Author Archives: Grain and General Services Union

Summary of GSU Local 14 and Richardson bargaining settlement

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The major highlights of the settlement approved by a majority of GSU Local 14 members are summarized below:

  1. The new collective agreement is for a term of three (3) years commencing Jan. 1, 2019 and expiring Dec. 31, 2021.
  2. The new agreement provides for aggregate general wage increases of 2.75% on Jan. 1, 2019, 2.60% on Jan. 1, 2020 and 2.6% on Jan. 1, 2021, Employees receiving a “Meets” annual performance review rating shall receive a guaranteed minimum annual wage increase of 2% with further increases based on an employees demonstrated performance for the previous year. The minimum and maximums of the annual salary ranges will be increased by 2% in each year of the three-year agreement.
  3. The settlement provides that the Ag Retail Manager 1/11/111 position will be re-titled to Crop Inputs Manager which will be excluded from the scope of the bargaining unit. The current incumbents will be provided a one-time option to either remain in the union bargaining unit or to accept a Crop Inputs Manager position at their current location and go out-of-scope. If an incumbent employee chooses to remain in the union bargaining unit the Company will facilitate their transfer to a new in-scope role at their current location, salary and salary grade, including wage increases and all of the other rights and benefits of being covered by the collective agreement.
  4. The new agreement provides for modest improvement to the annual safety boot allowance, a new maternity leave EI top-up benefit, new family related leaves of absence, and a 50 cents per hour increase to the Weekend Differential.

The settlement terms do not address all of the bargaining priorities identified by union members. However, as shown by the results of the members’ ratification vote the  settlement was regarded as a fair compromise and is significantly better than current collective bargaining settlement trends in Saskatchewan.

GSU’s Local 14 bargaining committee was comprised of Dennis Piasta (Kindersley), Dylan Pilon (Assiniboia), Justin Shauf (Langenburg), GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson and general secretary Hugh Wagner.

December 6 – National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

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On December 6, 1989, 14 women were murdered at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal, simply because they were women.

December 6 is recognized as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. On this day, we also commemorate missing and murdered Aboriginal women, trans-women, and every woman who has been harmed or lost to gender-based violence.

In addition to reflecting on why such a disproportionate amount of violence is aimed against the female gender, we must continue our work toward eliminating violence against women and girls.

 

Majority of Local 14 (Richardson) members approve settlement

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Ten membership meetings were conducted between November 28 and December 3 to give GSU Local 14 members an opportunity to vote on the terms of a tentative agreement renewal bargaining settlement with Richardson International. The ballots have been counted and a majority of 89.19 percent of Local 14 members who voted have approved the bargaining settlement.

Sixty-six members voted to approve the settlement while eight members voted to reject and three members abstained from voting. 83.7 percent of eligible members participated in the ratification process.

Thanks to everyone who participated.

Work will now begin to assemble and print an amended and renewed collective agreement.

The details of the settlement will be summarized in the next Tuesday Members’ Memo.

Tentative bargaining settlement reached, GSU Local 14 (Richardson) and Richardson International Limited

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GSU’s Local 14 (Richardson) bargaining committee has reached a tentative bargaining settlement with Richardson International Limited for the amendment and renewal of the collective agreement covering country operations and maintenance employees that expires on December 31, 2018.

The bargaining settlement is subject to approval by members of GSU Local 14.
The Local 14 bargaining committee is recommending approval.

Information is available to GSU Local 14 members in the following link, using the password provided in GSU’s Nov. 26 email or by contacting your GSU staff rep:

http://gsu.ca/collective-agreements/richardson-pioneer/moa/

We are working to schedule ratification meetings for Local 14 (Richardson) members to review and debate the proposed settlement and cast a secret ballot to approve or reject the proposed settlement. Watch your email for meeting dates and times.

 

 

 

WE’RE WORKING ON IT: Work schedules for weekend loading

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GSU staff representative Donna Driediger has been working with members from Viterra to clarify their working schedule for weekend loading.

“It is not unreasonable for members to know what options the Company has for having members work overtime on weekend loading – this is also so members know what they will be expected to do,” says Driediger.

Members are wanting to clarify what their status is for weekend rail loading, either scheduled to work, on standby, or neither which means working is optional.

Driediger has reached out to the Company with questions that should help clear the situation up moving forward and help these members find a better balance to their work and family lives.

Have a question or concern? No problem is too small.

Identifying problems as soon as they arise benefits everyone. It’s easier to solve problems when they are small, and sometimes a brief comment, email, or meeting is all that’s needed to address a situation. Call us when you think there is a problem to be fixed.

BARGAINING UPDATE: Richardson, Viterra (Nov. 13)

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Updated Nov. 13, 2018

GSU and Richardson International Bargaining

GSU Local 14’s bargaining committee met with Richardson International representatives on Nov. 1 and 2. Bargaining proposals were exchanged and some progress was made in resolving a number of issues. Bargaining is scheduled to resume on Nov. 19 and 20.
A further update will be issued following the Nov. 19 and 20 meetings.

GSU and Viterra Bargaining

GSU Locals 1 and 2 bargaining committee is scheduled to meet with Viterra representatives on Dec. 5 and 6.

“It’s taken some time to nail down bargaining dates,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “When we meet GSU’s committee will be presenting union members’ bargaining proposals as well as pressing for expedited results.”

An update will be issued following the meetings with Viterra management in December.

Congratulations to Rodney Kennedy and Lori Harris who each won two tickets to the Riders’ playoff game

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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

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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

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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.

 

ANOTHER PROBLEM SOLVED: Submitting a claim to insurance provider

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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

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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

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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

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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.