GSU NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING JUNE 4 and 5, 2002 DELTA CENTRE-VILLE - MONTREAL, QUEBEC

Transcription

1 GSU NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING JUNE 4 and 5, 2002 DELTA CENTRE-VILLE - MONTREAL, QUEBEC 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting of the GSU National Council was called to order at 9:00 a.m. Brother Mark Brunell, National President was in the Chair and the following members were in attendance: National Council Members: Mark Brunell National President Bill Dennis National Vice-President Suzanne Lambert National Vice-President Jean-Paul Fortin National Vice-President Daniel Charron RVP - National Capital Region Wilma Findlay RVP - National Capital Region Nadine Lethbridge RVP - National Capital Region Alex Sauvé RVP - National Capital Region Don Mahuda RVP - Ontario Region Robert Spencer RVP - Ontario Region Pierre Laberge RVP - Quebec Region Denis Poirier RVP - Quebec Region Jack Gale RVP - Pacific Region Valerie Denesiuk RVP - Western Region Terry Sperling RVP - Western Region Randy Ford RVP - Atlantic Region Michael Lavery RVP - Atlantic Region Bill Walsh RVP - Atlantic Region Regrets: Bob Graves RVP - Pacific Region Michel Dionne Local President Jérôme Turcq Regional Executive Vice-President, PSAC, Quebec Observers: Pierre Alarie Local President Jacques Sirois Local President Sylvie Harrisson Local President John Gordon National Executive Vice-President, PSAC Staff: Laura Griffin Officer Bob Kipper Gail Peck Communications and Special Projects Executive Assistant to the National Council Finance and Administration Officer GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 1

2 Maria G. Thomas Office Administrative Assistant to the National Announcement Brother John Gordon will address the National Council on Collective Bargaining and other items on June 6, Approval of Agenda The following items were added under New Business : 8. c) Merger of Locals and (Nadine Lethbridge) e) Communications with the National Office (Denis Poirier) M/S M. Lavery/A. Sauvé THAT the agenda be adopted as amended. (Attached to these minutes as Appendix A ) MOTION CARRIED. 3. Hours of Sessions M/S V. Denesiuk/B. Walsh THAT the hours of sessions be as proposed by the Chair: Tuesday, June 4 9:00-12:00, 1:30-5:00, 4:30-5:00 Question Period Wednesday, June 5 9:00-12:00, 1:30-5:00 MOTION CARRIED. 4. Approval of Previous Minutes M/S D. Mahuda/R. Ford THAT the minutes of June 12-13, 2001 meeting be approved. Recorded vote # 1. MOTION CARRIED. M/S B. Dennis/P. Laberge THAT the minutes of February 8, 2002 meeting be approved. Recorded vote # 2. MOTION CARRIED. 5. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES Honours and Awards Committee (June 12-13, Item #8.e) An Award of Merit was presented to Brother Stéphane St- Marseille on Monday, June 3 rd, An Award of Merit will be presented to Brother Alain Séguier when an event occurs in Winnipeg. GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 2

3 GSU Logo (January 18, Item #5) On behalf of Local 10011, Brother Denis Poirier was presented with a plaque of recognition for the winning design of the GSU Logo on Monday, June 3 rd, Officers Reports a) National President s Report Sister Lambert assumed the Chair. (9:20 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.) M/S M. Brunell/B. Dennis THAT the National President s Report be accepted as presented. (Attached to these minutes as Appendix B ) Brother Brunell responded to questions regarding his report. Recorded vote # 3. MOTION CARRIED. b) National Vice-presidents Reports M/S B. Dennis/S. Lambert THAT we accept the National Vice- Presidents' reports as presented. (Attached to these minutes as Appendix C ) Sister Lambert and Brothers Dennis and Fortin spoke and answered questions regarding their reports. Recorded vote # 4. MOTION CARRIED. c) Regional Vice-Presidents Reports M/S V.Denesiuk/D. Mahuda THAT we accept the Regional Vice-Presidents' reports as presented. (Attached to these minutes as Appendix D ) Each Regional Vice-President who submitted a report spoke and answered questions. Brother Sauvé and Sister Findlay noted that they would each submit a written report to be included in the minutes. Recorded vote # 5. MOTION CARRIED. 7. GSU Finances a) Financial Review Committee Brother Alex Sauvé presented the 2001 Audited Financial Statements, and reviewed to date expenditures. M/S A. Sauvé/B. Dennis GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 3

4 To accept the 2001 Audited Financial Statements. (Attached to these minutes as Appendix E ) Recorded vote #6. MOTION CARRIED. b) By-laws and Policy Committee As Brother Bob Graves, Chair of the By-laws and Policy Committee was absent, Sister Valerie Denesiuk presented the report on his behalf. Brother Lavery is the other member of the Committee. M/S V. Denesiuk/M. Lavery 1 Resolution # Grievance Representation Committee Recommendation This committee feels member representation in PSC Complaints, Appeals, NJC and other conflict resolution methods are not structured to parallel the PSSRA or Labour Code Grievance procedure, therefore is not included in this proposed policy. The Committee recommends the following new GSU Policy to deal with grievances. GSU Policy on Grievance Representation General This policy shall be known as the Grievance Representation Policy. Procedure 1. PSSRA Grievances First and second level grievance representation will be provided by the Local. The Local may request representation by the Regional Vice-president. Third level grievance representation will be provided by the Regional Vice-president. The Regional Vice-president may request representation by GSU staff. Fourth & final level grievance representation will be provided by GSU staff. 2. Labour Code Grievances First level grievance representation will be provided by the Local. The Local may request representation by the Regional Vicepresident. Final level grievance representation will be provided by GSU staff. Recorded vote #7. MOTION CARRIED. M/S V. Denesiuk/M. Lavery 2 Resolution # Secret Balloting Procedures Committee Recommendation GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 4

5 The Committee recommends that no further action on this resolution is necessary. Recorded vote # 8. MOTION CARRIED. M/S M.Lavery/V. Denesiuk 3 Resolution # Guidelines re: Areas of concern assigned to committee members. Committee Recommendation The Committee recommends that no further action on this resolution is necessary Recorded vote #9. MOTION CARRIED. M/S M. Lavery/V. Denesiuk To accept the Committee s Report as presented. (Attached to these minutes as Appendix F ) Recorded vote #10. Motion Carried. c) Technological Change Committee Brother Alex Sauvé, Chair of the Technological Change Committee presented a report of progress on behalf of the Committee. Brothers Charron, Poirier and Dennis (ex officio) are the other members. The Committee will meet in August. d) Equal Opportunities Committee Sister Wilma Findlay, Chair of the Equal Opportunities Committee presented a report of progress on behalf of the Committee. Sisters Denesiuk and Lethbridge are the other members. e) Health and Safety Committee Brother Jean-Paul Fortin, Chair of the Health and Safety Committee presented a report of progress on behalf of the Committee. Brothers Gale, Laberge and Mahuda are the other members. f) Honours and Awards Committee Brother Denis Poirier, Chair of the Honours and Awards Committee tabled a report on behalf of the Committee. Brothers Charron and Spencer are the other members. (Attached to these minutes as appendix G.) M/S D.Poirier/R. Spencer 1. Union Recognition Committee We recommend that this committee now be named the Union Recognition Committee. This name better reflects the types of awards or recognition certificates given to members in GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 5

6 recognition of exemplary services within the union movement and are thereby deserving of recognition from their sisters and brothers. Recorded vote #11. MOTION CARRIED. M/S D. Poirier/D. Charron 2. Awards of recognition certificates Following the National Council meeting ruling and confirmation of its approval of the nominations, a letter from the National President informing them of their nomination shall be sent to the recipients the week following the National Council meeting with a carbon copy to the Committee Chairperson. Recorded vote #12. MOTION CARRIED. M/S J. Gale/N. Lethbridge To postpone this report to the next meeting of the National Council. MOTION CARRIED. g. Standing Collective Bargaining Committee Brother Randy Ford, Chair of the Standing Collective Bargaining Committee presented a report of progress on behalf of the Committee. Brothers Charron and Graves are the other members. 8. New Business a) Report from the Joint Working Group on Consultation Brother Bill Dennis, Chair of the Joint Working Group on Consultation Committee presented a report of progress on behalf of the Committee. Brothers Ford, Gale, and Kipper are the other GSU members. The management members on the Working Group are: Melvern Skinner, ADM-HR, Carole Beal, ADM-RPS, Michael Turner, ADM- GTIS, Normand Couture, RDG-Quebec and Gary Curran, Staff Relations. Another meeting will be set up shortly. b) Convention 2002 i) Update on Convention Preparation Sister Griffin reported on the preparations for the Triennial Convention. Countdown #1 and 2 have been mailed out and are GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 6

7 available on the GSU website. June 28 is the deadline for Local Resolutions and Delegate Credentials in GSU National Office. Convention schedule is available on the GSU Website. A teleconference of the National Council will be held at the end of July to finalise the agenda for Convention and also to select Convention Committees. There will be three committees: General, By-laws and Finance. Ten members on each committee - six Local delegates and four from the National Council. Host Committee has been nominated. ii) Proposed GSU Budget M/S A. Sauvé/T. Sperling To forward the Government Services Union Proposed budget for the period January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2005 to Convention with the following changes: i. Change Child Care to Family Care ii. Move staff training to Staff Benefits iii. Include a statement that: National Council has the ability to relocate funds within the existing budget to meet emerging issues (Attached to these minutes as Appendix H ) Recorded vote #13. MOTION CARRIED. iii) Proposed amendments to the GSU By-laws As noted in the By-laws and Policy Committee Report, under agenda item 7b, (Appendix F ) the Committee has prepared resolutions to amend GSU By-laws for presentation from the National Council to Convention. On behalf of the By-laws and Policy Committee, Sister Denesiuk and Brother Lavery presented the following resolutions. (Attached to these minutes as Appendix I ) M/S V. Denesiuk/M.Lavery Resolution 1 Subject: Typographical and Editorial Corrections WHEREAS there are a number of spelling, grammar, and typographical errors in the GSU By-laws and; WHEREAS this convention will likely make a number of amendments to various clauses of the GSU By-laws that may create still further anomalies. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the GSU National President have the authority to correct these GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 7

8 typographical and editorial errors before the By-laws are reprinted after convention, ensuring there is no change to the intent of any By-law. Recorded vote #14. MOTION CARRIED. M/S V. Denesiuk/M. Lavery Resolution 7 Subject: By-law 6, Section 2 WHEREAS when a Past President sits at the National Council, he or she has no mandate, no authority, nor is answerable to anyone, and WHEREAS, if necessary, a National President or National Council could always consult with the former component President to benefit from that person s experience, BE IT RESOLVED THAT GSU By-law 6, Section 2 be deleted, as well as all other references to the Past President in the GSU By-laws, Regulations, and Policies (By-law 8, Regulation 2). Recorded vote #15. MOTION CARRIED. M/S V. Denesiuk/M. Lavery Resolution 6 Subject: Review of GSU Structure WHEREAS the GSU National Council was structured to accommodate a merger of its two founding organizations, and WHEREAS the GSU National Council should be restructured to meet the needs of the current organization and its Locals, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the incoming GSU National Council establish a committee to review the structure of the GSU National Council, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this structure review committee will report to the National Council with recommendations for the next GSU Triennial National Convention. Recorded vote #16. MOTION CARRIED. GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 8

9 Resolution 14 Subject: By-law 6, Section 9 WHEREAS GSU By-law 6, Section 9 conflicts with GSU By-law 7, Section 1 j), and WHEREAS the GSU National Council should have the authority to advise the organization s Chief Executive Officer on the staffing levels in the GSU National Office, BE IT RESOLVED THAT GSU By-law 6, Section 9 be amended to give the National Council the authority to make recommendations on the staffing levels. A/S A. Sauvé/W. Findlay To delete the words make recommendations to and replace with the word direct. Amendment Carried. Recorded vote # 17. RESOLUTION AS AMENDED CARRIED. Resolution 18 Subject: Regulation 8, Part 3c WHEREAS the wording in Regulation 8, Part 3 c), last sentence (The dues rebate for a Local in default of this requirement may be suspended) conflicts with the wording in GSU By-law 10, Section 11 (shall be suspended). BE IT RESOLVED THAT GSU Regulation 8, Part 3 c), last sentence be amended to require that the dues shall be suspended. Recorded vote #18. MOTION CARRIED. Resolution 15 Subject: By-law 7, Section 2 WHEREAS GSU By-law 7, Section 2 a) requires that a National Vice-president act for the President if the President is on leave for five (5) days, and GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 9

10 WHEREAS this period is too short and could be very costly for the organization BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-law 7, Section 2 a) be amended by deleting the last sentence. Recorded vote #19. MOTION CARRIED. Resolution 16 Subject: By-law 7, Section 3 WHEREAS GSU Regional Vice-presidents have a major responsibility for involvement in the representation of members in their jurisdictions, and WHEREAS this responsibility cannot be found in the GSU By-laws BE IT RESOLVED THAT a new point be inserted into By-law 7, Section 3 to add this responsibility and that the remaining paragraphs be renumbered as needed. Recorded vote #20. MOTION CARRIED. Resolution 9 Subject: Alternate RVP and Vacant RVP positions WHEREAS the present procedure to elect replacement RVPs can be unworkable since Local delegates to the previous convention may no longer be members in good standing when it comes time to elect a replacement RVP, and WHEREAS GSU Locals may also not be well served by the delay caused by the present procedure to elect RVPs in mid-term, and WHEREAS the election of Alternate RVPs will go a long way to resolving both these problems, BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-law 8, Section 1 be amended to have Alternate Regional Vicepresidents elected in regional caucus at convention. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Section 3 of Bylaw 9 be amended to allow if an RVP position is permanently vacated or if the RVP is on long term leave the Alternate RVP will GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 10

11 replace the RVP. In addition, the By-law should allow that an election will be held to elect a replacement RVP if there is no alternate available. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT GSU By-law 9, Section 2 be amended to allow that nominees for election as mid-term replacement RVPs need only be members in good standing of a Local in the region they wish to represent, and that GSU By-law 9, Section 3 be amended to include the following points; A Local in the region may nominate any member in good standing to stand for election to replace an RVP To elect a replacement RVP Locals will cast the same number of votes as they had delegates at the last convention BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a new section be added to GSU By-law 7 - Duties of National Officers providing the duties of Alternate RVPs and that this section include the following points The alternate will replace the RVP if the absence is permanent or is temporary and lasting more than one month. The alternate will have a duty to maintain their awareness of GSU issues to permit them to quickly and easily replace the RVP Recorded vote #21. MOTION CARRIED. Resolution 8 Subject: By-law 8, Section 4 WHEREAS By-law 8, Section 4 b) i) may unreasonably restrict the election of RVP candidates simply because of the Local they belong to; BE IT RESOLVED THAT GSU By-law 8, Section 4 b) i) be amended to permit up to two NCR Regional Vice-presidents to come from the same Local. Recorded vote #22. MOTION CARRIED. GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 11

12 Resolution 3 Subject: By-law 10, Section 6 & Framework Local By-law 3 WHEREAS GSU By-law 10, Section 6 and Framework Local By-law 3, Section 1 do not recognize recent changes to the PSAC regional structure, BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-law 10, Section 6 and Framework Local By-law 3, Section be amended to refer to all PSAC regional organizations instead of just Area Councils. Recorded vote #23. MOTION CARRIED. Resolution 4 Subject: Local Annual General Meetings WHEREAS the By-laws should clearly state what issues should be dealt with at each Local s Annual General Meetings. BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-law 10, Section 9 be revised to include all the main purposes of a Local s AGM, which are: receiving annual reports from its Officers electing its Officers approving a Budget approving the Audited Financial Statements consideration of such other business as may be required by its By-laws. BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-law 10, Section 10 be deleted. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the sample AGM agenda in GSU Regulation 2 also be amended to include the requirement for a Local Budget. Recorded vote #24. MOTION CARRIED. GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 12

13 Resolution 10 Subject: Local Responsibilities WHEREAS GSU By-laws and the Regulation dealing with Local responsibilities, discipline and trusteeship are badly organized and hard to follow; BE IT RESOLVED THAT By-law 10 and Regulation 7 be re-written using the following guidelines That the sections of By-law 10 dealing with discipline and trusteeship be grouped together and reordered as necessary. That all items dealing with Local responsibilities be grouped together That By-law 10, Section 13 c) be moved to Regulation 7 That By-law 10, Section 18 be simplified, leaving the details of revoking a Local Charter to the PSAC Constitution Recorded vote #25. MOTION CARRIED. Resolution 25 Subject: By-law 10 - Locals WHEREAS GSU Regulation 2 states that GSU has no responsibility for Local financial obligations, but there is no corresponding protection in the GSU By-laws, BE IT RESOLVED THAT a new section be added to GSU By-law 10 to read as follows; The Government Services Union, PSAC has no responsibility for any financial obligation undertaken by a GSU Local. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Regulation 2, Bylaw 11, Section 4 be amended to read as follows; The Government Services Union, PSAC has no responsibility for any financial obligations undertaken by a GSU Local. Recorded vote #26. MOTION CARRIED. GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 13

14 Resolution 26 Subject: By-law 12, Section 6 WHEREAS due to the usual delay of about three months in receiving the dues check off lists from the PSAC, and WHEREAS four months is too close to the convention for administrative activities BE IT RESOLVED THAT GSU By-law 12, Section 6 be amended to read six (6) months instead of the current four months. Recorded vote #27. MOTION CARRIED. Resolution 27 Subject: By-law 12, Section 16 WHEREAS GSU By-law 12, Section 14, and Section 16 mean the same thing BE IT RESOLVED THAT GSU By-law 12 Section 16 be deleted. Recorded vote #28. MOTION CARRIED. Resolution 28 Subject: By-law 15, Section 4d WHEREAS the GSU By-laws do not contain provision for Sub-Locals BE IT RESOLVED THAT the reference to Sub- Locals be deleted from By-law 15, Section 4d) Recorded vote #29. MOTION CARRIED. Resolution 29 Subject: By-law 16 WHEREAS GSU By-law 16 has the same meaning as By-law 10, Section 6, BE IT RESOLVED THAT GSU By-law 16 be deleted in its entirety. GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 14

15 Recorded vote #30. MOTION CARRIED. iv) Convention Committee Assignments A teleconference call will be held at the end of July to deal with this issue. v) Other National Council Resolutions to Convention, if any M/S B. Dennis/N. Lethbridge To extend an invitation to Life Members (SSU and UPWE) to attend, at GSU expense the First Triennial GSU Convention. Recorded vote #31. MOTION CARRIED. M/S B. Dennis/M. Lavery To refer the remaining By-laws and Policy Committee resolutions contained in Appendix I to the Triennial Convention without recommendation. Res 11, Res 12, Res 13, Res 17, Res 18, Res 19, Res 20, Res 21, Res 22, Res 23, Res 24, Res 30, Res 31. Recorded vote #35. MOTION CARRIED. c) GSU Locals i) Local Y0046 M/S J. Gale/T. Sperling To dissolve Local Y0046, Whitehorse and assign members to other Locals as required. Recorded vote # 32. MOTION CARRIED. ii) Local To be dealt with at the next meeting of the National Council. iii) Local No action at this time. iv) Local and M/S V. Denesiuk/T. Sperling THAT in accordance with GSU By-law 10, Section 2, the National Council approve the merger of Locals and of March 6, 2002 which shall be recognised as GSU Local 50002, Manitoba. And, Further that liabilities, assets and outstanding responsibilities shall become the GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 15

16 respon-sibility of Local and the past Local numbers and charters be retired. Recorded vote #33. MOTION CARRIED. v. Locals and M/S N. Lethbridge/A. Sauvé That the National Council ratifies the merger of Locals and Recorded vote # 34. MOTION CARRIED. On a point of privilege, Sister Lethbridge requested that the minutes reflect that Local did not support this merger. d) Strike Discipline No discussion on this item. e) Communication with the National Office (D. Poirier) No discussion on this item. 9. Other Business No other item was added. 10. Round Table The meeting ended with a round table discussion. Sister Harrisson and Brother Alarie also addressed the National Council. 11. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m. on June 5, GSU National Council Meeting - June 4 and 5, Page 16