NATIONAL
MINUTES
The meeting was called to order at
Members present:
Ron Campbell…………….. 1st National Vice President
Michael Martin……………. Assistant to the President
Dennis Ketchum…………. National Director
Patrice Lascelles………… National Director
Rosemary MacKenzie…… National Director
Bill LeBlanc………………. National Director
Carrie Bolton…………….. National Director
Len Dolan………………... National Director
Regrets:
Claudia Thompson, ………………2nd National Vice President
Was not able to be at the opening
of the meeting because she was snow bound in
Rejean Touchette…………………National Director
Was away on
business in
Pierre Gravel………………………National Director
Had previously indicated that he would miss the opening session due to family commitments.
Adoption of Agenda:
M/S/ Brother Dolan/Brother LeBlanc
That the agenda be adopted as amended.
Items added:
7. S & T Strategy -Sister MacKenzie
8. Brother Hale -Assistant to the President
MOTION CARRIED
M/S/ Brother Oswald/Brother Dolan
That the minutes of the previous meeting (March 2002) be adopted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
M/S/ Brother Ketchum/Sister Bolton
That the National Presidents report be adopted as presented.
In reviewing the National Presidents report Brother Lascelles requested that we provide the Council with a list of Component delegates to the Regional Bargaining Conferences.
The results of the Table 2 vote were requested and the members were advised that Table 2 had voted to remain on the conciliation/strike route with 61.3 % in favor – a percentage that was higher than the Table 3 vote.
It was noted that there are problems from one end of the country to the other with BBWD. Information is that managers are providing “work objectives” rather than the actual BBWD when people are asking for their job descriptions.
Finally, it was brought to the Council’s attention that
there would be an emergency resolution presented at the PSAC convention that
dealt with bill C-25.
MOTION CARRIED
M/S/ Brother LeBlanc/Brother Oswald
That the Assistant to the Presidents Report and Audited Statements be approved as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
The Council then dealt with the two additions to the agenda.
7. Sister MacKenzie explained what was happening and not happening in regards to signing authorities on projects and indicated that it is very, very messy. She said that Susan Till, ADM and Gail Brunet, Manager of Administrative Services were making decision that are affecting the Regions without any input or dialogue with the Regional people.
8. Ken Hale:
Brother Martin asked the Council for some advice or guidance on what to do about the fact that Brother Hale during his tenure as 1st National Vice President had submitted some false expense claims.
After some considerable discussion the Council directed Brother Martin to write a letter to Brother Hale indicating that the Council was aware of the submitting of false expense claims and finalizing his convention expenses. Brother Martin was directed not to pursue any action to collect monies owed if indeed upon reconciling Brother Hales convention expenses with the false claims there was in fact still money to be collected.
Sister Wilson then made a number of announcements of who was running for office at the PSAC convention and when the Regional, Human Rights and other caucuses were being held.
Sister Wilson then requested Brother Dolan to give a report on his General resolutions Committee. Brother Dolan indicated that his committee had identified fifteen (15) priority resolutions, the first three being:
1. Conference Funding
2. Resolution 274 – Globalization
3. Work cessation for pregnant women
He then provided a copy of his report. (see attached)
Brother LeBlanc then reported on his committee’s deliberations on Collective Bargaining. As with the General Resolutions Committee, the Collective Bargaining Committee had set a number of priority issues. The priority issues were:
1. Resolution 272 – Collective Bargaining Vision
2. Public Service Health Care Plan
3. Indeterminate employment
4. Regulation 15
5. Dental/Health
6. Resolution 217
The first session of the National Council Meeting was recessed by the National President and the Council members were advised that they would be in session and at the call of the President when further sessions could be arranged so as not to conflict with the PSAC convention and committee work.
RECESS
The National Council meeting was reconvened at
Sister Claudia Thompson and Brother Gravel were both present along with all other members of the Council except Brother Lacelles as he was required to leave to attend a funeral.
Brother Campbell requested that we add two new items to the agenda which were:
9. Honorary Membership for Brother Bazinet
10. Shirts etc. with the Component Logo
NEW BUSINESS
NB 5 Collective Bargaining Committee Report
Brother Oswald explained the process his committee used in drafting the proposed regulation.
Brother Dolan requested that a definition of “delegate” as it pertains to the proposed regulation be included in the definitions section.
M/S/ Sister Thompson/Brother LeBlanc
That we adopt the proposed Collective Bargaining regulation with the requested change. (See attached Regulation 10)
MOTION CARRIED
M/S/ Brother LeBlanc/Sister MacKenzie
That the existing Collective Bargaining Policy be rescinded.
MOTION CARRIED
NB 6 Convention/Conference Regulation Committee
Considerable discussion took place on the proposed regulation and it was felt that:
· A Local must make the request for funds, not an individual
· The member attending the conference/convention must attend all the conference/convention sessions
M/S Brother Ketchum/Brother Leblanc
That this be referred back to the
Committee to make necessary changes as discussed at this meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
NB9 Honorary Membership – Pierre Bazinet
M/S Brother Ketchum/Brother Oswald
That an Honorary membership be granted to Brother Pierre Bazinet who had recently retired for his years of dedication and service to the membership of this Component.
MOTION CARRIED (UNANIMOUSLY)
NB10 Promotional Items
Brother Campbell thought it would be a good idea if the Component were to invest in some promotional items bearing the Component logo, such items as golf shirts, vests etc.
M/S Brother Dolan/Brother Oswald
That a committee consisting of Brother Campbell and Brother Martin be set-up to look into the costs etc. of the Component purchasing some promotional items such as vests, golf shirts etc.
MOTION CARRIED
The Council meeting was recessed.
During the recess Brother Martin revised the proposed regulation on Funding for Conferences/Conventions and it was approved by all National Council members. (See attached Regulation 9).
M/S Brother Ketchum/Sister Thompson
That this National Council meeting be adjourned.
MOTION CARRIED
CONFERENCE/CONVENTION FUNDING
9.1 Locals shall be responsible for selecting/electing Local Delegates/Representatives to Conferences and/or Conventions who must be members in good standing
9.2 The Local President shall forward any request for additional funding to the Assistant to the President who shall verify that funds for that Local are available.
9.3 Upon receipt of a request for funding the Assistant to the President shall forward the request to the “Funding Committee” with a confirmation that funds are available for the requesting Local.
9.4 The request for additional funding as noted in 9.2 of this Regulation shall contain the name of the Local Delegate/Representative, an estimate of the total expenses for the Conference/Convention, the amount if any that is available from the organization holding the Conference or Convention, whether the Delegate/Representative has attended previous Conferences or Conventions, which Conference or Convention they have previously attended if any and the amount if any that the Local has committed to pay.
9.5 Locals may make requests for funding up to a total of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) per year to a combined maximum of $ 20,000.00 per year for all Locals.
9.6 The yearly maximum as per 9.5 is not cumulative and may not be carried over from year to year.
DELEGATE/REPRESENTATIVE
RESPONSIBILITIES
9.7 The Delegate/Representative shall attend all sessions of the Conference/Convention.
9.8 The Delegate/Representative chosen by
the Local shall provide a written report to the Local
following their attendance at any Conference/Convention where funding is
provided by the Natural Resources Union.
9.9 The Local shall forward a copy of the report noted in 9.8 to the Component National Office.
CRITERIA FOR FUNDING
9.10 In deciding whether funding will be approved in whole or in part the “Funding Committee” shall consider:
a) Availability of funds to the requesting Local.
b) Whether the Delegate/Representative has attended previous Conferences or Conventions and fulfilled their obligations under this Regulation.
c) Whether the Conference/Convention will be beneficial to the Component, and/or Local.
FUNDING PRIORITIES
9.11 a) Health and Safety Conferences
b) PSAC Regional Conferences/Conventions
c) Public
Service
d) Any Canadian Union Movement Conference
Adopted by the National Council
REGULATION 10 – COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
10.1 The NRU component will forward the bargaining calendar showing deadlines of submissions by the locals under its jurisdiction.
10.2 Bargaining proposals may include changes to the existing collective agreement in the form of amendments, additions or deletions.
10.3 Should a conflict occur between the NRU Collective Bargaining Regulations and that of the PSAC Regulation 15 and 15A on Collective Bargaining note the PSAC regulation will take precedence.
10.4 Bargaining Unit – A bargaining unit is defined as a Table and is composed of a specified classification of groups. For example, Table 1 is a bargaining unit and is comprised of ( AS, IS, PM, CR, OE, ST, WP, CM, DA groups).
10.5 Collective Bargaining – Collective bargaining is the process of collecting membership input under their collective agreements and preparing a program of demands that can be forwarded by the bargaining units to the employer.
10.6 Delegate – A delegate is defined as the person/member who has been selected by the NRU Component in accordance with the Regulations of the PSAC to attend and represent the Component membership at Regional Bargaining Conferences.
10.7 Membership Experiences – Membership input is defined as the union members written proposal for bargaining to amend their contractual agreements with the employer.
10.8 Program Of Demands – The Collective Bargaining Committee of the National Board of Directors shall cause to be established an initial program of demands for all units prior to negotiations. These demands will be provided as statement of principles with rationales and justification.
10.9 Standing Bargaining Committee – The Standing Bargaining Committee is a group established at the local level to obtain membership experiences. The make-up of the committee should try to follow the definition of a bargaining unit.
COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING
MANUALS
AND FORMS
10.10 The NRU component will have available a current master hardcopy of this NRU Collective Bargaining Policy and maintain an accurate updated e‑mail version available for its members on their web site.
10.11 Regulations No. 15 and Regulation No. 15A "Payment of Expenses" form part of the PSAC Constitution and a current copy will be held by the NRU component office.
10.12 The NRU component shall make available and have on file current copies of the appropriate forms required to submit bargaining proposals on. These forms will be approved by the PSAC.
DEVELOPMENT
OF BARGAINING DEMANDS
10.14 Locals shall establish a Standing Bargaining Proposal Committee to prepare bargaining proposals. Bargaining proposals can be based on the program of demands recommended by the National Board of Directors and the membership input under their collective agreements.
10.15 Upon
receipt from the
10.16 The NRU Component shall receive, for each bargaining unit in which it has members, bargaining proposals from Locals within its jurisdiction. Only proposals with complete rationale and justification shall be considered. The Component shall select one proposal on each topic as the official position of the Component or shall develop, from several similar proposals on one topic, a composite proposal that shall be the position of the Component.
10.17 The NRU Component shall submit its official position on each bargaining proposal with complete rationale and justification to the Membership Services Branch on a form approved by the Branch and in accordance with the established timetable.
10.18 Each
bargaining proposal indicating the origin of the proposal must
be signed by a responsible officer of the Component
and be transmitted to the
REGIONAL BARGAINING CONFERENCES
10.19 The NRU component shall have delegates at Regional Bargaining Conferences in accordance with the Regulations of the PSAC and where permitted shall encourage the attendance of at least one delegate per bargaining unit in each region.
10.20 The selection of the NRU Component delegate shall be made in the following manner:
a) The member representative will be selected from nominations submitted by each Standing Bargaining Committee
b) The National Executive will select the member representative from the list of nominations received from each Local Standing Bargaining Committee. The National Executive will consider the geographical location of the bargaining unit members as well as the qualifications of the members nominated when making their selection of the Component delegate.
10.21 With
the exception of the designated equity group and regional
women's committee representatives, delegates to the Regional
Bargaining Conferences must hold office in the
Adopted by the National Council