MINUTES OF THE PRESIDENTS’ CONFERENCE
FEBRUARY 27-28,
AFTERNOON
SESSION
CALL
TO ORDER
The
meeting was called to order at
Sister
Bannon advised all participants that Marcel Bertrand, Diana Gee, David Quist and
Lina Ruel 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 Local Presidents and the Youth Members to introduce themselves.
She then introduced the Executive Council members, the Labour Relations
Officers, and her Executive and Administrative Assistants.
Sister
Bannon commented on the UTE Questionnaire stating that it was the first time in
UTE history that a membership questionnaire was sent out to all members for
input. She also informed the
attendees that an advance copy of the questionnaire was provided to all local
executives in order to familiarize themselves with it and be able to answer
questions from the membership. She
added that all questionnaires returned to the National Office because of wrong
addresses will be returned to the locals as soon as possible, at which time the
locals will be asked to deliver the questionnaire to the members and obtain the
correct addresses. The company we hired will then compiles the data, conduct an
analysis and provide us with a comprehensive report, a summary of which will be
made available to all locals who, in turn, will be asked to share the
information with members. Sister
Bannon re-iterated that this was one of the most important ventures taken by the
union and the results will guide us in future endeavors.
On
another note, sister Bannon welcomed the youth delegates to the UTE family and
stated that she looked forward to chairing the youth caucus scheduled for
tomorrow. She added that this was
the first in many steps taken to ensure successor ship within the UTE, that the
national executive had been unanimous in approving this initiative and that she
enjoyed the energy they all seem to have.
She
commented on the CEUDA / UTE jurisdictional dispute and stated that the matter
will be discussed further when we get to the agenda item.
She
wished everyone a good conference.
HOURS
OF SESSION
M/S/C
Barb Stewart/Denis Brunette
That
the hours of session be as follows:
Thursday:
Friday:
0900 to 11:45;
Saturday:
0900 to 11:45;
ADOPTION
OF AGENDA
M/S/C
Gerard Ennis/Doug Gaetz
That
the agenda be adopted as circulated with the following additions from the
delegates.
1.
Acting Assignment (
2.
Pre-Retirement Course (
3.
Medical Certificate (
4.
Union funds for bereavement and sympathy (
5.
6.
National Standing Committee (
Brother Wenzel announced that
there would be a fund raiser for one of his member.
They have a new baby that requires an extensive hospital stay out of town
and the member has to incur substantial expenses.
The National UTE donated an Oil Skin Jacket to raffle.
He urged everyone to buy tickets.
The Chair stated that the point
of privilege was well taken.
The
Chairperson reported briefly on the following business conducted by the
Executive Council earlier during the week.
·
Dates
for the Regional and National EO Conferences.
They will be in the Council meeting minutes.
·
Motion
referred to the Executive Committee on setting budget for UTE promotional items
for Council Members.
·
Motion
referred to the Executive Committee on setting a non-commercial allowance for
members when on authorized business.
·
Motion
referred to the National President on setting a pre-bargaining meeting including
the PSAC and CEUDA to set ground rules for Collective Bargaining.
·
Motion
referred to the Executive Committee for June Council on Negoquizz.
·
Adoption
of Guidelines for Expenses and Guidelines for Committees.
·
Adoption
of one (1) additional day of leave with pay during this trip for Alternates
attending the Training Course following this Presidents’ Conference
·
Adopted
as a Non UTE Event were the following two (2) conferences:
-
Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights (CASHRA) (
-
Rainbow Visions (Montréal)
·
Adopted
as Donations were:
-
Tarbutt Street Soccer League
-
-
Remaining outstanding items will be dealt with on Sunday morning.
ITEMS
SUBMITTED BY THE PRESIDENTS
1.
EAP – Referral
Agent Resolution (
m/s
Darlene Bembridge/Barry Melanson
Be
it Resolved that
UTE members who sit on local EAP Committees be allowed to attend the EAP
Referral Agent Training; and
Be
it Further Resolved that
UTE revoke its stance on EAP Referral Agents.
Local:
The intent is not to get rid of external services but to get additional
training.
Chair:
UTE’s position is that we do not support UTE members being referral
agents. The main raison is to protect our outside services. If we let the
employer use unionized members who are staff and free of charge there will be no
need for the confidential outside help we now have.
We do not want our members to be referral agents and we do not want our
members to get the training.
Chair
of the committee Brother S. Bergeron explained that by using our members as
referral agents we could loose the external services provided by experts.
m/s
D. Gaetz/J. Kosiba
That
the two Be it Resolved be divided.
MOTION
TO DIVIDE CARRIED.
Be
it Resolved that
UTE members who sit on local EAP Committees be allowed to attend the EAP
Referral Agent Training;
MOTION
DEFEATED.
Be
it Further Resolved that
UTE revoke its stance on EAP Referral Agents.
MOTION
DEFEATED.
2.
EAP week in the Atlantic Region (
Local : Explained that a few events were organized to promote EAP week. The first newsletter was produced and brown bag lunch sessions were organized.
3.
Allocation of current CEUDA Members (
Chair:
She outlined the situation and explained what led to the decision by
Sister Riche before the locals talked on the subject.
She said that the document submitted by Sister Riche would be sent to all
locals and will also be posted on the website after the conference.
The
locals went to the microphones to share their thoughts, feelings and concerns on
the decision.
The
meeting recessed at 1700 hours.
The
meeting was called to order at
The
morning was reserved for discussions on Youth Involvement.
Two caucuses were held, one involved the youth delegates, which was
chaired by the National President and the other involved the remaining
delegates, which was chaired by the 1st National Vice-President.
Both caucuses shared similar mandates:
“What do the youth need from
the
Afternoon
Session
The
meeting was called to order at
Notice
of motion was served to amend the agenda – Linda White, Burnaby Fraser
Sister Cassidy introduced two guest speakers who gave the presentation with her. Mr. Don Collins, Director of Customs in Saint John New-Brunswick, also member of the AUMI Committee and Mr. Bob Russell, Atlantic Assistant Commissioner. Handouts of the presentation were distributed to all participants. Sister Bannon concluded the presentation by saying that it was the union’s desire to participate in the AUMI process. The parties answered questions from the participants. Don Collins and Bob Russell were presented with UTE shirt by the chair.
Verbal reports from the caucuses were
provided to all attendees by assigned staff and Sister Bannon stated that the
information provided by the two caucuses will be compiled and provided to the
Executive Council and to all Locals.
The
Employees Assistant Program Committee.
Brother
Shawn Bergeron, chair of the Committee, introduced the Committee members,
Sisters Lina Ruel, Diana Gee and Brother Doug Gaetz.
The chair gave a presentation and handouts were provided to all
participants. A copy of the handouts will be sent by email to all locals.
The committee answered questions from the participants.
(Continuation of the following item)
3.
Allocation of current CEUDA Members (
Locals:
The locals provided their perception and concerns on the situation.
Asked
that the documents that led to this decision be made available to all locals.
Chair:
They will be.
Locals:
Asked that something in writing be sent to welcome our new members from
CEUDA?
Chair:
Two documents have already been prepared.
One for the current UTE members that are leaving and one for the new
members coming to the UTE. They
will be sent to the locals via e-mail.
Brother
Brunette had to leave and was replaced by Brother Marc Provost.
The
point of privilege was well taken by the President.
GUEST
INTRODUCTION
The
President introduced Sister Nycole Turmel, National President of the Public
Service Alliance of Canada. Sister
Turmel congratulated the initiative to integrate the youth to this conference.
She mentioned that the PSAC web site had a section for the youth and that
a youth committee was also formed within the PSAC.
She invited everyone to look at the PSAC web site for information on the
Convention, collective bargaining, local development, privatization and
globalization issues etc.
The
meeting recessed at
MORNING
SESSION
The
meeting was called to order at
m/s
Cosimo Crupi/Bob Carpenter
That
the agenda be amended to add an emergency motion – union orientation.
MOTION
CARRIED.
m/s
C. Crupi/L. Kinhnicki
That
the motion be discussed right now.
MOTION
CARRIED.
Be
it Resolved that
all Local Presidents use their Collective Agreement if need be and invoke
Article 13.05 to make sure that all locals across the country have employee
orientation sessions in place and to endorse a document prepared by the National
Office to be signed by all 48 Local Presidents.
MOTION
CARRIED.
Notice
of motion was served to amend the agenda – Bob Carpenter
ITEMS
SUBMITTED BY THE PRESIDENTS
4.
Contracting
Out (
The
submitting local withdrew the item.
5.
Medical
Card (
Local:
Asked for updates on the issue.
Chair:
She had contacted the Alliance Officer that sits on the committee and she
was told that it’s on their agenda as a priority item.
However, they will be looking at the issue during the review which
won’t be until 2005.
6.
Bargaining
– Acting Indeterminates vs Term Positions (
Local:
Explained that during filing seasons the term employees are accumulating
time to go to the next increment and that the acting indeterminates are not.
Asked
that each local put in a bargaining demand to make sure that this
inequity is taken care of at the next round of negotiations.
Chair:
She asked the Chair of the Bargaining Committee to take note of the
issue.
7.
UTE-SEI
Website (
Local:
They have been receiving e-mails at home from the local e-mail address
because of the way the UTE web side is set up. ie.: When searching for the
Chair:
Will look in to this and make appropriate corrections if necessary.
8.
Overtime
(pay vs. Time in lieu)
Local:
The employer wants to compensate for overtime in time instead of cash and
threatens to completely disallow overtime during the Holiday Season.
Can
we all agree to what is stipulated in the Collective Agreement, that overtime be
paid in cash if this is the desire of the employees?
Other
locals wish to be paid in time for different reasons.
Chair: Grievances should be filed if the employer refuses to pay in cash.
9.
Travel Policy (
Local:
The employer requires employees to estimate the mileage then produce the
report. Should employees file the
actual mileage? Different regions
receive different messages from the employer.
Chair:
Employees should put actual mileage and grieve if asked to do other wise.
Will
contact headquarters to see what their views are and then we will send it to all
locals. It could be a regional
problem in which case the RVP will look at the issue.
We need consultation on this subject.
With
respect to the kilometer rate, there is a MOU that stipulates that there will be
consultation. However, the employer
has chosen to follow the Treasury Board policy.
If
you are within the 16 km radius the employer will not pay for a meal.
What
we need to get from the employer is when a member is on the road for the day, he
gets a meal allowance. The employer is not prepared to change on that but we
will keep on asking until we get it.
m/s
Bob
Carpenter/Darlene Muise
That
the item PSAC Convention Attire be added to the agenda.
MOTION
TO AMEND CARRIED.
The
National Bargaining Committee reported.
The chair and committee members updated the Presidents on the Policy of
the Union of Taxation Employee on the holding of a strike vote or a ratification
vote. A copy of the policy was
distributed to all participants. Any
changes to this policy will have to be by way of a resolution to the Executive
Council. The Committee members
answered questions.
m/s
Doug Gaetz/Dave Shaw
Be
it Resolved that the
PSAC inform CCRA that we do not want an offer of authorized time off for
ratification votes;
Be
it Further Resolved that
if the CCRA offers the time, that all UTE Locals not accept the offer.
MOTION
CARRIED.
Afternoon
Session
Point
of privilege – Anna Gill,
She
will not seek election for the position of REVP as planned but will run for the
position she is presently holding as Alternate REVP.
The
Chair stated that the point of order was well taken.
Sister
Bannon thanked Sister Nicole Duffenais, youth member from
REPORT
OF NATIONAL COMMITTEES
The
National Health and Safety Committee reported.
The Chair, Chris Aylward, introduced the members of the committee.
Co-chair, Brother Denis Lalancette, Norbert Wenzel and Sister Lina Ruel.
The chair of the committee updated the Presidents on the Regional Health
and Safety Conferences saying that the deadline to register to the Newfoundland
Conference was March 14 for the NCR and Atlantic regions, the Toronto Conference
call letter will go out the week of March 14, and the call letter for the
Calgary Conference will go out the week of March 28, 2003.
He also stated that the reasons for mixing the regions were to have
approximately the same amount of participants for all the conferences and also
to give the opportunity to the
The
National Equal Opportunities Committee reported.
The Chair, Linda Cassidy, introduced all representatives since they were
all attending the Presidents’ Conference for the first time.
The Chair updated the participants on the Employment Equity Plan which
deadline will be on
April
16 -18, 2004
The
National Staffing Committee reported.
The Chair, Kent MacDonald introduced the members of the committee: Sisters Linda
Cassidy and Madonna Gardiner and Brothers Jim Little and Shane O’Brien.
He then updated the Presidents on numerous items including ACS Standards,
Performance Evaluation, Performance Management and the Collective Agreement -
Article 58. It was reiterated to
send specific issues as bargaining demands for the next round of bargaining.
The committee members answered questions from the participants.
Thanked
Sister Bannon for the initiative to bring the Youth here this weekend.
The
point of privilege was well taken.
Sister
Vanessa Bettati youth member from Montréal spoke on behalf of the other youth
members attending the conference. She
thanked the Executive Council members for having invited them and commented that
they should see the youth as an investment instead of an additional cost as
discussed earlier. She said that the youth were the future of UTE and that they
were not spending money for nothing because it will come back to them later.
They appreciated the fact that they had the opportunity to say what they
thought, what they expect and also the pleasure of making new friends.
Sister
Nicole Duffenais youth member from
ITEMS
SUBMITTED BY THE PRESIDENTS
10.
Differing rates of pay (
Local:
Would like to ensure that this situation does not happen during the next
round of bargaining.
Kent
MacDonald, former member of the bargaining team explained that he had brought
these anomalies to the attention of Brother David Orfald, our research officer
from the PSAC to ensure that the pay conversion rules are not just policies of
the employer and Treasury Board but that they are included in our collective
agreement. He added that one of our
demands will be to have a reduction of increment levels.
11.
Accounts Inventory in Collections by Regional Pool (Trois-Rivieres)
Local:
It seems that this applies throughout the country.
Does the employer
intend to provide statistics of their pools?
Chair:
She will contact the CCRA to obtain the statistics across the country and
information on the funding.
The
intent of the National Pool is to run the pilot with 13 offices.
All regions will be participating but not all offices.
12.
New Terms of Reference for Collections in
Local:
Starting
There
must be a plan showing where we are heading with Collections for the 3 upcoming
years?
Chair:
I cannot report on something that the employer has not told us.
She asked the locals to send copies of
the documentation they receive from the employer to the National Office
They
were informed that a meeting was scheduled for next Tuesday.
13.
Agency’s
Future Orientations vs funding (Trois-Rivieres)
Local:
Does the Agency inform the National President on cuts to finance new
activities?
Chair:
She received a phone call to set up a briefing the day before on budget
freezes but she has not been briefed on any budget cuts yet.
Local:
Should the issue of Future Orientations go through the Tech Change?
Chair: The employer is changing the way they do business. The words Future Orientations described the CCRA as a whole in changing the way they do business. We get briefed on some of the changes. The WFA has been involved. If it involves a tech change then the chair of the tech change committee gets involved. There will be changes and we will keep hammering at them. When you hear of something in the region please let your RVP know.
14.
Authorization and approvals of requirements to pay (
Local:
Would like to advise that Matrix training has been given to TSOs and to
people that are doing the work. Do
we know what provincial requirements are? Should
there be standards?
Other
local: As far as
the policy on Matrix is concerned, the employer’s attitude, at least in the
Prairies region, is that they will decide on an office by office basis if we
will follow the national Matrix Policy.
Please ensure that all members are aware that provincial exceptions that
apply to a region differ from provinces and that it is pertinent when it comes
to approval of garnishees.
Chair:
She suggested that the local talk to the responsible RVP.
15.
Sun Life Health Insurance Card (
The
submitting local withdrew the item.
16.
Portfolio of Competencies in competition processes (
Local:
The agency asked that we provide names of references for them to check
but on the other hand the supervisors at the workplace tell us not to use any
confidential information. What do we
do with this and is this happening in other locals?
Other
locals: Yes similar problems do happen in other offices.
Chair: She asked Sister Cassidy, member of the staffing committee to comment on this. Sister Cassidy said that she has been advised by Bob Russell that he will be meeting with Dan Tucker and Christine Coffey to address this issue. With respect to access to information, employees are asked to keep track of situations with their clients so that the CCRA is able to contact them if need be to show that this did or didn’t happen and that you have demonstrated what a great worker you are. This is a breach of Section 241 because if this situation goes to court as it has happened before, then all these documents will be provided and the taxpayer will be aware that the employee provided the information to other parties. The agency is still struggling with all that.
17.
CEUDA/UTE (
The
submitting local withdrew the item.
18.
PSAC Convention (
The
submitting local gave the mike to Brother Carpenter.
m/s
Bob Carpenter/Barry Melanson
Be
it resolved that
that this body charge the Executive Council with the task of designing,
developing and providing UTE caucus attire to all UTE delegates and observers at
the 2003 PSAC Triennial Convention.
MOTION
CARRIED.
Brother
Wenzel stated that $1055 had been raised for the Weidermann
family during this
conference. He thanked all the participants for their generosity.
Brother
David Simmonds,
Brother
MacDonald thanked every body for sponsoring children from Badger,
Draw
of 2 - UTE “three-in-one” jackets: Fanny Ravenna, youth from the Outaouais
Local and Anna Gill, Toronto East Local President, were the winners.
Sister
Bannon talked about a comment she heard from a youth member that made her laugh:
"I’m
having trouble keeping up with you older people".
Sister
Bannon encouraged the youths to develop their own network and to consider
getting involved within their local. She
said that they were the ones who will continue to keep the Union of Taxation
Employees strong. The President
congratulated those who went to the microphones and commented that it was done
in a professional manner. She
reiterated that the questionnaire was a very important issue and that UTE needs
them to help us to promote it.
Sister
Bannon summarized what was ahead of us:
She
concluded by reminding the attendees that the UTE relies on the locals and that
they should report to their RVP on the things they do in their locals.
To the youths, she said: “You
make me smile and you make me young”.
The
then wished everyone a safe trip home.
The
meeting adjourned at