MINUTES OF THE

 

NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING

 

Held

 

APRIL 30, 2006 to MAY 5, 2006

 

At the

 

WESTIN HARBOUR CASTLE

 

TORONTO, ON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The meeting was called to order at 9:07 a.m. with Sister Claudia Thompson in the chair.

 

 

Present:       

 

            National Executive:

 

Claudia Thompson, National President

                        Patrices Lascelles, 1st National Vice-President

                        Michael Martin, Assistant to the President

 

            National Directors:

 

                        Len Dolan, National Director - Edmonton

                        Karen Paull, National Director – Calgary

                        Parm Dhesi, National Director – Vancouver

                        Dennis Ketchum – National Director – Ottawa

                        Ken Asprey, National Director – Dartmouth

                        Carrie Bolton, National Director – Ottawa

                        Johnny Mroz, National Director – Ottawa

                        Yves Drouin, National Director – Ottawa

 

            Regrets:

 

                        Jean Marc Dionne, National Director – St. Hubert

                        Pierre Gravel, National Director – Sherbrooke

                        Peter Neelands, 2nd Vice-President

 

 

HOURS OF SITTING

 

M/S                 Brother Drouin/Brother Lascelles

 

That the hours of sessions be from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon on Sunday and that we meet as required throughout the convention week.

 

MOTION CARRIED

 

Sisters Thompson asked the Council members to introduce themselves as there were some new National Directors in attendance.

 

 

 

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

 

M/S                 Brother Mroz/Brother Ketchum

 

                        That the agenda be adopted as amended.

                        Amendments to the agenda were:

 

Moving item 6 (Assistant to the Presidents Report and Audit to the last item of business.

 

Adding, item 9 – Table 3 survey

 

MOTION CARRIED

 

 

ADOPTION OF THE PREVIOUS MINUTES

 

M/S                 Brother Dolan/Brother Dhesi

 

That the minutes of the April 16 – 17, 2005 National Council meeting be adopted as presented.

 

There was some discussion on the Shared Services Organization.

 

It was noted that on page 4 under item 1 that the word “Moncton” should read “Fredericton” and;

 

In paragraph 4 of the same item it was clarified that Brother Dolan was referring to “PWGS” employees when he was speaking about “their jobs”.

 

MOTION CARRIED

 

 

NATIONAL PRESIDENTS REPORT AND REPORT OF THE 1ST NATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT

 

M/S                 Brother Ketchum/Brother Drouin

 

That the report of the National President and 1st National Vice-President be accepted as presented.

 

During the discussion of the National Presidents report Brother Dhesi indicated that his Local members were receiving language training two times per wee, but that it was only available to women and visible minorities. A discussion took place on who should be allowed to take this language training and the general consensus was that all members should be allowed to take the training. Brother Dhesi was asked to forward the e-mail that he had received indicating that the training was only for women and visible minorities to the Assistant to the President for action.

 

MOTION CARRIED

 

 

PRE-CONVENTION COMMITTEE RE-CAPS

 

 

            CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE

 

Brother Dolan gave a brief presentation on the Constitution committees’ deliberations and highlighted a number of resolutions that were to come to the floor for consideration by the convention delegates.

 

 

            GENERAL RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE

 

Brother Lascelles reported that his committee had reviewed 181 resolutions and that 40 were sent back to the submitting Components. His committee set up 10 priority resolutions that were to be dealt with by the convention delegates.

 

 

Since it was 11:00 am the reporting of the pre-convention committees was suspended as a number of members who were standing for the office of PSAC National President had requested time to address our National Council.

 

Brother Jean Francois DesLaurier introduced himself and gave a short presentation on why he was running for the office and then answered questions from the Council members.

 

Brother John Gordon was the next candidate to address the Council.

 

 

Sister Robyn Benson was to have been the next candidate but she was tied up with other business and as a result arrangements were made to hear from her at some other time.

 

 

Sister Thompson gave a brief presentation on the deliberations of the PSAC Finance committee and indicated that the PSAC was looking for a $5.00 dues increase in order to replenish the strike fund.

 

 

Sister Heather Brooker arrived at 11:40 am

 

Sister Brooker introduced herself and gave a speech on why she should be considered for the position of PSAC National President. She then answered questions from the members of the Council.

 

The Sunday session was recessed at 12:00 noon and is to reconvene on Monday, May 1 at 6:30 pm in room 1424.

 

MONDAY EVENING SESSION, MAY 1, 2006

 

The Monday session was called to order at 6:20 pm with Sister Thompson in the chair.

 

            Brother Neelands was present.

 

PRE-CONVENTION COMMITTEE RE-CAPS (continued)

 

Sister Bolton gave a report on the convention Collective Bargaining committee. She indicated that one of the items that had been brought forward was the request of the Ships Crew members to have their own table for negotiations. She also pointed out that a number of resolutions dealt with Regulation 15 and the authority of the PSAC National President to intervene in negotiations when an impasse was reached.

 

She also indicated that a formal review of the bargaining and negotiations should be conducted after negotiations and that this review should provide recommendations. A discussion took place on the number of people that should be on the negotiating teams.

Sister Bolton reported that our resolutions were combined with others to form composite resolutions. Finally, she reported that her committee had recommended concurrence in a resolution to consider special measures for equity groups in the negotiating process.

 

 

TABLE 3 SURVEY

 

Sister Thompson reported that the survey vote for our table 3 members was:

 

 

Total table 3 members – 529

Total survey votes returned was 144

Total for arbitration was 110

 

Total for conciliation was 34

 

 

ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENTS REPORT AND AUDITED STATEMENTS

 

The Assistant to the President indicated that there were a number of editorial and/or typos that should be corrected in his report. They were; on the title page the word “Ottawa” should be replaced with the word “Toronto”, on page 4 of the report the word “preformed” should be replaced with “performed” and on page 7 the word “end” in the 4th paragraph should be deleted.

 

Brother Martin indicated that he would quickly go over some parts of his report and others he would slow down and read in there entirety.

 

Brother Martin indicated that as instructed by the previous Council meeting that we had changed auditors and that as a result there were a number of changes to the audited statement and how we had to deal with it. He read the whole of the “Finance” section of his report and responded to questions form the Council members.

 

He then turned to the audit and advised the Council members that there were two resolutions that had to be passed and that we would deal with them after the review of the statements. He pointed out that the auditors had made a recommendation that we change the way the audit report is presented in order to be in compliance with the GAPP. He then read the audit report drawing particular attention to paragraphs 4 and 5. He pointed out that we have $426,826 in investments and in the bank and that we are still in a very good financial position notwithstanding the payouts for Sister Wilson in the 2005 year.

 

He then went through each of the statements pointing out our loss for the 2005 year and explaining why we were showing a loss. He also drew attention to the 3 yr expenditure and revenue summary which showed that when the unbudgeted expenditures were considered we were actually under budget for the three year period.

 

After responding to questions and some discussion on the “Contingency Reserve” it was;

 

M/S                 Brother Ketchum/Brother Morz

 

 

Whereas the Contingency Fund was in fact depleted during the period when we were representing the National Energy Board during the period of the recertification of the PSAC as bargaining agent; and

 

Whereas to accurately present the financial state of the Union;

 

Be It Resolved that the “Contingency Reserve” as noted in the audit report be deleted effective with the December 31, 2005 audit and;

 

Be It Further Resolved that the funds currently shown as a “Contingency Reserve” be recorded and transferred to “Cash” in our accounts.

 

MOTION CARRIED (Unanimously)

 

 

M/S                 Brother Ketchum/Brother Neelands

 

That the Assistant to the Presidents report and the “draft” auditors report be accepted as presented with the required amendment to the “Contingency Reserve”.

 

 

MOTION CARRIED (Unanimously)

 

 

M/S                 Brother Asprey/Brother Ketchum

 

That we establish a committee of three members of the Council to look at what makes a viable Component and to prepare a report to be presented at the next National Council meeting. Further, that if need be outside experts be consulted on what constitutes a viable Component.

 

MOTION CARRIED

 

The Monday, May 1st session was recessed at 7:45 pm with the next session to be held on Tuesday, May 2nd at 7:00 pm in room 1424.

 

 

 

Tuesday, May 2, 2006

 

The meeting was reconvened at 7:15.

 

Sister Robyn Benson was present and addressed the Council. She then responded to questions from the delegates and Council members.

 

A short discussion took place on the possibility of the resolution to increase the minimum size of a Component coming back on the convention floor. Sister Thompson told those present that we were ready with arguments and Brother Neelands said that he had made arrangements to have another BC delegate follow him at the microphone. To support our position of non-concurrence in raising the minimum number to remain a Component.

 

The meeting was recessed at 7:50 pm

 

 

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

 

The meeting was reconvened at 2:30 pm on the convention floor.

 

M/S                 Brother Neelends/Brother Lascelles

 

 

            That we donate $2,500.00 to the BHP mine strike fund.

 

MOTION CARRIED (Unanimously)

 

Note: The cheque is to be made payable to Local 3050 and mailed to

 

Union of Northern Workers

200 – 5112, 52nd Street

Yellowknife, NT  X1A 3Z5

 

 

 

Friday, May 05, 2006

 

The meeting was reconvened at 12:00 pm on the convention floor.

 

M/S                 Brother Ketchum/Sister Paull

 

            That this Council meeting adjourn.

 

MOTION CARRIED