GSU Special National Council Meeting Friday, October 21, 2011 Delta Chelsea Hotel, Toronto Minutes of meeting

Transcription

1 GSU Special National Council Meeting Friday, October 21, 2011 Delta Chelsea Hotel, Toronto Minutes of meeting

2 Table of Contents 1) Call to Order...1 Opening Remarks...1 2) Approval of Agenda...1 3) Hours of Session...1 4) Approval of Previous Minutes...2 A) Conference Call of September 1st, ) New Business...2 A) Convention i) Distribution of Convention Kits...2 ii) Approval of Credentials Committee appointments...2 iii) Approval of Nominations Committee appointments...3 Announcement...3 iv) Movers for assorted Convention Motions...3 v) Amendment to Regulation vi) Emergency Resolution...4 6) Round Table...5 7) Adjournment...5 Recorded Votes...6 Appendix Appendix A Agenda GSU Special National Council Meeting...7 I

3 1) Call to Order The meeting of the GSU Special National Council was called to order at 9:00 a.m. with Brother Mark Brunell National President in the Chair and the following Members in attendance: Present: Mark Brunell, NP Daniel Charron, NVP Randy Ford, NVP Alex Sauvé, NVP Donna Lackie, NEO Martine Babcook, RVP Western Bob Cameron, RVP Atlantic David Cunning, RVP Ontario Jack Gale, RVP Pacific Mélanie Hamel, RVP Quebec Ron Le Blanc, RVP NCR Michelle Little, RVP Atlantic Phil Robinson, RVP Pacific Nicole Rousseau, RVP NCR Robert Spencer, RVP NCR Mitch Sylvestre, RVP Western Opening Remarks Dave Thomson, RVP Ontario Bill Walsh, RVP Atlantic Regrets: Pierre Alarie, RVP Quebec Staff: Laura Griffin, Special Advisor to National President Gail Peck, Finance and Administration Officer Maria Thomas, Administrative Assistant to the National President Observer: Souad Soubra, Local President Brother Brunell welcomed the National Council to Toronto. He acknowledged Sister Souad Soubra, Local President and member of the Host Committee. 2) Approval of Agenda Bill Walsh / Martine Babcook That the agenda be adopted as presented. Recorded vote #1. MOTION CARRIED. (Appendix A p. 7) 3) Hours of Session Nicole Rousseau / Phil Robinson That the hours of sessions as proposed by the Chair, be approved: Friday, October 21, 2011 MOTION CARRIED. 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. (noon) GSU Special National Council Meeting, October 21, 2011 page 1

4 4) Approval of Previous Minutes A) Conference Call of September 1st, 2011 Bill Walsh / Mitch Sylvestre That the minutes of September 1 st, 2011 be approved. Recorded vote # 2. MOTION CARRIED. 5) New Business A) Convention 2011 i) Distribution of Convention Kits The Convention kits were distributed to the National Council. Brother Brunell advised the National Council that Nycole Turmel, NDP Interim Leader is unable to attend our Convention and that Mathieu Ravignat, PWGSC Critic, Official Opposition will address Convention on her behalf. Other guests are: Sister Sharon DeSousa, PSAC REVP Ontario, John Cartwright, President, Toronto Labour Council, John Gordon, PSAC National President and Patty Ducharme, PSAC National Vice- President. A National Council retreat is scheduled for January Details will be provided at a later time and date. Brother Brunell briefed National Council on the procedures of the All Candidates Debate. He also advised National Council that Brother Gordon will be the Chairperson for the election. Brother Brunell indicated that Sister Sarah Bélanger, PSAC Political Assistant to the AEC will address Convention and she will introduce the Members Plan. Brother Dan Oram, Local President of Local is on sick leave. A Get Well card will be sent to him and a donation will be collected at Convention and this will be matched by GSU. ii) Approval of Credentials Committee appointments Robert Spencer To ratify the Credentials Committee appointments. (Robert Spencer, Lisa Babin and Michelle Simard) Recorded vote #3. MOTION CARRIED. GSU Special National Council Meeting, October 21, 2011 page 2

5 iii) Approval of Nominations Committee appointments Bill Walsh / Ron Le Blanc To ratify the Nominations Committee appointments. (Tom Philliben, Sue Lambert and April Boutilier) Recorded vote #4. MOTION CARRIED. Announcement Brother Brunell introduced Sister Lori Walton, Local iv) Movers for assorted Convention Motions List of Movers: Robert Spencer Adoption of the Credential Committee Phil Robinson / Michelle Little Adoption of the Rules of Order Daniel Charron / Nicole Rousseau Adoption of the Convention Programme Bob Cameron / Dave Thomson To adopt the Emergency Resolution Jack Gale / Robert Spencer Adoption of the National Officers reports Phil Robinson / Ron Le Blanc Ratification of appointments to Convention Committees List of movers for: Ratification of Regulation and Policies adopted by the National Council. (Five) Appendix B page 8 Robert Spencer / Mitch Sylvestre GSU Regulation 3: Terms and conditions of employment for the National President David Cunning / Pierre Alarie GSU Regulation 6: Amendments to Life and Honourary Memberships and Awards of Merit David Cunning / Pierre Alarie To Delete Policy #4 GSU Special National Council Meeting, October 21, 2011 page 3

6 Bob Cameron / Michelle Little GSU Regulation 9: Discipline Bill Walsh / Nicole Rousseau GSU Regulation 11: Election of Delegates to the PSAC Convention Mélanie Hamel / Martine Babcook All unfinished Convention business to be forwarded to the incoming National Council. v) Amendment to Regulation 11 Bill Walsh / Phil Robinson WHEREAS GSU Regulation 11 needs to be amended to allow for the use of an electronic ballot, BE IT RESOLVED THAT GSU Regulation 11.2.b) be amended to read: b) The Chair will inform the delegates of the remaining number of expected GSU delegate seats at the PSAC Convention. The Chair will instruct delegates to indicate that number of names in the ballot. Recorded vote #5 MOTION CARRIED. vi) Emergency Resolution Number: Mark Brunell / Bill Walsh 11/01 Emergency Subject: Cuts to government programs, services and employment - GSU fight back campaign Originator: NC/17e/E WHEREAS on May 2, 2011, Canadians elected a majority Conservative government and a New Democratic Party official opposition; and WHEREAS the current political configuration provides both challenges and opportunities to the all PSAC Components and members; and WHEREAS the majority Conservative government spent the summer months releasing plans to cut many public services and jobs, in addition to launching a concerted legislative attack on free collective bargaining; and WHEREAS the assault on the public sector, under the guise of strategic and operating and Crown asset reviews, has and will have a negative impact on all PSAC GSU members; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Convention affirms employment security for all GSU members as GSU s highest priority and authorizes National Council to access funds from the GSU Contingency ( Fight back ) Reserve to achieve that objective; and GSU Special National Council Meeting, October 21, 2011 page 4

7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT GSU join and actively participate in the PSAC s Action Plan to fight the cuts; the objective of this Action Plan is to hold the Conservative government to account and to promote policies and programs that enhance the economic and social wellbeing of all PSAC members, including GSU members, and all working Canadians; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT GSU campaign to involve our members in the next federal election with the objective of having all GSU members vote for candidates who support workers rights and quality public services that are publicly delivered. Randy Ford: To strike the word the in the second WHEREAS. a/s Daniel Charron / Alex Sauvé That GSU creates an Internal Political Action Committee. Recorded vote #6. Amendment lost. Recorded vote #7. Motion carried unanimously. Brother Brunell assumed the Chair at 11:30 a.m. 6) Round Table The meeting ended with a round table discussion. Jack Gale: He briefed National Council on TC Bargaining. They will be meeting in November 2011 and he will provide updates. Brother Gale recommended that GSU get a banner for all the delegates to sign at Convention. This banner would be useful when negotiating with the Treasury Board. He thanked the NC for all their help, support and advice over the years and he wished everyone all the best. Phil Robinson: This will be his last National Council meeting as he will be retiring. He thanked Brother Brunell and the staff for all the support and assistance that they have given him over the years. He indicated that he will miss everyone and hopes to continue a relationship with NC and GSU. He stated that it has been a pleasure to work with everyone and he wished everyone all the best! Randy Ford: Updated National Council on WFA and will continue to do so. Souad Soubra: Thanked the National Council for the opportunity to observe a National Council meeting. She indicated that she looking foward to seeing everyone at Convention. Lori Walton: For the National Council Members who are leaving, she wished them all the best and thanked everyone for their leadership and involvement. Brother Brunell: Thanked the National Council for their dedication and their hard work over the years. He expressed his heartfelt thanks and stated that it has been a pleasure working with everyone over the years. 7) Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m. GSU Special National Council Meeting, October 21, 2011 page 5

8 Recorded Votes Legend / Légende: 1: Yes / Pour 2: No / Contre 3: Abstain / Abstention 4: Absent / Absent-e Agenda Minutes of Sept. 1, 2011 Ratification of Credential Ctee Ratification of Nomination Cttee Regulation 11 Emergency Resolution Amended Emergency Resolution Vote Number / Numéro de vote Alarie, Pierre Babcook, Martine Cameron, Bob Charron, Daniel Cunning, David Ford, Randy Gale, Jack Hamel, Mélanie Lackie, Donna Le Blanc, Ron Little, Michelle Robinson, Phil Rousseau, Nicole Sauvé, Alex Spencer, Robert Sylvestre, Mitch Thomson, Dave Walsh, Bill Brunell, Mark RC Votes GSU NC meeting, October 21, 2011 page 6

9 Appendix A October 21, 2011 Delta Chelsea Hotel, Toronto Wren Room 1) Call to Order 9:00 am 2) Approval of Agenda 3) Hours of Session Agenda GSU Special National Council Meeting 4) Approval of Previous Minutes A) Conference Call September 1st, ) New Business A) Convention 2011 i) Distribution of Convention Kits ii) Approval of Credentials Committee appointments iii) Approval of Nominations Committee appointments iv) Movers for assorted convention motions v) Amendment to Regulation 11 vi) Emergency Resolution 6) Round Table 7) Adjournment Appendix A Agenda page 7