Calendar highlights and upcoming events:
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This July we're handing out masks to GSU members
If you don't receive
a mask from us
by the end of the month, give your staff rep a call and we will arrange to get a mask to you.
. . . . .
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Wild West Steelhead bargaining
Wild West Steelhead management and GSU's Local 6 (
Wild West Steelhead) bargaining committee are working to secure bargaining dates in late August.
. . . . .
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GSU's 2020 scholarship program application deadline is slowly creeping closer.
Don't miss out. Apply now.
If you paid union dues to GSU in 2020 that means you, your dependant children, and your spouse are eligible to apply for a $2,000 GSU scholarship.
Deadline for receipt of 2020 scholarship applications is Sept. 1.
Learn more and download the application forms
here
.
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GSU Defense Fund Directors Meet
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The GSU Defense Fund
board of directors
met by conference call on July 27. The primary purpose of the meeting was to review the Fund investments.
GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner reported that the market value of the Fund assets was $4,742,462 as at June 30. The lion’s share of the investments are with RBC Dominion Securities ($4.5 million) with the balance in a cash account at Affinity Credit Union. Reflecting market volatility, the RBC portfolio is down by slightly more than 3 percent on a year-to-date basis.
The five directors of the
GSU Defense Fund
are Dennis Piasta (Local 14 – Kindersley), Ron Gerlock (Local 8 – Regina), Wilfred Harris (Local 1 – Carnduff), Darryl Knelsen (Local 1 – Fairlight) and Barb Healey (Local 14 – Edenwold).
The directors plan to meet again following the end of the third quarter.
Do you have questions about the GSU Defense Fund?
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Nutrien, Local 15 (Nutrien) bargaining committee to meet Sept. 30, Oct. 1
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Your GSU bargaining committee will meet with management on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, but the return to the bargaining table isn't happening as quickly as the union would prefer.
“I expressed our committee’s concern over the delay of nearly three months before we return to bargaining, but accepted the dates and urged the company to consider dates to meet before the end of September,” said GSU bargaining committee spokesperson Dale Markling. "We're ready to work toward a bargaining settlement and available to meet sooner if company management finds time in their calendar."
Members will be updated on the result of the meetings.
GSU
collective agreements with Nutrien
expired Dec. 31, 2019. Your GSU Local 15 bargaining committee members are Brian Cowen, Curtis Cousins, Lynn Shaw, GSU staff rep Steve Torgerson, and GSU staff rep/bargaining spokesperson Dale Markling.
Related stories:
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Take workplace disciplinary penalties seriously
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People have a tendency to put unpleasantness behind them and move on, so to speak. Quite often this is the reaction when a worker is issued a warning, reprimand, or short suspension for an alleged workplace infraction.
“If a worker doesn’t think a disciplinary penalty is fair they should challenge it - even if it is a relatively light punishment,” says GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “At the very least union members should work with their GSU representative to make sure that their response to the accusation and penalty is on the record.”
“What seemed like a small thing a month ago or a year ago can come back to haunt if a more serious issue arises at a later date," Wagner added. "Quite often a person’s whole record is taken into account when an employer considers the severity of a penalty, and that small thing from before is added to the pile.”
Wagner advises that the first thing to do when being handed a workplace disciplinary penalty by your employer is to ask to have the assistance of a union representative. Even if the worker considers the punishment to be deserved and fair they should still seek the assistance of their union representative. These services are provided to all members as part of union dues and there is no additional charge for assistance.
“Don’t let small things add up and become big things down the road,” Wagner says.
Do you have a question about an issue in your workplace?
Contacting GSU does not mean you are obligated to file a grievance. We are here to assist you in any way we can, but we won't contact your employer or act on your behalf without consultation, direction, and approval from you.
Contact us
with your questions or when you think there is a problem to be fixed. It's easier to solve problems when they are small and sometimes a brief comment, email or meeting is all that is needed to address a situation and work things out.
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Living through a pandemic involves pre-planning, waiting in lines, and learning how to do things in a different way. Things we once did with ease and little forethought still need to get done, but now these tasks may require a new, cumbersome, or time-consuming approach.
When we add in our own perceived responsibilities and the expectations heaped on us by work, family, and our social circles, that can leave us feeling guilty about carving out time to do the things we enjoy doing.
We need to take care of ourselves in order to stay well, be productive employees, and to take care of others, so shake off the guilt and set aside some time for yourself.
Looking forward to a peaceful nap in your lawn chair? Good for you. Check out 20 more things you don't need to feel guilty about,
here
.
This article has been printed for entertainment purposes. The views and opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of GSU, its members, officers, or staff.
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