Members of AEA/GSU Local 8 have voted to approve a new three-year collective agreement with Advance Tank Production Ltd./Advance Tank Centres Ltd. The new collective agreement provides for a wage increase of 2 percent effective and retroactive to Nov. 1, 2018, followed by increases of 2 percent effective Nov. 1, 2019 and Nov. 1, 2020. 

Among other items, the new collective agreement also includes language to better address plant closure and a 25¢  per hour increase to shift and unusual work premiums.

The membership ratification vote was held on Feb. 14.

For a chance to win two tickets to the game on Feb. 9, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. against the Calgary Roughnecks, all you need to do is send your email entry to gsu@gsu.ca by completing the following sentence:

It is so cold in Saskatchewan that …

All entries received at GSU by Friday, Feb. 1 at 5:00 p.m. will be entered to win.

We look forward to reading all the entries. The lucky winner will be announced, along with the best sentences, in next week’s Tuesday Members’ Memo. 

The first conciliation meeting between AEA/GSU Local 8 and the employer will take place on Jan. 25. A provincially appointed conciliator will meet with both sides in an effort to assist resolving the current bargaining impasse.

The bargaining impasse is centred on wage increases, severance pay for job loss, modest paid leave to assist seriously ill family members and paid sick leave to cover the waiting period for short term disability benefits.

If the impasse is not resolved on Jan. 25, further meetings with the conciliator are scheduled for Feb. 4 and 5.

According to Hugh Wagner, GSU’s Locals 1 and 2 bargaining committee had a useful exchange on all bargaining issues when they met with Viterra representatives on Jan. 15, 16 and 17, 2019.

“This was the second bargaining meeting and the bulk of the time was spent on wage rates and wage increase,” Wagner said. “I think we had a useful dialogue and we’re looking forward to hearing Viterra’s response when we meet again on February 12 and 13.”

The collective agreements between GSU and Viterra expired on October 31, 2018.

A further update will be released following the February 12 and 13 bargaining meeting.

New agreement for Local 9 – Hi-Pro (Trouw Nutrition)

Members of GSU Local 9 voted and ratified a new collective agreement on January 7.

Notable improvements to the collective agreement included the addition of a complete severance package paying two weeks of severance per year of service (capped at 52 weeks), and wage increases that will help members keep up with the rising cost of living in BC. 

Congratulations to GSU’s bargaining committee of GSU staff representative Steve Torgerson, Kelly Sarezky and Kevin Clarke and thank you for their hard work in concluding a new agreement.

Local 17 – Discovery Co-op 
Bargaining sessions for this local were held Jan.  2 and 3 and Jan. 9 and 10.

Local 18 – Lloydminster Co-op 
Union and management committees met for bargaining sessions on Jan. 8 and 11. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

This report will be reviewed at the upcoming autumn annual meetings.

• General Secretary’s 2018 Report to Members

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!

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.

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.