Author Archives: Grain and General Services Union

ANOTHER PROBLEM SOLVED: Working with a new manager, good communication

Posted on by

GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson has been talking to members who are anxious about working with a new manager. 

The members want to be sure they are protected as the new manager assumes the role and approaches things in a new way. Steve coached the members about being up front with any questions that might arise and practicing good communication to help reduce the potential for miscommunication or mistakes. Armed with Torgerson’s recommendations, the members are planning to be particularly observant and to encourage open communication with fellow staff members to ensure things continue to go well. 

Contact a GSU staff rep with your questions and concerns. We will work with you to find answers to your questions and find solutions that work for you. Contact information for GSU staff is available here.

ANOTHER PROBLEM SOLVED: Questions regarding benefits under the SWP/GSU Pension Plan

Posted on by

A former member of GSU had a number of questions regarding their benefit under the old SWP/GSU pension plan. With the permission of the pensioner, staff rep Lawrence Maier contacted the pension officials and got the required information.

“One issue we often encounter is pensioners who turn 60 years of age and are surprised when their monthly pension drops. In checking with the papers filled out when they retired, it is almost always due to the fact that they chose to integrate their pension with their CPP and OAS benefits,” Lawrence advises. “In this way, they are paid more money up front, but the monthly benefit from the pension plan drops when they become eligible for CPP at age 60. There is another drop in the pension benefit when the retiree becomes eligible for the Old Age Security benefit from the government.”

Integration is a way for those who retire before age 60 to increase their income from the pension plan against taking a reduction in pension once they become eligible for CPP and OAS.

Always check with a trusted financial adviser before you make your decision on what pension option to choose. 

Contact a GSU staff rep with your questions and concerns. We will work with you to find answers to your questions and find solutions that work for you. Contact information for GSU staff is available here.

OPINION PIECE – TIM QUIGLEY, EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF LAW: Bill 40 says winding-up/shutting down a Crown corporation is not privatization. There should be a complete repeal of Bill 40.

Posted on by

Do we trust the government?

The citizens of Saskatchewan know that Crown corporations act in the public interest to provide services and revenue to the province that private corporations do not always do.  Sasktel provides internet and cellular coverage to pretty much the entire province at competitive rates.  SGI provides car insurance that is cheaper than private insurance.  Natural gas to heat our homes and businesses is delivered by SaskEnergy and electricity by SaskPower.  Without these publicly-owned corporations, many Saskatchewan residents, especially in northern and rural areas, would either have to pay a great deal more for these services or do without altogether.

But our Crown corporations are under threat.  In the spring, the Sask Party government passed legislation, Bill 40, that permits the privatization of 49% of a Crown corporation without the public process that would otherwise be required under another law.  Bill 40 also says that winding up (shutting down) a Crown corporation is not privatization.

Bill 40 was also used to wind up the Saskatchewan Transportation Company.  As Saskatchewan residents are finding out already, this has deprived many people of the means to travel from one community to another, including for medical appointments and the like.  The end of STC has also complicated sending lab samples for testing, library materials for interlibrary loans, and the shipping of countless goods such as farm machinery parts.  

Saskatchewan residents have such strong support for the Crown corporations because they know the valuable services the Crowns provide—services that would certainly be more expensive through the private sector but perhaps not available at all.  That is why there has been a great deal of controversy about Bill 40.  That is likely why Premier Wall announced a couple of weeks ago that his government has listened and will repeal the Bill.  However, the Throne Speech opening this session of the Legislature indicated that the repeal will not include the repeal of the winding up portion.  This means the government will retain the legal power to shut down all or part of a major Crown corporation without the public input required under The Crown Corporations Public Ownership Act.

Some might say that the partial repeal is required because the Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC) was shut down in accordance with Bill 40.  However, that is not true because, unless the repeal Bill was made retroactive, the STC shutdown would not be affected.  In other words, if the Premier was truly listening to the people, a complete repeal of Bill 40 is called for.

The possibility of a partial repeal is very suspicious.  Just last week, new legislation was introduced in the Legislature that would change the law governing SaskEnergy.  Some will recall that the Devine government (for which Brad Wall was a functionary) split SaskEnergy off from SaskPower and was going to privatize it until opposition from the public and the opposition NDP forced it to back off.  

At the moment, SaskEnergy and TransGas, both Crown corporations, have exclusive jurisdiction over our natural gas distribution system.  A change to that has, until now, required public scrutiny and debate in the Legislature.  The proposed amendments, however, would allow the cabinet to make these changes by regulation without public debate and scrutiny.  If the legislation passes in its present form, it means that the government could (a) wind down the gas distribution network; (b) quickly pass a regulation to permit private ownership of the gas distribution system; and (c) sell off the distribution system assets to those private owners.  Much the same could happen with other Crown corporations:  selling off the fibre optic network for Sasktel, for example.  

This would be privatization in an underhanded way and very contrary to Premier Wall’s statements about listening to the public and deciding to repeal Bill 40.  That is why there should be a complete repeal of Bill 40.  Privatization could still occur, but the government would have to do it openly with full scrutiny and debate and with the supporting vote of the people of Saskatchewan.

Tim Quigley
Emeritus Professor of Law
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Canadian unions believe anyone with a health card should have coverage for the medicines they need.

Posted on by

Canada’s unions are proud that we’ve won health insurance coverage for many of our members. But we believe anyone with a health card should have coverage for the medicines they need.

That’s why we’re working to win a universal prescription drug plan that covers everyone in Canada, regardless of their income, age or where they work or live.

Learn more and sign the petition here.

 

Source: aplanforeveryone.ca 

Joint Executive Council (GSU’s board of directors) holds semi-annual meeting

Posted on by

GSU’s Joint Executive Council met in Saskatoon on October 19.

The meeting agenda included business related to succession planning in GSU’s administration. Among other things, the Council approved a proposal to advertise and fill a staff rep position in the union’s Regina office. A revised and updated job description for the staff rep classification was approved along with a hiring/recruitment committee charged with responsibility to receive applications, conduct interviews and make a hiring recommendation to the Council.

The Council meeting also received a report from general secretary Hugh Wagner on GSU finances and considered his fall 2017 report to union members. Council members were provided updates on current events and issues affecting GSU members. Plans were made for holding  Local and Sub-Local annual membership meetings and holding GSU’s biennial policy convention from March 22 to 24, 2018.

GSU’s administration regularly schedules the semi-annual meeting of the Joint Executive Council (JEC) to coincide with Saskatchewan Federation of Labour conventions in order to reduce expenses and minimize infringement on Council members’ family lives.

The next regular meeting of the JEC will be held in March 2018 in conjunction with GSU’s biennial policy convention.

JOB POSTING: GSU staff representative – deadline for receipt of applications Nov. 14

Posted on by

Receipt of Applications closed Nov. 14.

The Joint Executive Council of Grain and General Services Union (ILWU Canada) has approved advertising a staff representative vacancy in the union’s Regina office. The objective is to fill the position by early January 2018. A copy of the job description for the GSU Staff Rep classification can be viewed and downloaded here or by using the link at the bottom of this posting.

GSU Staff Reps are unionized and are covered by the terms of the collective agreement between GSU and the Independent Union Services Union (IUSU). The salary range for Staff Reps is $6,119 to $7,605 per month. Competitive benefits and working conditions are provided via the GSU/IUSU collective agreement which is currently subject to agreement renewal collective bargaining.

Interested candidates are asked to submit their applications and resumes to GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner at gsu.wagner@sasktel.net.

The deadline for submitting applications is Tuesday, November 14, 2017.

Following the close of the applications period, a hiring/recruitment committee approved by GSU’s Joint Executive Council (JEC) will conduct interviews with selected candidates. The hiring/recruitment committee is charged with the responsibility of making a hiring recommendation to the JEC.

Related:

 

ANOTHER PROBLEM SOLVED: GSU follows-up on instruction given to members; miscommunication resolved

Posted on by

Several Local 1 (Viterra) members scheduled to work 13.3 hour shifts from Thursday, October 12 to Saturday, October 14 inclusive were told they had to reduce their work time by eight hours since Thanksgiving Day fell on the Monday of that week, putting them in an overtime situation.  The affected employees didn’t think the instruction was fair and contacted GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner.

In turn, Wagner contacted Viterra HR to follow up on the members’ complaint. The issue was investigated and it turned out to be a miscommunication on management’s part. The problem was fixed by the next day.

If you have questions about a workplace issue or you are experiencing problems in the workplace, contact your GSU staff rep.
Their services are provided to you as part of your union dues and there is no additional charge for assisting you.

Wicihitowin Aboriginal Engagement Conference was much more than a conference for GSU staff rep

Posted on by

GSU is committed to supporting, promoting and facilitating truth and reconciliation. Education and awareness are important parts of the process, so on Oct. 11 and 12 GSU staff representatives Dale Markling and Steve Torgerson attended the Wîcihitowin Aboriginal Engagement Conference in Saskatoon to learn more. 

The conference focused on Aboriginal engagement and human service delivery topics relevant to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal participants as they work toward respectful Aboriginal engagement and inclusion in community settings within the context of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action.

The goal of the conference was three-fold:

  • provide organizations with resources to authentically engage Aboriginal people as employees and volunteers;
  • support organizations working to incorporate Aboriginal values within program and service delivery settings, with the goal of creating culturally respectful organizations; and,
  • highlight Reconciliation efforts in Saskatoon.

In Steve Torgerson’s mind, calling Wicihitowin a conference diminished its full value and potential. According to Torgerson, it was more than a conference. It filled-in the story and history he knew and pushed him further than he realized he needed to go.

“Prior to attending the Wicihitowin Aboriginal Engagement Conference I thought I knew about what had happened during the 60’s scoop, what had happened at our Indian Residential schools, and what had happened to the Metis nation following the 1885 Rebellion,” Torgerson said. “Listening to the speakers at the conference and my fellow conference attendees made me realize how little I knew.”

“For me, reconciliation is listening and taking in the stories and truth that are out there, and sharing and engaging the people around me in difficult and honest discussions about what has happened to our Indigenous people and what we need to build a better relationship,” said Torgerson. “I’m looking forward to incorporating what I have learned into our educational opportunities for GSU members.”

Contact Dale Markling or Steve Torgerson for more information on the Wicihitowin conference.

Remembrance Day 2017: Would you prefer to take Friday, Nov. 10 or Monday, Nov. 13 in lieu? Tell us by Oct. 23

Posted on by

Remembrance Day falls on a Saturday this year. The Canada Labour Code and the Saskatchewan Employment Act mandate that the Monday following Remembrance Day is to be taken as a day in lieu. However, unionized employees have more choice.

Would you prefer to take Friday, Nov. 10 in lieu or Monday, Nov. 13 in lieu?

Send your preference to gsu.regina@sasktel.net by Monday, Oct 23, and indicate your employer in the comments. 

WE’RE WORKING ON IT: Stable, reliable shift schedules. Bring your suggestions to your annual meeting

Posted on by

One thing that makes shift work bearable is having a set schedule worked out far in advance. Shift workers plan their lives around days off. Working nights and weekends puts a great strain on daily living, and especially family life. Having and following a clear, well-defined, consistent plan lets shift workers set appointments, reserve family time, and make the best of their difficult changes from days to nights and inconsistent days off.

Last minute changes to employees’ schedules leaves employees scrambling to reorganize their responsibilities for months. Day care, vacations, appointments – all the things workers on shift must coordinate far in advance have to be rescheduled, and that can be difficult or even impossible when you only have a few hours’ notice.  

“With GSU’s annual meetings coming up, and a number of collective agreements set to open, members should make a real effort to bargain notice provisions that respect their right to have a stable, reliable shift schedule,” says GSU staff representatives Lawrence Maier.

Do you have concerns about shift work? Bring them to your annual meeting or contact your GSU staff rep with your questions, observations, and concerns.

Contact information for our staff reps is available here. 

ANOTHER PROBLEM SOLVED: moving a pension deposit to another financial institution

Posted on by

A pensioner contacted GSU staff rep Dale Markling  to find out how to change his pension deposit to different financial institution. Dale directed him to the pension plan administrator and provided a contact number to request the necessary forms.

Do you need assistance? No problem is too small. Contact your GSU staff rep with your questions and concerns.

Your inquiry will be treated with strict confidentiality. Contact information for our staff reps is available here. 

What is wrong with the government selling 49% of a crown corporation? Wouldn’t the people of Saskatchewan still be able to control the crown corporation?

Posted on by

There are major problems with partial privatization. 

If 10% or more of a Crown corporation is privatized, the corporation will have to pay federal taxes. 

Crown corporations that are fully publicly-owned are exempt from federal taxation.

Paying taxes forever should be discounted from the selling price – which means much less money to pay down debt or use for other public purposes. The current federal tax exemption means that more money stays in the province to serve the public interest.

Retaining 51% ownership of the Crown corporation does not mean that the public interest would prevail over the private interests of the minority shareholders. 

As a matter of corporate law, the majority cannot oppress the minority shareholders by ignoring their interests, and there is a legal duty on the members of the board of directors to manage the company in order to maximize the return to investors, that is, profits.

The public interest is to provide services to everyone in Saskatchewan, regardless of where they live. For example, selling part of SaskTel would likely mean that rural and northern people would have to pay more than they do now for phone service, internet, etc.

SOURCE: OwnIt! Plebiscite on The Future Of Our Crown Corporations, “Frequently Asked Questions” 

ANOTHER PROBLEM SOLVED: Notice of job elimination sorted out

Posted on by
 
 

A member of GSU Local 15 (CPS) was notified that her job was being eliminated. Since the member was on maternity leave, the effective date of the position elimination was delayed until her maternity leave ceases. However, Article 24 – Position Elimination of GSU’s collective agreements with CPS Canada stipulates that employees whose jobs are being eliminated are entitled to 120 calendar days’ notice or pay in lieu.

In the particular circumstances of this case, paid notice or pay in lieu of notice could not be made until after the member’s maternity leave ends. The problem was that the notice of position elimination made no mention of paid notice or pay in lieu of notice. Upon being alerted to the anomaly in the notice of position elimination, GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner raised the issue with CPS management on several occasions but did not receive any response. As a result, he commenced grievance action on August 24 and the matter was resolved the next day. The member in question will receive her paid notice of position elimination or pay in lieu when her maternity leave ends.

“This matter was probably more about miscommunication on the employer’s part as opposed to a disagreement over the application of the members’ rights under the collective agreement,” Wagner said. “The grievance procedure was used effectively to make sure the matter was clearly resolved in a timely manner. A formal grievance is not a declaration of hostilities. As the outcome of this case demonstrates, it can be an effective means to assist in resolving workplace issues.”

Contact your GSU staff rep for assistance with questions or concerns.

WE’RE WORKING ON IT: clarification on temporary performance of higher duties

Posted on by

A GSU member has requested clarification on the “Temporary Performance of Higher Duties” provision of their collective agreement.  The employee feels they are performing duties that are above the job description set out for their position.

When employees are assigned to do duties that are above their job description, they are entitled to be paid the proper rate of pay for the period they are assigned to the increased responsibility. GSU staff rep Lawrence Maier is looking into the matter and will be communicating with the member before any further action is taken.

Contact your GSU staff rep for assistance with questions or concerns.

Your inquiry will be treated with strict confidentiality. Contact information for our staff reps is available here.

GSU Defense Fund assets top $4 million

Posted on by

According to the second quarter portfolio report, the GSU Defense Fund had assets of $3.8 million invested with RBC Dominion Securities in addition to $317,000 in cash on deposit at Affinity Credit Union. Total assets currently stand at $4.117 million.

“This is a new high in terms of the market value of the Defense Fund investments,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “The main purposes of the Fund is to provide members with income support in the event they are on strike or locked out in a collective bargaining dispute and to defend the collective bargaining and union representation rights of GSU members.”

Each year since 1996 GSU members attending annual union meetings have voted to continue to pay additional dues of $10 per member per month into the GSU Defense Fund. Continuation will be voted on again at the fall 2017 annual meetings of GSU Locals and Sub-Locals.