Author Archives: Grain and General Services Union

Draft version of new collective agreement available online to Local 15 (Nutrien) members

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The draft version of the new Local 15 (Nutrien) collective agreement is now available on GSU’s web page at GSU.ca  under the Collective Agreements
 tab. It incorporates the provisions from the Memorandum of Settlement that GSU Local 15 (Nutrien) members voted to accept this past fall.  

This draft has been sent to company representatives for review, approval and signature. Once the final agreed-upon version of the new agreement has been signed by both parties, GSU will print collective agreement booklets and deliver them to members. In the meantime, GSU members have access to a copy to review and work with.

“We appreciate your patience as we finalize your collective agreement and commit to getting this done as soon as practicably possible,” union bargaining spokesperson and GSU staff rep Dale Markling said in his Jan. 11 email to Local 15 members. “As always, if members have any questions about their new collective agreement, they shouldn’t hesitate to contact a GSU staff representative.” 

What will a GSU convention look like during a pandemic? We’re working toward figuring that out

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The beginning of 2021 finds us all attempting to keep our heads above the so-called second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is no less the case at GSU where plans are underway to hold the union’s 2021 policy convention currently scheduled for March 18 to 20.

GSU’s options are limited. It’s important to hold our policy conventions before the end of March so members who are engaged in ag retail and related jobs are available to participate before they face the annual spring rush to get new crops planted.

It seems unlikely that health restrictions on gatherings will be lifted or loosened much by mid-March. Taking everything into account, GSU’s Executive Committee will meet on Jan. 6 to consider a recommendation to proceed with the 2021 policy convention from March 18 to 20 under pandemic restrictions. The committee will discuss a format that involves a core gathering of up to 25 delegates/officers in Regina (if gatherings of that size are still allowed) plus remote participation by an additional 25 to 35 delegates.

“A lot of convention details need to be filled in and we don’t have a lot of time to spare before the March dates. Decisions about format, priority content and facilitating participation have to be made sooner rather than later,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “Clearly the situation isn’t ideal, but GSU has a history of adapting, and we’ll do so again to get the members’ business done in 2021.”

WE’RE WORKING ON IT: Get it in writing!

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GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson is assisting a member whose understanding of circumstances didn’t coincide with the understanding management had on the same situation. Unfortunately, nothing is in writing, and when there is nothing in writing, it’s harder to enforce.

The best way to ensure that things happen as you understand and expect is to ask for written confirmation or to confirm the understanding yourself in writing to the other party. Written confirmation doesn’t need to be elaborate. It can be as simple as an email or a text exchange.

Click here to see an example of a quick email confirmation and to learn more about why written confirmation is important. 

WE’RE WORKING ON IT: Executive Grievance for storm-stayed Viterra employees moving to Step 2

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GSU’s executive grievance claiming pressing necessity leave for Viterra employees who were storm stayed on Nov. 9 is going to a Step 2 grievance meeting early in the new year.

“We attempted to convince the employer of the merits of the case without commencing formal grievance action, but ultimately it became necessary to follow the grievance route,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “If a sewer back-up would qualify an employee for pressing necessity leave, why wouldn’t unpassable streets or unsafe driving conditions?”

GSU is aiming to hold the step two grievance meeting during the first week of January and report back here as matters unfold.

Questions? Contact your GSU staff rep.

GSU Defense Fund directors meet to review investments, finances

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The board of directors of the GSU Defense Fund met on Dec. 10 to receive an update on the financial position of the Fund and hold an investment review meeting with representatives of RBC Dominion Securities.

The reports received by the directors show that the market value of the Defense Fund investments stood at $5.1 million as at Nov. 30, 2020. The directors also considered changes to RBC’s investment mandate and will meet again on Dec. 16 to discuss the matter. The Defense Fund maintains a cash account at Affinity Credit Union to receive members’ dues and all investments are held with RBC.

GSU Defense Fund is administered by a board of directors elected for two-year terms by delegates to the union’s biennial policy conventions. The current directors are Wilfred Harris (Local 1 – Carnduff), Darryl Knelsen (Local 1 – Fairlight), Dennis Piasta (Local 14 – Kindersley), Barb Healey (Local 14 – Edenwold) and Ron Gerlock (Local 8 – Regina). Day-to-day management of the Fund is the responsibility of GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner and financial representative Debbie Head.

If you have questions about the Defense Fund or are interesting in running to become a director on the Fund, contact 

Hugh Wagner.

Members vote to approve constitutional changes, continue Defense Fund dues

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Members attending GSU’s annual general membership meetings were asked to vote on amendments to GSU’s constitution and whether to continue paying dues  into the GSU Defense Fund. Meetings have concluded, the results of the votes have been tabulated.

Majority approve continuing Defense Fund dues

In the closest results on a continuation of Defense Fund dues vote to date, a majority of 63.82 percent of GSU members attending annual meetings voted in favour of the motion to continue paying additional dues of $10 per employee/member per month into the GSU Defense Fund. Accordingly, the additional dues will continue for 2021 and the question of continuation will be voted on again at the autumn annual GSU meetings.

“This question has been voted on every year since 1996 and, while the margin has fluctuated from year to year, the ultimate outcome remains the same,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “After 25 years it may be time to ask whether the Defense Fund has reached a sufficient size, suggesting a new approach. I expect this will be a topic at GSU’s policy convention scheduled for March 18 to 20, 2021.”

Overwhelming majority approve GSU constitutional amendment

A 98.59 percent majority of GSU members attending annual meetings this autumn voted in favour of amending the union’s constitution to change the holding of biennial policy conventions to every two years in odd numbered years. The first GSU policy convention under the amended constitution is scheduled to be held from March 18 to 20, 2021.

Questions? Comments? Contact your GSU staff rep.

BeGrainSafe mobile training trailer demonstrates and educates dangers of grain entrapment

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According to the Canada Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), the number of people being trapped in grain is on the rise in Canada. With that in mind, CASA developed their BeGrainSafe program to help farmers, their families, workers and first responders recognize and manage the safety risks of grain through prevention, education, rescue training and on-site workplace training.

The BeGrainSafe mobile training trailer was in Kiping, SK  on Nov. 20 and 21 to provide training to local firefighters. Trainees gained valuable experience about the restricted breathing and crushing pressure of grain entrapment when they were harnessed in and sunk chest-deep in grain. They also learned important lessons about how to safely rescue someone who had been sucked down into grain.

The message was clear: once you are trapped in grain, you’re helpless. And grain isn’t the only material you need to worry about. Danger lurks with any free moving matter you can stack up, including fertilizers, gravel, sand, and more. In fact, anything that can come through an auger or conveyor belt poses significant danger. Check out the video above and learn more about the  BeGrainSafe program here.

Shout out to the employers of GSU’s Local 1 (Viterra) and Local 14 (Richardson Pioneer) for being among the safety-sponsors of the Nov. 20 and 21 firefighter training in Kipling.

WE’RE WORKING ON IT: Hours of work issues from 134 railcar loading programs

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GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner is continuing to press Viterra management to take concrete steps to address hours of work issues stemming from 134 railcar loading programs.

“In some instances, problems with design, staffing and railway performance combine to create nearly impossible situations for affected union members,” Wagner said. “I am continuing to urge operations management to be much more proactive and respectful of employees’ welfare. In the meantime, I urge union members to stick together and assert their rights under the collective agreement.“

Wagner is also continuing to raise the question of wage rates being paid to operations employees in a number of so-called work streams.

“The so-called pay for performance system should be done away with in favour of a more equitable, predictable and transparent approach to recognizing employee contributions to the success of the enterprise,” Wagner said. “GSU leaders will continue to shine a light on the problems, but ultimately it’s going to take a big collective push to come up with a better pay system.”

Have you used your Health Flex Spending Account or other health benefits?

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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.

Check your collective agreement for details on your account, and – as always – don’t hesitate to contact your GSU staff rep if you need help sorting things out. The services we provide to you are included in your union dues, and there is no additional charge for assisting you.

WE’RE WORKING ON IT: Navigating COVID at the workplace

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As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world around us has become challenging and unusual. People find themselves thrust into situations for which there is no playbook. And so it was for a group of GSU members who were exposed to possible virus infection at their workplace.

Uncertain as to the appropriate response to the situation that also included public health protocols, the union members contacted GSU staff representative Steve Torgerson who helped navigate the situation to the right place.

“It was definitely an interesting and informative week,” one of the members commented. “Was really glad to have Steve and the GSU there for us.”

If you have a workplace problem and need advice, contact your GSU staff rep.

Is your leave of absence a paid leave? It depends on the circumstances and the wording of your collective agreement

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Under GSU’s collective agreements with various employers, provisions exist for modest periods of paid leaves of absence to enable employees to attend to personal or family emergencies, support, or care situations without suffering a loss of pay. Depending on the circumstances, the leave may be provided by the employer as additional paid time or the absence might be charged to an employees accrued sick leave.

The type of paid leave applicable to a situation depends on the circumstances and the wording of the collective agreement. However, the common thread running through the various forms of paid leave is that the trigger is usually an event or set of circumstances requiring the employees presence and/or preventing their attendance at work.

Although the collective agreements and policies vary from employer to employer, generally speaking paid time away from work for rest and recuperation is covered by earned vacation or banked overtime. There is no other pool of general purpose paid days off work unless the collective agreement or an employer policy specifically allows for same.

When in doubt check your collective agreement and follow up with a GSU staff rep.

WE’RE WORKING ON IT: Does pressing necessity leave cover absence from work caused by severe weather and/or travel conditions?

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GSU is currently engaged in discussions with at least one employer in relation to employees who were unable to get to work as a result of the severe snow storm that hit southwest and west-central Saskatchewan on Nov. 9.

The volume of snow and the wind conditions that accompanied that storm made travel virtually impossible in some locales, resulting in employees being unable to attend work for all or part of the day. It appears that a number of affected employees were advised by their employer to make up for the lost time by drawing on banked overtime or vacation. They were not offered the option of using pressing necessity leave to cover the lost time.

GSU is pursuing the matter with the employers who have pressing necessity leave clauses in the collective agreement.

Make workplace safety a top priority during COVID-19’s second wave

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The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is upon us and it is more prevalent than the first wave in the prairie provinces. GSU members passed through COVID’s first wave relatively unscathed as there were only a handful of reported instances where union members were required to take steps in response to potential exposure or risk of same. 

The second wave is another matter as the spread of the virus is beginning to make its presence felt in many communities and workplaces. The first course of action is prevention, and GSU members are urged to take the utmost precautions to avoid being exposed, contracting, or spreading the COVID-19 virus.

“We all know the steps to take and the things to avoid, but since most GSU members continue to be on the job providing essential services, the option of staying home or working from home is not in the equation,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “We urge every union member to make workplace safety their top priority. Make sure your employer is sparing no effort to protect everyone at work all of the time.” 

Preventative steps only work as long as everyone in the community does their part. We know that not everyone is equally concerned about the very real risk the virus poses. As a result, there will be instances when GSU members are required to self-monitor, isolate, seek treatment, or care for a family member. 

Pay cheque uncertainty can add to the stress and worry of dealing with COVID-related health issues. GSU staff reps are available to provide assistance to union members who run into problems as they adapt to the curves the pandemic throws their way. 

“Our collective agreements contain a variety of pay protection measures for members, and governments have also introduced emergency measures to assist workers to weather the storm,” said GSU president Jim Brown. “However, there is no precise template that offers clear instructions on what to do if someone is confronted with missing work as a result of the pandemic. The response depends on the facts of the particular situation.” 

“GSU assisted a lot of members during the first wave and we encourage every member who encounters a workplace problem in the second wave to have a discussion with their employer and to follow-up by contacting GSU if they aren’t satisfied that the direction they’ve been given is correct,” Brown added. “Assistance and reassurance from your union are as close as the phone or email.”