GSU staff reps regularly assist members who have been asked to learn a new skill or take on extra duties, responsibilities, or a higher-paid job.

“It’s great when your manager sees how valuable you are to the company and provides you with an opportunity to become an even more valuable employee,” said staff rep Steve Torgerson. “It can be a good experience if you go into it with your eyes open and clear expectations, so there are a number of considerations and questions that need to be answered before employees agree to take on extra duties.”

If you have been asked to take on new responsibilities, consider the following:

• What training will you need to perform the new task? How long will you be performing these extra duties? Discuss expectations and come to an agreement with your manager about what will be taking place.
• Some additional duties or added responsibilities may not be appropriate. Always review and work through your annual objectives or goal setting with your manager.
• Can you do the extra work and still perform your job fully and effectively? Make sure you can always do your job to the best of your ability. Better to do your job at 100 percent than piling on extra duties and doing everything at 85 percent. 
• Do the extra duties fall within the job description of your current job, or should you expect Temporary Performance of Higher Duty (TPHD) pay as set out in your collective agreement?

Whether extra goals are added to your expectations for the year or you are being asked to take on additional tasks or responsibilities, talk to your manager and have a written record of what is expected.

If you need assistance or have questions, contact your GSU staff representative.

GSU staff reps will answer your questions and offer advice so you can talk to your manager effectively. At your request, your staff rep can also assist by working with the company to ensure that your best interests are looked after. 

Your inquiry will be treated with the strictest confidentiality. GSU staff rep services are provided to you as part of your union dues and there is no additional charge for assisting you. Contact information for our staff reps is available here. 

SaskForward, a coalition of Saskatchewan-based civil society groups, has released a new video that challenges the Saskatchewan government’s claim that deep cuts to public services and programs are inevitable. By reversing the 1% corporate tax cut announced in the last budget, the video shows that $67.5 million could be recuperated and used to restore funding to many services and programs including the STC, a variety of post-secondary education programs, funeral services, parks, the hearing aid plan and much more.

In the winter of 2017, SaskForward heard from over 100 individuals and organizations as part of its consultations on the Saskatchewan government’s promised ‘transformational change’. In these consultations, groups proposed numerous ideas that could reshape public services through new investments while avoiding austerity budgets that harm the most vulnerable in our province. The new video exposes the government’s deliberate decision to increase the profits of corporations at the expense of the services and programs that Saskatchewan residents cherish.

Peter Gilmer, of the Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry, a participating organization in SaskForward, is enthusiastic about the message in the video.  “It is encouraging to know that we could maintain so many needed benefits and services for Saskatchewan people by simply reversing the 1% corporate tax cut. I believe that such a return would be in line with the values of the vast majority of Saskatchewan residents” he says.

The video can be viewed online at:

• Facebook
  
• Twitter
  
• Youtube

For more information about SaskForward see: https://saskforward.ca/

Media Contact:
Peter Gilmer
306-550-8949
rapm@sasktel.net

Learn more about the ride and how to donate here.

Today (May 23, 2017) a young woman and past Saskatchewan Federation of Labour camper, Jade Dulle, starts a 1,300 kilometre bike ride across-Saskatchewan to raise awareness for Mental Health.

Grain and General Services Union has made a $1,000 donation to Jade’s Ride for Mental Health. If you are interested in background information on Jade’s ride or you would like to help her raise money for Mental Health, you can learn more here: Jade’s Ride of Mental Health.

You can also visit Jade’s Facebook page to watch the videos and view her live feed at: Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/www.jadesride.ca

A member became sick while on vacation and contacted the union to ask if the collective agreement had any provision for changing vacation leave to sick leave. 

GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson advised that once you are on vacation it can’t be changed to sick leave, but there could be a bit of a grey area in some instances before vacation begins – such as an emergency surgery.   

Do you have a question about a workplace issue or your collective agreement? 

Contact your GSU staff rep. Their services are provided to you as part of your union dues. There is no additional charge for assisting you.

Every GSU member has a collective agreement. A copy of your collective agreement is available under the collective agreements tab on GSU’s web page at www.gsu.ca.

Salary and benefits are among the most obvious and important matters described in your collective agreement.

Collective agreements usually include clauses on working conditions such as hours of work and overtime, leave of absence provisions, vacations, general holidays, seniority, transfers, resignation, termination, protection against arbitrary disciplinary action, access to your personnel file, and much more.

Don’t be shy! Contact your GSU staff rep with any questions you have about your collective agreement or problems in the workplace

Don’t hesitate to contact an elected officer or your GSU staff rep if you need assistance with a workplace problem or if you would like help interpreting your collective agreement. 

Staff reps can be reached toll-free at 1.866.522.6686 (Regina) or 1.855.384.7314 (Saskatoon). Additional contact information is available here.

You can learn more about misophonia and common trigger noises using the link below, but be warned: some people with misophonia find that reading a list of triggers can actually create new triggers.  

Learn more here: The Symptoms & Triggers of Misophonia