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

Training course materials are in the mail and on their way to participants. If you have registered and haven't received your meeting kit by Feb. 27, contact Steve@gsu.ca.

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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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GSU submits notice of collective bargaining impasse

Local 5 (Western Producer) members overwhelmingly reject employer offer

The ballots were counted on Feb. 16 and the overwhelming majority of Local 5 members who cast ballots (95.83%) voted to reject their employer’s offer to settle agreement renewal collective bargaining with the Western Producer.

Twenty-four of the 30 members of Local 5 voted, and 23 voted to reject the employer’s offer. Union members voted on the heels of an employer effort to sell the offer at a staff meeting held the same day as it was communicated to the Local 5 bargaining committee. GSU has advised that in the union’s view the employer’s actions constitute an unfair labour practice.

GSU has submitted notice of a collective bargaining impasse to Saskatchewan’s Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety pursuant to section 6-33 of Part VI of the Saskatchewan Employment Act. Such notice normally leads quickly to the conciliation/mediation process provided in the Act.

In this instance, however, GSU has received notice that the employer is challenging the applicability of the Saskatchewan Employment Act basis an allegation that the bargaining relationship with the Western Producer is the result of a voluntary recognition as opposed to a certification order issued by the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board (SLRB).

“GSU is contesting the employer’s position and will take legal steps to have the matter sorted out,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “The members of Local 5 have shown remarkable solidarity and determination in response and we will move forward together buoyed by their strong stance.”

Further updates will follow as developments occur.

The bargaining committee comprises Michelle Houlden, Laurie Michalycia, Donna Driediger (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff) and Hugh Wagner (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff).

Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace

By Donna Driediger, GSU staff rep

On Jan. 26 - just one day after Bell Mental Health day - GSU staff representatives attended the Gerrand Rath Johnston Law Review.

In addition to a session on work required by unions and employers to wade through the legal complexities of employees working remotely and the value of remote work, the conference also welcomed a key-note speaker who worked with the CBC. The content he delivered was key to mental health awareness and stigma in the workplace. Of particular note,

• One in 3 Canadians are currently struggling with mental health concerns,
• 40% of those polled stated they were almost at their breaking point.

The speaker went on to share that as important as occupational health and safety is in a workplace, there is also a national standard for psychological health and safety (The Standard).

The Standard is a document that outlines a systematic approach to develop and sustain a psychologically healthy and safe workplace. It focuses on mental illness prevention and mental health promotion. The Standard is intended for everyone, whether or not they live with a mental illness, and it includes information on:

• The identification of psychological hazards in the workplace;
• The assessment and control of the risks in the workplace associated with hazards that cannot be eliminated (e.g. stressors due to organizational change or reasonable job demands);
• The implementation of practices that support and promote psychological health and safety in the workplace;
• The growth of a culture that promotes psychological health and safety in the workplace;
• The implementation of systems of measurement and review to ensure sustainability of the overall approach.

The Standard provides information to help organizations implement key components, including scenarios for organizations of all sizes, an audit tool, and other resources and references.

Learn more about The Standard here.

If you are struggling with psychological health and safety issues at work, reach out for help and contact GSU staff rep for assistance. 

GSU Biennial Policy Convention ~ Temple Gardens, Moose Jaw

Audited financial statements will be reviewed

GSU prides itself on practicing democracy and transparent administration on behalf of the union’s members. Each year, the union's financial statements are audited on behalf of the members by MWC Chartered Professional Accountants LLP, in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards.

Delegates to convention will receive and review the draft 2022 audited financial statements that will form part of the 2023 annual report to GSU members this spring.

Feb. 28 is the deadline to register for convention.

If you think you might be interested in attending or 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.

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

When the two sides last met Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, company representatives brought their full bargaining package (including monetary proposals) to the table. Upon a thorough review of the company's package, it was clear to the union committee there is still work to do, and you can help.

• 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.

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) - watch your email for updates

Things are moving quickly. Watch your email and check in with your bargaining committee members for updates.

Check out the related bargaining story featured above.

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

We anticipate the Memorandum of Agreement will be duly signed by both union and company officials soon. After that, a ratification meeting will be scheduled where members will hear details of the tentative settlement and to vote on acceptance or rejection of the tentative settlement.

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. 

Kicking the winter blues to the curb

Seasonal defective order stops up to one-third of us from enjoying the things we would ordinarily enjoy. When you add up the shorter days, less sunshine, the lingering black cloud of Covid and financial stresses, it's understandable why it can be hard to feel uplifted, interested and inspired.

Here's how you can combat the winter blahs.

• How to beat the winter blahs and seasonal depression
• 10 ways to beat the winter blues
• Think like a Norwegian to help beat the winter blues