March 16, 2021

Calendar highlights and upcoming events:
GSU Convention - Regina, SK - March 18 & 19, 2021

Delegates to convention should be receiving their second package of information in the mail before convention starts on Thursday.

GSU staff members will be attending the GSU policy convention on Thursday and Friday. If you need to talk to a staff member, send them an email or contact them by phone/text on their mobile phones.


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CLC/SFL Spring School - May 17 - 20, 2021
 
As is the case with many education opportunities, the CLC/SFL Spring School is going to be held virtually. GSU will sponsor up to three union members to attend. If you are interested or want to learn more, check out the school brochure and contact your GSU staff rep.

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GSU has filed an executive grievance challenging Richardson Pioneer over the denial of sick leave benefits to employees age 65 or older.

The grievance was filed with company representatives on March 10 and a grievance meeting will be held on April 8 or 9.
 
“Paid sick leave has always been an important benefit and should be available to every employee regardless of age or other restrictive criteria,” said GSU general secretary Hugh Wagner. “In my opinion, denial of sick leave on the basis of age is a violation of the “no discrimination” provisions of the collective agreement as well as human rights legislation.”
 
“GSU will present its position to Company management at the April grievance meeting and I’m hopeful that we can sort this out relatively quickly,” Wagner said. “If the matter isn’t resolved through the grievance procedure, arbitration is the next stage.”
 
Updates will be reported as the grievance moves forward.


Identifying problems as soon as they arise benefits everyone. Contact GSU when you think there is a problem to be fixed.


GSU is awarding $2,000 scholarships to five GSU members, their spouses and children
Have you, your spouse or dependant child been accepted
into university or tech school?

If your answer is YES, you are eligible to apply for a GSU scholarship.
We don't need transcripts or marks, but we do require confirmation the scholarship applicant is enrolled in a diploma, degree, or certificate program at a community college, university, trade school, or technical institute as a full-time student in any country. We also need the applicant to complete our application form, send us their two-page essay on the provided essay topic, and include a letter of recommendation from someone in their community. That's it.

It's easy to apply.

Scholarship forms and additional information are available here.

Deadline for receipt of applications is June 1, 2021.

Many GSU members are having a performance review completed by their manager.

The reviews are a company process and GSU has had no input into how they are developed, implemented, or used.

These reviews are your employer’s, but they are yours, too.

Your review will be used to assist your workplace development and provide you with a performance rating that will determine your yearly salary increase. It is up to you to make sure that your performance review is being completed correctly, fairly, and with your input.

What is written on your performance review needs to be factual.

Make sure that the comments and feedback are accurate and that you are comfortable with your performance reviews and ratings.


Call your GSU staff rep if you have any concerns.

If you get a rating you disagree with, you may have access to an appeal process with help from GSU. Talk to your staff rep to see what assistance is available to you.

There is no cost for consulting with a GSU rep. We will provide as much assistance as you require, and we will not act on your behalf without your approval or consent.
What you look for is what you will get
When you are having a good day, everything around you seems to be good. If you are seeking an excuse, you will most definitely find one. And if you are looking for reasons to be annoyed, or reasons that you are right or wrong, you will find those reasons, too.

COVID-19 fatigue is wearing on us. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and defeated, and to have a glass-is-half-empty outlook. Make a conscious effort to double-down on efforts to protect your mental health by seeking the good in situations.

Learn more 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.