Every autumn GSU members and officers look forward to attending the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) convention. The convention location rotates between Saskatoon and Regina, providing GSU members throughout Saskatchewan access to topical speakers, presentations, debates, and the opportunity to meet new GSU delegates and catch up with old friends.

On June 16 the SFL’s Executive Council passed a motion to postpone the 2020 SFL Annual Convention until such time the Saskatchewan Medical Health Officer says it’s safe to hold large gatherings. As a result, there will be no SFL convention call sent out to GSU members this year.

“Safety of our members is a priority and I think the SFL’s decision was a wise one,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “GSU is also closely monitoring the latest health advisories and conducting its meetings and union business accordingly.”

People have a tendency to put unpleasantness behind them and move on, so to speak. Quite often this is the reaction when a worker is issued a warning, reprimand, or short suspension for an alleged workplace infraction.

“If a worker doesn’t think a disciplinary penalty is fair they should challenge it – even if it is a relatively light punishment,” says GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “At the very least union members should work with their GSU representative to make sure that their response to the accusation and penalty is on the record.”

“What seemed like a small thing a month ago or a year ago can come back to haunt if a more serious issue arises at a later date,” Wagner added. “Quite often a person’s whole record is taken into account when an employer considers the severity of a penalty, and that small thing from before is added to the pile.”

Wagner advises that the first thing to do when being handed a workplace disciplinary penalty by your employer is to ask to have the assistance of a union representative. Even if the worker considers the punishment to be deserved and fair they should still seek the assistance of their union representative. These services are provided to all members as part of union dues and there is no additional charge for assistance.

“Don’t let small things add up and become big things down the road,” Wagner says.

Do you have a question about an issue in your workplace?

Contacting GSU does not mean you are obligated to file a grievance. We are here to assist you in any way we can, but we won’t contact your employer or act on your behalf without consultation, direction, and approval from you.

Contact us with your questions or when you think there is a problem to be fixed. It’s easier to solve problems when they are small and sometimes a brief comment, email or meeting is all that is needed to address a situation and work things out.

The GSU Defense Fund board of directors met by conference call on July 27. The primary purpose of the meeting was to review the Fund investments.

GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner reported that the market value of the Fund assets was $4,742,462 as at June 30. The lion’s share of the investments are with RBC Dominion Securities ($4.5 million) with the balance in a cash account at Affinity Credit Union. Reflecting market volatility, the RBC portfolio is down by slightly more than 3 percent on a year-to-date basis.

The five directors of the GSU Defense Fund are Dennis Piasta (Local 14 – Kindersley), Ron Gerlock (Local 8 – Regina), Wilfred Harris (Local 1 – Carnduff), Darryl Knelsen (Local 1 – Fairlight) and Barb Healey (Local 14 – Edenwold).

The directors plan to meet again following the end of the third quarter.

Do you have questions about the GSU Defense Fund?
Contact general secretary Hugh Wagner at Hugh@gsu.ca

The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) is offering three occupational health and safety webinars for union members in mid-September.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16 – 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.Protecting Our Members: Using OH&S Committees Effectively During COVID-19

THURSDAY, SEPT. 17 – 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Protecting Workers Mental Health During COVID-19

FRIDAY, SEPT. 18 – 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Rights and Responsibilities during COVID-19.

Don’t miss out! Register now.

These webinars are open to all SFL affiliates and they are expected to fill up quickly.

GSU members interested in learning more or participating in any or all of the webinars are asked to contact general secretary Hugh Wagner by email at Hugh@gsu.ca.

GSU members who sign up and are approved to participate in GSU-sanctioned events will have their time off work, wages, and expenses covered in accordance with GSU’s expense policies (child care included). GSU staff will also assist you with arranging the time off with your employer.

When your sick leave extends to the point where the insurance company gets involved, it’s important to constantly track where things are at and keep in contact with the insurance company.

“Things can slide off the rails quickly if you aren’t tracking and following-up on your claim,” said GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson. “Whether it is keeping a record of correspondence, tracking your appointments or following up with your doctor, it’s important to keep good records and stay in touch with your insurance company so you don’t put your claim in jeopardy.”

View or print our Sick Leave Organizer for GSU members here.

Need help or want advice? Sometimes just a brief phone call, email, or meeting is all that is needed to address a situation. Contacting GSU does not mean you are obligated to file a grievance and we won’t act on your behalf without authorization from you. Contact your GSU staff rep to learn more – gsu.ca.

A member contacted us with concerns that their increment date had been missed for a number of months. With permission from the member, staff rep Donna Driediger was able to contact company management and rectify the situation with retroactivity for the time missed. 

Contacting GSU does not mean you are obligated to file a grievance. Sometimes just a brief phone call, email, or meeting is all that is needed to address a situation.

Contact your GSU staff rep to learn more.

Throughout July our GSU staff reps are busy checking in with members and distributing our new GSU masks.

If you haven’t already got one, it should be on its way to you soon. Can’t wait? Contact your GSU staff rep.

Instructions for your new mask are available below and in this printable PDF instruction sheet.

It’s frustrating when our plans are ruined by the weather. No one wants to go camping, fishing, or get their yard work done in excessive wind, rain, or extreme heat.

Imagine how stressful it would be if your income relied heavily on Saskatchewan’s unstable weather producing heat and moisture in the right form at the right times. With our unpredictable prairie weather, it’s no wonder calls to the Farm Stress line are increasing and more Saskatchewan farmers are seeking mental health support.

Additional help will be available to farmers soon.

Saskatoon-based technology company Bridges Health is working to create a new app that will compile resources and strategies to assist producers who are struggling with their own mental health.

Learn more, here:

• App offers mental health support [The Western Producer]

This article has been printed for entertainment purposes. The views and opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of GSU, its members, officers, or staff.

Perhaps we’re socially conditioned to look the other way, but increasingly people around the world and in Canada are speaking out against a wide variety of injustices. Anti-racism protests and other public actions are chief among causes that more and more people are joining to lend their voices in support of systemic change. 

GSU has always stood against racism at home and abroad, but we can all do more. No one is free from the corrosive effects of racism and while we can’t change the past, we can certainly change the present and the future. So let’s commit as individuals and as unions to do our part to demand real change in our communities, institutions and governments at all levels. 

Everyone does better when EVERYONE does better.

All ballots received in GSU’s Regina office by 12:00 noon were counted by GSU Local 15 (Nutrien) bargaining committee members Lynn Shaw and Dale Markling. The vote was supervised by GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner and staff representative Steve Torgerson. 

The members have soundly rejected the company’s final offer presented on June 5, 2020. 

“77 percent of the ballots rejected the company’s final offer,” Shaw said. “The members have clearly told us the company’s proposal to eliminate our guarantees on sick leave, our pension plan, and paid leaves is not acceptable.”

“We have heard the members and will take direction from them,” Markling added. “We thank the members for their vote of confidence.”

“I will be serving Nutrien notice that their final offer has been rejected and we wish to get back to the bargaining table to try and find a resolution the members can accept,” Markling said. “The members want a settlement, but they are not prepared to give up the guarantees the collective agreement currently provides.”

After notice is served to Nutrien, it is GSU’s hope the parties can continue to meet and reach a tentative settlement to take to the members for a vote. Failing a negotiated settlement, either party is able to declare an impasse and request conciliation. If the conciliation fails to produce a settlement after the 60-day conciliation period, the parties would be in a legal strike or lock-out position following a two-week cooling off period.

This information was shared with Local 15 (Nutrien) members by email on July 3. If you are a Nutrien member and did not receive our email, you are not in our database. If you would like to be included in GSU emails, send your address to us at gsu@gsu.ca.

Covid-19 effectively wiped out our plans for our regular June membership meetings and member visitations, but GSU reps will be hitting the road in July to check in with members and drop off our new GSU masks.

Whether is it a socially-distanced chat in a parking lot or a check-in by video conference or phone, our reps will be in touch throughout July.

Jump the Queue! Give us a call

Don’t wait to hear from us. If you would like to talk to us sooner than later and you have a date and time that work for you and your co-workers, give your GSU staff rep a call.

Our contact information is available here.

Local 5 members were invited to participate in a conference call membership meeting on the morning of June 30. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the company’s request to continue a wage rollback for an additional three months before reinstating regular wages.

Members have until 3:30 p.m. June 30 to vote on whether to accept or reject the company’s request. 

Normally at this time of year GSU representatives would be conducting a series of workplace visits and holding membership meetings in GSU’s Locals and Sub-Locals. COVID-19 public health guidelines and workplace safety measures have altered our traditional approach to union membership meetings and other representation work. 

“Not everyone is comfortable with the same approach so we are trying to tailor things to meet local needs,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “The work we do on behalf of GSU members has not let up and we constantly try to adjust to new circumstances. In the meantime, we are available to answer any questions, complaints, or need for assistance.”

GSU representatives are communicating with union members and officers to discuss how best to address contact work during the pandemic.

The following email was sent to Local 15 members on June 25.

TO: GSU Local 15 (Nutrien) members
FROM: Dale Markling – Local 15 bargaining committee spokesperson

This is our last reminder to cast your vote and mail your ballots back to the GSU office.  If you haven’t already voted, we urge you to get your ballots in the mail as quickly as possible. The ballots must be in the GSU Regina office by noon on Friday, July 3. REMEMBER: July 1 is a statutory holiday and this may delay the mail slightly.

Notification of the results will be sent to members on July 3 using the email addresses we have on file for you. The results of the vote will also be posted on GSU’s website.

Thank you for your participation in this very important vote. 

At the end of April, Advance Tank Production issued a mass layoff notice to its work force in response to economic conditions in the oil sector and the COVID-19 pandemic. AEA/GSU Local 8 took issue with the length of layoff notice given to six employees and argued they were entitled to eight weeks’ notice or pay in lieu. Discussions during the grievance procedure were not successful in resolving the disagreement and the grievance was referred to arbitration. An arbitrator remains to be selected and dates for hearing will follow. 

“While this grievance has been referred to arbitration, we continue to communicate with the employer in an effort to resolve the disagreement,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner.