Member visitations begin next week

If they haven't done so already, your GSU staff reps will be checking in with you soon. You can expect to receive the Annual Report of GSU's Joint Executive Council, have an opportunity to discuss local and sub-local issues, share your concerns and ask any questions you may have.

Watch your email for your meeting notice.

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Local 1 & 2 (Viterra) bargaining update meetings begin Monday

The Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) Board of Delegates has approved holding bargaining update meetings. Members can attend the town hall Zoom meetings being scheduled for May 8 and 9 and in-person meetings that will begin on May 10.

A date for the Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) meeting will be scheduled soon.

Watch your email for your meeting notice and details, and please share your notice with members at your location.

A bargaining update is available in the BARGAINING UPDATES section, below.

Contact Steve@gsu.ca or Mason@gsu.ca if you have any questions.

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Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Education Opportunities

Contact your GSU staff to learn more.

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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Locals 1 2 (Viterra) members

Here’s what has taken place since the STIP was withheld by Viterra in March

• In March 2023, Viterra announced the Short Term Incentive Plan (STIP) for 2022 would be paid to eligible members of Local 1 and 2. A few days later, they changed their mind and said that they wouldn’t pay the STIP until bargaining had been resolved. 

• GSU filed an Unfair Labour Practice (ULP) on April 3. Viterra had 15 days to reply, which they did on April 26. Now we have a further 10 days to send in our reply.

• When that process is complete, a Sask. Labour Relations Board-assigned officer will reach out to both parties to attempt to resolve the matter.

We will keep members up-to-date as we move through the ULP process.

If you have questions about this process, let us know.

If you have thoughts about how we can keep the pressure on Viterra to pay the 2022 STIP, share them with your elected representative or your GSU staff representative.

GSU staff rep Mason Van Luven is assisting a member who is trying to retire while the company is expecting them to wait until June for their pension statement and election of benefits.

If you are considering retirement and interested in learning what your commuted value is, call the GSU office.

We will calculate a commuted value estimate and explain the available benefits and entitlements you are eligible for as a member of your bargaining unit.

These services are provided to you as part of your union dues. There is no additional charge for assisting you.

The June 1 deadline for receipt of applications is coming up quickly!



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.

Learn more here.

Local 1 (Viterra Ops & Maintenance) & Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) bargaining - bargaining update meetings begin May 8

No major progress was made during the April 26 and 27 bargaining session with management.

As is the nature of bargaining, there have been changes to our bargaining package since we first presented your proposals to the company in Nov. 2022. We have also reached a point where it would be helpful to have Customer Account Representative and Maintenance Staff expertise on our union bargaining committee to share their perspective with us and company officials. If you work in either of these positions and are interested in joining the bargaining committee, please submit your name to general secretary Steve Torgerson (Steve@gsu.ca) by May 8.

Your bargaining committee needs to hear from you to ensure we are headed in the right direction.

Your Local 1 Board of Delegates has authorized convening meetings to report to members and get feedback. Watch your email for meeting notices and details on in-person membership meetings and Townhall ZOOM meetings which will begin Monday, May 8.

A Local 2 meeting will be scheduled soon.

Watch your email for your meeting notice.

Bargaining Update #13 was sent to members on April 28, and Bargaining Update #14 was emailed to members earlier today (and will be available on the web page soon). Please share these updates with fellow members at your location and encourage them to sign on to our bargaining update list and watch the web page for updates.

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) bargaining impasse: mediation set for June 6 & 7; July 26 & 27

GSU's Local 5 bargaining committee held a membership meeting on April 25 to provide members with an update and give them an opportunity to ask questions.

Mediation has been set for June 6 and 7, and again July 26 and 27 with mediator Kevin Eckert who will assist the parties in an effort to reach a negotiated settlement.

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) - your new collective agreement is online at GSU.ca

The new collective agreement has been signed and is available under the COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS menu tab at GSU.ca. The next step is preparing collective agreement booklets for distribution to members.

Contact Mason@gsu.ca if you have any questions about your new agreement.

Local 16 (Lake Country Co-op) - the new collective agreement will soon be ready for distribution to members

GSU staff rep Brian Lark has prepared the new collective bargaining agreements with the amendments made during the recent round of bargaining. The agreement has been sent to Lake Country Co-op representatives for review. Pending any updates or changes that need to be made, the new collective agreement should be in the hands of members soon. 

Local 17 (Discovery Co-op) - new collective agreement will soon be ready for distribution

The final adjustments are being made to the new collective bargaining agreement. We anticipate that it won't be long until the wording is finalized and ready to share with members of GSU Local 17.

Local 18 (Lloydminster & District Cooperative Association) - bargaining is underway

The first bargaining session between union and company representatives began May 1 with the remainder of the week set aside to meet. Members can expect a bargaining update in due course.

GSU’s bargaining committee comprises Christina Jones, Trent Herring and GSU staff representative/bargaining spokesperson Brian Lark. 

Everything is temporary

When things are getting you down, or even when things are going really well, bear in mind that everything is temporary. Facing the world with a this-too-shall-pass outlook will help you weather the bad days and appreciate the great ones.

• Motivational Monday: This too shall pass
• Enjoy the moment
• How to appreciate what you have before it's gone