As we enter a busy season for many GSU members, please do your part to help make your workplace safer. Ensure you have the proper training to do your job, and remember you have the right to refuse dangerous work.
If you have questions about your hours of work or safety in the workplace, contact the GSU office.
The Labour Councils around the province have organized events throughout Saskatchewan on April 28. Learn more here.
We encourage all locals to support and attend the event in your area.
2018 GSU scholarship forms and guidelines
2018 scholarship form guidelines [pdf]
2018 scholarship essay topic requirement information [pdf]
2018 scholarship form for dependants of GSU members [pdf]
2018 scholarship form for GSU members or spouses of GSU members [pdf]
GSU is pleased to offer $2,000 scholarships to five students who demonstrate an ability and a passion to inspire positive change in their community.
The scholarship competition is open to GSU members, their spouses, and dependent children who have not previously won.
Scholarship applicants must be enrolled in a diploma, degree, or certificate program at a community college, university, trade school, or technical institute as a full-time student in any country.
Deadline for receipt of 2018 scholarship applications is June 15, 2018.
With recent staff retirements, a new hire, and directives from GSU’s recent biennial convention, a spring cleaning shake-up has hit GSU’s Regina office. If you haven’t been through the 2334 McIntyre Street location recently you will notice big changes the next time you stop in.
Effective May 1, the first floor will be entirely occupied by NORDAL LeBlanc Law Office. GSU staff and equipment will be located on the second and top floors.
Have you been to our Regina or Saskatoon offices?
Feel free to drop by, say hi, and have a look around if you are in the area.
That’s the whole story. A member phoned with concerns and one of our staff reps helped talk things through and offer advice.
Just want advice? GSU staff reps can help.
No problem is too small. If you need advice or ideas about how to handle workplace situation, call your GSU staff rep.
Contacting GSU does not mean you are obligated to file a grievance. We are here to assist you, but we won’t 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, and their is no additional charge for assisting you.
Contact information for GSU staff is available here.
A member was having problems with their Employment Insurance claim. Staff rep Steve Torgerson assisted the member and worked to make sure the claim form had been submitted correctly. After determining all was in order, Steve turned to Mark Crawford at the Unemployed Workers’ Help Centre. As an expert in EI, Mark was able to move the appeal process along, and ultimately the member’s EI claim was accepted.
Click here to learn more about the many EI and advocate services provided by the UWHC. Government and labour union funding ensures that there is no charge for Saskatchewan residents who use these services.
GSU helps sort things out.
GSU can help advocate on your behalf, whether it’s with company management, insurance companies, or government agencies like EI and workers’ comp. Our services are provided to you as part of your union dues and there is no additional charge for assisting you.
Do you have questions or concerns? Contact information for GSU staff is available here.
That’s the whole story. A member phoned with questions and one of our staff reps answered them.
Just want advice? GSU staff reps can help.
No problem is too small. If you need advice or ideas about how to handle workplace situation, call your GSU staff rep.
Contacting GSU does not mean you are obligated to file a grievance. We are here to assist you, but we won’t 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, and their is no additional charge for assisting you.
Contact information for GSU staff is available here.
Nationally, women in Canada make 74 cents for every dollar earned by a man per year. That means on average, women had to work three months and 10 days into 2018 to earn the same amount made by a man in 2017.
Statistics Canada pegs the gap as being even wider for women belonging to minority groups, with Indigenous women facing a 57% gender pay gap; women with disabilities facing a 46% gap; immigrant women facing a 39% gap; and racialized women facing a 32% gap.
Unions, collective bargaining, and pay equity measures significantly reduce the wage gap for women.
According the the Canadian Labour Congress, on average, women with unions earned $6.65/hour more than women without unions .
GSU members, officers, staff, and guests gathered in Humboldt from March 22 to 24 for GSU’s biennial policy convention. Most notably, convention delegates:
GSU’s general secretary, president, vice presidents, and Defense Fund board of directors are elected at GSU biennial policy conventions. Congratulations to the following newly-elected officers:
“As expected, convention was productive, informative and entertaining,” said general secretary Hugh Wagner. “Our convention delegates spurred some great discussion, suggestions, and they have positioned us to move forward.”
If you have questions or would like more information about the convention, contact your GSU staff rep.
Hugh Wagner and the Executive Committee of Local 8 are following-up on a grievance challenging a decision by Advance Tank Centres Ltd. to terminate the extended health and dental coverage of an employee who is on long-term disability benefits. The employer has also advised that management intends to terminate the employee on account of blameless absenteeism.
“This is a completely new situation to me,” Wagner said. “I don’t recall any previous occasion of an employee being cut off benefits and having their employment terminated simply for being absent from work because they are suffering from a total disability.”
Wagner advises that GSU has referred the grievance to arbitration and is waiting to hear from the employer about scheduling an arbitration hearing.
“The employer’s logic in this situation is breathtakingly baffling”, Wagner said. “I think our chances of success at arbitration are very good.”
When there are problems in the workplace, there are many factors to consider. A GSU staff rep has access to information and can help gather all the facts and identify whether your rights have been violated, but we won’t act on your behalf without your direction and approval.
These services are provided to you as part of your union dues. There is no additional charge for assisting you.
In addition to reviewing amendments and changes to GSU’s Defense Fund, GSU convention delegates will elect five of their peers to serve as the Defense Fund Board of Directors. (Learn more about the Defense Fund, the Board, and their responsibilities here.)
Would you like to be a Defense Fund director? Do you have changes you would recommend to the Defense Fund or defense fund dues structure?
Join us at convention or talk to your GSU staff rep.
Come to convention and represent the hard-working members of GSU. It is union members who set the direction for the union, and convention is the place to tell us what we are doing well and to set sights on what we need to do in the future.
If you are interested in learning more or attending convention, contact your GSU staff representative .
Wages and expenses of GSU members in attendance will be covered by GSU.
A GSU member working for Grain Millers had an issue with their attendance bonus. The issues was taken to the their manager and was still not resolved.
The right to file a workplace grievance and be assisted by a union representative without fear of reprisal or retribution is a fundamental principle of union representation. Filing a grievance will bring your issue to the forefront and will cause the Company to consider the facts of the case. Not every grievance is successful, but every grievance delivers value.
If you want to learn more about your rights and the grievance process contact a GSU elected officer or Staff Rep.
No problem is too small, and identifying problems when they are small benefits everyone.
GSU staff reps will help find answers to your questions, but we won’t act on your behalf without your direction and approval. These services are provided to you as part of your union dues. There is no additional charge for assisting you.
Contact information for GSU staff is available here.
Attending the convention doesn’t mean you have to become the GSU president or a Defense Fund director, but it does mean you can vote for the people you think would do a great job.
You won’t be coming up to the front of the room to make a speech, but if you see an opportunity for improvement in the way we are doing things, you can let us know.
You won’t have to lead the discussion, but if you have insight or experience on a topic that affects you and your co-workers, your comments would be valuable and welcomed.
The policy convention is the co-ordinating and governing representative body of GSU and its decisions are made by majority vote. Resolutions, policy statements, and reports adopted by the policy convention become the policy of GSU.
If you are interested in learning more or attending convention, contact your GSU staff representative.
On March 2, 2018 GSU we said farewell to Lawrence Maier who retired from service to the union one day after his 32nd anniversary as a GSU Staff Representative.
“Lawrence has dedicated the biggest chunk of his adult life to working for and serving the members of GSU. He served first as union delegate, then as GSU president and chair of GSU’s bargaining committee with Saskatchewan Wheat Pool,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “Lawrence has worked tirelessly and diligently for the members of GSU in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. He has accepted all assignments without complaint and his work ethic is second to none,” Wagner said. “Lawrence possess keen intellect which is reflected in the superlative work he’s done for GSU.”
“On behalf of the members, elected officers and staff of GSU I wish Lawrence all the best for a healthy, long and happy retirement. He is more than a colleague; he is also a dear friend. He’s earned our gratitude and he will be missed,” said Wagner.
Jan. 29 was Donna Driediger’s first day in GSU’s Regina office in her new capacity as staff representative.
Donna previously worked for GSU as a staff rep from 2004 to 2009. She left GSU in 2009 to accept a similar position with the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses.
We are excited to welcome Donna back to GSU and we are certain her considerable and varied experience in representing union members will be an asset to our members, officers, and staff.
“I am happy to reconnect with GSU members and assist with any challenges the next year may bring,” Donna said. “And I look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming GSU convention where the important work of the union is prioritized.”
Donna can be reached toll-free at 1.866.522.6686 or through email at gsu.driediger@sasktel.net.