Friday, June 24, 2011 – am session
REVP Jeannie Baldwin introduced herself and welcomed everyone to the 5th Triennial Atlantic Regional Convention.
She asked the delegation to give a very warm round of applause to the Solomon Simiac Drummers.
“Our solidarity is our strength” was the Convention theme!
She gave a special welcome to people who had to travel to St. John’s! She thanked CAW sisters and brothers who fought hard on the picket lines and were able to reach a tentative agreement before this ruthless government who legislated them back to work. A huge round of applause was given to sisters and brothers at CAW as well as our locked out sisters and brothers at CUPW.
Just to get to know each other a little, she asked people to raise their hand or otherwise indicate if they were:
· a first-time delegate;
· if they had attended all 5 Atlantic Triennial Conventions;
· if they were 30 years old or younger;
· if they had been a PSAC member for more than 20 years.
Aboriginal Greetings
As trade unionists and in our ongoing struggle for justice, equality and dignity, Sister Baldwin said that we had to recognize the historical and present-day struggles of our Aboriginal sisters and brothers on this land. She then invited Sister Geri LeBlanc, the Director for Aboriginal members in the Atlantic to do the introduction of the Elder for the Aboriginal official opening.
Sister LeBlanc introduced Emma Reelis (Ford) who was born in Labrador, NL. She has five children and seven grandchildren, and worked for the Health Care Industry in food services for twenty-seven years. She retired three years ago and currently devoted her time to the community. She is an Elder for The St. John’s Native Friendship Center, as well as President of the Board of Directors at the center. Emma is also involved in the Violence against Women movement and just got back from Vancouver after attending a National Aboriginal Women’s Forum on Violence against Women.
Geri gave a gift to Emma as a token of our appreciation.
Solidarity Forever
As singing is a tradition in the labour movement, and music is a vital part of the Atlantic culture, she invited Sister Marilyn Lethgo to sing Solidarity Forever first in English and then in French.
Moment of Silence
Sister Baldwin mentioned that it is important that we take a moment to remember our brothers and sisters who have passed away, but also to remember and celebrate their lives and the contribution they have made to our union and communities. She asked everyone to stand, if possible, for a moment of silence.
The following people have been named:
Dennis Johnson UNDE Local 90125, Goose Bay
Dale McCormack, CEIU Local 90109
Frank Howell
Randy MacEachern, UTE Local 90006
Denis Cyr, CIU Local 60004
Tom Watts, UNDE Local 90125, Goose Bay
Conrad Yavis, UNDE Local 60303
Ed Smith, UNDE Local 60303
Carl Childs, UNDE Local 60303
Blair Long, UNDE Local 60303
Dennis Read, UNDE Local 60303
Roger Miller, UNDE Local 60303
Theresa Innis, CEIU Local 90113
Susanna Flagel, UTE Local 60005
Brian Munroe, UTE Local 60005
Betty MacKinnon, National Component, Local 90040 (Statistics Canada)
Elizabeth “Beth” Craswell, Agriculture Union, Local 80003
Claire Bossé, CEIU Local 60255
Nicole Grigg, UVAE Local 90001
Karen Strong, UTE Local 90001
Brian Paul, DCL Local 80035
Patrick Dedam, DCL Local 80035
Robyn Graves, Saint John NB
Shelley Clifford, UTE Local 60005
Carol Fitzhurbert, UNDE Local 60303
Special Guests
At this point, Sister Baldwin took a few minutes to welcome some special guests.
Sister Lana Payne, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour;
Brother John Gordon, PSAC National President;
Sister Patty Ducharme, PSAC National Executive Vice-President;
Bother John MacLennan, National President, UNDE;
Brother Daniel Kinsella, National President, National Component;
Sister Jeannette Meunier-MacKay, National President, CEIU;
Sister Christine Collins, National President, UCTE;
Brother Laurie Butterworth, President, YEU;
Sister Karoline Klug, National Vice-President of Human Rights, National Component;
Brother Doug Marshall, National Vice-President, National Component;
Brother Todd Parsons, President, Union of Northern Workers;
Brother Bob Kingston, National President, Agriculture Union;
Brother Kerry Williams, National Vice-President, UCTE;
Jean-Paul Fortin, First National Vice-President, Customs and Immigration Union;
Mary Chamberlain, NVP, UNDE;
Mary Shortall, Canadian Labour Congress Atlantic Representative in St John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador
Mathew Smiley, UNW (Staff)
Claudia Thompson, National President, NRU
Amanda Will, New Democratic Party, NL
Sister Baldwin also indicated that the following National Officers were also delegates at this Convention:
Sister Debbie Forsythe, National Vice-President, Agriculture Union
Brother Bob Campbell, National Vice-President, UTE
Sister Kim Coles, National Vice-President, UVAE
Brother Bill Pynn, National President, UEW
Brother Yvan Thauvette National President, UVAE
Nancy Riche, former Executive Council member of the Canadian Labour Congress.
Atlantic Council
Sister Baldwin introduced with great pleasure the following members of the Atlantic Regional Council. She thanked them for their leadership and commitment over the past three years, and for their hard work on behalf of all of us and all PSAC members in the Atlantic.
- Darlene Bembridge – Provincial Director for New Brunswick
- Jo-Anne Gallen – Provincial Director for New Brunswick
- Melissa Hyde – Provincial Director for Newfoundland and Labrador
- Brenda Linstead – Provincial Director for Newfoundland and Labrador
- Colleen Hodder – Provincial Director for Nova Scotia and Alternate Regional Executive Vice-President
- Lori Walton – Provincial Director for Nova Scotia
- Dawn Hardy – Provincial Director for Prince Edward Island
- Jody LaPierre – Provincial Director for Prince Edward Island
- Corina Harding – Director for Non-Treasury Board Members – Newfoundland and Labrador
- Brian Oldford – Director for Non-Treasury Board Members – Maritimes
- Geri LeBlanc – Director for Aboriginal Members
- Tania Haché – Director for Francophone Members
- Sandy Harquail – Director for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Members
- Pat Kilbride – Director for Members with Disabilities
- Dana Bailey – Director for Racially Visible Members
- Rhonda Doyle LeBlanc – Director for Women – Maritimes
- Angela Decker – Director for Women – Newfoundland and Labrador
- Shanny Doucet – Director for Youth Members
Staff
Jeannie also welcomed staff from both the Region and the National Office to the Convention. This Convention would not have been possible without their work, commitment and dedication.
Convention Organizing Committee
Sister Baldwin mentioned, at that point, that organizing a Convention was a challenge and takes a lot of behind-the-scenes hard work. It takes a committee to do the job! She gave very special thanks to the Altantic Convention Organizing Committee members:
- Corina Harding
- Shanny Doucet
- Lori Walton
- Dawn Hardy
- Jeannie Baldwin
The Committee was assisted by Katie Murphy-Langille, Deborah Young, Pamela Peckford, Lesley Thompson, Nancy MacLean and Cathy Murphy.
Host Committee
There’s nothing like Atlantic hospitality! This year, members had an opportunity to get a taste of the world famous Newfoundland and Labrador hospitality! She introduced the members of the committee as follows:
- Madonna Gardiner
- Gordon Lake
- Lorraine Power-Green
- Margaret Madden
- Bill Walsh
- Melissa Hyde
- Steve Legrow
- Ellen Picket
- Corina Harding, representative of the Organizing Committee
The Committee was assisted by Margie Hancock, staff member.
Then, Sister Baldwin invited Gordon Lake and Melissa Hyde from the host committee to deliver a quick message about the good times they had in store for the delegation.
Greetings from the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour
PSAC is part of the broader labour movement in Canada, and that means working together, side by side with our Brothers and Sisters from other unions to advance the rights of all workers and to improve the communities we live in. At the provincial level, that’s exactly what the Federations of Labour are there to do. This region is proud to participate in all four federations of labour in the Atlantic.
She then invited Sister Lana Payne of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour to bring greetings to this Convention.
Administration and procedures
Before beginning with official Convention business, Jeannie took a few minutes to go over some administrative and procedural issues in order to have a successful Convention.
As this is a bilingual Convention, delegates had the privilege of having simultaneous interpretation so that each person could speak in the official language of his/her choice, and understand each other. She asked everyone who was not bilingual to have translation devices at all times during the Convention session.
PSAC Statement on Harassment
At this point, she invited Sisters Tanya Haché and Dana Bailey to read out the harassment statement as follows:
Our union is made strong by Sisters and Brothers working together to improve our working lives and to preserve the rights that we have struggled to achieve. Mutual respect is the cornerstone of this cooperation. The PSAC Constitution states that every member is entitled to be free from discrimination and harassment, both in the union and at the workplace, on the basis of age, sex, colour, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, marital status, criminal record, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, language, class or political belief. Members are also entitled to be free from personal harassment.
If you experience harassment at this event, contact the identified Harassment Resource Person to discuss the situation and possible responses. Our initial approach is to encourage early and informal resolution and to facilitate our members speaking directly with one another to resolve the matter. If this is not successful or possible, the Constitutional and policy mandates on the issue of harassment will be fully and quickly enforced.
Harassment in all its forms detracts from our common purpose and weakens our union. Let each one of us, as we work together on the important task at hand; treat each other with dignity and respect.
The Respectful Convention Committee, comprised of the following individuals, was charged with any harassment-related issues.
Lise Thibodeau
Alex Stuit
Bonnie O’Keefe
These members of staff were on duty for the duration of Convention. Any concerns that related to harassment were to be addressed to one of these committee members.
Sister Baldwin provided some administrative details about the administration office, washrooms, as well as fair trade coffee and tea being provided twice daily.
Caucuses
Caucuses had been scheduled. Should other groups wanted to hold a caucus throughout Convention, they were to address their requests to Nancy MacLean or go to the admin office.
Smoke-free
Like at all other PSAC events, this Convention was smoke free. Designated smoking areas outside the hotel entrances were indicated to the delegation.
Cell phones
Sister Baldwin asked that cell phones be turned off or set to vibrate.
Chemical Sensitivities
In respect for our members with chemical sensitivities, Jeannie asked members to refrain from using perfumes, after shave or other scented products. The scent-free statement was included in the Convention Book.
Allergies
Because of several severe allergies, absolutely no nuts or food containing onions or garlic were permitted on the convention floor. To be safe, Jeannie asked to refrain from bringing any prepared food onto the floor. Should people need to bring something in, she asked that it be limited to fruits and vegetables or hard candy. Staff were monitoring this very carefully.
Recycling
Jeannie indicated that recycling bins had been installed on and outside the convention floor.
Booths
She also indicated that booths have been set up outside the plenary room. She encouraged everyone to visit these booths. She particularly drew delegates and observers’ attention to the Stewards’ booth, where members could sign up for stewards’ swag, and take part in a membership survey in order to have their say in the direction of the union.
Shannen’s Dream
Shannen’s Dream was chosen by the Organizing Committee as the focus of this convention’s fundraising efforts. The goal of Shannen’s Dream is to ensure that the federal government meets its obligations to First Nations’ youth to provide culturally-based and equitable education and proper schools. One of the convention walls was dedicated to building a First Nations’ school. Bricks could be purchased at a cost of $25. The name of the contributor was written on the brick. Jeannie encouraged everyone to contribute.
Point of privilege – Brian MacDonald
UNDE provided $2,000 to Shannen’s Dream and challenged other Components to give the same amount.
Marine Search Rescue Sub-Office
Jeannie informed the delegation that NAPE has held its Convention last week, and there was a petition to close the Canadian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Sub-Office Base in St. John’s, Nfld and Labrador, and reinstate its staff, and restore in full its services.
Sister Baldwin then invited Carol-Ann Furlong to present a very important petition on the closure of the Maritime Search and Rescue Sub-Office in St. John’s.
Because of Harper’s decision to close this office, a demonstration was held on Saturday, June 25 on the Harbour front where PSAC was joined by many union affiliates. This demo was well attended by delegates, guests and observers.
Procedure to speak at Convention
Then Sister Baldwin explained to the delegates that anyone wishing to speak would have to go to one of the four microphones on the floor. She indicated that there was also a roving mic for members who required accommodation. Delegates who wanted to use the roving mic had to raise their hands, and Katie Murphy-Langille would bring it to them. When recognized by the Chair, delegates would provide their name and number in order to be recorded in the Convention minutes.
Tiling Guidelines
Jeannie asked delegates who required accommodation during prolonged periods of time in plenary when doors were tiled, specifically during resolution debate and elections, they needed to ensure that their name was added to the self-identification form at the admin room or to advise Nancy MacLean.
ID Tags and Ballot Books
Sister Baldwin advised delegates, observers, guests and staff to wear their name tag at all times in order to participate in the Convention. The name tag had to be displayed as people enter the plenary room. This represented the Convention credential.
She also mentioned that members had to have their ballot book at all times. This ballot book would be used for elections and, sometimes, to vote on resolutions. Without the ballot book, delegates would not be able to vote.
No voice, no vote
Sister Baldwin indicated that observers and guests would not have voice or vote during the resolution debate or elections. Observers would have voice in non-election caucuses.
Kits
She informed delegates that their kit included many important documents, and that they should refer to them as needed throughout the Convention.
Announcements
She invited anyone who had announcements to make, to hand them over to Sister Gaby Levesque who would make them prior to each break.
Adoption of Agenda
m/s Bill Pynn Rose Pitre
That the agenda, as amended, be adopted.
MOTION CARRIED.
Adoption of Rules of Order and Tiling Guidelines
m/s Bill Pynn Rose Pitre
That we adopt the rules of Order and the Tiling Guidelines.
MOTION CARRIED.
Ratification of Convention Committees
Sister Baldwin then proceeded with the ratification of Convention Committees.
Credentials Committee
Members of the Credentials Committee were:
Rick Cormier
Joanne Walsh
m/s Nancy Rogers Dawn Hardy
That we ratify the composition of the Credentials Committee.
MOTION CARRIED.
Nominations Committee
The Nominations Committee is responsible for receiving nominations for elected positions. Any member in good standing can run for any elected position, however, the person must be nominated and seconded by a Convention delegate.
Forms could be obtained from Cathy Murphy. The completed papers must be submitted to Cathy.
Sister Patty Ducharme will be chairing the elections of the REVP and the Alternates to the REVP.
Members of the Committee were:
Heather Ford
Theresa MacInnis
m/s Debbie Gray Nancy Rogers
That we ratify the composition of the Nominations Committee.
MOTION CARRIED.
Convention By-Law Committee
Members of the Convention By-Law Committee were:
Co-Chairs:
Sister Colleen Hodder: Provincial Director, Nova Scotia and REVP Alternate
Sister Sandy Harquail: Director for GLBT
Members:
Sister Rhonda Doyle-LeBlanc: Director for Women, Maritimes
Sister Brenda Linstead: Provincial Director, Newfoundland & Labrador
Brother Jody LaPierre: Provincial Director, Prince Edward Island
m/s Rick Cormier Nancy Rogers
That we ratify the Convention By-Law Committee.
MOTION CARRIED.
Convention General Resolutions Committee
The Convention General Resolutions Committee members were as follows:
Co-Chairs:
Sister Angela Decker, Director for Women, Newfoundland and Labrador
Sister Tania Haché, Director, Francophone Members
Members:
Sister Dana Bailey, Director, Racially Visible Members
Sister Geri LeBlanc, Director, Aboriginal Members
Brother Patrick Kilbride, Director, Members with Disabilities
m/s Nancy Rogers Gerard Brennan
That we ratify the composition of the Convention General Resolutions Committee.
MOTION CARRIED.
Convention Finance Committee
The Convention Finance Committee (also the Council Finance Committee) members were:
Chair:
Sister Darlene Bembridge, Provincial Director, New Brunswick
Members:
Brother Brian Oldford, Director, Non Treasury Board Members for the Maritimes
Sister Jo-Anne Gallen, Provincial Director, New Brunswick
m/s Donna Lamy Carmelle MacDonald
That we ratify the composition of the Convention Finance Committee.
MOTION CARRIED.
Credentials Committee Report
At this point, the Credentials Committee presented its first report.
m/s Rick Cormier Joanne Walsh
That the following Credentials Committee Report be adopted:
Accredited delegates 263
Observers 40
Guests 19
TOTAL 322
MOTION CARRIED.
Address of the Regional Executive Vice-President
REVP Baldwin gave her address to the Convention delegates. (Appendix A).
Report of the Regional Executive Vice-President
Alternate REVP, Sister Colleen Hodder, assumed the chair.
m/s Jeannie Baldwin Rick Cormier
That the Report of the Regional Executive Vice-President to the 5th Atlantic Regional Convention be adopted.
Sister Baldwin thanked all members and staff who have contributed to building the Atlantic Region over the past three years. Our solidarity is our Strength!
MOTION CARRIED.
Following the presentation of her Report, Jeannie resumed the Chair.
Council Director Reports
The reports are short summaries of the work Council members have undertaken on behalf of the membership over the past three years.
Sister Baldwin asked each Council Director to present his/her respective report. These reports did not contain recommendations, and their purpose was only to report on the work they have done over the last cycle.
m/s Jane McDonald Carolyn Allen
That the Council Directors’ reports be adopted.
MOTION CARRIED.
Council Finance Committee Report
This Committee has been entrusted with the task of managing the Region’s finances over the past three years, and preparing a proposed budget for the Atlantic Region for the next three years. The Atlantic Council Finance Committee is required to report to Convention under the Atlantic Region By-Laws.
At this point, the Chairperson of the Council Finance Committee presented its report.
m/s Donna Lamy Christine Day
That the report of the Council Finance Committee be adopted.
Recommendation 1
That the Convention transfer of $35,000 per year be increased to $40,000.
MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation 2
The 50% of the surplus within the three-year cycle be transferred to the Convention Fund.
MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation 3
That the following regulation be adopted for Council members to have access to the budget line item “other expense”:
Funding for “other events” policy
(1) Council members, attending an event may request funding for two (2) of the following costs if they are not being reimbursed by any other organization for the same costs. The cost for transportation will be the most economical means, for example, seat sales, mileage:
(a) transportation;
(b) accommodation;
(c) per diem;
(d) lost wages; or
(e) registration fees.
(2) (a) The union events must have prior approval of the Regional
Executive Vice-President (REVP), Atlantic to qualify for funding;
(b) All documentation regarding the event must be received prior to approval in (a) above.
(3) Members who receive event funding shall submit a report to the REVP within sixty (60) days of the event. The report shall include the value of the event for them and/or other members and the topics covered.
MOTION CARRIED.
Guestspeaker – Linda McQuaig
At this point, Sister Shanny Doucet, Director for Youth members, introduced keynote speaker Linda McQuaig
Journalist and best-selling author, Linda McQuaig has developed a reputation for challenging the establishment.
As a reporter for The Globe and Mail, she won a National Newspaper Award in 1989 for a series of articles which sparked a public inquiry into the activities of Ontario political lobbyist Patti Starr, and eventually led to Starr’s imprisonment.
As a Senior Writer for Maclean’smagazine, McQuaig probed the early business dealings of Conrad Black, uncovering how Black used political connections to avoid prosecution. An irate Black suggested on CBC radio that McQuaig should be horsewhipped.
In 1991, she was awarded an Atkinson Fellowship for Journalism in Public Policy to study the social welfare systems in Europe and North America.
McQuaig has been a rare voice in the mainstream media challenging the prevailing economic and political dogma – as a columnist in the financial pages of the National Postin the late 1990s, and since 2002, as an op-ed columnist in the Toronto Star.
She has also taken on the status quo in a series of controversial books – including seven national best-sellers – such as Shooting the Hippo (short-listed for the Governor General’s Award), The Cult of Impotenceand It’s the Crude, Dude: War, Big Oil and the Fight for the Planet. Her most recent book (co-written with Neil Brooks) isThe Trouble with Billionaires.
Following her presentation, a gift was presented to her as a token of appreciation, and delegates had the opportunity to ask questions.
Then Gaby Levesque read the announcements and a lunch break was called.
Friday, June 24, 2011 – pm session
Credentials Committee Report
m/s Rick Cormier Joanne Walsh
That the following Credentials Committee report be adopted:
Delegates 263
Observers 40
Guests 21
Total 324
MOTION CARRIED.
Continuation of the Council Finance Committee Report
m/s Darlene Bembridge Brian Olford
The the income statement and balance sheet be approved.
MOTION CARRIED.
m/s Darlene Bembridge Brian Olford
That the Budget Comparison be approved.
MOTION CARRIED.
m/s Darlene Bembridge Brian Olford
That the proposed Budget be approved.
MOTION CARRIED.
Council Reports
m/s Michelle Little Carolyn Allen
That we adopt all other Council Reports as a whole.
MOTION CARRIED.
Sister Baldwin thanked all Council members on behalf of the members in the Region and on her own behalf for their commitment to the membership. They make a real difference in this union and in the communities where our members live and work.
General Resolutions Committee
Before proceeding with Committee reports, Jeannie made the following comments.
The Committees deliberated and debated resolutions and arrived at recommendations, which are included in their Committee Reports.
A recommendation is usually one of concurrence or non-concurrence. Concurrence means that the Committee is recommending adoption of the resolution. Non-concurrence means that the Committee is recommending its rejection.
Once the recommendation of the Committee has been moved and seconded, the resolution shall be debated by Convention delegates.
Delegates shall have a maximum of three (3) minutes to speak to the resolution and the recommendation of the Committee.
Should delegates wish to amend resolutions, they have to move a motion to refer the resolution back to the Committee with clear instructions.
Delegates then vote on the Committee’s recommendation by voice and by raising their hand.
m/s Bernie Bolger Silas Bird
That the Committee moves Resolution G-24 after its five priority resolutions have been dealt with.
MOTION CARRIED.
The General Resolutions Committee met on March 26, 2011 at the PSAC Regional Office, Halifax, Nova Scotia to review fifty (50) resolutions including two (2) that were referred to the National Board of Directors’ National Joint Council Standing Committee and four (4) that were referred to the Collective Bargaining Branch.
The General Resolutions Committee was provided feedback by Sister Jeannie Baldwin and Brother John Gordon who had reviewed the resolutions to ensure that they were not in violation of the PSAC Constitution.
The Committee reviewed the resolutions with the interpretation and guidance that any resolutions not specifically targeted for the PSAC Atlantic Region would carry forth to the PSAC National Triennial Convention.
All resolutions were automatically moved and seconded by the Co-Chairs on behalf of the Committee.
The General Resolutions Committee established its priorities as follows:
1. Resolution G22 Supplemental Pension Plan
2. Resolution G50 Representation by Population
3. Resolution G46 PSAC AEC Salary and Benefits
4. Resolution G15 M-571 Shannen’s Dream – First Nation Children
5. Resolution G48 Location of the REVP Position
Resolution G22 – PSAC Supplemental Pension Plan
m/s Angela Decker Tania Haché
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in General Resolution G22, which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the establishment of the supplemental plan be ceased immediately; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the establishment of the supplemental plan be referred to the 2012 PSAC Triennial Convention to allow PSAC Convention delegates full debate and vote on the establishment of the supplemental plan.
RATIONALE
The Committee believes this Resolution addresses the members’ desire for transparency and the 2012 referral is timely.
MOTION CARRIED.
Resolution G50 – Representation by Population
m/s Tania Haché Geri LeBlanc
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in General Resolution G50 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT for the purpose of representation at all Regional Triennial Conventions:
1) Each Component or DCL shall be entitled to one (1) delegate for the first 200 members or fraction thereof that live or work in the region, and one (1) additional delegate for each additional 200 members or fraction thereof of members who live or work in the region; delegate entitlement shall be in accordance with Section 4, Sub-Section (14) of the PSAC Constitution in the twelve months prior to the date of the Regional Convention call. No Component Local will get more than one delegate until all locals have received one (1) delegate up to the Component’s maximum entitlement;
2) Up to twenty (20) members of their respective Regional Council shall be delegates;
3) Each Area Council shall be entitled to elect one (1) delegate;
4) Each Regional Women’s Committee shall be entitled to elect one (1)
delegate;
5) Each constitutionally-recognized Human Rights and Equity Committee
shall be entitled to elect one (1) delegate;
6) Two (2) elected NAPC regional representatives shall be delegates;
7) The eight (8) PSAC equity representatives elected at their respective national equity conferences that live or work in the region shall be delegates;
8) One (1) delegate entitlement from each of the provinces and territories (i.e. four delegates from each province) to represent each of the following equity groups:
a) Aboriginal members,
b) Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered members,
c) Members with disabilities, and
d) Racially visible members.
9) One (1) francophone delegate from each of the provinces and territories to represent francophone groups.
10) One young worker delegate from each of the provinces and territories
to present young workers.
11) Members of the NBoD and full-time Vice-Presidents of Components that are
required to relocate to the NCR shall be delegate to a Regional Convention
according to their choice as per Section 19, Sub-Section (5) of the PSAC
Constitution;
12) All Component National Officers that live or work in the region shall
be a delegate to a Regional Convention; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Regional Convention be fully funded based on this formula.
RATIONALE
The Committee believes this formula would provide a more equitable representation of the Region.
NOTE
Sister Angela Decker recorded against the Committee’s recommendation.
m/s Michelle Little Rick Cormier
That the previous question be now put.
MOTION CARRIED.
MAIN MOTION DEFEATED.
m/s Josepth Parris Glenn Steele
That Resolution G1 be moved after Resolution G24.
MOTION CARRIED.
Resolution G46 – PSAC AEC Salary and Benefits
m/s Angela Decker Tania Haché
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in General Resolution G46 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the current Section 12 Sub-Section (5) be deleted:
Sub-Section (5)
Notwithstanding (f) of Sub-Section (5) of this Section, the NBoD may set salaries for full-time appointed officers subject to the budgetary limitations set by and in the absence of direction by the National Triennial Convention.
BE IT RESOLVED THAT a new Section 12, Sub-Section (5) be adopted to read:
The PSAC Triennial Convention Constitution Committee shall cause a resolution to be brought forward at each PSAC Triennial Convention to review the salary and benefits of the full-time paid AEC members for each year of the upcoming three (3) year mandate; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Regulation 17, Paragraph 5(b) and 5(c) be amended to reflect the Convention delegates’ decision of this resolution.
RATIONALE
The Committee believes this would provide transparency and give members a voice.
This Resolution was called out of order by the REVP after intervention by Bill Pynn stating that the Committee cannot bring forward resolutions dealing with AEC salary and benefits.
Resolution G15 – M-571 Shannen’s Dream – First Nation Children
m/s Angela Decker Tania Haché
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in General Resolution G15 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT PSAC donate funds, lobby and support Motion 571 “Shannen’s Dream” to become a reality for all First Nations children living on reserves who have the right to decent schools and education.
RATIONALE
The Committee believes that all First Nations children living on reserves have the right to decent schools and education. As Shannen Koostachin says, “School should be a time for dreams. Every kid deserves this”.
m/s Doug Gaetz Debbie Graham
That this resolution be referred back to the Committee with instructions to remove the words Motion 571.
MOTION CARRIED.
The General Resolutions Committee met following this referral and removed the words “Motion 571” from the Be it Resolved and recommended CONCURRENCE in amended Resolution G15 which now reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT PSAC donate funds, lobby and support “Shannen’s Dream” to become a reality for all First Nations children living on reserves who have the right to decent schools and education.
MOTION, AS AMENDED, CARRIED.
Resolution G48 – Location of the REVP Position
m/s Angela Decker Tania Haché
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in General Resolution G48 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Regional Executive Vice-Presidents position be allowed to be based wherever there is a Regional Office.
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the newly-elected Regional Executive Vice-President can choose which Regional Office they wish to report to.
RATIONALE
The Committee believes that because of advances in technology and the need for this position to service all members equally in the Atlantic Region, it should not matter where the position’s home base is located.
This would allow equal opportunity for members in all provinces to put themselves forward as candidates for this position.
MOTION CARRIED.
By-Laws Committee
The By-Law Resolutions Committee met on March 26, 2011, via conference call, to review the nineteen (19) By-Law resolutions submitted to Convention.
It was given feedback by Sister Jeannie Baldwin and Brother John Gordon who had reviewed the resolutions to ensure that they were not in violation of the PSAC Constitution.
The Committee established its priorities as follows:
1. Resolution B3 Roles and Responsibilities of the Atlantic Regional Council
2. Resolution B7 Election of Officers at the PSAC Atlantic Regional Triennial Convention
3. Resolution B19 RWC Delegate Seats to PSAC Atlantic Triennial Convention
4. Resolution B13 Young Worker Delegate Entitlement for PSAC Atlantic Triennial Convention
5. Resolution B11 Non-Treasury Board/Separate Employer
Resolution B3 – Roles and Responsibilities of the Atlantic Regional Council
m/s Colleen Hodder Sandy Harquail
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in By-Law Resolution B3 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Section 6, Sub-Section (4) be amended to include a section (c) to read as follows:
(c) attend as an observer all Atlantic Regional Council Meetings.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT all necessary changes to the Atlantic Regional Council By-Laws be enacted to reflect this change.
RATIONALE
The Committee feels that it is important that the Alternate REVP be well aware and up-to-date on all Regional Council business in order to effectively carry out the expected responsibilities of the REVP when the need arises.
m/s Doug Gaetz Donna Gourley
That this resolution be referred back to the Committee with instructions to change the wording on (c) to read attend as an observer toall Atlantic Regional Council Meetings.
MOTION TO REFER DEFEATED.
MAIN MOTION ON RESOLUTION B3 CARRIED.
Resolution B7 – Election of Officers at the PSAC Atlantic Regional Triennial Convention
m/s Colleen Hodder Sandy Harquail
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in By-Law Resolution B7 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the title of Section 10 be changed to Election of Officers at the PSAC Atlantic Regional Triennial Convention; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a new Section (10), Sub-Section (8), Sub-Section (9) and Sub-Section (10) be created to read as follows:
Sub-Section (8) – Nomination and Election of the Atlantic Regional Council Directors and Alternates
(a) Election Procedures for Atlantic Regional Council Directors:
(i) All nominees for elected office shall be members in good standing of the PSAC Atlantic Region.
(ii) The elections shall be by secret ballot. A blank ballot paper shall be distributed to all voting delegates for each office in turn, as it is called. Each voting delegate shall write on the ballot paper the name of their choice for the Director or Alternate from among the nominees.
(iii) The election for Director and two Alternates shall be declared only on receipt of a clear majority of the ballots cast with standings revealed to voting delegates after each ballot. In the event that more than two (2) nominees stand for election for any one office, the election procedure shall be by way of elimination.
(iv) The Director and Alternates shall be sworn in and take office at the end of the Atlantic Regional Triennial Convention.
(b) The above procedures apply to the following positions on the Atlantic Regional Council:
(i) The Provincial Directors and their Alternates shall be nominated and elected in caucus at the Atlantic Region Triennial Convention by delegates from the province they are to represent.
(ii) The Maritime Women’s Director and Newfoundland and Labrador Women’s Director and their Alternates shall be elected in caucus at the PSAC Atlantic Regional Triennial Convention by the women delegates from their regions at Convention.
(iii) The Directors and their Alternates for Aboriginal Members, Members with Disabilities, Racially Visible Members and Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, and Transgendered Members shall be nominated and elected in caucus at the Atlantic Regional Triennial Convention by delegates who have self-identified prior to the caucus as being a member of their respective Equity Group.
(iv) The Maritime Non-Treasury Board Director and Newfoundland and Labrador Non-Treasury Board Director and their Alternates shall be nominated and elected in caucus at the Atlantic Regional Triennial Convention by delegates representing Non-Treasury Board members which includes Directly Chartered Locals from their regions at Convention.
(v) The Youth Director and her/his Alternates shall be nominated and elected in caucus at the Atlantic Regional Triennial Convention by members ages 30 and under within the Atlantic Region.
(vi) The Francophone Director and her/his Alternates shall be nominated and elected in caucus at the Atlantic Regional Triennial Convention by francophone delegates within the Atlantic Region.
Sub-Section (9)
In the event that a position on the PSAC Atlantic Regional Council is not filled at Convention, the Regional Executive Vice-President shall fill the vacancy and that of the Alternate in accordance with the following procedures:
(i) Nominations shall be called for from amongst all eligible Atlantic Region PSAC members from the constituency group in question who are in good standing.
(ii) Nominations shall be called for not more than sixty (60) days from the closing of Convention.
(iii) If an election is necessary, it shall be conducted by the Regional Executive Vice-President, in accordance with the procedures adopted by the PSAC Atlantic Council, except that only those members from the constituency group in question who were eligible for delegate status as per Section 8 of these By-Laws will be entitled to vote.
(iv) In the event that there were no delegates at Convention from the constituency group in question, then those members who could have been eligible for delegate status, as per Section 8 of the By-Laws, will be entitled to vote.
Sub-Section (10)
a) In the event of a vacancy in an office of a PSAC Atlantic Council Director, the vacancy shall be filled with the alternate for that position.
b) With the exception of the alternate to the Regional Executive Vice-President, a vacancy in the position of an Alternate occurring six (6) months or more prior to the next PSAC Atlantic Regional Convention shall be held in accordance with the following procedure:
(i) Nominations shall be called for from amongst all eligible Atlantic Region PSAC members from the constituency group in question who are in good standing.
(ii) A period of not more than sixty (60) days from the date of notice of the vacancy shall elapse and the Regional Executive Vice-President shall ensure that the nominees are members in good standing.
(iii) If an election is necessary, it shall be conducted by the Regional Executive Vice-President in accordance with the procedures adopted by the PSAC Atlantic Regional Council except that only those delegates that were entitled to vote for that position at the last Regional Convention and that are still in good standing shall be eligible to vote.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT all necessary changes to the PSAC Atlantic Regional Council By-Laws be enacted to reflect this change.
RATIONALE
The Committee feels the current By-Laws are silent on the election process for each Council Director and Alternates. This will establish the process in writing.
m/s Randy Ford Bill Pynn
That this resolution be referred back to the Committee with the following instructions: Section 8 (a) (ii) and (iii) – that we change the word ballot to read
vote.
MOTION TO REFER CARRIED.
The Committee met on the above referral and agreed to change the word “ballot” to “vote”. Furthermore, the Committee recommends to delete all references to a “ballot paper” in Section 10, Sub-Section 8 (a) (ii) and rephrase that paragraph accordingly. Therefore, the Committee recommends CONCURRENCE on Amended Resolution B7 to add a new Sub-Section 8 (a) as follows:
Sub-Section (8) – Nomination and Election of the Atlantic Regional Council Directors and Alternates
(a) Election Procedures for Atlantic Regional Council Directors
(i) All nominees for elected office shall be members in good standing of the PSAC Atlantic Region.
(ii) The elections shall be by secret vote. Each voting delegate shall vote forthe name of their choice for the Director or Alternate from among the nominees.
(iii) The election for Director and two Alternates shall be declared only on receipt of a clear majority of the votes cast with standings revealed to voting delegates after each vote. In the event that more than two (2) nominees stand for election for any one office, the election procedure shall be by way of elimination.
(iv) The Director and Alternates shall be sworn in and take office at the end of the Atlantic Regional Triennial Convention.
MOTION, AS AMENDED, CARRIED WITH THE NECESSARY 2/3 MAJORITY.
PSAC National President’s Address
Sister Baldwin called upon Dana Bailey, Director for Racially Visible Members, to
introduce the PSAC National President, Brother John Gordon.
National President John Gordon was first elected on May 5, 2006 at the PSAC’s 14th Triennial National Convention in Toronto. Delegates re-elected him at the union’s 2009 Convention. He had been the Union’s National Executive Vice-President since 2000.
Gordon is the union’s chief executive officer, overseeing the day-to-day affairs of the union with overall responsibility for the administration of PSAC’s Branches and for PSAC Holdings Ltd. As the National President, he deals with Component complaints and jurisdictional issues. He is responsible for guiding PSAC’s legislative reform work and for coordinating the union’s position on legislation that affects PSAC members.
As the National President, John shares responsibility for many union activities such as elections, Think Public, Campaigns and Political Action, PSAC’s Social Justice Fund, PSAC’s communications strategy and much more. He also sits on many committees.
Before his election as the PSAC’s National Executive Vice-President in 2000, John was the National President of the former Union of Public Works Employees (UPWE) component (now the Government Services Union) from 1982 to 1999. A PSAC activist since 1974 when he joined the federal public sector as a tradesperson with Public Works Canada, John held a variety of union positions in UPWE.
John addressed the Convention delegation. (Appendix B)
Resolution B19 – RWC Delegate Seats to PSAC Atlantic Triennial Convention
m/s Colleen Hodder Sandy Harquail
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in By-Law Resolution B19 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT each Regional Women’s Committee be granted one delegate seat at the PSAC Atlantic Triennial Convention.
RATIONALE
The Committee feels that allowing one delegate seat per Regional Women’s Committee (RWC) will increase the representation of women at the Convention and would allow Regional Women’s Committees (RWCs) to be on par with Area Councils who currently receive one delegate seat per Area Council.
NOTE
Brother Jody LaPierre voted against the Committee’s recommendation.
m/s Debbie Kelly Michelle Little
That we take a standing vote.
Results
Yes 120
No 104
Number of votes required 150
MOTION DEFEATED FOR LACK OF 2/3 MAJORITY.
Resolution B13 – Young Worker Delegate Entitlement for PSAC Atlantic Triennial Convention
m/s Colleen Hodder Sandy Harquail
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in By-Law Resolution B13 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT a sub-section be added to include young workers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this new sub-section specifies that one young worker delegate from each of the four Atlantic provinces has a seat as a delegate to the PSAC Regional Convention to represent young workers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT all necessary changes to the Atlantic Regional Council By-Laws be enacted to reflect this change.
RATIONALE
The Committee feels that the addition of this sub-section will provide consistency on entitlement of delegates. Furthermore, the Committee recommends adding this in a new Section 8, Sub-Section (8).
Madonna Gardener requested a standing vote.
Results
Yes 144
No 55
Number of votes required 133
MOTION CARRIED WITH NECESSARY 2/3 MAJORITY.
Point of privilege – Raymond Simard
The Halifax HR Committee is working on a shoe box program led by Sister Deborah Young. Tickets will be sold in hospitality suites, and money raised will help expedite the shoe boxes.
Resolution B11 – Non-Treasury Board/Separate Employer
m/s Colleen Hodder Sandy Harquail
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in By-Law Resolution B11 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT in Section 6, Sub-Section (9) the current title of Director for Non-Treasury be amended to read Director for Non-Treasury Board/Separate Employer; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT all necessary changes to the PSAC Atlantic Regional Council By-Laws be enacted to reflect this change.
RATIONALE
The Committee feels that this change to the wording of the Director title is more inclusive and representative of all the separate employers that they represent, including Directly Chartered Locals (DCLs) in the Atlantic.
MOTION CARRIED WITH NECESSARY 2/3 MAJORITY.
m/s Brett Evans Shanny Doucet
That Resolution B17 be dealt with after Resolution B8.
MOTION CARRIED.
Resolution B8 – Alternates to Directors of Council
m/s Colleen Hodder Sandy Harquail
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in By-Law Resolution B8 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Section 7, Sub-Section (3) (d) be amended to read as follows:
(d) elect the Directors on the Atlantic Regional Council (as outlined in Section 4) and Alternates to these positions as follows:
· first (1st) and second (2nd) Alternates for all Directors of Council and be a PSAC member in good standing
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT all necessary changes to the Atlantic Regional Council By-Laws be enacted to reflect this change.
RATIONALE
The Committee feels that this will bring consistency since the Directors of each province already have two (2) Alternates as per Section 7, Sub-Section (3) (d), and this would save time and money when a vacancy occurs.
MOTION CARRIED WITH NECESSARY 2/3 MAJORITY.
Resolution B17 – Branch Presidents to be Recognized as National Officers in the Atlantic Region
m/s Colleen Hodder Sandy Harquail
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of NON-CONCURRENCE in By-Law Resolution B17 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Section 8, Sub-Section (5) be amended as follows:
All Component National Officers/Branch Presidents who are members of an Atlantic Region Local shall be entitled to attend the Triennial PSAC Atlantic Regional Convention as delegates;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT all necessary changes to the PSAC Atlantic Regional By-Laws be enacted to reflect this change.
RATIONALE
The Committee feels that the PSAC National President has already ruled that the Branch Presidents are not equivalent to National Officers to attend the PSAC National Triennial Convention; therefore they should not be treated as such.
MOTION CARRIED WITH NECESSARY 2/3 MAJORITY.
Atlantic Voice Award
At this point, Sister Colleen Hodder assumed the Chair. The Women of the Maritime Director, Sister Rhonda Doyle-LeBlanc assisted her.
The Atlantic Council decided to establish an award that would acknowledge the exemplary service of our members. The Atlantic Voice Award recognizes members who go above and beyond in their dedication to the labour movement, in their activism and in their leadership, stewardship and mentorship.
Sister Hodder presented the Atlantic Voice Awards to the following members:
Robert Lewis, PSAC Local 90500
Jim Hondas, USGE Local 60128
Lori Walton, GSU Local 80052
Steve Maund, UEW Local 90168
Winston Jenkins, Agriculture Local 90076
Wilfrid Mackinnon, CEIU Local 80226
Deborah Young, Agriculture Local 80002
The following recipient could not attend the Convention, but an award will be presented to her:
Christine Mackenzie, USGE Local 80073
At this point, Sister Baldwin resumed the Chair and Gaby Levesque made the announcements.
Saturday, June 25, 2011 – am session
Sister Baldwin welcomed everyone to day two of the 5th PSAC Atlantic Convention. She asked for a round of applause to the Host Committee for the organization of a wonderful evening.
She recognized the tireless NDP Members of Parliament who once again continued their filibuster all through the night to delay back-to-work legislation for our Sisters and Brothers at CUPW.
She reminded delegates that a recess would be called at 11:15 a.m. to march to the harbour front for the protest on the closure of the Search and Rescue Sub-Office.
Gaby made some announcements prior to the beginning of the session.
Credentials Committee Report
m/s Rick Cormier Johane Walsh
That the following Credentials Committee report be adopted:
Delegates 267
Guests 22
Observers 41
TOTAL 330
MOTION CARRIED.
By-Laws Committee
Resolution B12 – Young Workers’ Director
m/s Colleen Hodder Sandy Harquail
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in By-Law Resolution B12 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Youth Director be replaced with Young Workers’ Director in the PSAC Atlantic By-Laws; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Section 6 include a new Sub-Section (10) that reads as follows:
Sub-Section (10) Young Workers’ Director
(a) attend meetings of the PSAC Atlantic Regional Council and the Triennial PSAC Atlantic Convention;
(b) submit a written report of her/his activities to the PSAC Atlantic Regional Council;
(c) ensure and promote representation of the interest of young PSAC workers in various union bodies, programs and social justice groups;
(d) serve on Atlantic Regional Council Committees and/or perform other roles and responsibilities as determined by the Atlantic Regional Council.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT all necessary changes to the PSAC Atlantic Regional Council By-Laws be enacted to reflect this change.
RATIONALE
The Committee feels this will bring consistency in the wording of our By-Laws. All other Directors on Council already have roles and responsibilities listed in the By-Laws.
MOTION CARRIED WITH NECESSARY 2/3 MAJORITY.
Resolution B9 – Quorum
m/s Colleen Hodder Sandy Harquail
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in By-Law Resolution B9 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Section 5 (d) be amended to read as follows:
(d) For decision-making purposes, a quorum shall consist of the REVP or the A/REVP and a simple majority of the Atlantic Regional Council; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT all necessary changes to the Atlantic Regional Council By-Laws be enacted to reflect this change.
RATIONALE
The Committee feels this clarification of quorum is needed, and clarifies the need to have the REVP or A/REVP present to have quorum and to hold meetings.
MOTION CARRIED WITH NECESSARY 2/3 MAJORITY.
Resolution B4 – Committees of Council
m/s Colleen Hodder Sandy Harquail
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in By-Law Resolution B4 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Section 11, Sub-Section (1) be amended to read:
(a) The PSAC Atlantic Regional Council shall establish the following Committees:
(1) Education
(2) Finance
(3) Women
(4) Human Rights
(5) Health, Safety and Environment
(6) Political Action
RATIONALE
The Committee feels these Committees are already established and report at Council. It was seen as a housekeeping issue to add it to the By-Laws in writing.
MOTION CARRIED WITH NECESSARY 2/3 MAJORITY.
Resolution B14 – Alternate to the Regional Executive Vice-President (REVP)
m/s Colleen Hodder Sandy Harquail
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in By-Law Resolution B14 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Section 7, Sub-Section 3 (c) be amended to read as follows:
(c) Elect the REVP Atlantic and two Alternates to the REVP Atlantic.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the First (1st) Alternate REVP attend all Atlantic Regional Council meetings as an observer.
RATIONALE
The Committee recommends concurrence for the addition of the second Alternate as this would provide time and cost savings in the case of an Alternate REVP being required. It will also provide consistency in the By-Laws.
The intent of the 2nd “Be it resolved” is to clarify that only the 1st Alternate would attend as observer if Resolution # B3 is carried.
MOTION CARRIED WITH NECESSARY 2/3 MAJORITY.
Resolution B6 – Representation and Voting at the PSAC Atlantic Triennial Convention
m/s Colleen Hodder Sandy Harquail
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in By-Law Resolution B6 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Section 8, Sub-Section (1) be amended as follows:
(1) Each Local or Branch shall be entitled to one delegate up to the first 200 members and one additional delegate for each additional 100 members or any part thereof. Sending bodies shall provide a copy of the monthly report confirming their membership numbers in any one of the twelve (12) months preceding the call-out to the PSAC Atlantic Regional Triennial Convention in order to determine their delegate entitlement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT all necessary changes to the PSAC Atlantic Regional Council By-Laws be enacted to reflect this change.
RATIONALE
The Committee feels this would provide better representation for Components/Directly Chartered Locals (DCLs) with a large number of seasonal employees.
This process is currently practiced in the Atlantic Region and the By-Laws are silent on this issue. As a region we must ensure that locals are provided their delegate entitlement based on the maximum membership in any one of the twelve months preceding the call-out.
Further, this resolution, by no means, suggests some Components/ Directly Chartered Locals (DCLs) would get fewer delegates.
MOTION CARRIED WITH NECESSARY 2/3 MAJORITY.
Resolution B5 – Council Minutes and Directors’ Reports
m/s Colleen Hodder Sandy Harquail
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in By-Law Resolution B5 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Section 6, Sub-Section (2) (f) be changed to read as follows:
(f) Minutes of all Atlantic Regional Council meetings shall be posted on the Atlantic Regional website no later than 60 days from the date that meeting is held.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT all necessary changes to the Atlantic Regional Council By-Laws be enacted to reflect this change.
RATIONALE
The Committee feels that the current forty-five (45) day timeframe is not practical. It does not provide enough time for translation and approval from all Council members.
The only intent of this resolution is to increase the timeframe from forty-five (45) days to sixty (60) days.
m/s Doug Gaetz Rose Pitre
That this Resolution be referred back to the Committee with instructions to including Directors’ Reports.
The Committee met and agreed with the recommendation. The amended Be it Resolved now reads as follows:
(f) Minutes of all Atlantic Regional Council meetings and Directors’ Reportsshall be posted on the Atlantic Regional website no later than 60 days from the date that meeting is held.
MOTION, AS AMENDED, CARRIED WITH THE NECESSARY 2/3 MAJORITY.
Resolution B2 – Council Responsibility for Convention
m/s Colleen Hodder Sandy Harquail
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in By-Law Resolution B2 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Section 7, Sub-Section (1) (c) and (d) be added to read as follows:
(c) The Atlantic Regional Council shall be responsible for the production and distribution of the PSAC Atlantic Triennial Convention proceedings to all Convention delegates, locals/branches, Regional Women’s Committees, equity-seeking group Committees and Area Councils, within six months of Convention.
(d) The Atlantic Regional Council shall issue a call to Convention to all appropriate bodies, not less than 4 months prior to the date of the PSAC Atlantic Triennial Convention. Such a Convention call shall include the final date for receipt of resolutions from the appropriate bodies.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT all necessary changes to the Atlantic Regional Council By-Laws be enacted to reflect this change.
RATIONALE
The Committee feels this is already the current practice and is not reflected in the current By-Laws and it is a housekeeping issue. Section 7, Sub-Section (1) does not currently have (c) and (d).
MOTION CARRIED WITH NECESSARY 2/3 MAJORITY.
Resolution B10 – Union-Management Committee
m/s Colleen Hodder Sandy Harquail
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in By-Law Resolution B10 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT Section 11, Sub-Section (1) Union-Management Committee be deleted.
RATIONALE
The Committee feels that Resolution B10 is covered in Resolution B4 and the Union-Management Committee no longer exists.
MOTION CARRIED WITH NECESSARY 2/3 MAJORITY.
At this point, Sister Baldwin shared the following sad news with delegates. A tragedy just happened at the Search and Rescue Centre in St. Anthony.
One crew member has been pronounced dead after being pulled from a fishing boat that was in distress some 65 kilometres east of St. Anthony, N.L., on Friday.
Four others were rescued. Northern Peninsula District RCMP says the St. John’s Marine Search and Rescue received a call for help around 10:30 p.m. Coast guard vessels from St. Anthony and St. John’s as well as a search and rescue helicopter from Gander were dispatched. A nearby boat rescued all but one. The remaining member of the crew was later recovered by the helicopter. The RCMP says he was non-responsive and later pronounced dead. His name has not been released.
m/s Lynette Robinson Ann Scanlon
That General Resolution G38 be discussed after Resolution G1.
MOTION CARRIED.
Point of Privilege – Debbie Forsythe
Agriculture Union will match the $2,000 for Shannen’s Dream.
General Resolutions Committee
Resolution G24 – Strike Pay
m/s Angela Decker Tania Haché
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in General Resolution G24 which reads as follows:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the UNDE Locals 90125 and 90103, in Goose Bay, Labrador, which is a Zone A community, will receive strike pay at a rate of $100 per day and that all PSAC Locals with members working in Zone A or Zone B will receive strike pay of $100 or $75 respectively.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT PSAC Regulation 6, Strike Pay, be amended to reflect the Resolution CS-74 mentioned above.
RATIONALE
Although the resolution stated that PSAC members living in Zone A, as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency, would receive a higher rate of strike pay, PSAC Regulation 6, Strike Pay, only includes members living in the Northern Territories. We need consistency; Zone A should be Zone A.
m/s Doug Gaetz Dawn Hardy
That this Resolution be referred back to the Committee with the following instructions in the Therefore Be it Resolved … working in Zone A and Zone B will receive strike pay of $100.
MOTION TO REFER CARRIED.
m/s Randy Clark Stephanie Ehler
That this Resolution be referred back to the Committee with the following instructions: remove the following words the UNDE Locals 90125 and 90103, in Goose Bay, Labrador, which is a Zone A community, will receive strike pay at a rate of $100 per day and that…
MOTION TO REFER CARRIED.
The Committee met and agreed with the referrals. The Committee recommends CONCURRENCE in amended Resolution G24 which now reads as follows:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT all PSAC members working in Zone A and Zone B will receive strike pay of $100.
m/s Anne Little Bernie Bolger
That the previous question be now put.
MOTION CARRIED.
A standing vote was requested.
Yes 147
No 59
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED CARRIED.
Resolution G1– Resolution for Funding Applicable to PSAC Regional Conventions
m/s Angela Decker Tania Haché
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of NON-CONCURRENCE in General Resolution G1 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the PSAC Atlantic Region submit to the next PSAC National Convention, a resolution requesting full funding based on population for PSAC delegates to attend Regional PSAC Conventions, to be paid by the PSAC; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the funding formula is based on Component and Direct Charter Locals population as follows: 1 delegate for the first 200 members and 1 delegate for every 100 or part thereafter; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the PSAC fully fund 1 delegate for each of the following recognized bodies: Regional Women’s Committees, Human Rights Committees, Area Councils, and any other bodies approved and recognized by the PSAC.
RATIONALE
The Committee believes it is important to review all options in an attempt to provide full funding for delegates given the considerable resources needed for implementation.
m/s Jeannette Manuel-Allain Jim Hondas
That this Resolution be referred back to the Committee with instructions to divide the three Be it Resolved.
MOTION TO REFER DEFEATED.
m/s Kim Coles Dave Clow
That the previous question be now put.
The Chair requested a standing vote on the previous question.
Yes 135
No 81
MOTION TO PUT THE PREVIOUS QUESTION CARRIED.
Rose Pitre requested a standing vote on the main motion.
Yes 171
No 66
MAIN MOTION OF NON-CONCURRENCE CARRIED.
Point of privilege – Wayne Fagan
Brother Fagan explained the search and rescue situation and why the rally was being organized.
Resolution G38 – Definition of Youth
m/s Angela Decker Tania Haché
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of NON-CONCURRENCE in General Resolution G38 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT PSAC redefine youth as 35 and under, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this resolution be sent to the PSAC 2012 Triennial Convention.
RATIONALE
The Committee believes that the shortage of young workers participating in the union would be better addressed through more active recruitment and mobilization of young workers in workplaces, not by increasing the age in our definition of young worker.
m/s Valerie Quinn Donna Lamy
That the previous question be now called.
MOTION CARRIED.
MAIN MOTION OF NON-CONCURRENCE DEFEATED.
m/s Debbie Forsythe Randy Ford
That Convention adopt CONCURRENCE on Resolution G38.
MOTION CARRIED.
Saturday, June 25, 2011 – pm session
Election Process
At this point, PSAC NEVP Patty Ducharme explained the election process.
Elections will be held for the REVP position as well as the two Alternate REVP positions.
Then, Convention recessed at 11:15 for the demo at the harbour front to show this federal government what we think of its cuts, and Convention reconvened at 1:30.
Sister Baldwin mentioned that guests Mark Brunell, National President, GSU and Paul Ducey, former REVP Atlantic Region, had joined the Convention.
Credentials Committee Report
m/s Rick Cormier Joanne Walsh
That the following Credentials Committee Report be adopted:
Delegates 268
Guests 23
Observers 42
TOTAL 333
MOTION CARRIED.
Elections
Sister Baldwin called upon PSAC National Executive Vice-President, Sister Patty Ducharme, to chair the elections of the Atlantic Regional Executive Vice-President and Alternates.
The Elections Committee was comprised of the following members:
Patty Ducharme, NEVP and Chair
Heather Ford, UTE
Theresa MacInnis, CEIU
The Committee met and received written nominations.
Because of technical difficulties, electronic voting could not be done. Therefore, the election process had to be reverted back to paper ballot.
Regional Executive Vice-President Position
Two written nominations forms were received:
Jeannie Baldwin, nominated by Debbie Phillips seconded by Bill Pynn
Brian MacDonald, nominated by Debbie Graham seconded by Donna MacDonald
Sister Ducharme called for further nominations from the floor. As there were no further nominations, she asked Brian MacDonald and Jeannie Baldwin to address the delegates.
Following the presentations, delegates voted, and staff proceeded to count the ballots.
While the ballots were being counted, Sister Baldwin resumed the Chair.
General Resolutions Committee
Resolution G2 –Volunteers in the Workplace
m/s Angela Decker Tania Haché
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in General Resolution G2 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT within sixty days of this Convention, the Public Service Alliance of Canada implement an aggressive action plan including court action to oppose volunteers and protect bargaining unit work.
RATIONALE
The Committee believes all bargaining work should be protected.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Resolution G3 – Organizing of Lost Bargaining Unit Work
m/s Angela Decker Tania Haché
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in General Resolution G3 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT within sixty days of this Convention, the Public Service Alliance of Canada commence an organizing drive to reclaim all lost bargaining unit work.
RATIONALE
The Committee believes all bargaining work should be protected.
MOTION CARRIED.
Results of the Elections for the REVP
At this point, Sister Patty Ducharme resumed the Chair.
She reported 268 accredited delegates.
Ballots cast 267
Spoiled ballot 1
Jeannie Baldwin 170
Brian MacDonald 96
Therefore, Sister Jeannie Baldwin has been declared the Regional Executive Vice-President for the Atlantic Region and re-elected to her position.
Brother Brian MacDonald thanked Jeannie for a great campaign.
First Alternate Regional Executive Vice-President
Two written nominations have been received for the office of First Alternate Regional Executive Vice-President.
Raymond Simard, nominated by Peter Holland and seconded by Wayne Fagan
Brian Oldford, nominated by Miles States and seconded by Tania Haché
Then, nominations from the floor were called.
Sister Angela Decker, nominated by Laurie Walton and seconded by Geri LeBlanc.
Brother Brian MacDonald, nominated by Shirley Ryan and seconded by Dennis Sheppard.
Brian MacDonald declined the nomination.
Angela Decker, Raymond Simard and Brian Olford agreed to stand for office should they be elected and addressed the delegates.
Then the delegation proceeded to vote.
While the ballots were being counted, Sister Baldwin resumed the Chair.
General Resolutions Committee
Resolution G4 – Creating DCL Component
m/s Angela Decker Tania Haché
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in General Resolution G4 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT members who have employers and work of common interest i.e. University Sectors and Commissionaires who have aggregated memberships of 2500, shall be organized to form a component, with all rights and privileges, as per the PSAC Constitution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this Resolution be forwarded to PSAC Convention.
RATIONALE
The Committee believes that having a Component would provide Directly Chartered Locals with more structure and give them autonomy, voice and vote.
MOTION DEFEATED.
Results of the Elections for the 1st Ballot – First Alternate REVP
Sister Ducharme resumed the Chair.
Ballots cast 257
Spoiled ballot 1
Required number for simple majority – 129
Brian Oldford 125
Angela Decker 101
Raymond Simard 30
2nd Ballot for First Alternate REVP
Raymond Simard was dropped from the list.
Delegates proceeded to vote. While the ballots were being counted, Sister Baldwin resumed the Chair, and Gaby made some announcements.
Results of the Elections for the 2nd Ballot – First Alternate REVP
Sister Ducharme resumed the Chair.
Ballots cast 257
Spoiled ballot 0
Required number for simple majority – 129
Brian Oldford 142
Angela Decker 115
Brother Brian Oldford was therefore declared First Alternate REVP for the Atlantic Region.
Both Brian and Angela thanked the delegates.
Second Alternate Regional Executive Vice-President
No written nominations were received.
Sister Ducharme then called nominations from the floor.
Sister Dawn Hardy, nominated by Debi Buell and seconded by Madonna Gardener.
Brother Robert Lewis, nonimated by Martha Wells and seconded by Alejandro Chavez-Fernandez.
Sister Angela Decker, nominated by Pierre Mochon and seconded by Margaret John.
Roma MacDonald, nominated by Debbie Kelly and seconded by Rose-Marie Richard.
Patty declared nominations closed and asked each nominated delegate in reverse order if they wish to stand.
Roma MacDonald and Angela Decker respectfully declined the nominations.
Robert Lewis and Dawn Hardy accepted to stand.
Then Brother Lewis and Sister Hardy addressed the delegates.
While ballots are being counted, Sister Baldwin resumed the Chair.
General Resolutions Committee
Resolution G5 – Save the National Philatelic Centre and Canada Post Contact Centres in Canada
m/s Angela Decker Tania Haché
That the Convention adopt the Committee’s recommendation of CONCURRENCE in General Resolution G5 which reads as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the REVP Atlantic and the Atlantic Regional Council communicate its strong objection to Canada Post decision in writing to the Canada Post Board of Directors, and call for an immediate reversal of the decision to outsource more than 350 positions at the Contact Centres in Fredericton, Ottawa, Edmonton and Winnipeg, as well as the National Philatelic Centre in Antigonish.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the PSAC Atlantic Region organize a one day rally in all major centers or cities of the Atlantic Region to protest the federal government’s decision to contract our public sector jobs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the PSAC Atlantic call on the Nova Scotia/New Brunswick Federations of Labour to initiate a campaign on job loss using the Antigonish National Philatelic Centre/Fredericton Call Centre “outsourcing” as a focal point for the campaign.
RATIONALE
The Committee believes this is an attack on public services and jobs, and that we need to do everything possible to protect the jobs in our region.
The Committee also notes that as per the first Be it Resolved, the Atlantic Council endorsed this recommendation at a previous PSAC Atlantic Council meeting. A letter has already been sent to the Canada Post Board of Directors calling for the immediate reversal of the out sourcing of these positions.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Results of the Elections for the Second Alternate REVP
Patty Ducharme resumed the Chair.
Ballots cast 238
Spoiled ballot 1
Required number for simple majority – 114
Dawn Hardy 139
Robert Lewis 88
Therefore, Sister Dawn Hardy has been declared Second Alternate to the Regional Executive Vice-President for the Atlantic Region.
m/s Michelle Little Sandy Harquail
That the ballots be destroyed.
MOTION CARRIED.
Sister Baldwin resumed the Chair and delegates proceeded to their respective Regional Council elections.
Election Results
Director, Non-Treasury Board Members – Maritimes
Brian Orfold elected as Director, Non-Treasury Board Members – Maritimes without opposition.
1st Alternate – John Ivany
2nd Alternate – Glenn Steele
Director, Non-Treasury Board Members – Newfoundland & Labrador
Corinna Harding elected as Director, Non-Treasury Board Members – Newfoundland and Labrador without opposition.
1st Alternate – Robert Lewis
2nd Alternate – Bill Bennett
Director, Francophone Members
Shanny Doucet elected as Director, Francophone Members.
1st Alternate – Pierre Mochon
2nd Alternate – Marie-Ange Losier
Director, Members with Disabilities
Ann Fagan-Wood elected as Director, Members with Disabilities.
1st Alternate – Pat Kilbride
2nd Alternate – Anne Little
Director, Racially Visible Members
Dana Bailey elected as Director, Racially Visible Members.
1st Alternate – Dina Crawley
2nd Alternate – Chris Lansdell
Director, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Members
Sandy Harquail elected as Director for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Members.
1st Alternate – Raymond Yoland Simard
2nd Alternate – Allyson Hickman
Director, Youth Members
André Beaulieu elected as Director, Youth Members.
1st Alternate – Stacey Evans Warder
2nd Alternate – Allyson Hickman
Director, Aboriginal Members
Charlene Vidito-Milne elected as Director, Aboriginal Members.
1st Alternate – Robert Saunders
2nd Alternate – Sue Ann Sullivan
Sunday, June 26, 2011 – am session
Delegates were reminded to return their lanyards and translation devices.
Credentials Committee Report
m/s Rick Cormier Joanne Walsh
That the following Credentials Committee Report be adopted:
Delegates 268
Guests 20
Observers 40
TOTAL 328
MOTION CARRIED.
Election Results
Sister Baldwin provided the names of newly-elected officers of the Atlantic Regional Council as follows:
Director for Women, Maritimes
Rhonda Doyle-LeBlanc elected as Director for Women, Maritimes.
1st Alternate – Angela Davison
2nd Alternate – Michelle Little
Director for Women, Newfoundland & Labrador
Angela Decker elected as Director for Women, Newfoundland & Labrador.
1st Alternate – Madonna Gardener
2nd Alternate – Linda Wilcox
Provincial Directors, New Brunswick
Darlene Bembridge and Jim Honda elected as Provincial Directors, New Brunswick.
1st Alternate – Rose Pitre
2nd Alternate – Mike LeBlanc
Provincial Directors, Nova Scotia
Chris Diliberatore and Lori Walton elected as Provincial Directors, Nova Scotia.
1st Alternate – Drake Clarke
2nd Alternate – Helen Zebedee
Provincial Directors, Prince Edward Island
Jody Lapierre and Dawn Hardy elected as Provincial Directors, Prince Edward Island.
1st Alternate – Peter Murphy
2nd Alternate – Heather Ford
Provincial Directors, Newfoundland & Labrador
Melissa Hyde and Bill Walsh elected as Provincial Directors, Newfoundland & Labrador.
1st Alternate – Sue Ann Sullivan
2nd Alternate – Robert Lewis
Then, Patty Ducharme administered the oath of office to the newly-elected Atlantic Regional Council members and their alternates.
m/s Jane McDonald Carolyn Allen
That the ballots from the Council elections be destroyed.
MOTION CARRIED.
m/s Nancy Rogers Mark Power
That all unfinished business from this Convention be referred to the newly-elected Atlantic Region Council.
Before closing, REVP Baldwin extended her thanks to the interpreters and to the hotel staff for all their tireless work.
She thanked and congratulated the organizing committee and the host committee. She also thanked all PSAC staff from the Atlantic Region and the national office. Last, but most importantly, she thanked the delegates for making this a productive and powerful Convention!
She then invited elder Emma Reelis to do the Aboriginal closing of the Convention.
m/s Sandy Harquail Rick Cormier
That Convention be adjourned.
MOTION CARRIED.
TIME: 12:30 P.M.
Appendix A
Address of the REVP to the Atlantic Convention 2011
Sisters and Brothers,
Welcome again to this great city of St. John’s, the capital of the place we call the Rock. Here in the Atlantic Region, we’re rock solid and I hope you’re all ready to rock!
For the next three days, each of us has been entrusted by the members we represent to debate issues that matter, make decisions, and set the direction for our Region and our union for the next three years.
That’s a serious task and a big responsibility.
But having had the privilege of leading this region over the last three years, and having seen our region and our members in action, I’m confident that we are up to the task.
Our solidarity is our strength, and in that respect, we have a region and a union we can be proud of.
We have a region where members are active, mobilized and engaged.
When it comes to defending our members’ jobs and the quality public services you deliver, we’re not scared to rock the boat.
We fought to keep the lighthouses staffed, and we won.
We lobbied hard at every turn and every opportunity to keep the long-gun registry. We won round one and will likely lose round two, but our members stuck together and rocked a few boats.
We delivered on the PSAC’s Hands Off our Pensions campaign. In fact, we hand delivered 100,000 petitions to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty in Crowbush, PEI.
We mobilized against Bill C-10, the wage rollbacks and the gutting of pay equity.
We spoke out for women’s equality and against Harper’s policies of inequality.
We rallied around the Think Public Campaign. The campaign to save the Philatelic Centre in Antigonish. The Save Our Farms campaign. The No-Zones campaign, which finally led to the elimination of regional rates of pay for Treasury Board members at the SV table.
We are now fighting to save the search and rescue dispatch centre right here in St. John’s, and we’ll be in the streets tomorrow doing just that.
We have a region that pulls together and walks the walk, in solidarity, on picket lines. Our members were there with our Brothers and Sisters during the 2008 UPCE strike, the 2009 Serco strike in Goose Bay, Labrador, and more recently with our Sisters and Brothers at CAW and CUPW.
Our solidarity is our strength.
We have a region that takes political action seriously, from Signal Hill to Parliament Hill. We’re not scared to rock a few boats. I’m proud to say that our MPs in all four Atlantic provinces know PSAC members. And we know them on a first-name basis. Some of them try to run from us, but they can’t hide!
We have a region that has made our vote count during the last two federal elections. The Atlantic Council, together with our Area Councils and Regional Committees, got our message at town-hall meetings, all-candidates meetings, in mail-outs and at demos: Hands off our public services. Stop blaming the workers for the financial crisis we didn’t create.
We have a region that is involved in social justice and in our communities.
We have a region with young workers ready to rock and roll, and to rock their union. We’ve organized new young workers in the university sector. Their energy and dedication is second to none. In 2009, we held our first-ever young workers’ retreat, and I can tell you that our young workers are not going away – they are here to stay and that’s something we can be proud of.
And it’s a good thing we’ve built a strong region, because we will need each other more than ever before to confront the new political reality. We will need our solidarity to be our strength.
It hasn’t been two months since he has a majority, and Stephen Harper is already showing off his hatred of Unions and of workers, especially public sector workers.
The ticket agents at CAW had only been out for less than a day before his government introduced back-to-work legislation. And it was bad. A tentative agreement was reached just in time to avoid it.
As we speak, Parliament is debating another piece of regressive back-to-work legislation that targets members of CUPW working at Canada Post. Make no mistake; Canada Post was never intent on negotiating a collective agreement that is fair and sustainable for CUPW.
This very profitable Crown Corporation wanted a two-tiered wage system and wants to slash sick leave. This back-to-work legislation – with final offer arbitration based on industry working conditions and flexibility for Canada Post – will deliver a reformed Corporation built on an anti-union and anti-worker ideology. Just what Harper wants.
Sisters and Brothers, the CUPW struggle is OUR struggle too.
In our own backyard on the federal government front, the axe has already started to fall on jobs since the budget was adopted earlier this month.
Just this week, we learned that Public Works is cutting close to 700 jobs in the next three years, including 78 PSAC members just this year.
That’s just the beginning. And none of us are fooled by Tony Clement or any of his conservative friends: there’s no way attrition will cover all the job losses.
That means that we have our work cut out for us if we are to ensure our members’ jobs are secure.
That means we have our work cut out for us if we are to deny Harper a second majority four years from now.
So, Sisters and Brothers, we have to redouble our efforts and get down to work.
Parliament may meet in Ottawa, but members of the House of Commons are elected and accountable to the people they represent in 308 constituencies across the country.
On May 2, 32 members of the House were elected in our Region; 14 Conservatives, 6 NDP and 12 Liberals.
The Harper Cabinet boasts 5 members from our Region – two from New Brunswick and one each from Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador.
I believe the # 1 job for the Atlantic Council and all of our activists is to ensure that every single Minister understands this: that PSAC members in the Atlantic Region will defend our employment security and quality public services, and hold them to account. We will NOT be silenced.
Our # 2 job is to ensure that the 27 other members of the House from our region understand our issues and the damage that public sector cuts will do to communities in their constituencies. We will NOT be silenced.
The work has started already. Two weeks ago, the PSAC National Board of Directors adopted and funded an action plan that gives our region the resources we need to get the job done.
I know many of you were part of our plantgate on June 7th, the day after the budget was tabled and the government reconfirmed a cut of $4 billion in federal spending. I hope you are armed with the “Don’t cut me, I deliver public services” leaflets and stickers. Wear the stickers proudly. Talk to people around you – your family, friends, members of your community. Be proud of the work you do, and let them know what is at stake.
We will need to keep each other informed of what is going on in our workplaces and departments. We will need to get over our differences and work together on the bigger picture – Components, Regional Offices, Directly Chartered Locals, Area Councils, Regional Committees, activists, national officers – to make sure we fight back and respond in a timely way to attacks against our members and the jobs they do.
I am asking every delegate, observer, guest and our staff to talk with their MP over the summer months; outline our expectations, and let them know that we are here TO STAY and we are NOT going away.
Sisters and Brothers, in the long-term best interest of our members, this Convention and the 17 Component Conventions to follow should focus as much energy and debate as possible on the fight ahead of us.
But we also have a responsibility to look at the past to identify what has worked well for us, and where we can do better.
Over the last three years, our members in Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick stood shoulder to shoulder and stood our ground in the face of a concerted campaign to erode the pension rights of our members in the public sector and to stand against public pension reform that would eliminate poverty among seniors.
That campaign has worked to date, but the fight is not over.
With his majority and back-to-work legislation, Harper has effectively moved to force the introduction of defined contribution plans at Air Canada and Canada Post.
We know the Harper government is opposed to public pension reform and supportive of failed initiatives that leave retirement security to personal savings through RRSPs.
So Brothers and Sisters, our mission is clear. Today, tomorrow and for the next four years we need to focus on a simple objective. Together we need to protect our workplace and economic rights and work non-stop to defeat governments that seek to undermine working people and our communities.
Internally, that means strengthening our Union, being more proactive, and improving our communications, consultation and solidarity. It means sticking together with the rest of the labour movement and our social allies.
And together, united, focused and strong, we are certainly up to the challenge. Because our solidarity is our power. And our solidarity is our strength.
Thank you.
Appendix B
NATIONAL PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS TO THE PSAC
ATLANTIC REGIONAL CONVENTION
SPEAKING NOTES FOR JOHN GORDON
June 24, 2011
Sisters and Brothers, it gives me great pleasure to be with you today, and welcome you to your PSAC Atlantic Regional Convention!
The region that worked hard in the federal election to elect new MPs as part of the new NDP Official Opposition in Parliament!
The region that has grown PSAC through successful organizing and membership activism.
This activism is essential – because we need to build a strong movement to fight the challenged that we face.
The election of Stephen Harper majority government means that anything and everything is going to be up for sale to the highest corporate bidder – and we are going to have to do anything and everything to ensure this doesn’t happen.
I don’t mean to sound like a doomsday prophesizer, but we know what Harper did with a minority government.
His list of attacks is known by all of us – you have heard me speak of this before.
Harper has long sought a majority government in order to be able to fully realize his vision for Canada.
But does this vision include:
· quality public services,
· accessible healthcare,
· affordable education,
· vibrant arts and culture,
· equality and human rights,
· social justice,
· peace and international development?
I think we all know the answer.
What can we expect with a Conservative majority government?
More privatization?
More pandering to big business?
More slashing of our social safety net?
The Federal Budget tabled in the spring provided an outline of the Harper agenda – this included billions in public sector spending cuts.
And now emboldened with a majority government, Harper’s narrative is hardening.
While previously the Conservatives claimed they could downsize the public service by attrition alone.
The new President of the Treasury Board, Tony Clement, is now saying it’s going to take cuts in order to achieve the economies they are looking for.
This means cuts to jobs and services, sisters and brothers – plain and simple.
With a majority government, we can expect Harper to:
- cut corporate taxes even more – as a payoff to his big business buddies;
- reduce transfer payments – which will reduce those services provided by the provinces and territories;
- attack public services, public sector workers and public pensions;
- further cuts or outright privatization of the CBC – the only major network not owned by a private corporation – along with more cuts to the arts and culture sector;
- kill the Canadian Wheat Board and the long gun registry;
- fast track the security perimeter deal with the United States that will violate the civil liberties of Canadians and give away crucial pieces of our sovereignty;
- increase deregulation;
- continue to decimate environmental regulations – not protect Canadian water – promote dirty energy projects such as the tar sands – and allow drilling in the Arctic;
- increasing his law and order agenda while ignoring the growing poverty and homelessness crisis in this country.
And while Harper claims his to be the government of fiscal responsibility – he has the unique distinction of taking Canada from a surplus to deficit budget beforethe recession hit.
Responsible? I don’t think so!
Sisters and brothers, Stephen Harper’s priorities are not our priorities.
In fact, they are not the priorities of a majority of Canadians – for while Harper achieved a majority government, he did not receive a majority of the votes cast in this election.
Almost 40% of eligible voters did not cast a vote in this election.
Of those that did, fully 60% voted for parties other than the Conservatives.
This means that over two-thirds of Canadians who were eligible to vote did not cast a vote for the Harper agenda.
And drilling down the election results a little deeper – we find that 6,201 votes is the combined margin of victoryacross the 14 most closely contested Conservative ridings in Canada.
That’s right – the COMBINED margin of victory.
This is how close the election actually was.
In each of these races the Conservatives had a margin of victory of less than 800 votes.
Most margins were much, much smaller.
14 votes was the actual margin of victory for the Conservatives over the Liberals in the eastern Ontario riding of Nipissing-Timiskaming.
In this riding 11,357 people voted for the NDP or the Green party- and 27,887 registered electors didn’t vote at all.
Only 14 votes were needed to defeat the Conservatives.
In fact, in 14 ridings across Canada the results were so close that with only a bit more effort, the Conservatives could have been defeated in those ridings.
These ridings are evenly distributed geographically throughout the country and the split affected the NDP and Liberals equally.
So this is not a regional issue – it is indicative of what occurred throughout the country.
It’s also important to note that the NDP came second in 122 ridings across Canada.
They came first in Québec and second in all other provinces except PEI.
Across Canada almost 8 million people voted Liberal, NDP or Green.
Almost 6 million voted Conservative.
There’s a difference of over 2 million votes – against the Stephen Harper agenda.
So don’t believe the hype.
A government with 39.6% of the popular vote should not have a mandate to drive through fundamental changes in policy and direction for our country!
This election also saw the loss of some important allies of ours – the Bloc Québécois and some Liberal MPs who have championed our issues in the House of Commons – including pay equity and federal anti-scab legislation.
But there was some good news that came out of the election – the NDP’s historic win as the Official Opposition.
The “orange crush” has brought some strong allies to Parliament Hill – including many union activists.
Sister Nycole Turmel was elected and is now the caucus chair and critic for Public works!
She will be joined by:
· our 4 PSAC members elected in Québec,
· Sister Peggy Nash from CAW,
· Sister Jinny Sims from BC Teachers Federation,
· Brother Guy Caron from CEP,
· 4 new MPs from CUPE,
· along with a number of returning NDP MPs whom we have worked closely with for a number of years.
There are 76 women elected to Parliament – including Elizabeth May, the only female leader of a federal political party.
Many more young MPs as well – along with an increase in younger people voting.
Yes, there were good things to come out of this election.
PSAC members were active in this election like never before – this too is a cause for celebration.
Membership activism and engagement helped to bring about the NDP victory.
But it can’t stop there.
We can’t now just sit back and rely on the NDP to do all the work for us.
Your democratic responsibilities didn’t begin and end on May 2nd.
I am sure you have all heard the union saying: “Don’t mourn – organize!”
Well, sisters and brothers, we need to do just that.
We must work together and create a popular opposition to the Conservatives.
We need to harness the power of that 60% who voted against the Harper agenda and create a popular opposition – to support the Official Opposition in Parliament.
We need to bring together the progressive forces in civil society and the labour movement as never before in our country’s history:
- Social and trade justice groups,
- First Nations people,
- unions,
- women,
- environmentalists,
- faith-based organizations,
- immigrant communities,
- the cultural community,
- farmers,
- public health care coalitions,
- front line public sector workers,
- students and young workers,
and all those who oppose the Harper agenda and who seek to create a progressive alternative.
We must also work with, and demand the active representation of, the opposition forces in the House of Commons.
The NDP must oppose the Harper agenda with the full weight of its new power.
And the Liberals must redeem themselves by working alongside the NDP in defending the interests of the people of Canada.
But fundamentally – it’s about all of us – workers and union members – standing up and taking action!
There is a role for every single member of PSAC to actively play in the important work of defending our public services.
Be active in your workplaces, communities, councils, and committees.
Speak out and fight for the services you provide, services that Canadians need and deserve.
Speak out to those who perhaps are not our natural allies.
We need to be having new conversations – creating new allies – to build our inclusive, progressive vision for Canada – and create an alternative to Stephen Harper’s platform of fear and cuts.
Taking political action doesn’t just happen at the ballot box.
It must be a daily act, engrained into all that we do.
We can never stop defending and promoting our public services and the workers that provide them.
This is our duty as PSAC members.
And it’s not just a job for Jeannie or me – but a job for every PSAC member!
Because the impacts of a Harper majority government are already being felt – and will touch workers in Canada and internationally.
Just this week employment statistics were released – and I think they were pretty telling.
While unemployment has dropped to 7.6% – the jobs that are being created are part time and in the service sector, by foreign companies.
Call-centre work and McDonalds are cited as job creators – neither known for their wages, benefits or pension plans.
But as part-time service work is on the rise, we are seeing cuts to the public sector.
4,900 public sector jobs were lost in April alone – including losses in education and health care.
And the unemployment rate for young workers is 14.3% and – even higher for new immigrants and racialized workers.
But good news everyone – CEOs’ salaries are now back to pre-recession levels!
Yes, the top 10 American CEOs made $440 million in 2010.
But their tax rate is so low they don’t contribute their fair share – unlike you and me.
And Stephen Harper’s victory has inspired provincial leaders as well.
In Ontario, Premier Dalton McGuinty has announced that he will be running on a similar platform to that of Harper’s.
Given the many provincial and territorial elections coming up, PSAC members must be active in pushing back any attempt to grow the Harper agenda provincially.
And the same goes for internationally.
While Stephen Harper has been busy dismantling Canada’s international reputation – he has also been actively pursuing free trade agreements that sell off our natural resources and sovereignty.
These agreements have not been subject to Parliamentary scrutiny and debate, and have been with countries such as Colombia – one of the worst human rights violators in the world.
And now Harper wants a free trade deal with the European Union.
This deal is his biggest – and worst – yet.
It would drastically curtail the democratic rights of our local governments to promote:
· local economic development,
· local resources,
· local food production and
· local procurement and services.
Why would we sign away our rights to our local resources – including our local public services?
And what gives Harper the right to do this?
This is why we must be active in our resistance, sisters and brothers.
This is why we promote fair trade – not free trade!
Fair trade that promotes:
- workers rights,
- fair wages,
- health and safety protections
- no child labour,
- rights to education and health care, and
- no slavery.
I hope you enjoy the fair trade chocolate provided by the PSAC Social Justice Fund – and I encourage you all to visit the PSAC booth and website to learn more about the important work being done by union members in building a better world.
To do this requires strong solidarity – both here in Canada and internationally.
Working together across borders, we are able to build a network of allies.
International solidarity is a way for us and our progressive allies to fight back against the anti-worker, corporate, conservative tide.
Whether it be Stephen Harper’s desire to sell-off of public services via free trade agreements;
Republican attacks on collective bargaining, public pensions and public sector jobs in the United States;
Governments in:
· England,
· Greece,
· Hungary,
· Ireland,
· Spain, and
· Portugal making huge cuts to public services in the name of post-recession deficit reduction;
Union activists being shot and killed in:
· South Africa,
· the Philippines,
· Colombia,
· Honduras,
· Guatemala,
· Swaziland,
· Ivory Coast, and
· Zimbabwe,
or brutal regimes imprisoning and killing their citizens who are mobilizing for democracy in:
· Egypt,
· Tunisia,
· Syria,
· Yemen,
· Morocco,
· Libya,
· Algeria, and
· Bahrain.
These are all our struggles.
We must see ourselves as part of a global force for progressive change – one that defends and promotes:
· democracy,
· human rights,
· social justice,
· peace,
· equality, and
· workers rights.
It starts here, with you sisters and brothers.
We build this force by being active union members:
- building strong locals,
- with timely communications,
- an active stewards network,
- and engaged committees,
- defending members’ rights in the workplace,
- providing effective representation,
- supporting your bargaining teams,
- being active in regional campaigns,
- working with community groups,
- building a strong network of allies,
- speaking with our friends, families, neighbours and others about the importance of public services and the workers who provide them,
- challenging any attempt to contract-out, privatize or sell off our public services,
- to Think Public,
- participating in PSAC campaigns and those actions of our allies,
- supporting striking workers,
- writing letters to the editor of your local paper,
- being an active citizen and not taking your democracy for granted.
We have a responsibility sisters and brothers, to prove to Canadians that the services we provide are relevant and essential.
Everyone deserves equal access to public services – they are an integral part of a democracy and are significant in making government relevant to the people of this country.
Stephen Harper is our Wisconsin.
We need to be part of building a broad-based coalition to counter any action Harper even thinks of taking.
’We are one’is the motto from our American sisters and brothers.
We need to be one – united and strong – building a progressive, inclusive, positive Canada.
We must define ourCanada – and not buy into the fear mongering of Stephen Harper.
We can do this – I know from personal experience.
(tell the story about your father / stewards political action)
So now is not the time to become disengaged from your union.
Now is not the time to say that it’s not your problem – that someone else should do the work.
Yes, we have been through some tough times recently – but it’s only by standing together than we can defeat the forces that oppose us.
We can’t allow ourselves to be divided – given what we as a labour movement are facing.
Many unions are facing severe concessions, zero sum negotiations and prolonged strikes with employers – who are now further emboldened with a Harper majority government.
We are seeing this now with our CUPW sisters and brothers.
Canada Post is demanding major concessions across the board – with the Harper government supporting this attack on our sister union.
So we need to support CUPW.
We must be with them – as part of a broad coalition of partners – pushing back Canada Post’s attacks and telling Stephen Harper NO to privatization.
That Canadians support public services and the workers that provide them!
We have done this before and won – such as our successful pension campaign.
We need to talk to each other and develop plans that we can use in the workplace and community to defend and promote the important role that public services play in our country.
We cannot allow Stephen Harper’s vision for Canada to become a reality.
Remember that WE are the majority!
We are the 60% that voted for a progressive vision for Canada – so let’s work together to make that happen!
Your activism is essential – and so is your input.
You may have noticed the survey we are conducting here at convention – seeking your input to help shape our union’s future.
Your input will help us in developing a strategic plan that will be debated at the 2012 PSAC National Triennial Convention.
This plan will chart our work for the coming years – so it’s important that your input is included.
The plan is being developed under three key themes:
- Building our Bargaining Power,
- Building our Mobilization Power, and
- Building our Political Power.
Because we need to build our collective union power if we are going to be a strong force for progressive change.
This survey is one of many we have been conducting and will be continuing to conduct over the coming months.
We are looking to hear from as many members as possible – so have your say!
I encourage you to complete the survey and give us your ideas and input.
This is your union – we want to hear from you so that we can build a stronger PSAC.
A dynamic partner and force for positive change in this country – powered by the force of our members and allies.
Before I close, I want to recognize all of the hard work and dedication of Sister Jeannie Baldwin – along with your regional council and committees, and PSAC regional staff.
All of whom have worked very hard over these past three years for you.
This can be challenging work – I know! – but also very rewarding.
While we still have many challenges ahead of us, our solidarity and the collective power of workers standing together – across Canada and around the world – will be key to our success.
Don’t for a minute feel that the challenge is too great – or that we can’t win.
We can – and we will.
But it will require every single PSAC member being active in their union.
Engaging friends, family and neighbours.
Building alliances.
Building on the momentum of the federal election.
Refusing to accept Stephen Harper’s agenda.
Remember: WE are the majority! WE have the power!
Now let’s work together to make it happen!
Thank you / merci.