SFL Summer Camp – August 5-11, Shekinah Retreat Centre

This year's summer camp will be held at the Shekinah Retreat Centre near Waldheim. Young people between the ages of 13-16 who are children of union members are eligible to attend.

GSU will sponsor up to three GSU campers on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more below and contact your GSU staff rep to learn more.

Brochure: SFL Summer Camp 2022

Learn More/Register Online: SFL Summer Camp

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SFL OH&S Conference – Sept. 14-16, Regina

This popular conference will be held at the Ramada Hotel in Regina. Contact your GSU staff rep if you are interested in attending.

Brochure: SFL OH&S Conference brochure

Learn More/Register Online: SFL OH&S Conference

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66th Annual SFL Convention - Oct. 26-28, Regina 

The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour is anticipating an in-person convention at Regina's Queensbury Downs this October. The COVID-19 situation will be monitored prior to convention and attendees will be notified in advance of the convention if any health measures are required in order to attend.

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

Brochure: 2022 SFL Convention Call Guide

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Join us in welcoming Rebecca - our new accounting and payroll administrator at GSU

GSU staff numbers went up by one when Rebecca Forness began work at our Regina office yesterday. Rebecca is filling a position formerly occupied by Debbie Head who left the union in February.

Working in a small office offers unique challenges and an opportunity to wear many hats that you don't often find working for larger employers.

Rebecca will be responsible for administering GSU’s day-to-day financial operations and accounting systems, including bookkeeping, accounts payable and receivable, banking, payroll requirements and related reports as well as being our key point of contact in our annual financial audit. She is also tasked with processing dues payments, preparing year-to-date documents, financial projections as well as year-end financial statements.

GSU members submitting expense claims will also be assisted by Rebecca.

You can reach Rebecca at 306.522.6680 or Rebecca@gsu.ca.

Severance pay grievance moved to arbitration, date set

An arbitration date has been set for Sept. 29 and 30 for the grievance of a member who is contesting the amount of severance pay they are entitled to under the collective agreement with their employer.

The employee’s position was eliminated at the end of May and a dispute arose as to the proper calculation of severance pay. The employee and GSU are arguing it should be substantially more than the amount offered by the employer. A grievance was filed and made its way through the grievance procedure without being resolved. Ultimately, GSU referred the grievance to arbitration where the dispute will be heard and the outcome decided by an arbitrator agreed to by the employer and GSU.

“Access to arbitration of employment disputes is unique to employees represented by a union,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “This is a service provided to members as part of the representation they receive by being unionized. GSU consistently makes very effective use of the grievance/arbitration process on behalf of employees represented by the union.”

Our services are provided to you as part of your union dues and there is never an additional charge for assisting you. Contact information for GSU staff representatives is available on our web page at gsu.ca.

Struggling with Depression and Anxiety

By GSU staff rep Donna Driediger

So many people are struggling these days. Post-COVID, many of us are still trying to remember or find what brings us joy.

The world has changed over the past 2.5 years. Things slowed down with the lock down and that shook many of us into new thought patterns. Parents who weren’t teachers before COVID were suddenly responsible for home-schooling. We weren’t chefs but were eating at home, sourcing COVID cookbooks and heading-up pioneer bread-making marathons during a yeast shortage. We started to think maybe this was the slow down we needed to put us in touch with what was important, but depression and anxiety rates are through the roof. Why?

As we try to regain our new normal the world is continuing to erupt around us. Wars, school shootings, convoys, abortion rights make it easy to feel doomed and like some of our politicians, media outlets and law makers are contributing to our feelings of frustration and being sidelined.

When we are scared, depressed, and fearful we are more easily manipulated. You can take back control.

As someone who struggles with depression, I encourage you to change your algorithm in your Facebook, TikTok, Twitter feeds and try to actively search out happy stories. Listen to upbeat music, turn off the news when it becomes too much and spend some time in nature. It doesn’t make everything go away, but it helps. 

Local 1 & 2 (Viterra) bargaining

Viterra bargaining will begin this fall for GSU members in Local 1 (Viterra Operations and Maintenance) and Local 2 (Regina Head Office). We've created a VITERRA BARGAINING page on GSU's main web page where we'll be posting the information you need, so make sure you check the page regularly.

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.

Local 4 (Grain Millers) bargaining scheduled for July 20, 21, 22

GSU's bargaining committee members were pleased with a good turnout and productive discussion at their June 13 bargaining update meeting. Now that they have checked in with members, the committee feels prepared for the next round of negotiations in July.

GSU's bargaining committee comprises Brandon Allin, Carter MacKay, Ryan McNabb, Glen Wlasichuk, Brian Lark (GSU staff) and Steve Torgerson (bargaining spokesperson and GSU staff).

Local 5 (Western Producer) bargaining 

The GSU Local 5 bargaining team will meet in mid-August to begin a full cost analysis of their bargaining package and to discuss potential strategies when meeting with the company. Updates will be issued as additional information is available. In the meantime, you are welcome to contact anyone on the bargaining team or your staff rep if you have questions or concerns.

Negotiations committee members are Michelle Houlden, Sharlene Lark, Laurie Michalycia and Donna Driediger (GSU staff and bargaining spokesperson).

Can you stay awake during a boring task? If not, chances are you are sleep deprived.

Sleep specialists flag feeling drowsy during the day as a telltale sign of sleep deprivation. Even at the end of your busy day you should be able to lay in bed between 10 and 30 minutes before falling asleep, so if you crash within five minutes of lying down, you probably are suffering from severe sleep deprivation. 

Learn more here:

• Try the Spoon Test to determine if you are sleep deprived
• Sleep Foundation overview on sleep deprivation
• Sleep deprivation self-assessment