Category Archives: Local 04 – Grain Millers

Local 4 – Grain Millers – comprises members of GSU working in the bargaining unit of Grain Millers employees and its successors in the city of Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
Two elected officers are the Local’s representatives on the Joint Executive Council of GSU.

BARGAINING: new GSU Local 4 (Grain Millers) collective agreement has been signed and is in effect

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On Sept. 27 GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson was in Yorkton for the signing of the new Local 4 and Grain Millers collective agreement by union and company representatives. There are still a couple of signatures to be added, but the effective signing date of the agreement is Sept. 27, 2022.

The following new benefits began Sept. 27, 2022:

  • Begin earning sick leave at 10 hours per month.
  • Weekend Shift premium is $1.75 an hour.
  • $300 annual safety eyewear is company paid, and the employee has to provide a receipt.
  • The Supplementary Unemployment Benefit (SUB) plan must be registered with Service Canada before payments can begin. The registration process is underway and employees will be advised when it is in effect.
  • Dual Ticket Premium is in effect.

Other benefits to come:

  • Night Shift premium increases from $1.50 to $1.75 per hour on April 1, 2023.
  • Vacation accrual of 160 hours will move from 8 years to 7 years on April 1, 2023.
  • Medical Benefit improvements should take effect as soon as the details with Sunlife are worked out. Watch for your new benefit book, possibly arriving as early as Oct. 1.

As your new agreement is in full effect and you begin to benefit from the changes it brings, take a moment to reflect on what you and your fellow Local 4 members have accomplished.

In the last few years you have worked hard in your jobs and within your Local. You have exercised your rights as Local 4 members and participated by talking and listening to each other’s ideas, talking to your managers about what needs to change, and standing up together as we approached bargaining. That is what made the difference. A bargaining committee can only do so much, but when the will and involvement of its members is strong the Local is powerful. Keep it up and be proud of what you all accomplished.

Bargaining collective agreements happens every day

We will not rest on our laurels and sit back for the next three years. We have to continue to uphold the rights in your agreement every day and work to make workers’ rights a priority at Grain Millers.

Please participate however you are able. Join the health and safety committee, become an elected Local executive member, stand up as a contact person for your department, or participate in GSU events and education.

Your bargaining committee will stand down shortly once all signatures are put to paper. If you have any questions in the meantime, don’t hesitate to contact your bargaining committee members or your GSU staff reps.

On behalf of your Bargaining Committee,

Steve Torgerson

Your bargaining committee comprises Glen Wlasichuk, Ryan McNabb, Brandon Allin, Carter MacKay, Tyler Chorneyko (alternate), Brian Lark (GSU staff), Steve Torgerson (bargaining spokesperson and GSU Staff)

 

GSU’s Local 4 members have voted to accept the tentative settlement reached with their employer. Union and company representatives are working to incorporate the terms of the settlement into the final wording in the new collective agreement.  Once the new collective agreement has been finalized and duly signed, GSU will prepare and print collective agreement booklets for distribution to members.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact your bargaining committee or GSU staff reps Steve Torgerson and Brian Lark.

Thank you and congratulations to bargaining committee members Brandon Allin, Carter MacKay, Ryan McNabb, Glen Wlasichuk, Brian Lark (GSU staff) and Steve Torgerson (bargaining spokesperson and GSU staff) for their hard work reaching this settlement.

Local 4 members vote YES to new collective agreement

Tuesday Members’ Memo – Aug. 23, 2022

The July 21 tentative settlement between GSU’s Local 4 bargaining committee and employer representatives was voted on during two membership meetings held Aug. 17 and 18. After ballots were counted, results were reported to members that 89 percent of those voting had voted in favour of accepting the tentative settlement. The employer was notified of the vote results and work is underway by union and company representatives to incorporate the settlement terms into the wording of a new collective agreement.

Details of the settlement can be found in the articles below.

GSU will prepare and print collective agreement booklets for distribution to members as soon as the wording of the new collective agreement has been finalized and signed by union and company officials. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to contact your GSU bargaining committee members or GSU staff reps if you have any questions about the new agreement.

Congratulations and thank you to GSU Local 4 bargaining committee members Glen Wlasichuk, Ryan McNabb, Brandon Allin, Carter MacKay, Tyler Chorneyko, Brian Lark (GSU staff) and Steve Torgerson (bargaining spokesperson and GSU staff) for their successful conclusion of these negotiations.

Tentative settlement reached, members to receive update and vote Aug. 17

Tuesday Members’ Memo – July 26, 2022

Union and company committees reached a tentative settlement when they met in Yorkton last week. Details of the settlement are being finalized and prepared for distribution to Local 4 members by email, text and printed copies posted on the union bulletin board. 

A membership bargaining update and vote meeting is being scheduled in Yorkton on August 17. Watch your email and text messages for additional information.

Membership meeting scheduled for June 13; Bargaining scheduled for July 20, 21 and 22

Movement toward a tentative settlement continued when the two sides met in Yorkton on May 24, 25 and 26. As a result, GSU’s bargaining committee has scheduled a meeting on June 13 to give Local 4 members an opportunity to receive an in-person bargaining update and ask any questions they have before bargaining resumes in July.

Bargaining held May 24, 25, 26; membership update meeting to be held June 13

This was the third bargaining session between the parties and now it’s time to check in with the members.

A bargaining update meeting has been scheduled for Monday, June 13, 2022, at 8:00 p.m. at the Gallagher Centre in Yorkton.

Local 4 (Grain Millers) bargaining held April 26; scheduled for May 24, 25 and 26

Tuesday Members’ Memo – May 3, 2022

The Local 4 bargaining committee met with the company representatives on April 26 to resume bargaining. This was the second bargaining session after the opening round of negotiations on March 22, 23 and 24.

Employee medical benefits (prescription, dental, life insurance, etc.) were the focus at this bargaining meeting. Your committee made headway in understanding the costs of current coverage, what costs are associated with increased coverage and how it all fits in with the entire bargaining package.

Bargaining is scheduled to continue May 22, 23 and 24 in Yorkton.

If you have any questions please reach out to a member of your bargaining committee. 

Progress made in first three days of bargaining

Tuesday Members’ Memo – March 29, 2022

Bargaining got underway March 22, 23 and 24 in Yorkton with both sides introducing their bargaining proposal package.

“Over the three days there was good discussion, and progress was beginning to be made,” reports bargaining committee member and GSU staff rep Brian Lark.

Bargaining dates have been tentatively set for April 25 and 26.

Local 4 (Grain Millers) bargain underway

Tuesday Members’ Memo – March 22, 2022

Bargaining began today with GSU Local 4’s bargaining committee meeting company representatives to introduce and exchange bargaining proposals. Bargaining is scheduled for March 22, 23 and 24 in Yorkton.

 

 

Local 4 (Grain Millers) bargaining set to begin March 22

Tuesday Members’ Memo – March 8, 2022

Local 4’s bargaining committee will be sitting down with company representatives to introduce and exchange bargaining proposals on March 22, 23 and 24 in Yorkton.

 

On Jan. 14, GSU staff representatives Steve Torgerson and Brian Lark met with the Local 4 (Grain Millers) bargaining committee to discuss bargaining proposals. These proposals were developed from member suggestions to the local executive during the duration of the current collective bargaining agreement and ideas that were shared during the Local’s annual general meeting held in Oct. 28, 2021.

Current proposals address:

  • annual wage increases,
  • improvements and clarification on current benefits,
  • clarification on some work-related duties and hours of work,
  • housekeeping additions/changes in the current collective agreement language.

GSU’s detailed bargaining proposal package will be shared with Local members as soon as it has been presented to the company’s bargaining committee.

GSU served Grain Millers Canada Corp. with notice of collective bargaining on Jan. 17, 2022. The current collective agreement between Grain Millers and GSU Local 4 is set to expire March 31, 2022. As with all GSU collective agreements, the current agreement remains in place until a new agreement is reached.

We will keep you updated and share new information and updates as bargaining proceeds. If you have questions at any point, contact GSU staff reps Steve Torgerson or Brian Lark, or any member of your bargaining committee.

GSU Local 4 Grain Millers bargaining committee members are Glen Wlasichuk, Ryan McNabb, Brandon Allin, Carter MacKay, Tyler Chorneyko (alternate), GSU staff rep Brian Lark, GSU staff rep and bargaining spokesperson Brian Lark.

Local 4 (Grain Millers) settlement breaks mould, sets new high-water mark

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The agreement renewal settlement ratified by GSU Local 4 members in August represented a sharp break from a trend of settlements dominating collective bargaining and wage increases generally for the last decade.

On general wage increases alone, the Local 4 settlement with Grain Millers in Yorkton set a new high-water mark of 6 percent in the first year, 5 percent in the second year and 4 percent in the third year. The compound increase in pay is 15.75 percent over the life of the three-year collective agreement.

Added to the general wage increases are improvements to shift premiums, vacations, sick leave, a new safety eye wear allowance, dual ticket premiums and improvements to group health and insurance plans.

Altogether, the Local 4 settlement is testimony to the results possible through collective bargaining when union members are united and determined to stand their ground for better wages and employment conditions.

“From the get go, Local 4 members were determined to bargain hard toward their objectives,” said GSU staff representative and bargaining spokesperson Steve Torgerson. “Hats off to the members and the Local 4 bargaining committee for a job well done.”