Calendar highlights and upcoming events: |
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CLC/SFL Spring School – May 2-6, 2022
Registration is now open for this annual labour school. GSU will sponsor up to three attendees on a first come, first served basis. Learn more here and contact your GSU staff rep to reserve your spot or learn more.
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GSU scholarship application deadline – June 1
We have five $2,000 scholarship for five GSU members, their spouses and dependents. Detailed information on our scholarship program is available at gsu.ca.
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Prairie School for Union Women – June 13-16
This annual school will be held with virtual options and in-person workshops at the Delta Bessborough in Saskatoon.
GSU will sponsor up to three attendees on a first come, first served basis. Learn more below and contact your GSU staff rep to reserve your spot or learn more.
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SFL Summer Camp – August 5-11
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.
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Slim majority votes to approve Richardson offer |
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92.6 percent of eligible members cast ballots as GSU Local 14 members voted on Richardson International’s so-called best offer to settle agreement renewal bargaining of the collective agreement that expired Dec. 31, 2021. When the ballots were tallied on March 31, a very slim majority of 56 percent voted to accept the March 9 offer reports, GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. |
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“This was an intensely debated employer offer as members focused on proposed changes to their sick leave program and particularly on whether the proposed wage increases are sufficient to address the rising cost of living,” Wagner said. “In the end, it appears the majority opted for a degree of certainty instead of opting to push the bargaining process further and for more.”
“Local 14’s bargaining committee did their best to convince Richardson management to put more money on the table and we predicted the voting would be close,” said Wagner. “Union members who argued forcefully for rejecting the employer’s offer are disappointed with the outcome, but the majority has spoken. That being said, I don’t think the Company should rest on its laurels when it comes to wage increases.”
“We always respect the democratic process, but I don’t think Richardson management should see the outcome of this vote as an endorsement of their stance on wage increases," Wagner said. “Every employer in Canada, including Richardson, is going to have to pay much better attention to the impact of the rising cost of living on workers and GSU will continue to press for better wage increases that meet the cost of living.”
“I thank Jerid Clark and Curtis Shiels for their time and hard work as they served as the voice of Local 14 members at the bargaining table. Their participation was invaluable and greatly appreciated.”
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April 28 is the National Day of Mourning for workers injured or killed on the job. In acknowledgement of this important day, our April newsletters will be taking a look at violence in the workplace.
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We expect to feel safe at work, but workplaces can be a site of aggression, tension, harassment, and even violence.
Acts of violence can be present in a wide variety of situations. They can be physical or psychological, and they can come as a direct interaction with the aggressor or indirectly as a bystander or observer.
Over the month of April , we will look at these four distinct types of situations regarding violence in the workplace and the harmful effects that they have on workplaces and employees.
Type 1: Criminal Intent
Type 2: Customer/Client
Type 3: Worker on Worker
Type 4: Personal Relationship.
Week One/Type 1: Criminal Intent
The most common criminal intent violence is robbery. Robbery often occurs in retail outlets, convenience stores and banks. Fortunately for GSU members, most of the shops we operate in are low risk for this type of violence by nature of the business and the fact that these businesses do not hold or carry valuables on site.
Trespassing in another type of violence due to criminal intent. People who have no business or intended personal reason for being at a business tend to elevate stress in employees and create circumstances that may lead to violence. Examples include employees who are assaulted by a trespasser in a parkade or parking lot, or escalated situations involving employees who confront someone who is up to no good.
For employees who have experienced situations of violence from criminal intent, there is a risk of PTSD triggers attached to the workplace as a result of the violence. These workers often require additional counseling and support to overcome anxiety as a result of this type of random act violence that they are involved in simply as a result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Next week: Customer/Client Violence in the Workplace.
Don't hesitate to contact your GSU staff rep is you are struggling as a result of violence in the workplace. All calls and contact are strictly confidential. We will assist you in any way we can, but we will not contact your employer, file a grievance or act on your behalf without consultation, direction and approval from you.
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GSU Defense Fund directors meet, approve strike/lockout pay for Local 8 (AEA) members |
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The board of directors of GSU’s Defense Fund met April 5 to authorize steps necessary to support members of AEA/GSU Local 8 in the event their bargaining dispute leads to strike or lockout action.
Directors unanimously approved strike/lockout pay of 75 percent of members’ regular hourly wages plus payment of the premiums necessary to continue group insurance coverage during a strike or lockout at Advance Tank Production/Advance Tank Centres in Regina. To be eligible for strike/lockout pay, union members must be active participants in the actions of the union such as refraining from working for the employer during the strike or lockout and picketing the workplace at the times and places set by the Local union executive committee.
The directors' meeting also gave approval to administrative steps to ensure ease of funds transfers and documentation expenditures.
The GSU Defense Fund has assets in excess of $5.7 million and is administered by an elected board of directors.
There is currently one vacant directorship on the board which is open for candidates from Locals 1, 2, 14 or 15. GSU members interested in serving as a director are urged to contact GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner at Hugh@gsu.ca.
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Our latest Rush ticket contest winner ... and one last opportunity to win tickets |
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Last week we learned that GSU members love their beef jerky when they entered our contest by telling us their go-to road trip snack. Congratulations to GSU Local 15 (Nutrien) member Chelsea Grimard who can enjoy her favourite pickle/meat/cheese/cracker snack tray on her way to the April 9 Rush game with the two tickets she just won in our contest.
We have our last two tickets to give away this Rush season, and they are for the Rush's April 16 game against the Colorado Mammoth.
Enter our contest and you could win two tickets to the game.
To enter our draw, get your answer to the following question to gsu@gsu.ca by noon on April 11.
- What was something you thought tasted awesome as a child, but you realize tastes horrible as an adult?
Good luck in our contest!
Contest rules are available here.
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Local 4 (Grain Millers) bargain underway |
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Bargaining got underway March 22, 23 and 24 in Yorkton with both sides introducing their bargaining proposal package.
"Over the three days there was good discussion, and progress was beginning to be made," reports bargaining committee member and GSU staff rep Brian Lark.
Bargaining dates have been tentatively set for April 25 and 26.
Members are encouraged to join Local 4's bargaining update group by sending their email or cell number to Steve@gsu.ca.
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).
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Local 6 (Wild West Steelhead) bargaining rescheduled for late April
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The GSU Local 6 bargaining committee meeting scheduled for March 30 was cancelled when management advised they are no longer able to meet on the March 31 and April 1 dates they proposed. Bargaining has been rescheduled for April 27, 28 and 29.
The Local 6 agreement with their employer expired at the end of February.
GSU bargaining committee members are Dan Grenier, Connor Hartley, Logan Farwell, Paul Kennedy (alternate), Steve Torgerson (GSU staff) and Donna Driediger (GSU staff).
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AEA/GSU Local 8 members to hold strike vote
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Members of AEA/GSU Local 8 will hold a special membership meeting on April 12 at which time they will vote on authorizing strike action to bring about a settlement of their collective bargaining dispute with Advance Tank Production/Advance Tank Centres.
A March 23 mediation meeting with the employer failed to bring about a settlement and the mediator has reported out of the bargaining dispute process. As a result, the door is open to strike action provided Local 8 members give their authorization in a secret ballot vote. The employer is also able to invoke a lockout.
“The main issue in dispute is wage increases and there is a significant gap between the employer’s position and ours,” said AEA/GSU Local 8 president Doug Murray. “Members of the Local will have their chance to weigh in on the bargaining dispute at the special meeting on April 12.”
The collective agreement expired on Oct. 31, 2021.
An update will be issued after the April 12 vote.
Updates from previous bargaining sessions are available here.
The AEA/Local 8 bargaining committee is comprised of Doug Murray (president), Steve Holliday (vice president), Dion Elliott (OH&S co-chair), Doug Kampman (secretary treasurer), Mason Van Luven (GSU staff rep) and Hugh Wagner, (union spokesperson and GSU general secretary).
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Our path to reconciliation includes listening, learning, and creating opportunities for education and participation within GSU. Each month we will share a short piece of information that we hope will inspire you to learn more about the topic and ultimately contribute to a shared future of reconciliation. |
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Reactions to Pope Francis's apology vary greatly. This is what Reconciliation looks like. |
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Inspired by a recent current event, we're examining a recent outcome from the Catholic Church where Inuit, Metis, and First Nation delegates gathered to have private meetings with Pope Francis about the Church’s role in Canada’s residential school system.
Relationships to reconciliation vary from person to person, and that explains what took place during this conference and the controversy it incited. Though the feelings and attitudes towards Pope Francis’ apology are not universally shared, with many criticizing that it did not go far enough, this historical event is what reconciliation looks like. It speaks to the importance of accountability and responsibility, that history informs how we move forward, and that the victims need to be given the space to express themselves in the name of healing.
Learn more here:
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There is so much more to learn!
GSU is building a truth and reconciliation lending library. If you have resources you would recommend for our library or are interested in borrowing a book, contact staff rep Mason Van Luven at Mason@gsu.ca.
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Do it just because you enjoy it |
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What's the last thing you did simply because it's something you enjoy doing? Stop and think about why you enjoyed doing that thing. Was it because you are good at doing it? If so, is that the only reason it was enjoyable?
Sometimes the point of doing something isn't to be great at it, or to practice to be better, or to make it a learning experience. It can be as simple as playing a really crappy game of golf with your grandparent because they love golf and it was a nice to way visit on a sunny day. Or spending a day balled up under a warm blanket on the couch watching sports with a bowl of chips. Or belting out a karaoke tune with friends even though you couldn't carry a tune if it came with a handle.
Experiences, hobbies and interests make you a well-rounded, happy and interesting person, and they make your mind and body happy, too. So make and take opportunities for enjoyable experiences whenever you can.
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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