The new collective agreements have been signed by company and union officials, and they are available for you under the collective agreement tab in the navigation bar above, or here:

• GSU Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) collective agreement
• GSU Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) collective agreement

Work will now begin on preparing and printing the agreements into collective agreement booklets for distribution to members.

Need advice about your new agreement or a problem in your workplace?

We are here to help. Contact your GSU staff rep.

Our services are provided to you as part of your union dues. There is no additional charge for assisting you. We will help in any way we can, but we will not contact your employer or act on your behalf without consultation, direction, and approval from you.

GSU members set the direction for the union, so it’s important that you tell us what you would changes to your collective agreement you would like to see your union bargaining committee pursue in the upcoming round of contract negotiations with your employer.

We appreciate the opinions you have shared and the time you took to complete and submit a bargaining survey. We are reviewing and compiling the survey responses you have provided. In addition, the draw for the four $250 survey incentive prizes will be made and announced soon.

Archive:

GSU’s collective agreement covering Local 15 (Nutrien) members is open for agreement renewal bargaining this autumn.

Preparing for agreement renewal bargaining begins with you and your co-workers. Accordingly, GSU’s administration is asking you to provide your input by completing the following survey on or before June 30:

GSU Local 15 (Nutrien) bargaining survey – THIS SURVEY IS NOW CLOSED.

The identity of union members who complete the survey will be kept strictly confidential by GSU.

GSU Local 15 members who complete the survey and provide a personal email address will be eligible and entered in our draw to win one of four $250 cash prizes. Only one survey entry per member is allowed.

The 2018/2019 Annual Report to GSU members by the union’s Joint Executive Council (board of directors) is available to be read and/or downloaded.

• 2018/2019 Annual Report of GSU’s Joint Executive Council

The Annual Report contains important information for GSU members about the business of your union, including the 2018 audited financial statements. GSU prides itself on practicing democracy and transparent administration on behalf of the union’s members.

Members wanting a hard copy of the 2018/2019 Annual Report or wanting a pdf copy via email can call 1.866.522.6686 or send an email to gsu@gsu.ca.

GSU’s Local 18 bargaining committee reached a memorandum of settlement with their employer, and on June 5, Local 18 members’ voted to accept the terms of the memorandum as the basis of their new four-year collective agreement.

If you have questions, comments or concerns, contact GSU staff representative Dale Markling at Dale@gsu.ca.

The GSU Local 4 (Grain Millers) and Grain Millers Canada Corporation bargaining committees reached a memorandum of settlement during their May 29 and 30 bargaining session.

• Local 4/Grain Millers Canada Corp Memorandum of Settlement [pdf]

Additional information will be available to members soon.

This information was sent to members by email on June 5. If you are a Local 4 member and you did not receive a copy of the email, we don’t have your email address in our database. Contact GSU staff Steve Torgerson at Steve@gsu.cato update your contact information.

On May 22, Local 4 members working for Grain Millers in Yorkton voted to reject the company’s May 13, 2019 Final Offer and to authorize strike action.

The Local 4 bargaining committee reached out to company representatives requesting both sides meet to continue negotiations.

As a result, the two sides will meet and resume negotiations on May 29 & 30.

Bargaining Survey (June 3 to 30, 2019)

A GSU survey is being developed for Local 15 (Nutrien) members to identify their bargaining priorities and workplace concerns. The survey will be emailed to Local 15 members in early June and will remain open for responses until June 30. Paper copies will also be distributed to work locations for members who prefer that method. 

Workplace Visits (June 3 – 30, 2019)
GSU staff will visit Local 15 (Nutrien) locations in June. The main purpose of these visits is to start discussion  about assembling bargaining proposals to present to Nutrien management when agreement renewal bargaining begins this Fall. 

If you have any questions or concerns the location visits will provide an opportunity to chat with a GSU staff representative, you can also contact your GSU representative by phone or email if needed.

Local 15 Delegate Call (week of June 10, 2019)
In mid-June we will be asking GSU members in each Local 15 (Nutrien) Sub-Local to nominate delegates to attend a GSU bargaining preparation meeting this autumn where the bargaining priorities identified by members will be consolidated into a set of proposals to present to Nutrien management.

This delegates meeting will include round-table discussion for members of Local 15 to share and learn what is happening throughout the province and share thoughts, ideas, and concerns from their locations. Meeting delegates will also elect a committee to represent members and conduct agreement renewal bargaining with Nutrien this autumn.

Talk to co-workers in your location and Sub-Local about bargaining proposals, what is important in your workplace, and who will attend the Local 15 (Nutrien) delegate meeting and represent you this fall. Union leave with pay and expenses will be arranged for members who agree to serve as delegates and attend the autumn meeting.

Contact work with members of GSU Local 15 (Nutrien Ag Solutions) will get underway in the near future. Initially, GSU staff representatives will begin contacting union members to start the dialogue and identify agreement renewal bargaining priorities. The collective agreements between GSU and Nutrien expire on December 31, 2019.

Notice to bargain can be provided not more than 120 and not less than 60 days before the agreement expiry date. Members of Local 15 are urged to have discussions at their work locations and identify the top items they want GSU to take to the bargaining table with Nutrien this fall.

It is anticipated GSU will issue a bargaining priority survey to Local 15 members in addition to direct contact through meetings and location visits.

On May 17 members of GSU Local 16 working for Lake Country Co-op (P.A. and district) narrowly voted to accept an agreement renewal bargaining  final offer from their employer. After the secret ballot vote was counted the employer’s offer was accepted by a majority of one vote.

The employer has been notified of the members’ decision and work to implement a settlement and renewal of the collective agreement will begin.

In the near future GSU’s elected officers will vote to elect a new director. Please let us know if you are interested in being a candidate.

Details are available, below.

Contact the GSU office in Regina if you are a member of GSU Local 1 (Viterra Country Operations & Maintenance) or Local 2 (Viterra Regina Office) or Local 14 (Richardson) or Local 15 (Nutrien) and you are interested in being a candidate to fill a vacancy of the board of directors of the GSU Defense Fund.

On behalf of union members, the board of directors of the GSU Defense Fund is responsible for overseeing the administration and investment of the Fund assets of $4.5 million. The primary purpose of the Fund is to provide income protection and assistance to GSU members who are engaged in a strike or lockout.

The board of directors meets three times a year by conference call and at least once per year in person. Time off work for directors to attend to Defense Fund business is paid for by GSU along with directors’ travel, meal and hotel expenses.

The Joint Executive Council (board of directors) of GSU met in Regina on May 15 to review GSU’s 2018 audited financial statements, related financial reports, and other union business. In addition, Council members received a financial report covering union operations for the first quarter of 2019 and approved an operating budget estimate for the current year. Council also reviewed GSU’s donations policy, adopted an annual report to the members and discussed succession planning in relation to GSU’s leadership.

GSU’s Joint Executive Council is comprised of elected representatives from the union’s Locals. It is responsible for overseeing the administration and finances of the union.

The 2018/2019 annual report of the Joint Executive Council of GSU will be published on the union’s web site and be made available to union members in early June.

Saskatchewan will be offering paid leave to victims of domestic and sexual violence who require time off from work. According the government officials, the employees can use the leave to move, obtain support services, get medical help and attend court appearances. 

The legislation has been passed and it is expected to take effect this month.

The change means employees who were previously entitled to take 10 unpaid days of leave can now take five paid days and five unpaid days off.

Justice Minister Don Morgan says he hopes the change means victims can get the help they need without worrying about money. The Opposition NDP has been pushing for the government to introduce paid leave for domestic violence victims and presented a private member’s bill last year.

To read more stories about the recent announcement check out these links: 

• Saskatchewan introduces 5-day paid leave for domestic and sexual violence victims – Star Phoenix
• Sask. victims of domestic or sexual violence to receive five days of paid leave – CBC
• Sask. government grants 10 days of leave from work to survivors of interpersonal violence – Leader Post

If you are are a victim of domestic violence and need assistance, contact your GSU staff rep.

The right to strike is an important part of belonging to a union. Withholding labour is one of few options for an employee who is in a dispute with their employer.

Making the decision to strike against your employer is not made easily. And being on strike is something that is difficult to fully appreciate until you have been a member of a picket line fighting for something that was important enough you were willing to forgo the stability of going to work and receiving a paycheque.

GSU’s Solidarity Fund supports striking workers, and when GSU members have been on the picket line we have been on the receiving end of donations from other unions and supportive organizations. During the recent UFCW 1400 dispute with Saskatoon Co-op, GSU showed its support through donations of cash, food, and picket line support.

The strike has ended, and on May 16 we received a letter of thanks from UFCW 1400. In addition to expressing a sincere appreciation for support, the letter provides some insight into what it was like to walk on their picket line this past winter and how much it really means when picketers receive support from fellow union members and unions, like GSU.

“I remain impressed by the dedication of [UFCW 1400] members, who endured a lot during their bitter six-month strike as they picketed for issues that didn’t even directly affect them,” said GSU vice-president Michelle Houlden. “Those striking workers embodied everything we believe in as a labour movement and I am proud that GSU was able to send direct financial support, food and people to walk the picket line.” 

You can read the letter from UFCW here or below.

Grain Millers Canada Corporation has made a Final Offer to Local 4 members following the negotiations with GSU Local 4’s bargaining committee on May 1-3.

• Grain Millers Final Offer – 2019 [pdf]

This information was sent to members by email on May 16. If you are a Local 4 member and you didn’t receive a copy of the email, we don’t have your email address in our database. Contact GSU staff Steve Torgerson at Steve@gsu.ca to update your contact information.

This year’s camp will be held at the Shekinah Retreat Centre (near Waldheim, SK).

This popular camp empowers young people through learning. Young people aged 13-16 who are children of union members (like GSU) are eligible to attend. The camp is a fun, safe environment where campers experience active learning based on cooperation, equality, and social justice.

The camp always fills up quickly, so don’t miss out! Act now to save your camper a spot.

Learn more here.

Contact your GSU staff rep to learn more about a GSU sponsorship for your camper or how to register.