You can read GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner’s email to employers, below.

If you have problems or concerns as you are dealing with Covid-19 responses in your workplace, don’t hesitate to contact your GSU staff rep. Contact information is available here.

As flu season continues and the world struggles to contain the  COVID-19 virus, there are some simple things you can do to protect your health and the health of those around you.

Wash your hands often with  an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water

Washing your hands kills viruses that may be on your hands. It’s always a good idea to wash your hands.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

Every time you touch a surface you contaminate your hands. Don’t give germs and viruses an easy passage into your body by touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. 

Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze
When you cough or sneeze, tuck your nose and mouth into a flexed elbow or use a tissue. Immediately throw all tissues away and wash your hands.

The bottom line? Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands

Check out the World Health Organization video above for more information, or visit their website here for more information: WHO: Coronavirus disease (COVID19) advice for public
This article has been printed for entertainment purposes. The views and opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of GSU, its members, officers, or staff.

The National Lacrosse League has suspended its season over concerns due to the COVID-19 virus. Learn more here.

Since there is no point in giving away tickets to a game that isn’t being played, we are cancelling our ticket giveaway program until further notice.

Archives:

Source: March 11, 2020 Tuesday Members’ Memo

The Saskatchewan Rush will be ready for action on March 20 when they take on the Georgia Swarm in Saskatoon. If you would like a chance to be one of the chest thumpers in the stands, enter our contest for your chance to win two tickets. 

To be entered for your chance to win, send us your answer the following question:

What is something you loved in childhood but you can’t stand now?

Get your answers in to gsu@gsu.ca by 9:00 a.m. Monday, March 16 and we will enter you in the draw.

Good luck! 

Contest rules are available here.

GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner is working on a grievance submitted by a GSU member who is seeking temporary performance of higher duty pay. 

“Quite often employees are asked to step up and do the work of someone in a higher paid position when that person is away for an extended period of time. The employee in question has been filling in for another employee in a higher paid classification for more than two months and we’re aiming to have the relieving employee’s pay adjusted as provided in the collective agreement,” Wagner said. “This type of case involves an examination of the work the relieving employee is doing during the absence of the person they are replacing.” Wagner advises that this grievance is in its early stages and the next step is a grievance meeting with employer representatives.

GSU helps sort things out.  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.

These services are provided to you as part of your union dues. There is no additional charge for assisting you.

In last week’s Tuesday Members’ Memo we asked you to daydream and tell us what would be the first thing you would do with your money if you won $70 million. 

There were touching answers, there were hilarious answers, but ultimately it was Kyle’s answer that we pulled as our winner in the draw.

Congratulations, Kyle. We can’t give you $70 million, but we are happy to hand over two tickets to the March 7 Rush game.

Check back next week when we will be giving away tickets to the Rush’s March 20 game against the Georgia Storm. 

Contest rules are available here.

Have you been accepted into university or tech school? Are you a GSU member, spouse or dependant of a GSU member? If your answer is YES, you are eligible to apply for a GSU scholarship.

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.

Learn more and download the forms here.

A member working 13-hour shifts was ill for a number of days. During their time off sick, a statutory holiday occurred and the member’s sick bank was deducted incorrectly, leaving them with less pay. 

After discussions with assistance from GSU, the member’s sick bank was credited appropriately, resulting in time added to the member’s banked time off, as well.

GSU helps sort things out.  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.

These services are provided to you as part of your union dues. There is no additional charge for assisting you.

Kaylee Kruger (Local 2 – Viterra) just won two tickets to watch the Rush take on the Toronto Rock this Saturday 

In our Feb. 18 Tuesday Members’ Memo we asked you what you wished would only happen every four years. The overwhelming answers were birthdays and taxes, but it was Kaylee’s entry and her wish for winter every four years that was drawn as our winner. Congratulations, Kaylee!

We have another chance for you to win Rush tickets.

Enter this week’s draw by answering the following question, and you could win two tickets to the Rush’s March 7 home game against the Vancouver Warriors. 

If you won the $70 million LottoMax, what would be the first thing you would do with your money? 

Send your answer to gsu@gsu.ca by 9:00 a.m. March 3  and we’ll enter you in our draw. Good luck!

Contest rules are available here.

General secretary Hugh Wagner is assisting a member whose job title and duties changed as a result of a workplace reorganization. 

“When the employer changes the title of a job or revises the duties in a significant way they are obliged to notify the union. In turn, GSU can advance an argument that the changes should result in a higher salary grade,” Wagner said. “In this instance GSU wasn’t notified until the affected union member raised the subject. We’re now pursuing a review of the job and whether the salary should change.” 

Wagner anticipates a meeting with the employer in the next the next two weeks.

GSU helps sort things out.  When there are problems in the workplace there are may 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.
These services are provided to you as part of your union dues. There is no additional charge for assisting you.

Last week we asked GSU members to enter their fellow members in our Scotties ticket draw. We were happy to see lots of teamwork with members nominating each other and many positive messages about great co-workers who deserved to win tickets to watch the championship games.

In the end, we could only draw three winners. Congratulations to Kevin Roszell (Local 1 – Viterra), Jamie Schultz (Local 14 – Richardson), and Deb Marcischuk (Local 15 – Nutrien). We hope you have a great time taking in all the action in Section P at the Scotties tournament championship playoffs.

• Package 1 – Deb Marcischuk 
  • Draw 18 Friday, Feb. 21 – 12:30 p.m. – Championship Round
  • Draw 19 Friday, Feb. 21 – 6:30 p.m. – Championship Round
• Package 2 – Jamie Schultz
  • Draw 20 Saturday, Feb. 22 – 8:30 a.m. – Tie Breaker
  • Draw 21 Saturday, Feb. 22 – 1:00 p.m. – Page Playoff Game
  • Draw 22 Saturday, Feb. 22 – 6:00 p.m. – Page Playoff Game
• Package 3 – Kevin Roszell
  • Draw 23 Sunday, Feb. 23 – 11:00 a.m. – Semi-Final
  • Draw 24 Sunday, Feb. 23 – 6:00 p.m. – Championship Final.

There are lots of great reasons to attend GSU’s bienniel policy convention, and as an added bonus you will get one of our new clear bags to hold your convention kit.

Ask anyone who has been at a GSU convention and they will tell you the people are friendly, everyone is welcome, the opinion of every delegate matters. The policy convention sets the tone of the union for the next two years, and we need you to join us, tell us about the goals and concerns of workers in your workplace, and let us know what changes you want made in how we represent you and your fellow union members.

Learn more about the convention and how to attend here or talk to your GSU staff rep for more information.

If you haven’t received a confirmation letter from GSU you are NOT registered to attend. Register here.

GSU bursary recipient Sara Meyer was among 50 St. Thomas More College (University of Saskatchewan) students to receive an award at the college’s annual bursary ceremony on Jan. 18.

According to Dr. Carl Still, president of STM College, the ceremony is about recognizing the tremendous potential of the student bursary recipients. 

“Unlocking that potential depends on so many factors, including the generosity of others,” he said. “To the donors, I want to thank you on behalf of all my colleagues at STM. Without you there would be no bursaries to give out, and many qualified students would miss their opportunity at higher education.”

On behalf of the members, officers and staff of Grain and General Services Union, we offer congratulations to Sara and wish her well as she continues her studies.

Phil entered last week’s contest by telling us that the GSU 2020 convention is being held at the Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa in Moose Jaw, and it was his name pulled out of the hat as our winner of two Rush tickets. 

If Phil has been waiting for the right moment to bust out his neon hammer pants, this is the occasion. It’s 80s night at this Saturday’s game when the Rush take on the Colorado Mammoth in Saskatoon. In addition to the usual chest thumping that is encouraged at Rush games, fans can get up and dance during the half-time show by Streetheart.

Have a great time, Phil.

An intervention by GSU rep Steve Torgerson produced a solution for a member of Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) who had been waiting for seven weeks as their claim for EI benefits languished at Service Canada. 

The member in question was laid off in mid-December as a result of the elimination of their position in Viterra’s Regina head office. When issuing the record of employment (ROE), Viterra’s payroll department mistakenly indicated that the member was on a leave of absence. A co-worker heard of the predicament and contacted GSU.

Steve Torgerson contacted HR to sort out the problem and a corrected ROE was issued to Service Canada. 

“A lot of worry and frustration could have been avoided in this situation if GSU had been contacted sooner,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “We do our best to find solutions and answers for GSU members and it all begins with a phone call, email or text message.”

No problem is too small. If you have a question or a concern, don’t hesitate to contact your GSU staff rep. Their services are provided to you as part of your union dues. There is no additional charge for assisting you.

Click here to Learn More and Register!

The 2020 GSU Biennial Policy Convention is coming up on March 19-21, 2020, and we want you to join us for what is shaping up to be a fantastic convention.

The venue

Moose Jaw’s Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa in the heart of downtown Moose Jaw is the ideal setting for our 2020 GSU convention. Learn more about the venue here. 

The convention

Ask anyone who has been at a GSU convention and they will tell you the people are friendly, everyone is welcome, the opinion of every delegate matters.

The policy convention sets the tone of the union for the next two years, and we need you to join us, tell us about the goals and concerns of workers in your workplace, and let us know what changes you want made in how we represent you and your fellow union members.

We have already lined up a great guest speaker, entertainment, and an exciting agenda we’ll be telling you about soon. 

The entertainment

There is plenty for you and your fellow convention delegates to do outside the regular convention hours.

Casino Night
GSU will be hosting a night of games and entertainment with a private casino evening for convention delegates. 

World-renowned geothermal mineral spas.
Early-birds can enjoy a 7:00 a.m. early-morning soak in the indoor/outdoor naturally warm spa waters, and night owls can soothe away their aches and relax their minds in the pools until 11:00 p.m. Wednesday/Thursday, and midnight on Friday.

Tunnels of Moose Jaw
Travel back in time under the streets in Moose Jaw’s tunnels

Casino Moose Jaw
Feeling lucky? Head across the street to the casino. If you take the pedway you won’t even need your coat.