Calendar highlights and upcoming events: | |
Spring membership visitations are underway | |
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 updates.
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Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) Board of Delegates Meeting - May 25 | |
A Board of Delegates meeting will be convened on Thursday evening to elect an additional member to the Local 1 bargaining committee. (Details on the volunteer nomination process are available in the Local 1 and 2 (Viterra) bargaining update farther down this page.)
The meeting was originally scheduled for May 26, but has been rescheduled to May 25.
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Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) bargaining feedback survey deadline is May 26 | |
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The Local 1 Board of Delegates has approved distribution of a survey to Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) members to encourage additional feedback on negotiations and the path members would like to see as bargaining continues. Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) members are also encouraged to participate and complete the survey.
If you didn’t attend the May 8 and 9 ZOOM meetings and you aren’t able to attend your Sub-Local meeting, your opinion can be shared by completing this quick survey. If you have already attended your meeting but have additional feedback for us, we encourage you to complete the survey, too.
Bargaining Feedback Survey is available here
Please complete your survey by 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 26.
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Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Education Opportunities | |
Prairie School for Union Women
Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon, SK
June 12-15, 2023
If you are interested in learning more, contact your GSU staff rep and ask about a school sponsorship.
SFL Summer Camp
Shekinah Retreat Centre (Near Waldheim, SK)
August 19-25, 2023
GSU will sponsor up to three campers who are dependents of GSU members. Contact your staff rep to learn more.
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Grievance successful, member receives their requested vacation time | |
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A member made personal commitments that would take place during a busy work season before they requested vacation leave from the company. When the member requested vacation leave eight months before the leave was desired, the company denied the leave.
With assistance from GSU staff rep Mason Van Luven, the member filed a grievance. The grievance succeeded and the vacation leave was approved.
"This grievance was interesting, because it considered whether an extraordinarily long period of notice requesting vacation was enough to meet the company's operational needs and minimize disruption during a busy season,” Van Luven said. “No matter how much vacation notice you are providing to your employer, it’s always best to get approval before committing to plans to make sure your leave is approved. That will reduce potential conflicts and ensure a smooth vacation experience for you."
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If you need advice or ideas about how to handle a workplace situation, call your GSU staff rep.
Our services are provided to you as part of your union dues. There is no additional charge for assisting you.
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The June 1 deadline for receipt of applications is coming up quickly!
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Have you, your spouse or your dependent(s) been accepted for secondary education? If so, you are eligible for a $2,000 GSU scholarship.
Here's how to apply:
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fill out an application form (you can find them here)
- send us your letter of acceptance from your university or trade school
- send us your two-page essay (Don't fret about perfect grammar and layout - we're looking for content and understanding of the topic, not properly executed footnotes)
- a letter of reference from someone in your community.
That's it! A copy of your grades is not required. If your school has accepted you into their program, that's good enough for us. But, hurry - the deadline for receipt of applications is June 1.
Application forms, our 2023 essay topic and everything else you need to know about our scholarship program is available here.
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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.
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Local 1 (Viterra Ops & Maintenance) & Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) - deadline extended for CAR/Maintenance employees to volunteer to join bargaining committee | |
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The Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) Board of Delegates met on May 16 to discuss adding additional members to the bargaining committee to bring the specific perspectives of Customer Account Representatives (CARs) and Maintenance employees to the bargaining table. Board members voted unanimously to consider the volunteers who had put their names forward.
Upon learning only one member had put their name forward, board members expressed concern that not enough time was provided for the process and, more importantly, members were not aware they could put their names forward for consideration.
After thorough discussion, the board voted and approved an extension of the time frame available for members to volunteer for a position on the bargaining committee as follows:
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Any GSU Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) members who are either Customer Account Representatives or Operations Maintenance staff and would like to serve on the bargaining committee should email GSU general secretary Steve Torgerson (steve@gsu.ca) and volunteer to have their name stand for election by the Board of Delegates.
- This volunteering process will be be open until Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
- All volunteering members will be given an opportunity to provide a statement of why they want to join the bargaining committee.
- A Board of Delegates meeting will be convened on the evening of May 25 to elect additional member to the committee.
Contact general secretary Steve@gsu.ca or Mason@gsu.ca if you have questions or comments about this process.
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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). Don't hesitate to contact your bargaining committee with any questions or concerns you may have. | |
Local 5 (Western Producer) bargaining impasse: mediation set for June 6 & 7; July 26 & 27 | |
Mediation is scheduled for June 6 and 7, and again July 26 and 27. Mediator Kevin Eckert will assist the parties in an effort to reach a negotiated settlement. | |
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The bargaining committee comprises Michelle Houlden, Laurie Michalycia, Donna Driediger (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff) and Hugh Wagner (bargaining co-spokesperson/GSU staff).
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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. |
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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 committee reaches a tentative agreement | |
A memorandum of agreement has being finalized and plans are underway to hold a ratification vote for Local 18 members this Friday, May 26. | |
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In a world of challenges and difficulties, it is easy to lose sight of the good. However, adopting a perspective that seeks the silver linings can bring about profound transformations.
Seeing the good in everything is not about denying the existence of hardships or sugarcoating reality; it's about cultivating kindness and optimism as tools for personal growth and resilience. By consciously focusing on the positive aspects of people and situations, we can find valuable lessons, hidden opportunities, and unexpected joys. Embracing kindness and optimism enables us to navigate the storms of life with grace and strength, illuminating our path and helping us become the best versions of ourselves.
Learn more here:
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