We're anticipating and preparing for a busy autumn agenda

• Joint Executive Council Meeting - Oct. 11 & 12, 2023 (in person) - Meeting notices have been sent to Council members
• Steward Training - Course 2 - Nov. 8 & 9, 2023 (in person)
• Defense Fund Board of Directors - November 2023 (ZOOM)
• AGMs for GSU members - more information soon

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Employer attempts to keep in-scope workers out of the union; executive grievance filed

After reaching the hours-worked threshold to become full-time members as outlined in their collective agreement, GSU staff rep Mason Van Luven assisted workers in signing their union cards to receive the pay, benefits, pension plan and more they are entitled to under the collective agreement with their employer. Soon after, Van Luven learned the employer was attempting to bypass the union and keep these workers out of the union.

Van Luven filed an executive grievance seeking that:

• employees immediately become part of the bargaining unit upon reaching the hours-worked threshold that triggers their full-time employment status,
• the union will receive notice and consultation regarding any newly-created positions, and
• the members in question will be made members of the bargaining unit.

"This is a flagrant refusal to abide by the terms of the CBA," Van Luven said. "It only serves to erode the rights and benefits our members fought and bargained for."

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 offer education opportunities like the one above, and encourage members to take the time to consider and understand what their employer is saying, what GSU is saying, and to ask questions.

Congratulations to our 2023 GSU scholarship recipients

GSU is pleased to award $2,000 scholarships to these five deserving students who have demonstrated an ability and a passion to inspire positive change in their community.

Our scholarship competition is open annually to GSU members, their spouses, and dependent children.

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.

Congratulations to this year's recipients. We wish you the best in your scholarly endeavours.

Kolawole Ibukun Abiona

Member Scholarship

Kolawole applied to our scholarship program as a GSU Local 15 (Nutrien) member working as a seasonal employee at the Nipawin seed treating plant.

He is attending the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in Saskatoon.

Kallie Buenneke

Dependent Scholarship

Kallie is the daughter of GSU member Mark Buenneke who is a Local 1 (Viterra) member in Yorkton.

She is enrolled in the University of Saskatchewan's Bachelor of Arts and Science program with plans of pursuing an Education or Nursing degree.

Mackenzie Hills Craig

Dependent Scholarship

Mack is the son of GSU Local 1 (Viterra - Moose Jaw) member Garth Craig.

He is registered to attend the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Regina Campus Primary Care Paramedic course.

Ethan Hogg

Dependent Scholarship

Ethan is the son of GSU Local 1 (Viterra) member Simon Hogg.

He is studying business at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic's Moose Jaw campus with plans to transfer to the University of Regina to complete his Business degree.

Sydney McCormack

Dependent Scholarship

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

On Sept. 12, GSU filed a Notice of Dispute with the Federal Minister of Labour on behalf of Locals 1 and 2 as a result of negotiations stalling.

Generally, GSU Locals don't often file for impasse during bargaining or have to participate in mediation. We have always pushed hard for constructive talks and respectful and direct negotiations but, as the saying goes, it takes two to tango. The employer isn't willing to budge on key issues, leaving us with no choice but to take this step. 

It is important to note that we are not alone in our struggle for a fair settlement. In the past year there have been a higher number of unions across Canada, United States and the world who have needed to fight for improvements to their collective agreements. 

• PSAC/AFPC federal employees were on strike this summer fighting for basic wage increases.
• CUPE-OSBCU dispute of 55,000 education workers last year.
• ACTRA currently locked out by their employers.
• Nearly 400 UFCW workers at Loblaws just voted in favour of strike action
• Our sisters and brothers in our affiliate ILWU Canada walked the picket line for over two weeks in a historic moment on the West Coast waterfront.

"As workers fighting for what we have earned and need to survive and thrive, we are a part of a larger movement that is not accepting corporate speak that companies can't afford these wage increases or restrictions in hours or work," said GSU general secretary and bargaining spokesperson Steve Torgerson. "It's workers who have been dealing with lower buying power and unrealistic expectations for too long. We only ask for what we have earned, and it's time all working people stand up for themselves."

You can read the complete Sept. 2 update sent to GSU Local 1 and 2 members here. 

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 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. We are currently waiting to hear what dates 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.

How you view yourself is more important than how others view you

People act differently in different situations, so no one truly knows who we are at our core. You will act differently around a group of friends than you will with family members, and your behaviour will be different in a workplace meeting than it will in a casual setting.

People will make judgements about us based on their own experiences, opinions and biases. Overall, it's not critically important what others think about us, but it's very important that when we look in the mirror or spend quiet moments of contemplation about ourselves that we like who we are.

Learn more here:

• How you see yourself is EVERYTHING
• Most of the time, people don't see the real you