No resolution reached at Aug. 31 bargaining session

Tuesday Members’ Memo – Sept. 5, 2023

On Aug. 31, GSU Local 1 and 2 bargaining committees returned to the bargaining table with Viterra. This is the first session following the rejection of the tentative agreement by the Local 1 Board of Delegates on July 27 and Local 2 Executive Committee on August 3.

“Members are tired of hearing the same old excuses from the company about their costs, their preferred pay system, that they have no issues with recruitment and retention, etcetera,” said GSU bargaining spokesperson Steve Torgerson. “The economic reality that working people are living with demands that companies take note and actually pay their employees what they deserve.”

As a democratic organization led by working people, GSU’s elected Local 1 and 2 Local Executive officers met to receive a bargaining update and to discuss the lack of progress in bargaining and what next steps need to be taken. We hope the company will come back to the bargaining table with an offer that addresses our many concerns.

“This round of negotiations is a reminder that belonging to a union does not mean everything effortlessly and automatically falls into place. What unionized workers secure in their collective agreements is only achieved because those members have negotiated and fought for it,” Torgerson said. “As all GSU members have the opportunity to do when their collective agreement is open for negotiation, Local 1 and 2 members are currently working hard to bargain wage increases, leaves, vacations and grievance procedures. This is the union advantage.”

You can read the Sept. 2 bargaining update to members and all previous bargaining updates here. 

 

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Aug. 31 confirmed for Local 1 & 2 bargaining with the company

Aug. 18, 2023 email update to members

Your elected Local 1 Board of Delegates and Local 2 executive committee rejected the tentative agreement with a clear message: what was offered was not enough.

Aug. 31 has been confirmed for a bargaining session with your GSU bargaining committees and Viterra representatives. We’ll be looking for more dates in September if our upcoming session with the Company is not fruitful.

Here’s how you can support your bargaining committee:

Your hard work contributes to your employer’s record-breaking profits, and you deserve better than what they have offered.

• We need you to keep the lines of communication open with your fellow members and customers.
• We need you to continue reminding management of the value of your contributions, and that you’ve earned a standard of living where you can support yourself, family, and community.

You can read the complete Aug. 18 bargaining update and previous bargaining updates here. 

 

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Local 1 and 2 executives vote to send committees back to the bargaining table

August 4, 2023

Your elected officers for Local 1 and 2 met separately and each Local voted to reject the tentative settlement and direct the bargaining committee to return to negotiations.

Following the July 27 Local 1 board of delegates meeting, an update was sent to Local 1 members on July 28. The Local 2 executive committee met Aug. 4 and issued an update to their members the same day.

You can read the above-mentioned bargaining updates and previous bargaining updates here.   

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A tentative agreement has been reached 

July 14, 2023

A tentative agreement was reached on July 13. Once wording of the tentative agreement has been agreed upon, GSU’s Local 1 Board of Delegates and Local 2 executive will convene separately to confirm the tentative offer is strong enough to take to their membership for a ratification vote.

If the Board of Delegates and Local Executive determine the agreement is sufficient to proceed to a vote, the tentative agreement will be presented to Local 1 and 2 members who will have the opportunity to either accept or reject the tentative agreement through a confidential ratification vote process.

If the majority of ballots cast accept the tentative agreement, negotiations cease and the agreement forms the basis of a new collective agreement. If the tentative agreement is rejected by the majority of members voting, then GSU bargaining committees will return to the bargaining table to fight for a better deal.

“Member participation in this process and support for their bargaining committee has shown the company that the membership means business,” said GSU general secretary and bargaining spokesperson Steve Torgerson.

Watch your email and the GSU web page for details about voting and information on the tentative agreement.

 

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Bargaining update #23 was issued July 13.

You can read update #23 and all other updates here.

Bargaining update #22 was issued June 27.

Bargaining update #21 was issued June 16.

 

Bargaining resumes June 14 in Regina

June 14, 2023

Our Local 1 (Viterra Ops & Maintenance) & Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) committee will meet company representatives on June 14 in Regina. We anticipate Viterra will respond to the proposals our committee submitted last week.

An email update will be issued following the June 14 bargaining session. Watch your email for updates and check previous updates here. 

 

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STIP update #20 was issued June 8.

Bargaining update #19 was issued June 1.

Bargaining update #18 was issued May 26.

Bargaining update #17 was issued May 18.

You can read each of them here.

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Bargaining Feedback Survey link included here (and in your May 17 Bargaining Update #16) 

Bargaining update 16 was sent to Local 1 and 2 email subscribers on May 17. You can read it here. 

The Local 1 Board of Delegates has approved distribution of a survey to Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) members to encourage additional feedback on negotiations and the path members would like to see as bargaining continues. Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) members are also encouraged to participate and complete the survey.

If you didn’t attend the May 8 and 9 ZOOM meetings and you aren’t able to attend your Sub-Local meeting, your opinion can be shared by completing this quick survey. If you have already attended your meeting but have additional feedback for us, we encourage you to complete the survey, too.

Bargaining Feedback Survey is available here

Please complete your survey by Friday, May 26.

If you would prefer to contact us by email or phone, please contact Steve@gsu.ca or Mason@gsu.ca.  

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Local 1 & 2 (Viterra) bargaining update meetings are underway

Tuesday Members’ Memo: May 9, 2023

The Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) meetings began with two town hall Zoom meetings on May 8 and an additional town hall Zoom meeting scheduled for 6:00 p.m. May 9. In-person meetings have also been scheduled and notices were sent to members by email.

The Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) meeting will be held on May 25.

Please share your meeting notice with members at your location, and contact Steve@gsu.ca, Mason@gsu.ca, or your bargaining committee members if you have any questions or would like to be added to our bargaining update email list.

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Bargaining update #15  was sent to members on May 8

May 8, 2023

Meeting links to the May 8 and 9 town hall meetings are included in this update. You can view it here.

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Bargaining update #14 was sent to members on May 2

May 2, 2023

The update contains important links to the May 8 and 9 townhall meetings. You can read it here.

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The April 28 bargaining update is now available on the bargaining update page. 

May 1, 2023

You can find it here.

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Watch your email for a bargaining update on April 28 

The bargaining update will be sent by email to members on April 28. On May 1 it will be posted on our web page under the BARGAINING/VITERRA BARGAINING menu tab, above.

Contact Steve@gsu.ca or Mason@gsu.ca if you would like to join the email list and receive bargaining updates.

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A March 7, 8 & 9 bargaining update was just sent to members 

Local 1 and 2 Bargaining Update email – sent to members March 13, 2023 

This past Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, your Local 1 (Viterra Operations and Maintenance) and Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) bargaining committee met company representatives to resume bargaining.

Your committee was prepared and waiting for the company to reply to our last set of counter proposals on February 1, 2023. As with all collective bargaining (or almost any negotiations like buying a new vehicle or house), proposals go back and forth and hopefully you end with a deal that works best for you. Your bargaining committee has been fierce in their standing up for what members have told us last Summer and Fall and for speaking up to
support these bargaining positions when challenged by the company.

During this bargaining session, your committee made proposals and offers that we think are reasonable and productive all the while still
holding true to the focus that members needed changes on. Your bargaining committee wants all members to know how they are approaching bargaining and what they have committed to do to get the best negotiation collective agreement they can. They want to share this with everyone so you can see what they will do to support the member’s needs and ask that members continue to stay in touch, ask questions of the committee and the company and keep pushing and demanding that workers not get left behind.

Watch for an email next week from your bargaining committee.

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There is still work to do, and you can help

Tuesday Members’ Memo – Feb. 7, 2023

Bargaining continued Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 with company representatives bringing their full bargaining package (including monetary proposals) to the table.

Upon a thorough review of the company’s package, it was clear it’s not where members want it to be, there is still work to do, and you can help.

The Local 1 & 2 bargaining committee is urging members to start talking.

• Talk to each other about the importance of pay that covers the rising cost of living and pay that recognizes your service and effort.
• Talk to your managers about consistent scheduling, fair notice of shift change and hours of work that won’t wear you out.
• Talk to your customers about work/family balance because everyone needs time to be with their friends and family.
• These conversations support and reinforce everything your bargaining committee has said during bargaining, and the improvements they are fighting for.

Read your GSU bargaining committee’s Feb. 2 – Bargaining Update #9 update here.

Bargaining is scheduled to resume Mar. 7 and 8.

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Company presentations, discussion the focus Dec. 14 and 15 session

Bargaining continued Dec. 14 and 15 with both days scheduled for presentations from the company. The main topics of discussion were grain and rail transportation, employee benefits review, sick leave and short term disability and Pay Equity. The discussion was necessary to understand the position of each side and where negotiations are headed in the New Year.

It is anticipated that the next set of bargaining dates will be scheduled soon.

A bargaining update was sent to members on Dec. 16. You can read it here.

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Two sides to reconvene Dec. 14 and 15 in Regina

Nov. 25, 2022

Your bargaining committees got together for breakfast before meeting with the company last week in Regina. (Clockwise around the group starting in the lower-left) Mason Van Luven, Howard Wilson, Wilfred Harris, Steve Torgerson, Sheila Tran, Jim Brown, David Barrett, Shannon Antonenko, Kaylee Kruger, Travis Brewer.

After spending Nov. 24 in talks with company representatives, it was determined that meeting the next day wouldn’t be useful. Both sides have agreed to reconvene on Dec. 14 and 15.

A detailed bargaining update was issued to GSU Local 1 and 2 members on Nov. 28. You can also read it here on our web page under the VITERRA BARGAINING page (above under the Bargaining menu tab) for additional information. Contact Mason@gsu.ca to be added to our email update list.

Bargaining resumes Nov. 24, 25 

Nov. 24. 2022

Your GSU Local 1 (Operations and Maintenance) and 2 (Viterra Head Office) bargaining committees are meeting their union counterparts on Nov. 24 and 25 for a second round of bargaining.

A bargaining update from the Nov. 16 and 17 session was emailed to members earlier this week and another update will be sent to Local 1 and 2 members next week following this round of negotiations. We’ve had reports that some of our emails don’t reach work email addresses. Please send Mason@gsu.ca an alternate email address to ensure you receive our bargaining updates.

The two sides are scheduled to meet again Dec. 14 and 15.

As bargaining proceeds, watch for email updates and check our VITERRA BARGAINING page (under the BARGAINING menu tab, above) for additional information.

Local 1 & 2 bargaining is officially underway

Nov. 16, 2022

Our Local 1 and 2 bargaining committees meet with their union counterparts today and tomorrow in Regina.

Two additional sets of dates have been set for bargaining:

• November 24 & 25, 2022
• December 14 & 15, 2022.

GSU bargaining committee spokesperson Steve Torgerson anticipates emailing a bargaining update to members shortly.

Nov. 14, 2022

COVID has certainly changed the face of meetings.

This screenshot from staff rep Mason Van Luven’s computer serves as the group photo of our Local 1 and Local 2 (Viterra) bargaining committee members during their Nov. 8 meeting. The meeting was convened to conduct a final review of the bargaining package and prepare for the upcoming Nov. 16 and 17 bargaining session with management representatives.

Three sets of dates have been set for bargaining:

November 16 & 17
November 24 & 25
December 14 & 15.

A bargaining update was emailed to Local 1 (Operations and Maintenance) and Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) members on Nov. 4. If you didn’t receive your update you can contact Steve@gsu.ca or Mason@gsu.ca to confirm your address and review the email update on GSU’s gsu.ca web page under the BARGAINING menu tab. As bargaining proceeds, Local 1 and 2 members will continue to receive email updates with additional information being posted on the web page.

Nov. 4, 2022 Update 

Three sets of dates have been set for bargaining: 

• Nov. 16 & 17, 2022
• Nov. 24 & 25, 2022
• Dec. 14 & 15, 2022.

In final preparation for negotiations, your bargaining committees will be meeting on Nov. 8, 2022. Once each set of dates has passed we will send an update to all members.

To date, four bargaining updates have been sent to members. If you are not receiving your updates, please contact Steve or Mason to be placed on the list.

 

Tuesday Members’ Memo – Aug. 3, 2022

The Local 1 (Viterra Operations & Maintenance) and Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) bargaining surveys are now closed and the information is being compiled for review by the Locals’ board of delegates who are expected to meet in September. In the meantime, staff reps are scheduling member visitations, meetings and Zoom calls to ensure that members have had multiple opportunities to share their thoughts on what should be included in their upcoming bargaining proposal package.

A detailed update was sent to members on July 29. You can read or print it from the VITERRA BARGAINING tab here on our web page.

Congratulations to Local 1 member Marshall Morrison (North Battleford) and Local 2 member Greg Eutenier who were our winners of the FitBit Versa draws. Members who completed their Local’s bargaining survey had the opportunity to enter their respective Local’s draw.

Tuesday Members’ Memo – July 19, 2022

Your Viterra bargaining committees are currently conducting a bargaining survey.

The survey was emailed to Local 1 members on July 7 and Local 2 members on July 8.

Please help us ensure that every member has an opportunity to identify their bargaining priorities by sharing the following link(s) with your coworkers:

• Local 1 ( Viterra Operations/Maintenance) bargaining survey
• Local 2 (Viterra Head Office) bargaining survey

Complete and submit your survey by July 22 and your name will be entered in our draw for one of two FitBit Versas.

And if you haven’t already done so, please complete the bargaining contact form so you can follow the bargaining process and receive regular updates.

We’ve also created a VITERRA BARGAINING page on GSU’s main web page where we’ll be posting the information you need, so make sure you check the page regularly.

Delegates meet to prepare for renewal of collective agreements that expire Oct. 31

Tuesday Members’ Memo – June 28, 2022

Delegates from GSU Locals 1 (Viterra Operations and Maintenance) and 2 (Viterra Head Office) met in Regina on June 23 and 24 for union education and agreement renewal bargaining preparation.

The first session of the delegates meeting was a joint union education effort with delegates from Local 14 which centered on conflict resolution and effective communication. The next morning Local 1 and 2 delegates focused on the collective bargaining process and preparing for agreement renewal bargaining with Viterra for renewal of the collective agreements that expire on Oct. 31.

The June 24 sessions provided an initial sounding for the bargaining priorities of GSU members employed in Viterra country operations, maintenance and Regina head office. Delegates were very candid about the experiences and bargaining expectations of union members at their locations. Several broad themes emerged and chief among them are wage increases that reflect employees’ contributions to Viterra as well as addressing the rising cost of living. Pay equity for Facility Sales and Admin employees and actual performance pay for Regina head office employees were central to the discussion. Hours of work and car loading issues are also top priorities for country operations and maintenance employees.

Delegates elected David Barrett (Gull Lake) to be the new president of Local 1 while Colton Buck (Balgonie) was elected vice president. They will be joined by Travis Brewer (Saskatoon) and Chris Yeo (Belle Plaine) as Local 1’s representatives on GSU’s Joint Executive Council (JEC).

In being elected president of Local 1 David Barrett replaces Jim Brown who continues to be president of GSU overall and continues to serve on the bargaining committee. Colton Buck is the new VP of Local 1 while Travis Brewer returns as an incumbent and Chris Yeo joins as a new representative on the JEC.

“We’re continuing GSU’s transition to a new generation of leaders,” said GSU president Jim Brown. “Welcome to David, Colton, Travis and Chris.”

The delegates meeting also elected a bargaining committee comprising Jim Brown (Balgonie), Wilfred Harris (Carnduff), Shannon Antonenko (Lloydminster), David Barrett (Gull Lake) and Travis Brewer (Saskatoon). Local 2 delegates Sheila Tran, Howard Wilson and Kaylee Kruger were active participants in the dialogue. They serve as their Local’s bargaining committee and representatives on GSU’s Joint Executive Council.

The meeting adopted a bargaining survey that will go out to Local 1 and 2 members this summer and set the stage for assembling shortly after Labour Day to put the finishing touches or bargaining proposals to take to the table with Viterra later this summer and early autumn.

Local 1 and 2 (Viterra) members can expect to receive a bargaining survey, soon

June 23, 2022

The current Local 1 (Operations/Maintenance) and Local 2 (Head Office) collective agreements with Viterra are set to expire Oct. 31. That means GSU members in these locals can anticipate our requests for input to help prepare for the upcoming negotiating process that determines their pay, rights and working conditions.

The first item Local 1 and 2 members can expect to receive is a bargaining survey. Elected officers at our June 23/24 delegates meeting are finalizing the survey and we anticipate sending it to members soon.

“If you are a GSU member working for Viterra, this is the perfect time to contact us with your preferred email address,” said GSU staff rep Mason Van Luven. “That way we can be certain everyone has an opportunity to participate in the survey and share their thoughts.”