NATIONAL
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at
PRESENT
Ron Campbell…………….. 1st National Vice President
Claudia Thompson.……… 2nd National Vice President
Michael Martin……………. Assistant to the President
Dennis Ketchum…………. National Director
Ken Asprey……………..… National Director
Pierre Gravel………………. National Director
Carrie Bolton…………….. National Director
Gerry Oswald……………. National Director
Len Dolan………………... National Director
REGRETS
Patrice Lascelles ……………… National Director
Had family commitments.
Jean Marc Dionne……………… National Director
Was away on business.
Rosemary MacKenzie………… National Director
HOURS OF SITTING
ADOPTION OF HOURS
M/S/ Sister
Thompson/Brother Dolan
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
M/S/ Brother Campbell/Brother Oswald
THAT the agenda be adopted as amended.
Items renumbered:
New business number 7, Sunset programs – 10103 will become number 4. on the agenda.
New business number 4, Local Loss of power over voting procedures in Regions (70081) will become number 5.
New business number 5, Component office location (70081) will become number 6.
New business number 6, National Executive Composition (70081) will become number 7.
MOTION CARRIED
ADOPTION OF
MINUTES
THAT the minutes of the previous
meeting (April-May, 2003) be adopted as presented.
M/S/ Brother Ketchum/Sister Thompson
MOTION CARRIED
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
REPORT
THAT the National Presidents report
be adopted as presented.
M/S/ Brother Oswald/ Brother Ketchum
Sister Thompson thanked the Council for their thoughtfulness in the passing of her mother.
In reviewing the National Presidents report Brother Campbell brings to the Council’s attention that more and more demands are put on the National President. This raises the profile of Natural Resources Union in the Public Service Alliance of Canada and will be of benefit to our union. Sister Wilson explains the demands put upon her by Sister Turmel because of her senior position with the PSAC Board of Directors and the ability Natural Resources Union has to represent the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
Sister Bolton requests more information regarding Sister Wilson’s involvement with the Disciplinary Committee. Sister Wilson explains the Committee is mostly concerned with the “scabbing” issue. If a union member scabs and he/she does not pay his/her fine he/she will not be reinstated as a PASC member. On the other hand PSAC actually cannot collect these fines. It is suggested to educate scabbers through education, literature, sending out letters, etc. so they can see the effects of their actions, stop them from crossing the picket line and prevent peer pressure afterwards. In the end they too get the same raises. Sister Wilson also explains that scabbers can actually lose their job because of their actions. It is also a fact that it is difficult to find out who crossed the picket line and who did not and we need methods to change this. For the most part employers do support the unions.
Brother Ketchum confirms this by stating that his boss would like to be informed about upcoming strikes so work schedules can be adjusted. Brother Campbell refers to Regulation 19. Discipline has to be approved at a Board level and not only on a Local level. Maybe compromise one day’s pay for every day the picked line was crossed. Sister Wilson does not second guesses the Locals but members should have an opportunity to explain why they crossed the picked line. There has to be consistency in applying Regulation 19. Local members should vote on disciplinary actions.
The Disciplinary Committee is in the process of setting up a template for a letter Locals can send out and only have to fill out certain portions. This letter then should be sent out registered so the member cannot deny ever receiving it.
At present there is no time frame set by the Disciplinary Committee as to when actions against scabbers have to be taken and the Regulation may not be changed by the next strike.
Sister Wilson also explains that Locals can hold special
meetings to deal with scabbers and do not have to
wait until their next annual meeting. Disciplinary Actions have to be taken
because if the Local does not, the National President of the
Brother Campbell brought to the Counsil’s attention that PIPS may go on strike.
MOTION CARRIED
BREAK
ASSISTANT TO THE
PRESIDENT REPORT
THAT the Assistant to the
Presidents report and audited Statements be approved as presented.
M/S/ Brother Dolan/ Sister Thompson
Questions were asked and answered and clarification was given by Brother Marin.
Sister Bolton requests information on the Component Employers Council and Brother Martin explains. At present components are considering pulling out of the council as participating is no longer beneficial. NRU is considering pulling out it in the next few months. It should not have a big impact on the Component.
MOTION CARRIED
The Council then deals with the following issues: next Convention date and location.
CONVENTION DATE
M/S/ Brother Dolan/ Brother Oswald
THAT the next Natural Resources
Union Convention be held September 30-
MOTION CARRIED
LOCATION
M/S/ Sister Thompson/ Brother Dolan
THAT the next Natural Resources
Union Convention be held in
M/S/ Brother Oswald/Brother Ketchum
Amended motion: THAT the Natural
Resources Union Convention be held in
The advantages and disadvantages of both locations were discussed: e.i. weather, possible amount of members participating at the Convention.
AMENDED MOTION
CARRIED – MOTION TO GO TO
CONVENTION CALL
M/S/ Brother Oswald/Brother Dolan
Sister Wilson suggests to use the standard Convention Call – dates and city were still missing. Brother Martin explains what needs to be done if changes to the Convention Call have to be made and that registration fees are those from last time. There will be no vote at this time. Other issues like hospitality and cost of bags will be dealt with at a later time as well.
MOTION CARRIED
CREDENTIAL FORMS
M/S/ Brother Dolan/Brother Oswald
THAT all completed credential forms, original and duplicate, must be signed by the President and one (1) other Local Executive Officer.
MOTION CARRIED
Other Convention issues are discussed. Brother Asprey wants to know how many and what kind of Resolutions can be submitted by a Local. Sister Wilson explains there is no limit to the amount of Resolutions submitted and the body of the Resolutions can contain anything related to the Natural Resources Union and the Public Services Alliance of Canada. We will pass along Resolutions to the Public Services Alliance of Canada through standard forms. The exception is: the Resolution cannot be a Collective Bargaining Demand as that would be requesting a change to the Constitution. New Resolutions have to be discussed and voted on at a Local Meeting and the ones who passed can be forwarded to NRU. These Resolutions have to be submitted to NRU no later than four (4) months prior to the NRU Convention opening – deadline date will be submitted to the Locals. A Convention Call goes out no later than 6 months before the Convention.
Brother Gravel requests minutes from the last Council meeting. So far they have not been released due to the French copies not being ready yet. Everyone agrees and copies of the English version will be handed out before the end of the Council meeting. Brother Dolan suggests to hire another translator. The minutes of the Convention are not released at the next National Convention because participants attending the Convention may not have attended the previous one. Tapes and CD’s from the previous convention are available to listen to.
REGISTRATION FEES
M/S/ Brother Dolan/Brother Ketchum
THAT there will be no change to the registration fees: $ 60.00 will be charged to each delegate and observer and $ 40.00 for spouse or other guests of delegates.
BREAK FOR LUNCH
ITEM 4:
SUNSET PROGRAMS - LOCAL 10013
Brother Gravel wants the opinion of other Locals on such programs. He questions the possibility to hire a contracted employee under this program. Brother Campbell explains that these programs have a beginning and an end date for employment and funding. The requirement is not that the employees do not just have to be on contract. Employees can be term or undetermined and a term can be extended if there is funding. They cannot be under the three (3) year government rule. Furthermore do term employees have to find employment elsewhere after the program finishes. Therefore term employees in Sunset Programs should carefully read their contract for clauses.
Brother Dolan states that there was a Sunset Program in
Brother Ketchum expressed that agency people should only be in short term programs and not hold positions fro many years.
Brother Campbell is interested to find out if there are
Sunset Programs at the Canadian Space Agency and brother
Oswald confirms there are none in
ITEM 5: LOCAL LOSS
OF POWER OVER VOTING PROCEDURES IN REGIONS – LOCAL 70081
This item was postponed until tomorrow as Brother Lascelles was absent.
ITEM 6: COMPONENT
OFFICE LOCATION – LOCAL 70081
This item was postponed until tomorrow as Brother Lascelles was absent.
ITEM 7: NATIONAL
EXECUTIVE COMPOSITION – LOCAL 70081
This item was postponed until tomorrow as Brother Lascelles was absent
ITEM 8:
PROMOTIONAL CLOTHING – 1ST VICE-PRESIDENT
Brother Campbell looking into pricing and
samples of union and non-union clothing. A purchase for the
M/S/ Brother Dolan/Sister Bolton
THAT at least 500 pins will be purchased
MOTION CARRIED
The purchase of sweatshirts was discussed. Locals could add their Local number underneath the logo.
M/S/ Brother Campbell/Brother Oswald
THAT 100 (one hundred) blue, fleece sweatshirts with the NRU logo will be purchased for the Component by the end of May 2004 and that the Locals can ad to this order.
MOTION CARRIED
ITEM 9:
The Ottawa Regional Women’s Committee wants to sponsor a
Colombian family and they need donations to do so. They need $ 40,000.00 and
have raised $ 10,000.00 so far. Sister Thompson questions what will happen if
the group does not raise the $ 40,000.00. Brother Dolan opposes a donation as
there are a lot of other groups requesting donations and the line has to be
drawn somewhere. He wonders as to what such a donation would bring the union
members? He points out that PSAC has a fund for globalization. Brother Oswald agrees
with Brother Dolan.
M/S/ Brother Dolan/Brother Oswald
THAT there will not be given a donation to the Ottawa Regional Women’s Committee.
MOTION DEFEATED
Brother Campbell points out that the union – in behalf of the members – could afford a small donation to help fund these initiatives. He explains that we have to start educating our members. Brother Ketchum agrees and adds that we have to advocate to do the “right thing” and fight for human rights as in the end it may also save our own job.
M/S/ Brother Campbell/Brother Ketchum
THAT with proviso a donation of $ 500.00 will be given to the Ottawa Regional Women’s Committee.
MOTION CARRIED
Brothers Oswald and Dolan wished to be recorded as opposed to the motion.
Sister Wilson suggests that the donation should be given but with the understanding that if the $ 40,000.00 is not met the donation will be returned to NRU.
MEETING WAS RECESSED
AT
MEETING RECONVENED AT
THE CALL OF THE CHAIR
Regrets:
Patrice Lascelles ……………… National Director
Had family commitments.
As Brother Lascelles was absent and there were no other items on the agenda a general discussion about the strike vote was suggested.
- regions will be conducting the vote – there will be speakers
- some members object to the fact they have to listen to information sessions
- there are same offers for all Tables
- Sister Thompson mentioned their votes would be void if they voted on the premises so she will organize the vote in a restaurant during lunch.
- Brother Asprey is concerned about fringes – some ballots were mailed to isolated remote locations
The use of emails to inform members was discussed. The “content” of these emails is important otherwise they can trigger problems. Certain words like “strike” or “vote” have to be avoided. One can always refer to a web site where these topics are available to the members.
Sister Wilson informs everyone about the hiring of Bert Crossman, the new HR Director and his work/union history.
Items from the previous day are revisited. There was a mix up in the order number of the sweatshirts. The correct order number is # 241 – classic relaxed Zip-neck. This one is more expensive than order number #735.
M/S/ Brother Campbell/Brother Ketchum
THAT the motion for the sweatshirts be amended to reflect the change.
MOTION CARRIED.
Brother Gravel wished to be recorded as opposed to the motion.
There will be no cost added when Locals want the Local’s number on the sweatshirt when the additional order is 12 or more. At this point hats are not considered but are available to buy.
Brother Gravel raises the question as to why we need more visibility. He does not see the need for a logo. He would prefer to see the union’s money go to more social things instead.
Brother Campbell points out that there is a difference between the shirts and donations. Shirts will go to the members like as door prices, prices at pick-nicks…
Sister Thompson suggested that we reduce the order to 75 shirts. Brother Campbell points out that the $ 700 difference would not be a problem as the money to pay for them is available.
ADJOURNMENT
M/S/ Sister Thompson/Brother Oswald
THAT the meeting of the National Council be adjourned.
CARRIED