Author Archives: Grain and General Services Union
BARGAINING: GSU Locals 1, 2 (Viterra): Bargaining update on the March 7, 8 & 9 session with company representatives
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 … Continue reading
MARCH 8: Happy International Women’s Day!
Happy International Women’s Day to women everywhere! Today we celebrate social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and resolve to continue fighting for women’s equality. Learn more about International Women’s Day here.
Local 5 (WPP) bargaining: Members overwhelmingly reject employer offer, GSU submits notice of collective bargaining impasse
MARCH UPDATE Dialogue to resolve Local 5’s agreement renewal bargaining is ongoing. For the time being, details won’t be released until there are substantive developments. We thank Local 5 members for their patience and continued support. Local 5 (Western Producer) … Continue reading
Attend GSU’s policy convention (March 23-25, 2023 – Temple Gardens Spa, Moose Jaw, SK) Getting down to business: Review of the 2022 audited financial statements
The Joint Executive Council convenes a policy convention of GSU delegates once every two years prior to May 31. The location of the March 23-25, 2023 policy convention is the Moose Jaw Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa. Getting down to business: Review of the … Continue reading
ANOTHER PROBLEM SOLVED: Quick action solved a member’s EI problem
A GSU member who had participated in a Service Canada-approved work-sharing program at their place of employment received a notice suggesting they had been overpaid EI benefits and were required to repay a significant amount of money. Needless to say, … Continue reading
GSU Local 16 (Lake Country Co-operative): Tentative settlement, ratification meeting to be held
A tentative settlement was reached during the first bargaining session on Jan. 31, Feb. 1 and 2. A bargaining update and ratification meeting to vote on the memorandum of agreement will be scheduled once the Memorandum of Agreement has been … Continue reading
If you are a GSU member who is interested in becoming a director on our Defense Fund board, we want to hear from you.
Delegates to GSU’s 2023 biennial policy convention in March will elect five directors to the board of GSU’s Defense Fund. The directors hold quarterly meetings (some years a few more meetings might be necessary). The aim is to hold … Continue reading
WE’RE WORKING ON IT: If you manager wants an investigatory or disciplinary meeting, you have the right to union representation
If your manager wants to have a chat with you about something, they absolutely have that right. Depending on the circumstances, you have the right to have a union rep present. “Members have a right to union representation when the … Continue reading
WE’RE WORKING ON IT: Member finds they hadn’t been paid for a year’s worth of double-time
GSU staff rep Mason Van Luven has been assisting a member who recently discovered they hadn’t been paid for a year’s worth of double-time. “Your collective agreement is a contract that describes the terms and conditions of employment for employees … Continue reading
Local 17 (Discovery Co-op) members have a new collective agreement
Thank you to bargaining committee members Nathan Rafuse, Kristen Keating and GSU staff rep Brian Lark for serving on the committee and the work they put in to reach this agreement for Local 17 members. On Jan. 11, 2023 members … Continue reading
Lawsuit settled, CIBC will pay $153 million to current and former employees for working unpaid overtime
On Jan. 6 it was announced that CIBC will pay $153 million to approximately 30,000 current and former employees to settle a class action law suit over the bank allowing/requiring employees to work unpaid overtime. While settlement of the law … Continue reading
Playing catch-up at work after holidays
By GSU staff rep Brian Lark Time away from work to a lot of people means one thing: more work waiting for them when they get back. Take this time to remember that when coming back to work from a … Continue reading
WE’RE WORKING ON IT: Work requirements cause vacation cancellation concerns
GSU staff rep Brian Lark was contacted by a member who was concerned that their long-standing approved vacation time would be cancelled due to work requirements. Brian contacted human resources who advised that while management had indicated that it would … Continue reading
It was a heavy bargaining week at GSU with Locals 1 & 2 (Viterra) and Local 17 (Discovery Co-op) both meeting their management counterparts
The GSU Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) and Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) bargaining committees were in Regina Dec. 14 and 15 for their scheduled third session of in-person negotiations with company representatives. GSU’s Local 17 (Discovery Co-op) committee … Continue reading
Have you used your Health Flex Spending Account or other health benefits? It’s time to check your account
The point of using your health benefits isn’t just to use up the money – it’s to make sure that you are getting the medications, treatments and help you need to feel and be your best mentally and physically. Self-care … Continue reading