GSU's annual general membership meeting schedule will be released soon

Our AGMs will begin in October. Information will be available soon.

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Joint Executive Council meeting - Oct. 11 & 12, Regina, SK

The Joint Executive Council is the governing body of GSU between policy conventions. A meeting of the council is scheduled for Oct. 11 & 12 in Regina.

If you have business which would be properly addressed by Council, reach out to your GSU staff representative.

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Steward Training 2 - Nov. 8 & 9, 2023, Regina, SK

This training is available and will be shared with our GSU officers who have completed Course 1.

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Defense Fund Board of Directors - Nov. 2023, (video conference)

These elected directors oversee the administration and investment of the GSU Defense Fund assets and set policy for payment of strike/lockout pay for union members engaged in collective bargaining disputes.

The board meets three or four times a year (or more often, if required) to review the Fund’s financial position, investment strategy and other administrative matters. Most meetings are held via conference call or video technology and paid union leave is arranged for participation in the meetings.

Learn more about the Defense Fund Board of Directors here.

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Consider your specific health and benefit needs before you announce your retirement

GSU staff reps are often contacted by members who are preparing for retirement.

It is important for GSU members to recognize that the health and dental benefits they are entitled to in their collective agreement will be terminated upon their retirement.

“If you are interested in staying on with a health insurer, GSU recommends closely examining the different insurance options available to you,” said GSU staff representative Donna Driediger. “Often the insurance company you are with during your employment will offer a package - at your own cost - but you may not need to requalify as you have already been insured with this company. This can be a significant benefit, particularly if your health has deteriorated during your time with your employer.”

Be certain to discuss your specific health needs and financial plans with an advisor well in advance of announcing your retirement date. It could save you money, stress and the need to requalify for benefits.

Knowing your rights and making sure you are treated fairly strengthens your collective agreement.

The role of GSU is to assist our members and help them make informed decisions. We encourage members to take the time to consider and understand what their collective agreement is saying, what their employer is saying, what GSU is saying, and to ask questions.

OH&S Conference Attendee Perspective:

Stand up, report any and all violence in the workplace

GSU member Mark Lannigan attended the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour’s OH&S conference Sept. 11 – 13 in Regina, and he was happy he had made attending a priority.

“It was a great experience. Not just the course, but also on a personal level,” Mark said. “I met people who have connections to my mom's life. One lady from her most recent work experience and one from my mom's childhood." 

This is an experience that wouldn't have happened had he not made the choice to attend the conference and meet new people. 

The course Mark chose to attend was the prevention of violence in the workplace. After hearing members from other unions and workplaces speak, he came to the conclusion that the biggest obstacle to preventing violence in the workplace is the lack of reporting. 

"If we want to make a difference and make a change for our children, we need to stand up and report any and all violence in the workplace," he said.

On Thursday afternoon, conference attendees traveled to participate in a supportive march with UFCW members who had been locked out of their Heritage Inn Hotel workplace since September 7, 2023.

"For me, this march was inspiring and disheartening at the same time," said Mark. “In order to create a better future for our children and our grandchildren, we need to make sure we stand up now for ourselves and others and show solidarity to all who are under attack by their employers. That’s true not only in our workplaces, but in our communities as well.”

Mark hopes to attend the next OH&S conference to learn more about what we can do to continue making our working lives better.

“Attending the conference led to a newfound inspiration for Mark and conference attendees,” said GSU staff rep Brian Lark. “They realize that the need for unions in the workplace is even greater now than it has ever been.”

If you are interested in learning more or attending a GSU education opportunity, contact your GSU staff rep.

Local 1 (Viterra Ops & Maintenance) & Local 2 (Viterra Head Office): Notice of Dispute filed with Federal Labour Minister

GSU’s Local 1 and 2 bargaining committees returned to the bargaining table on Sept. 11, hoping to hear a counteroffer to their August 31 proposal. Instead, the company indicated they wouldn't be providing another offer or negotiating unless the union’s committee made major concessions.

At the direction of the GSU Local 1 (Operations) Board of Delegates and the Local 2 (Regina Head Office) Executive Committee, GSU filed a Notice of Dispute with the Federal Minister of Labour, stating that bargaining has stalled. The next step is conciliation, which is comparable to bargaining with the assistance of a Federally-appointed conciliator. Members will be kept up-to-date as dates are announced and the process unfolds.

The Local 1 Board of Delegates and Local 2 Executive Committee have begun work to organize their Locals. This includes sharing information from their Sub-Locals with GSU staff and getting their members the information required so they will be ready should we find ourselves in a lockout or strike position.

In the meantime, members are encouraged to continue assisting the bargaining committee by doing what they have been doing so well: Keeping the pressure on their managers by telling them what we need from these negotiations.

“It is even more important now to keep talking to your co-workers, talk to your newer staff and help them understand what has been going on in the previous years,” said GSU general secretary and bargaining committee spokesperson Steve Torgerson. “Understand that you all have value and contribute to the success of the company and deserve to be treated with respect. Continue to support each other at work and keep speaking with a unified voice.”

As conciliation proceeds, your elected officers and GSU staff reps will be in close touch with members.

You can read additional details in Bargaining Update #28 which was sent to GSU Local 1 and 2 members on Sept. 12. 

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact a bargaining committee member or your GSU staff representative.

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), Travis Brewer (Saskatoon), Dale Lysitza (Lloydminster) and Broc Goodwin (Moose Jaw); Local 2 – Sheila Tran, Howard Wilson and Kaylee Kruger with assistance from GSU staff representatives Mason Van Luven and Steve Torgerson (GSU general secretary and bargaining committee spokesperson). Don't hesitate to contact your bargaining committee with any questions or concerns you may have.

Local 5 (Western Producer) bargaining impasse: Company agrees to return to the bargaining table

The company has agreed to return to the bargaining table and provide us with the dates they are available to meet.

The bargaining committee comprises Laurie Michalycia, Donna Driediger (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff) and Steve Torgerson (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU general secretary).

Local 16 (Lake Country Co-op) - final wording of the new collective agreement is approved, the agreement is signed

Lake Country Co-op and GSU representatives have completed their review, final wording has been agreed upon and the new collective agreement has been signed. The new collective agreement is on our web page and we are formatting it into booklets for distribution to members. 

Local 17 (Discovery Co-op) - the new collective agreement is now available on our web page

The agreement has been signed and it's available on our web page at GSU.ca. We'll be also be formatting the new collective agreement into new collective agreement booklets for Local 17 members soon.

Local 18 (Lloydminster & District Cooperative Association) - new collective agreement wording being finalized

On May 25, members of Local 18 voted in favour of accepting the proposed memorandum of agreement. Steps have been made toward incorporating the changes into the collective agreement. Once wording is finalized and agreed upon, we will make copies of the agreement and distribute them to members.



Local 19 (Prairie Co-op) - current collective agreement expires Dec. 31, 2023

With their collective agreement set to expire on Dec 31, 2023, Local 19 will be our last Co-op local to round out what has been nearly two consistent years of negotiations with Federated Co-operatives Limited and other Co-ops across Saskatchewan, headed by GSU staff representative Brian Lark. Local 19 will benefit from the lessons learned and the priorities shared at those tables as we gear up for negotiations that will likely center on the cost of living. 

In the coming months, GSU staff rep Mason Van Luven is planning to engage with the members of Local 19 to assess their priorities, hear from them, and elect bargaining committee members.

Negativity Bias: Want it or not, we all have one

Negativity bias is the human predisposition to give negative things more weight and attention than we do things which are positive. Unfortunately, we come by it naturally through evolution.

In order to survive the early days of civilization, people needed to be acutely aware of anything which could inflict harm or cause damage – such as predators, environmental dangers, and lack of food. In present day, we continue to give more attention and focus on things that harm or upset us than we give to the things that have positive or inspirational value in our lives.

Here's an example: After enjoying a wonderful afternoon at a family reunion, all you can think about is the small but upsetting comment your cousin made about your hairline or weight. Another example would be gravitating to the negative comments on a social media post instead of the positive observations.

In the world we are living in, it’s important to shake off our negativity bias and look for the positives in friends, family and strangers. The vast majority of people are good. Let’s remember that most of us very likely hug our pet goodbye, let a stranger with one item jump ahead at the checkout, and donate money or volunteer time to help someone in need. Let's make the good in others what we notice. 

Learn more here:

• What is Negativity Bias?
• How to Overcome Negativity Bias
• Why we forget that Most People Are Good