Category Archives: Joint Executive Council

The Joint Executive Council (JEC) of GSU is comprised of the representatives elected by the Locals.
The 23-person Joint Executive Council formulates policy and oversees the business of the GSU between Policy Conventions.

GSU’s Joint Executive Council meets, selects Steve Torgerson as next General Secretary

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Tuesday Members’ Memo – Nov. 1, 2022

GSU’s Joint Executive Council (board of directors) held their semi-annual meeting on Oct. 25 in Regina where they received an update on union administration and finances. Updated financial control and asset policies were also approved.

Council members also discussed the scheduling and location for GSU’s 2023 policy convention. While it was decided to hold the convention at the Temple Gardens Hotel in Moose Jaw on March 30, 31 and April 1, 2023, subsequent communication with hotel management has resulted in selecting March 23, 24 and 25 as the convention dates.

The main item on the meeting agenda was the appointment of GSU staff representative Steve Torgerson as the next general secretary of GSU. Council members received a report on the recruitment process and voted unanimously to approve the executive committee’s recommendation to appoint Steve to the position when current general secretary Hugh Wagner steps down at the end of March 2023.

The general secretary succession process is in motion as Steve has the whole-hearted support of the elected officers and staff of GSU. The Council also approved the executive committee’s recommendation to move Mason Van Luven from his term position into a regular staff representative position at GSU.

“I am extremely happy with the decision that Steve Torgerson will be GSU’s next general secretary,” said Hugh Wagner. “Steve brings creativity and solid experience to the role. He is a tireless advocate for GSU members and an excellent choice for the job.”

The Joint Executive Council is GSU’s governing body between policy conventions. You can learn more about the JEC here.

Our Joint Executive Council meets today in Regina

Oct. 25, 2022

This group of elected officers formulates policy and oversees the business of GSU between policy conventions.

Today’s semi-annual meeting will review business that includes financial and Defense Fund updates, an administration report from the general secretary, constitutional and bylaw issues, a decision on the location of the upcoming March 2023 GSU policy convention and more.

The JEC comprises the representatives elected by each of our Locals. Every Local is entitled to at least one representative on the JEC except in the case of Locals 13, 16, 17, 18 and 19 whose delegates caucus at GSU policy conventions to elect one representative and an alternate to represent them. GSU’s president and two vice-presidents are also elected to two-year terms at GSU policy conventions.

Watch next week’s Tuesday Members’ Memo for a detailed meeting update or contact your GSU staff rep for an update.

GSU’s Joint Executive Council (JEC) gather via Zoom for their autumn semi-annual meeting

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The union’s governing body originally planned to meet in person in Regina, but COVID’s fourth wave necessitated a last-minute switch to an online gathering.

The meeting agenda included a review of the minutes and directions from the 2021 GSU policy convention, reports on current administrative issues and union finances, recommendations from the staff representative recruitment committee (see top story, above) and adoption of the general secretary’s autumn report to union members.

The JEC meeting also approved conducting a membership vote on the annual resolution to continue the additional membership dues being paid into the GSU Defense Fund.

Sheila Tran (Local 2 – Viterra head office) was elected as a GSU vice president to replace Curtis Cousins (Local 15 – Nutrien) who stepped down in the aftermath of his job with Nutrien being eliminated.

“On behalf of the member of the Joint Executive Council, I want to extend thanks to Curtis for his service and for being willing to serve the members of GSU. We wish him well in his next chapter,” said GSU president Jim Brown. “At the same time, we are pleased to welcome Sheila to GSU’s executive committee and thank her for stepping forward to take on a new role.”

The JEC also elected three members to vacant seats on the board of directors of the GSU Defense Fund. A separate article on this subject will be carried in the next Tuesday Members’ Memo.

The meeting ended with a discussion of 2021 annual meetings this fall and whether the format would be in-person meetings, virtual meetings or a combination of the two. Ultimately it was decided that each Local and Sub-Local would have to make the decision that best suits their circumstances.

Learn more about the union’s governing body – the Joint Executive Council – here.

If you are interested in representing GSU members by becoming a JEC member, considering running for office at our upcoming membership meetings.
Contact Steve at the GSU office to learn more.

GSU’s executive committee meets, reviews recruiting process for staff rep vacancy, office renovations

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GSU’s executive committee comprising president Jim Brown, vice presidents Michelle Houlden and Curtis Cousins along with general secretary Hugh Wagner held a conference call meeting on June 17.

 The committee received an update on renovations to GSU’s office in Regina, considered proposals for donation requests, and covered other administrative matters including the process for recruiting a GSU staff representative to fill the vacancy created by Dale Markling’s retirement. Plans were also made for an in-person meeting of the union’s Joint Executive Council (board of directors) and a union education day in mid- to late September.

 Subject to approval by the Joint Executive Council, GSU will issue an advertisement of the staff representative vacancy in mid-August.

GSU’s Joint Executive Council has released its 2020/2021 report to members

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The 2020/2021 Annual Report to GSU members by the union’s Joint Executive Council (board of directors) is available to be read and downloaded.

The Annual Report contains important information for GSU members about the business of your union, including the 2020 audited financial statements. 

“GSU prides itself on practicing democracy and transparent administration on behalf of the union’s members,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner.

Members can receive a hard copy of the Annual Report by contacting GSU at 1.866.522.6686 or by sending an email to gsu@gsu.ca .

If you have questions, comments or concerns about this report, don’t hesitate to contact a Joint Executive Council member
or your GSU staff representative.

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

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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.