National Capital Regional Council MINUTES Château Cartier, 1170 Aylmer Road, Gatineau (QC) J9H 7L3 June 9 and 10, 2012 ~ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 9, 2012 Opening prayer and blessing by Albert Dumont of the Kitigan Zibi First Nation. The PSAC Statement on Harassment was read by Gabriel Bourdon and Sandra Dignagbo. Patrice Remillard and Michèle Milotte are the harassment coordinators. Moment of silence: Madeleine Lemay, Union of National Employees (UNE), CIDA Danny Lyonnais, Union of Immigration Employees (UIE) Mary J. Rigby, UNE, 70059 Julie Gravel, Union of Immigration Employees, 70707 Judy Minter Laurel Gladu, Assistant Regional Vice-President, UNE Brian Yore, Union of Taxation Employees, 70611 Michael Sutton, Agriculture Union, (AGR) Roberta Davis, UNE, 70059 Sheila Kabagambe, UNE, 70148 The Regional Executive Vice-President (REVP), Larry Rousseau, asked everyone who could stand to rise and observe a moment of silence. Larry Rousseau introduced the guest speaker, Chris Aylward, the National Executive Vice-President (NEVP) of PSAC, who addressed the delegates.
Credentials Committee report: 64 delegates 9 observers 7 staff 1 guest M/S/P Gabriel Bourdon / Sandra Dignagbo That the Credentials Committee report be adopted. Appendix 1 List of participants Review and adoption of the agenda The minutes of the Council meeting from January 2012 will be adopted at the next Council meeting in September 2012. The presentation by guest Hassan Diab will be postponed to Sunday, June 10, 2012 after lunch. M/S/P J. Marengère / D. Lanthier The minutes were adopted Review and adoption of the minutes of the 2011 Triennial Convention meeting M/S/P J. Bordage / F. Stuart The minutes were adopted. The assistant to the REVP, Claudine Prophète, provided some logistical information. Health break: 10:15 a.m. The REVP turned over the floor to the Alternate REVP to present his report. The REVP s report Larry Rousseau The REVP took an original approach and showed a vibrant and moving video to describe what he has accomplished. Question period: Two questions were asked about the TC group negotiations and the budget cuts affecting the department and agency libraries. The
REVP mentioned that negotiations have stalled due to intense lobbying by industries that are pressuring Industry Control to reduce its control. The REVP maintained that the public will have to be informed of potential problems this could cause. He also reiterated the importance of mobilizing the entire membership and union solidarity. As for the closures of libraries and research centres, the REVP recalled their role in educating and training the public. He also mentioned that the ideological thrusts of the Conservative government must be repulsed and that the fight to achieve this must continue. Someone asked for an update on the Salvation Army strike. The REVP mentioned that an arbitration board had been created to decide on the new salaries of employees in comparison with those paid to other community centres similar to the Salvation Army and that employees had returned to work in anticipation of the board s decision expected in September. One question was asked about workforce adjustment and the role of the Federal Council. The REVP pointed out that these are federal and not regional levels. The REVP for Ontario, Sharon De Sousa, is responsible for the Ontario committee and Magali Picard, the REVP for Quebec, the Quebec Council. For the NCR, all requests must be sent to Larry, who will relay the message to the proper persons. One delegate commented on the absence of the Stewards Network in his report and would like to see this committee revived. Larry told him that Daniel Charron, the Alternate REVP, is responsible for it. Someone asked whether it would be possible for media advisories to be sent out to notify members of PSAC presence in the media and the topics that are debated. Larry told him that an organization is taking care of checking the media for everything that closely or remotely concerns PSAC and that he is advised accordingly. This message, however, is forwarded to regional executives. He mentioned that he could have a section added to the Web site where members could sign up to have media advisories e-mailed to them. M/S/P J. Marengère / F. Stuart
Larry Rousseau, REVP, took over again as chair. Report from the Alternate REVP Daniel Charron He was elected co-chair of the General Resolutions Committee at the 2011 Triennial Convention. Resolutions on campaigns dealing with protective reassignment, lobbying, pensions, bullying in the workplace, drinking water on military bases and the national daycare campaigns were unanimously adopted. M/S/P: Jocelyne Bordage/ Gabriel Bourdon Report from the NCR Coordinator P. Parker (oral) Several workforce adjustment training sessions were offered at the request of locals. To date, about 2000 members have received the training. At the Executive s request, plans are in place to establish a network of members who will be able to intervene in some departments in crisis situations. As a result, training in both English and French will be given in early July. Mental health will be one of the topics discussed, and details on available resources will be provided. The Regional Health and Safety Committee will also discuss having local committees make requests to the employer to provide training on workforce adjustment and its effects. A course on union renewal will be given. There are also 50 active occupational accident cases outstanding, and many regional negotiation sessions are under way. Lunch Presentation by Alain Savard, a CLASSE representative. Update by Pierre Parker on campaigns under way Aside from the boycott of employer-organized activities during Public Service Week, several other union activities will be organized. There will be actions to show solidarity (group photos, BBQ, etc., wearing of the black square (?), e-mail to the employer). The van festooned with banners sporting the We are all affected slogan will be driven to employer-organized activities to make some noise. A meeting will be
held with Conservative MPs in Ottawa to explain to them the impact of cuts in the region. The summer campaign is scheduled to be unveiled in the third week of June at the Franco-Ontarian Festival. Participation in the Jazz, Hot Air Balloon and Folk festivals is also being planned. Training will also be given to members so that they know how to speak to the public at activities such as this. A summary of regional activities will be published on the Web site and e-mailed. A delegate mentioned that the members should have been informed about the staging of the various activities in advance. Pierre Parker replied that these were updates of activities organized by locals and that the message had already been sent to the membership. A campaign urging people to write letters to Stephen Harper appears on the Web site. One delegate mentioned that letters should be sent to all MPs, not just to Harper. Larry mentioned that the letter could be used as a template for letters to be sent to any Conservative MP, and it is up to members to send letters, not just to PSAC alone. Sending the letters by regular mail is better than e-mail. Presentation by Alex Sauvé on shared services Update on the 2012 PSAC National Triennial Convention and a discussion of Bill C377 and its obligations by David Lanthier. David Lanthier stated that a summary is available on line. Larry mentioned that, at the National Triennial Convention, the NBoD passed all resolutions with no cost component and that the final report would be coming out in the next few weeks. Budget update M/S/P June Dale/ Carl Laguerre The financial statements were not audited, since the auditor left his position with no notice. This will be done at the next Council meeting to be held in September.
One member stated the report showing the budgets of all of the committees is incomplete, as it does not show all of the incoming and outgoing funds of the committees. June Dale replied that the role of the committee s administrative assistant to maintain an up-to-date budget with the various incoming and outgoing funds and that the cheques dated after May 14 do not appear in the current report. Report of the Education Committee M/S/P Chantal Fortin / Michele Milotte. Report of the Health and Safety Committee M/S/P Vicky Lynn Smith /Chantal Fortin. Report of the Members with Disabilities Action Committee M/S/P Pat McGrath /Gabriel Bourdon Report of the Young Workers Committee M/S/P Gabriel Bourdon /Sandra Dignagbo Rapport of the Ottawa Area Council M/S/P David Lanthier /Michele Milotte Report of the Men s Assistance Committee No report presented. Report of the Ottawa Women s Committee M/S/P Jocelyne Bordage /June Dale Report of the Racially Visible Members Action Committee M/S/P W. Shatob /Carl Laguerre Report of the Comité régional des femmes francophones No report was presented, but thanks were offered to Marie-Françoise Bertrand for her 18 years with PSAC and her volunteer work for women in the region.
Report of the Pride Committee M/S/P Jacques Marengère / Gabriel Bourdon Reports of the Members-at-large Eugène Omboli: M/S/P Eugène Omboli / Michele Milotte Michele Milotte: M/S/P Michele Milotte / Eugène Omboli André Poliquin: M/S/P Gabriel Bourdon/ Michele Milotte Patrice Rémillard: M/S/P Patrice Rémillard/ Michele Milotte Daniel Charron: M/S/P Daniel Charron/ June Dale Glenn Stendan: M/S/P June Dale/ Jocelyne Bordage End of Eugène Omboli s and David Lanthier s terms All reports were adopted. Jocelyne Bordage and Larry Rousseau offered a special thought for Brother Ed Martin. End of day one.
Sunday, June 10, 2012 Report of the Credentials Committee 70 delegates 9 observers 6 staff members M/S/P: G. Bourdon / S. Dignagbo Report of the Aboriginal Peoples Circle No report was presented. However, the Committee will submit one in September at the next Council meeting. Report of CRAPO Francine Stuart, the Vice-Chair of the Committee, indicated that due to illness, the President will be unable to present her report. However, the Committee will submit one in September at the next Council meeting. Election day The REVP turned over proceedings to the electoral officer, Daniel Charron, who explained the process. The electronic voting system was used. The following people were elected: - Charles Khoury: Treasurer (1 year) Members-at-large (2 years): - Sandra Dignagbo:1st Member-at-large - Amyn Keshavjee:2nd Member-at-large - Louise Blouin:3rd Member-at-large - Alex Sauvé: 4th Member-at-large - Shirley Taylor:5th Member-at-large Alternate members-at-large (2 years): - Tony Nicolas: 1st Alternate member-at-large - Chantal Fortin: 2nd Alternate member-at-large
- Richard Lynn:3rd Alternate member-at-large - Alan Craig: 4th Alternate member-at-large - Diane Brown: 5th Alternate member-at-large Finance Committee: D. Lanthier proposed a motion whereby the nominations of five persons for the Finance Committee would be accepted. M/S/P: D. Lanthier / S. Dignagbo The motion was adopted. - Toni Nicholas - Enza Falls - Michele Milotte - Christine Griffin - Jocelyne Bordage Guest speaker Hassan Diab (Campaign for Justice for Hassan Diab) D. Lanthier proposed a motion that a donation of $3,000 be made to the Hassan Diab defence campaign. M/S/P D.Lanthier / J. Bordage Motion adopted. Restructuring of the Equal Opportunities Committee and the new Human Rights Committee Mariam Aboudib Resolutions Aboriginal Action Circle Committee: A debate ensued on the four resolutions presented by the APC Committee. Resolutions 1, 2 and 4 were deemed valid and were adopted, while the third was deemed invalid and sent to the Committee with instructions. Ottawa Regional Women s Committee The resolution submitted by the Ottawa RWC to boycott activities organized by the ODLC was deemed invalid, since it was counter to the resolution to the contrary adopted by the NBoD. Closing prayer by Albert Dumont of the Algonquin First Nations close to Maniwaki.
The newly elected treasurer and the members-at-large took an oath of office before the REVP. Adjournment : 4:30 p.m.