Author Archives: Grain and General Services Union
Congratulations to Rodney Kennedy and Lori Harris who each won two tickets to the Riders’ playoff game
Lori Harris (Nutrien – Maymont) and Rodney Kennedy (Richardson – Assiniboia) will be in the stands to watch the Riders take on the Bombers this Sunday.
Congratulations to Rodney and Lori, and thanks to everyone who entered our contest.
Watch our Tuesday Members’ Memo for GSU updates and contests.
GSU has sent three grievances to arbitration
The first grievance is in relation to Local 9 (Trouw) members who did not receive their work performance evaluations in a timely manner. The members in question are seeking adjustments to their rates of pay.
The second grievance is on behalf of a Local 1 (Viterra) union member whose employment was suspended without pay for three weeks. The grievance seeks to reverse the suspension.
The third grievance referred to arbitration alleges discrimination and violation of the human rights of a Local 1 (Viterra) union member whose employment was terminated.
The role of GSU is to help our members.
If you have questions about a workplace issue or if you are experiencing problems in the workplace, call a GSU staff rep toll-free at 1.866.522.6686. We will work with you to find answers to your questions, recommend a course of action to follow, and work with you to find the solutions that are best for you. You are not obligated to file a grievance and we will not contact your employer or act on your behalf without consultation, direction, and approval from you.
These services are provided to you as part of your union dues.
Confronting inappropriate comments at work
Harassing, inappropriate or unwanted comments or behaviours can have a significant and long lasting negative consequences to a workplace. It can take a heavy toll on the member who is receiving the negative comments or behaviours, but it can also affect other members who know about or witness inappropriate conduct.
If you witness or are the subject of inappropriate or unwanted comments or behaviours at work, contact your GSU elected officers and union staff for assistance and guidance.
Learn more here.
General Secretary Hugh Wagner’s annual report to union members is available here
This report will be reviewed at the upcoming autumn annual meetings.
ANOTHER PROBLEM SOLVED: Submitting a claim to insurance provider
A member called staff representative Steve Torgerson with questions about their benefit plan. The member was hired eights months ago and wasn’t sure how to claim for prescription medicine or how to submit a claim.
Steve walked the member through submitting a claim to their insurance provider and provided the member with a contact to ask about getting a copy of the benefit plan information.
It is valuable to fully understand your full medical benefit plan through work. Whether you need to use them now or not knowing what you have is the first step in utilizing your benefit plan to its fullest.
Do you need assistance with a problem or question in your workplace?
Contact a GSU staff representative. This service is provided to you as part of your union dues, and there is no additional charge for assisting you.
Arbitrator to hear grievance on termination of employee’s extended health benefits while on LTD – Sept. 12, 13 & 14
A policy grievance filed on behalf of all of the members of Local 8 (Advance) and an individual member’s grievance will be heard by an arbitrator on September 12, 13 and 14. The grievances challenge the employer’s termination of an employee’s extended health benefits while he was on LTD.
“Termination of an employee’s extended health benefits while he or she is on LTD imposes a hardship at a time when the individual and their family can least afford it,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “This is a case that potentially affects all Local 8 members working for Advance Tank Production and Advance Tank Centres. We will make a strong argument to protect vulnerable employees.”
Local 8 will be represented at the arbitration by Local president Doug Murray and GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner.
We’re giving away tickets to the Riders’ Sept. 15 home game against the Redblacks
Enter to win two tickets to the game by submitting your answer to the following:
Summer is a fond memory and the kids are back in school. When you were in school, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Send your answer to gsu@gsu.ca by 9:00 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 10 and you will be entered in our draw. We’ll announce two winners of two tickets in our Sept. 11 Tuesday Members’ Memo.
Good luck!
8 simple steps to winning over everyone in the workplace
Love them or not, we all have co-workers. We may not agree with their politics, enjoy their punny sense of humour, or appreciate their half-full coffee cups in the office sink, but it’s in everyone’s best interest to co-exist and work together toward a common goal of getting the job done and doing it right.
There are some steps you can take to be the co-worker everyone likes.
Learn more here: 8 ways to win over everyone in the office, according to experts
This article has been printed for entertainment purposes. The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of GSU, its members, officers, or staff.
Returning to work after an extended absence? Review your rights with your GSU staff rep
GSU members returning to work from an extended absence as a result of illness or injury are encouraged to contact a GSU staff rep before finalizing the terms of their return.
Most often the return to work process works very well and there are no hassles. Occasionally, misinformation and misunderstandings related to returning employees’ medical or other limitations have led to complex and difficult-to-resolve issues. GSU staff reps can help as a guide and source of advice and advocacy to help prevent return to work administrative complications.
Employers have a duty to accommodate that includes but is not limited to health related work restrictions.
From GSU’s perspective, employers are obliged to notify the union when they’re dealing with a union member in relation to a return-to-work scenario or a duty-to-accommodate situation. Unfortunately, management doesn’t always think to involve the union and this has led to some challenging problems that have been difficult to sort out after the fact.
A quick call to your GSU staff rep about rights and responsibilities can help avoid hassles down the road.
“Taking time to know your rights is never a bad investment of time,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner.
Congratulations to our Labour Day Classic ticket winners – Julianne Popel (Local 14 – Richardson) and Jeff Seabrook (Local 1 – Viterra)
Can the Riders carry their winning streak over to this weekend’s Labour Day Classic? According to the answers GSU members submitted to GSU’s contest question, they have no doubt the Riders will be the victor when they take on the Bombers this weekend.
Congratulations to Jeff Seabrook (Local 1 – Viterra) and Julianne Popel (Local 14 – Richardson) who each won two tickets and will be in the stands to cheer the Riders on to a win.
Go, Riders, go!
Would you like to attend the SFL’s OH&S Conference being held Sept. 12-14 in Regina? Learn more here.
Saskatchewan Federation of Labour OH&S Conference
September 12-14, 2018 ~ Delta Hotel, Regina, SK
The courses offered at the 2018 OH&S conference are:
- Occupational Health and Safety and the Act and Regulations
- Effective OH&S Working Committees
- Harassment Investigation in the Workplace
- Workers’ Compensation
- Domestic Violence in the Workplace: Starting the Conversation
- Managing Shiftwork and Workload
- Sprains, Aches and Pains (Ergonomics)
- Duty to Accommodate.
Learn more about course options and the conference here.
If you would like to be a GSU delegate to the conference, submit your expression of interest to GSU by email at gsu@gsu.ca as soon as possible.
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.
WE’RE WORKING ON IT: standby pay, loading cars if a train shows up on the weekend
GSU staff rep Donna Driediger spoke with members who have been expected to be ready to load cars if a train shows up on the weekend, but are not being compensated as standby pay.
Donna advised members if the expectation is that they are to be ready for work members should be putting in for standby pay for the time they are expected to be available and ready for work.
If you are not sure that you should be putting in for standby pay contact your GSU staff rep. Contact information is available here.
ANOTHER PROBLEM SOLVED: Another EI appeal win saves $9,664 for former GSU member
A GSU member working for the Western Producer received notice that his position was being eliminated effective the end of July 2017.
The union member elected to go on layoff subject to recall and to defer his employment termination date for six months, as provided for in the GSU collective agreement with the employer. The member applied for and received EI benefits as well the supplemental employment benefit top up provided in the GSU collective agreement.
The union member’s employment with the Western Producer terminated six months later and he became eligible to receive severance pay under the terms of GSU’s collective agreement. Severance pay was subsequently calculated and paid to the member.
On May 26, 2018 the GSU member received notice from the EI Commission that the monies he received for severance pay would be applied against his EI claim from August 6, 2017 to October 13, 2018 and EI benefits he received would be clawed back.
With assistance from GSU staff rep Dale Markling, the member requested that the EI Commission’s decision be reconsidered. On August 1, 2018 he received word from the Commission that his reconsideration had been granted and he would not be required to repay $9,664 in EI benefits.
“This situation and period of uncertainty for the former Western producer employee was caused in large measure by the employer’s actions,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “In the end it worked out as a result of the member and GSU working together. The employer was no help whatsoever.”
“When GSU members experience work-related problems, GSU is always ready to help – and we do get results,” said Wagner.
Congratulations to GSU’s 2018 scholarship and bursary recipients
Congratulations to our 2018 scholarship and bursary recipients who were each selected to receive $2,000 from GSU’s scholarship and bursary programs.
- Taylor Adolph – GSU scholarship
- Stephanie Carnduff – GSU scholarship
- Cheyanne Knight – GSU scholarship
- Aadyn Oleksyn – GSU scholarship
- Jana Sasakamoose – GSU’s First Nations University of Canada bursary
- Karma Spriggs – GSU scholarship.
Learn more about our recipients and read their essay submissions here.