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Posted March 8

Nominations for Directors: GSU Defense Fund

Delegates to GSU’s 2010 Policy Convention will elect five members of the union to be Directors on the five-person Board of Directors of the GSU Defense Fund.

GSU members do not have to be delegates to the 2010 Policy Convention in order to be candidates for election to the GSU Defense Fund Board of Directors; however, all candidates must be members of GSU in good standing and must be employed in a certified GSU bargaining unit.

Directors of the GSU Defense Fund are responsible for meeting periodically, in person and/or by teleconference, for the purpose of overseeing the administration and investment of the assets of the Fund which stood at more than $2.3 million at the end of 2009.

Information on nominations and the responsibilities of becoming a Defense Fund Director is available here.

Contact Hugh Wagner at the GSU Regina office if you have any questions or would like more information.

Posted Feb. 16

Viterra - Moose Jaw and Saskatoon terminal update

Members to vote on tentative settlement

With the mediator’s assistance, on February 11 GSU and Viterra reached a tentative settlement regarding the collective agreement issues in dispute. The tentative settlement is subject to approval by GSU members at the two terminal locations and by Viterra’s Board of Directors.

The subject of the mediation was the collective agreement issues associated with the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) August 4, 2009, decision to merge GSU’s bargaining units at Viterra’s Moose Jaw and Saskatoon terminal elevators with the larger GSU Country Operations and Maintenance bargaining unit in Saskatchewan.

The memorandum of settlement is subject to ratification in a combined vote by members of the union working at the two terminal locations. Voting is expected to be complete before the third week of March.

The tentative settlement gives union members choices between two options. If neither option receives the support of fifty percent plus one of the members who cast ballots, the issues arising out of merging the three collective agreements will be referred to the CIRB for a final determination.

GSU will release a report following the voting by union members on the tentative settlement.

The memorandum of settlement and other related information is available here.*
This information was also mailed to affected members.

Read background information here.

Updated March 1

Viterra - IT outsourcing

GSU and Viterra meet - June dates scheduled for GSU's unfair labour practice complaint

February 18 and 19 hearings of the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) with regard to GSU’s unfair labour practice complaint were postponed in favour meetings between GSU and Viterra representatives to explore whether a negotiated resolution of the dispute is possible. GSU’s complaint was filed with the CIRB in response to Viterra’s decision to “out source” all of the bargaining unit work in the company’s IT Division.

When union and company representatives met in Regina on February 18 some important issues were settled, but the main body of the unfair labour practice complaint remains unresolved. CIRB hearings are now set to take place from June 22 to 25.

“It has taken some time to get to this point and the delays are frustrating to all who are concerned. Nonetheless, I am pleased with the progress made on February 18,” said GSU Secretary Hugh Wagner. “GSU will continue to present a strong case on behalf of the affected employees.”

“We continue to urge Viterra management to take a close look at the outsourcing decision and consider what they’ve lost or will lose in terms of IT expertise, knowledge and commitment to the company’s success,” Wagner said.

Updates will be issued as they become available.

Read background information here.

Read a complete copy of the CIRB’s Dec. 11 decision here.

Are you interested in attending GSU's 2010 convention?

Scenic Cedar Lodge is the site of the 2010 GSU Biennial Convention.

When: March 18 - 20, 2010

Where: Cedar Lodge, Blackstrap, SK

Union officers, shop stewards, and GSU members are encouraged to attend, represent their Locals, and help make important policy and procedure decisions which will affect the union.

Delegates to convention will also be reviewing the results of the 2010 GSU survey and making plans to celebrate GSU’s 75th anniversary in 2011.

We are planning an exciting convention geared toward our new and our experienced members of the union.

Your GSU staff rep will assist you in requesting time off to attend the GSU Convention. GSU will cover wage loss, mileage, accommodation and meal expenses for all GSU delegates who attend.

Are you interested in attending or finding out more?

Contact your GSU staff representative for more information.

Updated Feb. 3

Where's the beef from?

When shopping for meat at a grocery store or meat market be sure to ask where their meat comes from.
If the answer is XL Foods – don’t buy it.

When you are ordering in a restaurant, ask where the beef is coming from.
If the answer is XL Foods – consider some other product.

Why? Find out here.

Posted Jan. 15.

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