Do you need help with an issue in your workplace?
Talk to a GSU staff rep. Call GSU toll-free: 1.866.522.6686.
All calls are strictly confidential. GSU does not subscribe to call display.

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  Complete our membership survey, enter to win a 16 GB Samsung tablet

Watch for a GSU membership survey to his your email inbox. The survey was designed to provide information which will help us explore your relationship with GSU and help to improve the quality of services we provide to our members. Take this opportunity to let us know what we are doing right, what we are doing wrong, and how we can better serve you.

Information gathered will be used solely by GSU.

You don't need to provide your name or personal information in order to participate in this survey. But if you choose to submit your email address or mail address once you complete the survey, you will be entered to win one of four 16 GB Samsung tablet computers.

Access our survey here.

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  This week at GSU:

• staff rep Steve Torgerson is meeting with Local 2 (Regina Head Office) executive members on Monday
• staff rep Lawrence Maier is meeting with Local 4 (Grain Millers) executive members on Tuesday
• general secretary Hugh Wagner is meeting with GSU's executive committee by conference call on Wednesday
  
• membership meetings are being booked for February and March. Watch your mail for your meeting notice
  
• the GSU convention is set for March 22 – 24 at the Cedar Park Lodge (near Dundurn, SK). Contact your GSU staff rep if you are interested in attending.

February 6

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  January 30 bargaining update - AEA/GSU Local 8 members (Regina plant)

The AEA/GSU Local 8 bargaining committee has met Company management on three occasions since the beginning of the new year. The most recent meeting took place on January 26.

At the moment your Committee is waiting for management to reply to a comprehensive settlement proposal tabled at the most recent meeting. A reply is anticipated later this week or early next week. 

The January 26 bargaining meeting was the tenth since bargaining began on November 23.

Your AEA/GSU bargaining committee members are Doug Murray, president; Albert Buttner, vice-president; Brad Millard, secretary-treasurer; Ron Gerlock, OH&S co-chair; and Hugh Wagner, GSU's general secretary. 

If you have any questions please contact one of the executive committee members or inquire by email to
gsu.regina@sasktel.net.

View your collective agreements, constitution, bylaws, and list of officers here.

Updated January 31, 2012
 

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Save Jasper National Park

In days the Harper government could privatise a part of Jasper National Park and launching development in the pristine Rockies and a fee for use for many visitors. All to profit a US company.

Click here to learn more and sign the petition.

Updated January 27

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We're still waiting! GSU application for certification - Viterra Feed Mill in Chilliwack

The certification application filed by GSU in late September has been processed by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) office in Vancouver and sent to the Board’s attention in Ottawa.

This has taken much longer than estimated. We hope the process will result in a positive answer from the CIRB before too much more time passes.

In the meantime, if Viterra Feed Mill employees have issues or concerns about the workplace please contact Hugh Wagner or Lawrence Maier. They can be reached toll free at 1.866.522.6686 or by sending an email to gsu.regina@sasktel.net.

Read background information on GSU's application to represent Viterra Feed Mill (Chilliwack) employees here.

Updated January 30

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Nominations for Directors of the GSU Defense Fund

Delegates to GSU’s 2012 Policy Convention will elect five members of the union to be Directors on the five-person Board of Directors of the GSU Defense Fund.
 
The GSU Convention will be held in the Cedar Lodge at Blackstrap resort (near Dundurn, Sask.) starting at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 22 and adjourning at 1:30 pm on Saturday, March 24, 2012.
 
GSU members do not have to be delegates to the 2012 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. Current Directors are eligible for re-election.
 
Members who are elected to the Joint Executive Council of GSU are not eligible for election to the Defense Fund Board of Directors. Of the five Defense Fund Directors to be elected at the 2012 GSU Convention, three must be from Local 1 (Viterra Ops/Maintenance) and/or Local 2 (Viterra Head Office).

If you are interested in becoming a GSU Defense Fund director - or if you would like more information on the responsibilities of a director  - contact GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner by email at gsu.wagner@sasktel.net or by phoning toll-free at 1.866.522.6686 in Regina.

Updated January 12

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Seasonal layoff? Don't wait to apply for EI benefits

GSU members working for Viterra

A number of Viterra employees have received layoff notices in the last few weeks.

Mark Crawford at the Unemployed Workers Help Centre in Regina advises employees to apply for EI benefits as soon as possible after layoff. Viterra files their employee’s Record of Employment electronically. You do not receive a copy. Waiting to file your claim can result in delays and missed weeks of coverage.
 
GSU members working for other employers

GSU members who do not work for Viterra and who’s employer files paper Records of Employment should wait until they receive the ROE before they apply, unless it takes more than two weeks to receive it. If you have waited two weeks for your ROE and it has not arrived, apply for EI anyway and let them know you have not received the ROE.
Call your Staff Rep if you have any EI questions.

Problems with your EI claim? Contact the Unemployed Workers Centre

The Unemployed Workers Help Centre is a non-profit organization providing information and advocacy services on Employment Insurance. This service is open to everyone in need and no fees are charged for any service. Among other things, they will help you by:

• advising you of your rights and obligations
• mediating between you and the Employment Insurance Commission
• helping to prepare and present your EI appeal.

Regina Unemployed Workers Help Centre 1888 Angus Street Regina, SK S4T 1Z4 Phone 306.525.5138 Fax 306.525.5148 email: m.crawford@sasktel.net

Unemployed Workers Help Centre 2154 Airport Drive Saskatoon, SK S7L 6M6 Phone 306.382.8662 Fax 306.978.7815 email e.keser@sasktel.net

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Pension experts call for expanded CPP

Many Canadians likely have inadequate savings to maintain standards of living in retirement.

A group of leading experts on pension reform in Canada is urging Canada’s finance ministers to commit to expanding the Canada Pension Plan as the best means available to provide retirement security for Canadians.

Read the text of the letter on our web page here.
Read a pdf of the experts letter here. [PDF format]

Posted December 15

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Here is Viterra's updated November 1, 2011, wage schedule

Have a look and call your GSU rep if you have questions or concerns.

Viterra's Nov. 1, 2011 wage schedule [PDF format]
Viterra's Nov. 1, 2011 wage schedule [Microsoft Excel file]

Posted December 9

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Viterra to appeal court decision on vacation pay on overtime paid to employees

Viterra has advised that it intends to appeal the November 23, 2011, decision of the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench upholding the arbitration award in favour of two GSU executive grievances challenging unilateral changes by company management to reduce the calculation of vacation pay on overtime paid to employees.

Despite agreeing in its collective agreements with GSU that a unanimous or majority arbitration decision shall be final and binding and having lost its bid to overturn the arbitration award at the Court of Queen’s Bench, Viterra will now go to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal in yet another attempt to avoid what it should have done in the first place.

On being informed of Viterra’s decision, GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner wrote the following to company management.

“GSU members who are directly affected and union members generally will be profoundly disappointed by the company’s decision and the apparent refusal to accept a just and binding arbitration decision which was upheld on all counts by the Court of Queen’s Bench.

The resources spent by the company in fighting this matter could have been better invested in preventing layoffs and helping employees who have not been laid off in operations to avoid some of the incredibly long hours they are working.

We’ll see you in court.”

It is unlikely that Viterra’s appeal will be heard before late spring or early summer 2012. Meanwhile the meter keeps running and at last count, Viterra owed more than $275,000 in vacation pay to a considerable number of employees’ in GSU bargaining units who  received vacation pay on their overtime pay based on their vacation accrual rate .

GSU will be represented at the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal by union legal counsel Ronni Nordal and general secretary Hugh Wagner.

Updates will be circulated by GSU as developments occur.

Read background information on the arbitration award here.

Updated December 8

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Update:  Hugh Wagner and GSU staff representatives met with Viterra management regarding employment equity on Dec. 8


Viterra Employment Equity initiative
 
On November 23 Viterra Inc. CEO, Mr. Mayo Schmidt, announced the company’s new employment equity initiative via an email broadcast to employees of the company.
 
GSU supports employment equity and is taking steps to ensure that employees in the union’s bargaining units are fully represented in the development and implementation of the employment equity processes.
 
GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner sent the following communications to Viterra management on this subject and look forward to the company’s positive reply:

Wagner to Ms. Jolene Jorejda - Nov. 23, 2011
Wagner to Ms. Jolene Jorejda - Nov. 24, 2011
 

Let us know what you think and how employment equity can work for you.

Send your comments/opinions on this subject to GSU at gsu.regina@sasktel.net or call toll free to 1.866.522.6686.

Updated November 24

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