Category Archives: Local 17 – Co-op Battlefords

Local 17 (Discovery Co-op) members have a new collective agreement

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Thank you to bargaining committee members Nathan Rafuse, Kristen Keating and GSU staff rep Brian Lark for serving on the committee and the work they put in to reach this agreement for Local 17 members.

On Jan. 11, 2023 members of Local 17 attended their ratification meeting to vote on the proposed memorandum of agreement that – if accepted – would form a new collective bargaining agreement. With 100 percent voter turnout, 83 percent of members voted in favour of accepting the bargained settlement.

“While some may say there was not a lot gained from this round of negotiations, we were able to protect a number of collective agreement provisions,” said union bargaining spokesperson Brian Lark. “We worked hard to protect current extended sick leave and keep the Supplemental Employment Benefit, and we were also able to make improvements to the members’ collective agreement.”

The company had looked at removing supplementary unemployment benefits (SEB) in the agreement. The union committee initially refused the removal but indicated a willingness to reduce the number of weeks an employee is eligible for SEB and the number of days required to be eligible for SEB.

With increases to the annual boot allowance from $175 to $200, there was also agreement that members would receive up to $200 for a replacement pair of boots within the year if a replacement pair is required.

Continued benefit coverage was also secured for individuals while on maternity, adoption or parental leave, provided the employee continues to pay their portion of benefits (just as they do when they are at work).

Over the term of the three-year agreement there will be guaranteed annual wage increases of 2%, 2% and 1.75% for everyone. These increases are on top of separate annual performance increases that will still be available to all members.

It was a heavy bargaining week at GSU with Locals 1 & 2 (Viterra) and Local 17 (Discovery Co-op) both meeting their management counterparts

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The GSU Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) and Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) bargaining committees were in Regina Dec. 14 and 15 for their scheduled third session of in-person negotiations with company representatives.

GSU’s Local 17 (Discovery Co-op) committee participated in their second set of video-conference negotiations with their management counterparts on Dec. 13 and 14.

Members in these locals can expect an emailed bargaining update by early next week. If you aren’t on our email update lists and would like to be added, contact Mason@gsu.ca to join the Local 1/2 (Viterra) list and email Brian@gsu.ca to be added to the Local 17 (Discovery Co-op) email database.

Agreement reached and ratified, GSU Local 17 (Discovery Co-op) negotiations

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On April 7 GSU Local 17 members voted to accept the terms of a new collective agreement.

After conciliation ended in early March, union and company representatives continued to work together to reach a mutually agreeable resolution to bargaining. Ultimately, a tentative settlement was reached, voted on, and ratified.

Terms will be implemented immediately.

Congratulations and thank you to GSU’s Local 17 bargaining committee members Shelbi Prescesky, Glen Morrison, and GSU staff rep Dale Markling for the time and commitment they put in to negotiate this settlement.

 
March 6 update:

Union and company representatives met in North Battleford on March 3 with the assistance of conciliator Ken Eckert. Although each side proposed a compromise, ultimately they were not able to reach an agreement. 

The conciliator will be reporting out of the negotiations and the parties will begin a two-week waiting period before either side has the right to lock out or strike.  The parties are free to continue negotiations during this two-week period, if they choose.

February 9 update:

The two sides have agreed to meet with conciliator Kevin Eckert on March 3.

Details will be reported as they become available.

February 7 update:

Union and company representatives are working to find available dates to meet with conciliator Kevin Eckert prior to the February 28 expiry of his mandate.

When Company representatives previously indicated they weren’t prepared to meet until the end of March, the union’s bargaining committee advised they were not prepared to agree to an extension of the conciliator’s 60-day mandate.

The conciliator’s mandate can only be extended by the agreement of both parties.

January 31 update:

Company representatives aren’t prepared to meet with the union committee and federal conciliator Kevin Eckert until the end of March, and the union committee says that isn’t good enough. Union bargaining committee spokesperson Dale Markling has also indicated that the union isn’t prepared to agree to an extension of the conciliator’s 60-day mandate.

“If the company can’t find dates before the end of March, we will be asking the government to bow out,” Markling said.

The Minister of Labour Relations previously appointed conciliator Kevin Eckert to assist the parties. The conciliator has a 60-day mandate which can only be extended by the agreement of both parties.

January 24 update:

In response to the Notice of Impasse which was served to the Minister of Labour Relations, Conciliator  Kevin Eckert has been appointed to assist the parties. 

Dates for conciliation continue to be considered. 

The Conciliator has a 60-day mandate which can only be extended by the agreement of both parties.

January 5, 2017 update:

A Notice of Impasse has been served to the Minister of Labour Relations with a request that a conciliator be appointed.

Union and company representatives last met November 22 and were unable to reach an agreement, even though they previously came very close to reaching a tentative settlement when they met on October 14.