GSU Shop Steward/New Officer Training - March 1, 2023

Registration is closed and leaves of absence are being arranged for participants of this online course. If you have registered and you have questions, contact Steve@gsu.ca for more information.

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GSU Defense Fund board of directors to meet before GSU convention

A meeting of the Defense Fund board is being scheduled 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 immediately or letting your name stand for election at our policy convention, please send your expression of interest to Hugh@gsu.ca.

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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.

Learn more here.

Members who are interested in becoming a delegate to GSU’s 2023 convention are asked to follow up by contacting their Local executive committee members, a GSU staff representative or by sending an email to GSUconvention@gsu.ca.

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Keeping up-to-date with Health & Safety

GSU staff rep Brian Lark attends 2023 Saskatchewan Safety Council seminar

From Feb. 7 to 9, Prairie Land Park in Saskatoon came alive with safety.

Every year the Sask. Safety Council (SSC) puts on a safety seminar geared to like-minded people who are safety orientated. This year marked the 50th seminar and saw 750 delegates from all walks of life from mining, industrial operations, and department of highways to the health sector in attendance. GSU staff rep Brian Lark was also on hand to take in the trade show and hear keynote speakers and educational presentations from safety professionals across the country.

Trade show booths were comprised of safety equipment manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The Workers Compensation Board, SSC, support professionals from government partner agencies and mental health professionals also had information available.

The speaker presentations spanned the length of the seminar allowing attendees to choose the topics that either most interested them or were most relevant to their roles in their work places.

The wide variety of topics of discussion at the seminar included rigging, understanding pressure hazards, arc flash hazards, mental health issues arising from workplace traumas, workplace psychological claims through the WCB, keeping mind on task, and sexual harassment in the workplace.

“The information I gained is valuable and it’s given me insight into helping members,” Lark said. “I also appreciated the opportunity to network with safety personnel and gather information to pass along to members if they are in a safety situation and need help navigating the issues in their workplaces.”

If you are having issues with safety, please reach out to your workplace safety reps and don’t hesitate to contact Brian Lark, GSU staff rep. 

GSU convention delegates will be receiving one of our new t-shirts

While it's not reason enough alone to come to convention, it is a nice bonus. Each convention delegate will receive one of our new 2023 t-shirts designed by GSU vice president, Local 5 (Western Producer) member, and graphic artist extraordinaire Michelle Houlden.

Registration for the GSU convention is now open to all GSU members.

If you think you might be interested in attending and you want to learn more, contact your GSU staff rep or send an email to GSUconvention@gsu.ca.

GSU's 2023 policy convention will be held March 23 to 25 at the Moose Jaw Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa. Learn more here.

Thank you to everyone who has already registered. You'll be hearing from us soon.

Registration will close Feb. 28 or sooner in the event all delegate credentials are filled.

Quick action solved a member's EI problem

A GSU member who had participated in a Service Canada-approved work-sharing program at their place of employment received a notice suggesting they had been overpaid EI benefits and were required to repay a significant amount of money. Needless to say, the member was concerned.

Efforts by the union member to work with their employer and Service Canada to get to the bottom of the alleged overpayment were soon frustrated by the bureaucratic process. The member turned to their shop steward and GSU, resulting in referral of the matter to the Regina office of the Unemployed Workers Help Centre (UWHC).

Within two days of taking up the file, Mark Crawford (Executive Director/Advocate) was able to get answers and resolve the problem to the satisfaction of the GSU member.

“The Unemployed Workers Help Centre is a very valuable source of support that’s been utilized by GSU members numerous times over the years. Under the very able leadership of Mark Crawford, workers who have trouble with the EI program have a one-stop place to go for assistance," said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “GSU supports the Unemployed Workers Help Centre with an annual donation from the union’s solidarity account. It’s money well spent.”

The Unemployed Workers Help Centre has offices in Regina and Saskatoon. They are an incorporated non-profit, community-based organization which provides information, advocacy, and representation for Employment Insurance claimants throughout Saskatchewan.

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UWHC services are free of charge to those who need them. You can learn more about their many services here. 

GSU services are provided to you and paid for by your union dues. There is never an additional charge for assisting you.

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

Bargaining continued Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 with company representatives bringing their full bargaining package (including monetary proposals) to the table.

Upon a thorough review of the company's package, it was clear it's not where members want it to be, there is still work to do, and you can help.

In it's Feb. 2 email update to members, the Local 1 & 2 bargaining committee is urging everyone to start talking.

• Talk to each other about the importance of pay that covers the rising cost of living and pay that recognizes your service and effort.
• Talk to your managers about consistent scheduling, fair notice of shift change and hours of work that won't wear you out.
• Talk to your customers about work/family balance because everyone needs time to be with their friends and family.

These conversations support and reinforce everything your bargaining committee has said during bargaining, and the improvements they are fighting for.

Read your GSU bargaining committee's Feb. 2 - Bargaining Update #9 update here.

Bargaining is scheduled to resume Mar. 7 and 8. 

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) - members to meet Feb. 16

Local 5 members will meet on Feb. 16 to discuss the current state of negotiations between the parties. They will receive a report on the most recent offer by management and be given an opportunity to provide feedback.

We do not have a tentative settlement at this time but there will be discussion surrounding voting and the ability to move the process to impasse where a mediator may be appointed to assist the parties in finding a common resolution.

We encourage all members to attend this important meeting to ensure their voice is heard. 

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 - no new dates set

The union bargaining committee consulted with bargaining unit members at a local-wide meeting on Jan. 20.

The Local 7 bargaining committee last met their management counterparts for a third bargaining session on Jan 10. No further dates are currently set to resume bargaining.

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 16 (Lake Country Co-operative) preparing to vote on settlement

It is anticipated that members will meet on Feb. 17 to hear details of the tentative settlement and to vote on acceptance or rejection. The tentatively scheduled Feb. 15 date was rescheduled to Feb. 17 pending the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement.

GSU’s bargaining committee comprises Ward Tolley, Kara Thevenot and GSU staff representative/bargaining spokesperson Brian Lark. 

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. 

A thought for today