Annual General Meeting – May 22, 2013

Public Service Alliance of Canada UNE/SEN Local 00303

Annual General Meeting – May 22, 2013

In attendance:

Andrew Shaver (President), David Barnard (Vice-President ), Frances Cordero de Bolaños (Treasurer), Anne-Marie Murray (Chief Steward), Paula Shewchuk (OHS Rep & Secretary), Guida Rodrigues, David Yee, Josette Rutababiza, Lakshmee Mulliah, Sylvie Paradis, Howayda Gohar, Andy Gann, Lauren Dart, Violet Tam, Matthew Soucie, Karla Hartl, Michael Farrell, Beverley O’Connell, Guida Rodrigues, Chantale Pharand, Natalie Lapierre, Natalie Beaudoin, Jeannette Monk, Vika Ross, Maria Muszynska, Michelle Gompf Bagelman, Vika Ross, Ubah Arteh, Iftin Daud, and Tracey Ferguson was on the phone.

Guest:

Sandy Bello, Assistant Regional Vice-President, Ontario
(289) 440-2873     Sandy.Bello@une-sen.org

Meeting Opened at 11:37 a.m. by David Barnard

1. Approval of Minutes from the last meeting:

Motioned by Andrew Shaver; seconded by Sylvie Paradis. 

2. Approval of Agenda:

Motioned by Michelle Gompf Bagelman; seconded by Guida Rodrigues. 

3. Local 00303 Financial Statements:

Treasurer Frances Cordero de Bolaños presented the financial statements for 2012.

According to our Local’s bank account records, our business account has been inactive for the last 2 calendar years.

For the period of January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012, the opening balance was $72.30, and the bank balance as at December 31, 2012 remained the same at $72.30.

It is important to note that our Executive Committee is considering undertaking some fundraising initiatives and other options to raise funds for our local, and these ideas will be discussed later.

We would like to acknowledge the efforts of Paula Shewchuk; she took the initiative to sale plants and through her effort she was able to raise $30.00. After bank charges, our current balance is $101.23. These funds were deposited in this current year and it will be shown in our next financial report.

Michelle Gompf Bagelman made a motion to approve as presented the financial statements of Local 00303 for the period ending December 31, 2012; seconded by Sylvie Paradis. Passed unanimously.

5. Occupational Health and Safety report: There is nothing to report since the OHSC is re-starting and the first meeting is Thursday, May 23 at 1p.m. Paula Shewchuk will have a report at the Special General meeting in June.

Karla Hartl had a question regarding the mould issue on the 8^th floor. Paula Shewchuk replied that it  had occured the previous year and had been dealt with properly by management and Public Works.

6. President's Report:

I think we can all agree that this past year has been quite a ride, filled with many ups and downs. 

First, the ‘downs’: we as a Local have experienced the consequences of Workforce Adjustment (WFA); undergone major changes to how we deliver programs out of our Regional Office; seen some of our core corporate and financial services centralized, and; have had to manage escalating levels of generalized stress in the workplace, associated with all of the above. 

And what about the ups? 

I can speak to the fact that compared with other Federal Departments, anecdotally Canadian Heritage has been recognized as a leader in its approach to implementing WFA in a fair and up front fashion; within our own office we have a very healthy relationship between your elected Local union representatives and Senior Management (as I’ll explain in greater detail when I talk about our Labour Management Consultation Committee, or LMCC); and despite the uncertainty and increased workplace pressures, our membership is still getting the job done, supporting each other and serving Canadians. 

I’m going to briefly touch on three main items in my report:

WFA, and how we’re doing

LMCC, and how that works

And what the PSAC is doing to support us during these difficult times

WFA

The Workforce Adjustment process is now in its second year, and whether a member has been impacted, affected or is simply aware of the effect of WFA on their colleagues, it’s been a difficult time for us all. 

I recently attended an All-President’s conference that was hosted by our Component, the Union of National Employees, and during that conference I participated in a break-out session with other presidents representing Locals that work for Treasury Board (like us).  I can tell you that our experience of WFA has been extremely well-managed compared with what has happened in other Departments.  Canadian Heritage was singled out by one of the senior union leaders in the National Capital Region, as having done what was widely considered a very good job being transparent and fair with regards to the implementation of WFA. 

That being said, we have to remember that the union is here to protect our rights, and WFA is a negotiated process between the Union and the Employer, with specific rules and regulations governing the actions of senior management and outlining the rights of all our members. 

If you have any on-going questions or concerns about WFA, please come see one of your local executive members for information and advice.  And as always, if we don’t have the answer right away we’ll help you find it – for example by contacting Sandy, or our other area and national leadership.

LMCC

The Labour-Management Consultation Committee used to meet quarterly, but in light of the rapid pace of changes that come with WFA, Grants and Contribution Modernization Initiative (GCMI), centralized services, and other major on-going initiatives, we now meet on a monthly basis.  The committee is made up of two union reps (President and Chief Steward), and the Senior Management team (RExD, Program Directors, and in some cases Head of HR/Corporate Services).  We discuss general workplace issues and provide constructive feedback to management from a union perspective.

The LMCC is a tool for each and every member to be heard by Senior Management in a safe and anonymous way.  We never discuss specific individuals or cases, but focus on the issues, and in this way we aim to ensure that our collective agreement rights are respected, and that within our workplace we have a positive, honest and transparent Labour/Management relationship. 

If you have any questions about the LMCC, or have issues you’d like us to raise, please approach either the President or Chief Steward at any time.

PSAC support during difficult times

The current environment within the Federal Government is extremely stressful and filled with uncertainty.  As mentioned above, we’re experiencing WFA, GCMI, on-going centralization, and are constantly being asked to do more with less. 

The PSAC recognizes what this kind of stress does to everyone, which is why they launched the “We Are All Affected” campaign, to educate our membership and members of the general public on what the current campaign of Federal cuts means to us as employees, and to Canadians who rely on our services. 

In fact, the PSAC offers a host of educational opportunities for members, to better understand what resources are available to them, how the union supports and promotes its members’ interests, and how the labour movement as a whole continues to fight for the rights of workers both unionized and non-unionized.  I would encourage everyone to visit the PSAC website, and to stay current on free training being offered by the PSAC Ontario Regional Office. 

Another key focus in the past year has been Mental Health in the workplace.  Part of our rights as workers includes the right to a safe and healthy workplace.  In fact, this past year the Mental Health Commission of Canada released a groundbreaking set of guidelines, including a Psychological Health and Safety Action Guide for Employers, as part of a greater Mental Health Strategy for Canada.  The PSAC has launched a complementary campaign titled “Mental Health Matters,” with more information, that I would encourage everyone to look at, on the web (links at end of this document). 

The next major campaign underway by the PSAC is a “Fight Back” campaign, that includes asking its membership to be counted so they can show politicians that workers’ rights cannot be taken away and that Canadian public sector unions remain as strong and relevant as ever.

At an upcoming membership meeting we’ll be discussing the “Fight Back” campaign in greater detail, but if in the interim you have any questions about the resources available from the PSAC and the major campaigns currently underway, please come see any member of your local Executive.

You may notice a theme here: “come see your Local executive”.  We are here, elected by you to serve you.  This is your Local, your union and we are your resources, here to ensure your collective rights are respected and enforced. 

This year has been difficult, and it may not get easier in the year ahead, but we have the tools in place to support each other, and are positioning ourselves to remain a strong and vital force in the service of you, our membership. 

Web links:

http://local00303.blogspot.ca/

http://ontario.psac.com/

http://www.une-sen.org/

http://www.psac-afpc.com/federal-government-layoffs/index-e.shtml

http://www.psac-afpc.com/issues/campaigns/mentalhealth-e.shtml

http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/Pages/workplace_guide.aspx?routetoken=077f4ecf4a9fcd7e903454cd25abad0a&terminitial=30

7. Dues/fundraising:

We are the only Local in Ontario without any dues going to the Local. Local dues are usually a flat rate (as opposed to a %) and at this moment in time, Local 00303 has no operating budget. We have 48 deductees. (41 are union members).

Your  executive is proposing a flat rate per member per month, to build an operating budget to cover our annual banking fees (approx. $2 per month - $25 per annum) and for contingency -  perhaps to allow a Local member to take a training course once a year.

This can be as low as an extra .05 cents per member per paycheque, giving us $62.40 per annum.  Ten cents would give us $124.80

To put it in perspective: Our component, the Union of National Employees/Syndicat des Employées et Employés Nationaux , is the 2^nd largest, and has the 3^rd lowest dues. (our current % is .5433% )

At the August 2011 National meeting, 3 resolutions were passed on the floor which added to the contribution per member per month:CS47 – three assistant VPs for Atlantic added .11 centsCS47 – three assistant VPs for Ontario added .08 centsCS14a – having Human Rights reps attend the National Executive meetings added .09 cents.

Some more math: 15 cents per member per paycheque =$187.20 and 25 cents=$312.

We could also hold fundraisers (bake sales, silent auctions) to top up. A garage sale of items has been suggested, as has a pot luck. I have also investigated other fundraising initiatives.

I would suggest we authorize a minimum of .05$ per member per paycheque to Local 00303 via our pay in combination with a fundraiser at least once a year as the best option at this time. This is a sustaining amount to cover our operating costs that causes no financial hardship to any member.

This item generated much discussion. It was raised by Howayda Gohar that some years ago local dues were apparently deducted from members but then went unaccounted for. This will be clarified before the next meeting. Maria Muszynska asks if the 5 cents can come from UNE/SEN to the Local i.e. can the structure of the dues levels be changed? Andrew Shaver says it is a good point and should be tabled for the next National Triennial. This item will be discussed more thoroughly at a Special General Meeting to be called for June, a minimum 30 days from today’s date.

8. Elections: David Barnard explains which positions are up for election at this AGM. He outlined that a Special General Meeting will be held to modify the Local's by-laws in order to split the responsibilities of Secretary/Treasurer into separate positions.

For Local President:

Sandy Bello asks if any nominations were received in advance; there were none. She requests nominations from the floor.

Howayda Gohar.nominates Andrew Shaver, seconded by Maria Muszynska.

Sandy Bello requests nominations from the floor, three times. There are no more.

Andrew Shaver is asked if he will accept. He does.

Andrew Shaver is acclaimed as Local President.

For Secretary/Treasurer:

Sandy Bello asks if any nominations were received in advance; there were none. She requests nominations from the floor.

Andrew Shaver nominates Frances Cordero de Bolaños, seconded by Karla Hartl.

Sandy Bello requests nominations from the floor, three times. There are no more.

Frances Cordero de Bolaños is asked if she will accept. She does.

Frances Cordero de Bolaños is acclaimed as Treasurer.

For Occupational Health & Safety Representative:

Sandy Bello asks if any nominations were received in advance; there were none. She requests nominations from the floor.

Frances Cordero de Bolaños nominates Paula Shewchuk, seconded by Michelle Gompf Bagelman.

Sandy Bello requests nominations from the floor, three times. There are no more.

Paula Shewchuk is asked if she will accept. She does.

Paula Shewchuk is acclaimed as OHS Representative.

Sandy Bello swears in the new executive members.

9. David Barnard asks if there is any other business and encourages the membership to stay after the meeting closes to discuss issues directly with their executive.

The minutes of this meeting and the date of the Special General Meeting to discuss Dues/Fundraising and to modify the By-laws to allow the splitting of the Secretary/Treasurer position will be sent out shortly.

10. David Barnard closes the meeting at 12:28 p.m.