Minutes CEIU Presidents Conference
April 29 and May 1, 2011
1. Call to Order 9 AM
2. Introductions: Special welcome to CEIU National President Jeannette Meunier-MacKay; Attending: Ruth Abercrombie, Francine Baxter, Sherry Bradbury, Paul Croes, Rod Cunningham, Alaine Delisle, Penny Dickson, Elaine Dunington, Jodi Fiskar, Bill Gibson, Rex Go, Roberta Gourlie, Cheyle Hayes, Anita Hoffman, Patt Holmes, Tracie Komarniski, Jennifer Leenhouts, Connie Lenz, Wendi Maguire, Tanya Malinosky, Nikki McVey, Dianne Mitchell, Susan Nelson, Colby Peters, Stacy Schmidt, Roseanne Settle, Karen Smith, Mike Stanley, Darlene Stevens,Christine Walker, Pat Wakefield, Sam Wiese, Patricia Willey, Chris York and Debbie Zajonskowski. Also a special welcome to the observers Rina Calendino, Jayne Johns, and Anne-Marie McCully. The minutes were recorded by Life Member Colleen Malinosky.
3. Hours of Sitting: 9 AM Saturday – 5 PM Saturday
9 AM Sunday to Noon
4. Housekeeping: Pat reviewed physical set-up; claims; this conference has observers and delegates so Pat explained the process – observers will have no voice or vote unless discussion is opened to observers
1. Anti Harassment Statement – read by Jennifer Leenhouts; Jennifer and Paul Croes appointed as Harassment Committee for the week-end
2. Unjust Profiling Policy – Pat explained the process of how CEIU had developed and adopted policy; policy read by Dianne Mitchell
3. Point of Privilege – Sam Wiese objected that agenda not yet adopted; Pat explained it was next on agenda after the Non-Business was completed
4. Agenda – Discussion to amend to move # 10 to #12 and move Budget to #10 Motion: Abercrombie/Baxter Carried
5. Moment of Silence: Members who have passed since last conference acknowledged as follows:
· Mary Ann Poole
· Dick Javens
· Bonnie Elias
· Kristine Draper
6.
Point of Privilege: Sam Wiese asked why the
conference was being held this week-end when it was a labor holiday.
Response from NVP that other week-ends had been considered but cost and availability had been reasons for this week-end being chosen. She said she had discussed with the RUO staff as well as Jeannette and they were OK with CEIU holding it this week-end. They had agreed that Pat would ask Colleen to take the minutes.
Sam then stated that she did not think Colleen should be taking the
minutes that we should have brought a member in and paid them. She thought
there were lots of members who would have liked to make some money doing so.
Jennifer Leenhouts spoke on behalf of the
finance committee that it was a fiscally responsible decision to ask Colleen to
do the minutes as she was already in attendance as the Elections Chairperson so
no one had to be paid.
Sam wished to be recorded as expressing her displeasure and frustration
that Colleen would be taking the minutes. Jennifer wished to be recorded that
this was a financially fiscal decision
7.
Minutes of last President’s Conference Motion
to Adopt Croes/Cunningham
8. Business Arising: Retirement Security for Everyone – Sam Wiese reminded members to attend CLC presentations
9. Jackets – samples of jackets for convention were available for members who will be attending to try on for size. Members were asked to put the size they wanted on a list available with the samples.
Discussion on purchases and where they were made; Jackets in Canada; some members objected to products not made in Canada; personal choice whether or not to accept;
Sam was reminded that she said she would provide a list of Canadian suppliers to the RUO. She said this was done but Pat was not aware and will check to be sure they have it.
10. Election Report: Pat Wakefield turned the chair over to National President Jeannette Meunier-MacKay. Jeannette moved to the Committee as a Whole, allowing observers to speak; and no minutes were taken. Colleen Malinosky gave election report (attached). Questions and answer period followed. Colleen took notes for future election suggestions.
11. Financial Report – Year end financial statement reviewed Motion to Adopt: Walker/Stevens Carried
12. Guest Speaker – President Meunier-MacKay – JMM gave a speech that generated much discussion and questions and answers. Some of Issues addressed:
· Campaign to protect jobs
· Thanked Call Centre staff and Colby Peters for getting ball rolling to save term jobs; thanked Julie Paula and Pat Wakefield for their help; acknowledged how a team effort resulted in success
· CEIU has a 3 year plan to expose how Service Canada services have eroded and to try to stop this from happening
·
Bilingual issues – big issue and could
affect a lot of members jobs and chances of promotion in future;
· Election – CEIU not telling member show to vote, just saying don’t vote for Conservatives and Harper; fear majority government; Harper willing to put public servants jobs on line for budget restraints; we cannot let government put deficit on backs of public servants; quality public service must be maintained
· IRB - reform announced last year; creation of new positions and need to know who can apply and what are the qualifications
· CIC Structure – reform happening; may lose jobs to IRB; there will not be Work Force Adjustment for CIC; all will have work in CIC
· Call Centers – poor moral; bad working conditions; no AWA; workers often work overtime for free; reading time at call centers; some have 15 - 20 minutes a week; not enough time to catch up
· Members with Disabilities: duty to Accommodate issues; gathering info for 3 years; need concrete evidence of problems or issues
· Supplementary Pension Plan for full time elected union officers – she is not in favor of proposed changes; her own portion would be $600,000 of members money; lots of dissension over issue among PSAC officials and members; Jeannette feels pension reform should be discussed at PSAC Convention;
· Re-location of work loads – Service Canada policy that jobs equivalent to demography of area to be serviced; past 6 months has seen more and more BC jobs going to Alberta; stagnant hiring at CR 4 level in BC but lots of hiring in Alberta
· National Work System – it was always clear that there would be re-assignments and shuffling of assignments; not a lot the union can do about it despite discussions at national level; employers way of doing business; use media to inform public;
· Lobbying MP’s – question on what training is being provided so members can do this; response PSAC has developed package available on web site
·
17. We Care Presentation – presentation on Violence Against Women by _____________ Discussion followed.
Attachments
13. Resolution on We Care (Attached) Moved Willey/Schmidt Carried
14. Employers E-mail System - Jody Fiskar gave info on her personal situation and warned members not to use employers e-mail for personal use even if your management says you can. Discussion followed.
DO NOT USE THE EMPLOYERS SYSTEM FOR ANYTHING BUT
EMPLOYER’S WORK!!!!!! CEIU National
Policy – DO NOT USE EMPLOERS E-MAIL FOR ANYTHING PERSONAL
19. Union Time: The union asked for 3 days per month for each president to do their union work for the local Andy Netzel is considering the possibility of 1 day per month; should know by May 31, 2011
15. ICMR– brain at front end/tracking system; wants employers statement that they will not use ICMR for monitoring to tack employees performance; shouldn’t be used for monitoring; bring up issue at local UMC and Pat W will bring up at Management meeting
16. Communication:
some members feel Pat W should give more details when she resolves a
situation so they know what she is doing. Pat will try her best to do more but she could not give any guarantees
that she will always be able to go back out and tell what has happened.
Confidentiality is a big part of it.
17. Face book – Discussion on pros and cons
Resolution: Croes/Walker re Face book
Be it resolved that CEIU BC/YT does not allow the creation of a CEIU local internet account on any non-union related account.
Be it further resolved that any internet account for a local
is to be made on the CEIU member network
or any nationally approved website. Carried
1 against
18. Reports: All in kits except Karen Smith, DD FV as she has been ill. Karen gave verbal report; also Paul Croes did not provide a written report in advance and did not have time to provide a verbal report. The written reports will all be attached to the minutes and will be adopted at the President Conference in September 2011
23. AWA - NVP requested that all presidents go back to CSO’s and ask what duties they do or could do before doors open and after closing that do not get done during hours the public is in office; get to her ASAP
Adjourned Gourlie