MINUTES OF THE PRESIDENTS’ CONFERENCE
AFTERNOON SESSION
CALL
TO ORDER
The
meeting was called to order at
Sister
Bannon advised all participants that Brother Marcel Bertrand, Sisters Linda
Cassidy, Linda Kinhnicki and Lyson Paquette have been appointed Harassment
Complaint(s) Administrators for the duration of this Conference and that any
harassment issues during this conference are to be addressed to them.
She
asked the participants to observe a moment of silence for members who passed
away since last year.
Sister
Bannon introduced members of the Executive Council, the Labour Relations
Officers, her Executive and Administrative Assistants and the remaining office
staff. She also welcomed and had all
Local Presidents’ introduce themselves.
Sister
Bannon, started by saying that there was a lot to do now that convention was
over. For example,
a small delegation from UTE will attend the CEUDA Convention at the end
of September; continue building our relationship with the PSAC; focusing on
Local Development; more involvement from our youth; dealing
with on-going members’ issues, and the employer; a priority will be to protect
members in WFA situations. To do
this, we will have to work together as a single unit.
Sister
Bannon reported on her attendance to the Public Service International Convention
(PSI). She explained that public
service unions at the municipal, provincial and federal levels from all over the
world were represented. She
commented that it was an eye opener for her and that she shared issues on Detax
with representatives from
HOURS
OF SESSION
M/S/C
That
the hours of session be as follows:
Thursday:
Friday:
0900 to 11:45;
Saturday:
0900 to 11:45;
M/S/C
G. Ennis/D. Gaetz
That
the agenda be adopted as circulated with the following additions from the
delegates.
1.
UTE Newsletter (
2.
UTE National Softball Tournament (
3.
Evaluations for terms and perms (
4.
Grievances re. King decision - Definition of a day (
5.
Unauthorized Access (
6.
Website Collective Bargaining (
7.
Joint Training (
8.
Notice to bargain (
9.
Isolated Posts (
M/S/C
E. Vivier / D. Brunette
That the agenda be amended to have the items from Trois-Rivières postponed to the end of the session.
M/S/C
D. Brunette
/ J. Bouchard
That
the agenda be amended to move the 3 items from Trois-Rivières to the beginning
of the session tomorrow morning.
MOTION
TO AMEND THE AGENDA CARRIED.
The
Chairperson reported briefly on the following business conducted by the
Executive Council earlier during the week.
· Council dealt with unfinished business from Convention.
Chair
: Chris Aylward
Member:
Sabri Khayat
Chair:
Chris Aylward
Member:
Denis Lalancette
Chair:
Sabri Khayat
Member:
Shawn Bergeron
Chair:
Kent MacDonald
Member:
Linda Cassidy
Chair:
Linda Cassidy
Member:
Terry Dupuis
Chair:
Shawn Bergeron
Member:
Diana Gee
Chair:
Denis Lalancette
Member:
Nick Stein
Chair:
Pamela Abbott
Members:
Terry Dupuis and Denis Lalancette
Chair:
Nick Stein
Member:
Marcel Bertrand
Chair:
Marcel Bertrand
Member:
Diana Gee
Chair:
Bob Campbell
Member: Sabri Khayat
Chair:
Bob Campbell
Members:
Kent MacDonald and Pamela Abbott
The
Collective Agreement Committees reported briefly on what happened since they
were formed. Sister Bannon mentioned
that some committees have not met yet and that written reports will not be
available at this time but that information will be made available at a later
date.
ITEMS
SUBMITTED BY THE PRESIDENTS
1.
Compulsory on-line
staffing processes (
Local
:
As of November 1st, it will be mandatory to submitt all
staffing applications electronically. Our
concern is that not all employees have PCs to access the information and they
would have to be trained.
Chair:
It was raised at a NUMC that not everybody has a PC and that there also
were people with disabilities, such as visually impaired.
We could raise it again at any time.
She asked how many locals have mandatory on-line competition
applications. About 15 Locals indicated they had.
She then requested affected Locals to send her an e-mail stating their
needs and concerns and that she would contact the employer on the issue.
2.
CR Pay (
Local:
How should the calculation of their wages have been conducted after the
contract came out?
MacDonald: Chairperson of the Staffing Committee former member of the Bargaining Team explained that the employer was right in his interpretation. If you look at the CR Pay rates, those who are at the top level for more than 12 months moved to the right end column. Everybody else went straight down and waited for the annual increment date. For some reason some offices started to move people from the right. This way, it was much costlier for the employer. This is how it has been done and Locals will have to be careful if they intend to inquire on that issue.
3.
UTE Membership Information (
Local:
We have asked management to tell us when members are moving from one
office to an other so we may collect the dues and take care of the new members
accordingly. Their answer was that
they can’t do that.
Can
something be done nationally?
Chair:
We need collaboration from the locals.
They should tell us when there is a new person coming aboard.
Another way would be that membership chairs could go through the list and
notify the national office when there is a new person and take the appropriate
action. This is part of local
development that we have talked about before.
It is not the employer’s responsibility to tell the local president
that a new person has arrived. It is
the local’s responsibility. Sister
Bannon added not to forget that this issue could be a bargaining demand for the
next round.
A
few locals said that they do not have a problem getting information on new
employees and that you have to push and force management to provide the
information because they have it. A
question was raised in regards to information for new members.
Chair:
A resolution at convention was passed to have an orientation package.
It should be made available to locals by December 2002 and any updates
will be made by the National Office and will be sent to locals by September of
each year.
Local:
In
Chair:
We are not participating in the employer’s formal process of Dispute
Resolution that he developed and implemented without us because there is no room
for the union. What we do and have
done is exercise the philosophy of conflict management as far as discussions
with the employer before we file a grievance etc.
When the AUMI is completed it will be rolled out across the country and
Alternate Dispute Resolution as we know it now will no longer exist.
Then we will participate in the process of which we had a hand in
developing and implementing.
The
meeting recessed at 1700 hours.
The
meeting was called to order at
The
National Safety and Health Committee reported.
The chair updated the Presidents on the results of a survey on Shift work
and access to CCRA buildings during ``silent hours``(after normal business
hours). A survey was also
distributed to the Presidents calling for their input on their ideas of what the
delegate composition for the Regional and National OSH Conferences should be.
The National President also updated the Presidents on the news that the
CCRA will be using some of the
established OSH Trainers for OSH Committee training.
The National Unions will be responsible for choosing their own trainers
by region.
The
National Workforce Adjustment Committee reported.
The chair updated the Presidents on the WFA situations that are currently
going on within the CCRA and distributed previously published documents
regarding WFA. The chair then took questions from the delegation.
ITEMS
SUBMITTED BY THE PRESIDENTS
5.
List of contaminated federal worksites (Trois-Rivières)
Local:
Does CCRA have contaminated worksites? If yes do we have a list?
Aylward:
Chair of the Health and Safety Committee answered yes we have a list and
none of the 29 identified sites are taxation offices.
6.
Collections Reform
(Trois-Rivières)
Local:
Is there a project to move the workload from district offices across
Chair:
I have not been advised of any changes neither has WFA or anybody else.
Local: Is there any new development following the reorganization?
Chair:
Originally, their intent was to implement a national inventory system
that would deal with accounts under $50,000.
After hearing from some Local Presidents at the March Presidents’
Conference, that it was found out that it had been done regionally, we contacted
the department and called a meeting to brief us on the regional inventory
system. The story was that when headquarters met with the regional managers they
did not want a national inventory system and they raised a lot of concerns about
that. It was decided to try it
regionally as a pilot within their regions and headquarters agreed.
In most cases, the pilots are run between offices within a region.
Their position is that they want to head toward a national inventory
system but they have to wait for the statistics to come out on how it is working
on a regional basis.
Local:
Should we have a joint committee on this to influence the employer?
Chair:
Not before we know how the pilots are running.
They have only been operating for a few months.
We are keeping an eye on it.
Local:
Is this a Tech Change situation?
Chair:
The Tech Change Committee has been involved on this matter all along and
they will be informed of the results at the same time as the National President
will.
7.
CCRA Balanced Scorecard (Trois-Rivières)
Local:
Does the National Office have a position on the Balanced Scorecard?
Chair:
We are aware that this is a mandatory requirement for CCRA in order to
produce their budget report to be tabled at parliament.
They will not consult with us when they write it and they will make it
look very good in order to get more money in their budget.
She added that she liked Brother Pelletier’s idea about UTE publishing
its own scorecard on CCRA.
REPORT
OF NATIONAL COMMITTEES
The
National Staffing Committee reported.
The chair updated the Presidents on numerous items, which are listed in the
8.
Customer Services Availability Rate (Trois-Rivières)
Brother
Pelletier was absent from the room.
9.
Increment Equity (
Local:
Commented that for the next round of bargaining we should try to get more
salary increments as PISPC does. The
Local is in favour of reopening the contracts for all the groups with the PSAC
to get harmonized salary increments.
Chair:
If it was left to us, there would be only 2 increments for the job
members perform. An entry level and
then one more.
If
Locals feel strongly about issues of Collective Bargaining, please send them to
the National Office when the call for bargaining demands comes out.
10.
Recourse Evaluation (
Local
:
Commented that on November 1st a report will be tabled at
Parliament on Recourse Evaluation. Could
UTE attend and speak in favour of its members?
MacDonald:
Chair of the Staffing Committee said that every department tables reports
to parliament on an annual basis. This
report will not be specific to Staffing Recourse.
Chair:
The report that will be sent to Parliament will be handed out to somebody
on the hill who will not read it and then it will be filed.
As far as staffing is concerned, Treasury Board will review the report
and they will not disagree with what the Agency says.
These reports are self-assessments.
Our best avenue for dealing with the Staffing Regime including Recourse
is through discussions with the Agency.
11.
The Staffing System (
Local: Same comments as the previous question.
12.
New Harassment Policy (
Local:
Referred to Bulletin 17/02 and asked if we could have some information
from the National Office on the policy before it is rolled out to the
membership?
Chair:
The submission made to CCRA will be sent to the locals’ by e-mail.
She asked Sister Paquette to give some information on the consultation
process that took place with the employer.
Paquette
Staff Advisor on the Harassment Committee explained that there was a fair
amount of consultation and that the process has been a long one.
All RVPs were asked to provide comments on the policy.
The comments were compiled by the Committee and given to the department
verbally and in writing. There was
another meeting to comment on the guidelines.
The employer did take into consideration a lot of our comments.
Sister Paquette added that this was not a joint policy but a CCRA policy.
Local:
Commented that it is important for the members to get explanations from
the union on what the employer is presenting to them.
They will see a greater role from the union other than when it comes time
for their contract.
13.
Bonus Pay for Senior Civil Servants (
Local:
Referred to an article from the National Post on Senior Civil Servants
using-up entire budget for bonuses. We
would like to see our National Executive take position and react with respect to
articles like this one. By doing so,
it will encourage young people and give them some reasons to become activists.
The Local also would like to see UTE, as a body representing all these
employees, pursue that matter through access to information to find out what was
paid to those senior managers and let the membership and the public know about
this. This would be a good start.
Chair:
We are not always aware of articles like this one and locals should send
in any articles that are of interest to UTE.
Some locals commented that we should have a closer look nationally, regionally and locally at the press and newspapers and take position and react when needed. Someone should be assigned to this very important issue.
14.
Provision of Compensation Services (Montérégie)
Local:
Referred to a memorandum issued by Claude Tremblay from Human Resources
on a subject which the union had
been consulted. Was there consultation or only information?
Chair:
These meetings were briefing meetings.
On the subject the union was briefed and nothing was received
electronically. We do not know at
this point what will happen with this section as no decisions had yet been made
by Senior Management.
15.
Bilingual Bonus (Montérégie)
Local:
There were articles in newspapers that
Chair:
There was a letter from Nycole Turmel to Mrs. Robillard on the issue.
I will ask sister Turmel when she comes in tomorrow morning if she has
received a reply yet.
As
opposed to T.B. our bilingual bonus is not in our collective agreement and we
could loose it. As recourse we will have to file grievances.
16.
PSAC/TBS Joint Study on Term Employment
This
item was withdrawn by the submitting local.
17.
Customer Services Availability Rate (Trois-Rivières)
Local:
Do you think we can obtain the rates on lost calls (people that can’t
get a line to call in)?
Chair:
You should go to your RVP who can attempt to get them from the Assistant
Commissioners.
Some
locals said that they receive them on a weekly basis.
Chair: She asked the Hamilton Local to get the info starting back from a few months until we get to the bargaining table in order for us to provide the information to the bargaining researcher in due time.
18.
Continuous/Discontinuous Service (Montérégie)
Local:
Explained that this service is a calculation done by the employer in the
CAS System that has modified service dates for many employees and as a
consequence affected attributed holidays. In other words, the employer has
attributed to much holidays (for which they
approved and signed) and now they are asking the affected employees to pay
back as much as $8 000 to $ 10 000. The
employer goes back as far as 12 to 15 years on that.
The Local added that grievances have been filed.
Are
there any other regions that are experiencing changing date of service?
Was
the National Office aware of this situation?
Chair:
We have not heard on this for about one year.
Local:
Can we let CCRA know that when they inform their employees on matters
like this one, that they should also inform them of the recourse they have?
Chair:
Suggested that first the Local Presidents put this as an agenda item at
the local consultation.
19.
Pilot Project at Revenue Collections – Update (Montérégie)
This
item was withdrawn by the submitting Local.
The
meeting recessed at
MORNING
SESSION
The
meeting was called to order at
Her
Local observer sister Velma Green will replace her, as she has to leave early.
The point of privilege was well taken by the Chair.
ITEMS
SUBMITTED BY THE PRESIDENTS
20.
MG Group – pay harmonization (
Local:
Can we have an update on the re-opening of the collective agreement for
the MG Group?
Chair:
As of today there has been no formal request from CCRA to re-open the
collective agreement. If they do
re-open, we believe it will onlybe for
the MG’s rates of pay.
She
asked every president present in the room to go to the mike and state their
position on the matter.
As
a result, the majority commented that they do not want to re-open the collective
agreement unless it is for every group. If
we re-open, it would open the door for the union and the employer to have all
kinds of requests that could be bad for our members.
The
employer knew that there would be a conflict by giving more money to the PIPSC
MGs. They have to be responsible
for the decision they have taken.
We
should issue something in writing to inform the members on their rights and file
grievances.
Local:
Will you publish a communiqué to all members?
Chair:
Yes
GUEST
SPEAKER
Brother
Campbell assumed the Chair while sister Bannon met with sister Turmel on a few
issues.
REPORT
OF NATIONAL COMMITTEES
The
National EO Committee reported.
The chair and committee members updated the Presidents on what was
addressed during their last meeting on September 8-9.
They commented on the resolutions that were passed at convention. They
also mentioned that the Canadian Human Rights Commission has started the audit
on the Employment Equity Program at CCRA. The
process is aimed at assessing the degree of compliance to the legislation.
The first step of the audit is a questionnaire. A
copy of the answers submitted by CCRA to the CHRC was sent to all the locals and
is available at the National Office. The
new self-identification survey from CCRA is welcomed by UTE.
Sisters Cassidy, Ruel and Brother Dupuis will be attending, the CCRA
Employment Equity Summit in
Recess
for lunch
The
meeting was called to order at
Sister
Bannon reported that Sister Turmel has not yet received a reply to her letter to
Mrs. Robillard on the bilingual bonus. Sister
Turmel heard Mrs. Robillard stating at an NJC conference the week before that
she believes the bilingual bonus was not effective and that she would like to
abolish it. Sister Bannon pointed
out that this issue concerns Treasury Board and does not affect us at this
point.
With
respect to the 2 to 1 split, Sister Bannon asked to be provided with names,
classification and grade, section were CEUDA members work, PSAC ID number, by
Head
Office -Tax side only
All TSOs who have CEUDA members with no CEUDA representative on site.
ELECTIONS
OF NATIONAL COMMITTEES
Denis
Brunette was elected as TSO representative to the Collective Bargaining
Committee.
John
Kosiba was elected as TC representative to the Collective Bargaining Committee.
Jim
Little was elected as TSO representative to the Staffing Committee.
Madonna
Gardiner was elected as TC representative to the Staffing Committee.
Brian
Olford was elected to the Technological Changes Committee.
Norbert
Wenzel was elected to the Health and Safety Committee.
Darlene
Bembridge was elected to the Equal Opportunities Committee.
Doug
Gaetz was elected to the EAP
Committee.
Bruce
Wilson was elected to the Finance Committee.
Dave
Shaw was elected as the TSO representative to the WFA Committee.
Margie
Hancock was elected as the TC representative to the WFA Committee.
David Quist was elected to the Harassment Committee.
Barry
Melanson was elected to the Communications Committee.
M/S/C
N. Pelletier / D. Gaetz
That
the ballots be destroyed.
ITEMS
SUBMITTED BY THE PRESIDENTS
21.
Sun Life Card (
Local:
Is there an update on the issue.
Chair:
It is in the hands of the PSAC and there is no development.
She will bring the issue to the next NBoD at the end of September 2002.
22.
UTE Newsletter (
Local:
Stated that a resolution went to convention and due to unfinished
business it was referred to the Executive Council.
As a result, it has been given to the National Communications Committee.
The local would like to hear on that issue.
Chair:
The specifics will be dealt with by the Communications Committee and the
committee is to report back to the Executive Council in December.
Please send any input, information or comments for the Communications
Committee to the national office.
Point
of privilege – A. Gill,
I
will be seeking support from UTE for the position of REVP for the
The point of privilege is well taken by the Chair.
23.
UTE National Soccer Tournament (
M/S/D
A. Melanson / D. Gaetz
Be
it Resolved
that the Union of Taxation Employees
allocate the sum of up to $50,000 to sponsor soccer tournaments in various
communities throughout the county;
Be it Further Resolved that this
amount be funded from surplus;
Be
it Further Resolved that
from this fund, locals will be allocated monies on the basis of – for everyone
dollar of a local contribution, UTE will match the contribution to a maximum of
$750.00 per local;
Be
it Further Resolved that to
be eligible for this funding, a local must agree to participate in the delegated
activities surrounding the Local event.
Many
locals agreed on the concept of the motion but not on the allocation of this
amount of money toward this kind of event.
24.
Evaluations for terms and perms (
Local:
Stated that for evaluation and recall purposes, if a term employee takes
a day off sick the employee is perceived as non-reliable.
Chair:
Suggested to bring this issue to the Local UMC meeting and then to the
RVP.
25.
Grievances re. King decision - Definition of a day (
Local:
Do we have a time frame?
Stein:
Chairperson of the WFA confirmed that the PSAC will not wait for Federal
Court of Appeal on the decision of the King case before proceeding to the PSSRB.
Chair: Members should grieve until the decision is rendered and if you want the definition of a day to be changed, include it in your demands when the call letter goes out.
26.
Unauthorized Access (
Local:
Is this going on across the country that members are disciplined for
accessing taxpayer personal information?
A
few Locals said yes they are experiencing the same situations.
It was added that this is viewed as a threat for other members.
Chair:
It has been made very clear by the union (bulletins) as well as by the
employer not to do that.
One
page information sheet will be sent to CCRA with my signature for their website
and/or e-mail distribution.
27.
Website/Collective Bargaining (
Local:
Encouraged the National Office to update our website with issues on
Collective Bargaining.
28.
Joint Training (
Local:
There are joint initiatives TB and PSAC on training such as: Interpreting
your contract. Are we working on the
same line with CCRA?
Chair:
No we are not. If someone
puts in a bargaining demand we might.
29.
Notice to bargain (
This
item was withdrawn by the submitting local.
30.
Isolated Posts (
Local:
Do any locals have members who avail themselves of the isolated post
policy? We have in
One in
Sister
Bannon reminded the delegation to send the CEUDA names to the National Office,
the evaluation forms, the
The
meeting adjourned at