandemic, but the convenience and format are still proving to be a draw.

“This reinforces the idea that GSU needs member education that takes into account what, how and when members want their union training,” said course facilitator and GSU general secretary incumbent Steve Torgerson.

The training focused on understanding the role and rights of GSU officers, what jobs and responsibilities are included, and the tools they can use to represent their members.



Participants put what they learned into practice as they began building a plan for their individual workplaces that took the needs of their members into account, identified the issues at hand, and created a plan that would harness the energy and drive that all members have to make their workplaces better. 

"The day's goal was to help these members become the best officers and stewards they can be," Torgerson said. "GSU's power has always come from its members, and in today's climate of working people being told they come last, this power is even more necessary." 

If you are interested in GSU's education opportunities, contact your GSU staff rep.

Questioning the administration of the collective agreement

GSU staff rep Brian Lark is assisting Local 1 members at Viterra's Saskatoon elevator who are questioning the administration of their collective agreement regarding stand by pay, weekend booking pay and call-out guarantee. Delays from CP have caused members' shifts to be rescheduled and even canceled before they are finally brought back to load cars.

"GSU understands that in the grain industry the supply of grain cars is subject to the deliverability of CN and CP. That said, this uncertainty is a company problem, not an employee issue," said GSU staff rep Brian Lark. "It is not feasible for employees to be at the beck and call of the company without proper compensation and a balance between work and home."

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 and paid for by your union dues. There is never an additional charge for assisting you.

It takes a combination of hard work and educational funding for most students to achieve their goals. 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.

Scholarship applicants must be enrolled in a diploma, degree, or certificate program at a community college, university, trade school, or technical institute as a full-time student in any country.

Deadline for receipt of applications is June 1, 2023.

Learn more here.

Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) & Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) committees meeting March 7 and 8

The two sides return to the bargaining table today and tomorrow in Regina. An email update will be issued to members by the end of the week.

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) - dialogue ongoing

Dialogue to resolve Local 5’s agreement renewal bargaining is ongoing. For the time being, details won’t be released until there are substantive developments. We thank Local 5 members for their patience and continued support.

The bargaining committee comprises Michelle Houlden, 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 - dialogue continues

Dialogue to resolve Local 7’s agreement renewal bargaining is ongoing. For the time being, details won’t be released until there are substantive developments. We thank members for their patience and continued support.

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 18 (Lloydminster & District Cooperative Association) bargaining scheduled to begin in late 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. 

"But we've always done it this way ..."

Have you ever been performing a task and had someone ask why you aren't doing it a different way? What was your reply?

Traditions aside, just because you have always done something one way doesn't mean you can't - or shouldn't - mix it up and try a different approach.

Whether it's trying new technology to make a task easier, making a favourite food an entirely different way, or simplifying a dreaded chore like folding your t-shirts, keep an open mind and actively watch for new ways to do familiar things.

• How do you overcome "We have always done it this way"?
• The monkey experiment