On September 25, SGEU President Tracey Sauer, Retail Regulatory Sector Vice-President Ralph Rathgeber, Indigenous Vice-President Hali Topinka, and Communications Officer Ellen Paulley embarked on a road trip to Northern Saskatchewan.

Over the next six days, the group connected with SGEU members, presented donations of $3933.94 to each of three schools to support their meal programs, and spoke with community leaders and employers in Buffalo Narrows, La Loche, and La Ronge. It was a great trip filled with good conversations and meaningful connections.

We asked the group a few questions after the trip to find out how it went. Here's what they had to say. 

What was a highlight of the trip for you?

"My highlight of the trip was meeting the members with no agenda, and having the President with the two Vice-Presidents was also much appreciated by all in my opinion.It was also nice to see a lady ask Tracey if they could join the union. It was heartbreaking to have a member breakdown from all the stress they are facing in their job demands."

– Ralph Rathgeber, Retail Regulatory Sector Vice-President

"My highlight of the trip was meeting other SGEU members in their home communities—seeing them at their work places and understanding more about the many types of careers our members have within our union. Attending the schools to see the lunch programs and how our SGEU donation made a difference to each and every community this made me proud to be an SGEU member."

– Hali Topinka, Indigenous Vice-President

What is something you learned?

"I learned that members need to hear what their union is doing for them. They want to see the faces of SGEU and be more informed."

– Tracey Sauer, President

"I learnt the needs of our Northern members are different than the needs of many of our SGEU’s membership. Hunting and gathering for many of our members is common and a much needed way of survival. Our Northern members deal with availability and higher prices for basic needs such as food, fuel and utilities. This all at the same time as they deal with high case loads, lack of workers, bandage solutions from their employers and high expectations to meet standards and policies made by that employer. Lack of full time positions or incentives for working in the North."

– Hali Topinka, Indigenous Vice-President   

"I learned that the North is so challenged on almost every level; travel, services, and the fact that they have to leave the north to further their education."

– Ralph Rathgeber, Retail Regulatory Sector Vice-President

Why is it important for SGEU leadership to visit with members?

"It is important for leadership to meet members where they are at; to show membership that they do matter and we are interested in what they do, where they work and their communities. We need to support members and supporting their communities also supports them. Our members are more than SGEU members, they are volunteers, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and they contribute to their workplace, their communities and their union. They may be more active if they know more about their union. They need to know we are here, we care and we are here to serve them."

– Tracey Sauer, President

"It is important for our members to see the leadership connect with them other than discipline. The decaled car is an added bonus, and we had some head turning going on!"

– Ralph Rathgeber, Retail Regulatory Sector Vice-President

"It’s import as these are our members and SGEU will only become stronger with better understanding of who makes up our union and their needs. Understanding one's background, career and who they serve in their communities makes our union that much stronger and has a positive outlook in the communities they serve. Too often one can feel forgotten or left out, and this gives our membership the opportunity to speak with our leadership, be a part of their union and not feel forgotten."

– Hali Topinka, Indigenous Vice-President