MINUTES OF THE PRESIDENTS’ CONFERENCE
April 1-3, 2004
THURSDAY, APRIL 1ST , 2004
AFTERNOON SESSION
The meeting was called to order at 1:15 pm. Betty Bannon, President of
the Union of Taxation Employees presided. All members of the Executive
Council were in attendance. Brother Bergeron was replaced by his alternate
brother Gary Esslinger.
Sister Bannon advised all participants that Marcel Bertrand, Diana Gee,
David Quist were appointed Harassment Complaint(s) Administrators for the
duration of this Conference and that any harassment issues during the conference
should to be addressed to them.
Sister Bannon introduced Brother Scott Gallant, President of the newly
formed Moncton Local. She then asked the Local Presidents to introduce
themselves followed by the members of the Executive Council. She then introduced
the Labour Relations Officers, and her Executive and Administrative Assistants.
(see attached list of attendees).
OPENING REMARKS
Sister Bannon updated the attendees on the following topics:
Rand Members
Rands were reduced from 2,498 to 1, 735 since April 2003. She thanked
the locals for their good work and asked them to continue to track down
the remaining rands.
UTE e-mail system
Sister Bannon talked about e-mail communications between the National
Office and the Locals. She explained that the National Office had sent
an e-mail to all Locals as a test and it was noticed that some locals had
only opened the e-mail in question 25 to 73 days after it was sent. She
explained that we were heading for a possible strike and that it was very
important for all locals to verify their e-mail frequently because it will
be used to communicate information in case of a strike. She also emphasized
that locals should update their anti-virus software once a day before going
to their e-mail. The National Office will issue a bulletin on the best
practices when dealing with e-mail viruses.
Deadlines
She then talked about the issue of deadlines and cited this conference
as an example. Some of the names for observers were provided to the National
Office after the established deadline and that caused problems when attempting
to book accommodations at the Crowne Plaza. Because of this, some participants
had to be accommodated at other hotels.
Local UMCs
We have a MOU with Revenue Canada which covers national, regional
and local UMCs. It is presently under review and the agreement is between
UTE and the employer only. To this effect, there should be no other
bargaining agent representatives at local or regional meetings. No CEUDA
or PIPSC representatives should attend these meetings.
2005 Convention
A memo was issued on the 2005 Convention location and a copy was distributed
to all participants. Questions are to first be addressed to respective
RVPs.
Transfer to CBSA
Some time ago, Council passed a resolution dictating that all UTE members
transferred to the CBSA should be transferred to CEUDA.
MOUs
Sister Bannon was called to a meeting last week to be briefed on two
of the five MOUs that came from the last round of bargaining. The first
one being the Electronic Bulletin Board. On that subject the employer
will be sending sister Turmel a letter offering a
direct link from Infozone to the union website. Sister Bannon asked
that individual links be provided for PSAC, UTE, CEUDA, PIPSC. The employer
agreed but reserved the right to cut the link if the union used inappropriate
material. The second MOU was on the Union Management Initiative (UMI).
Everybody agreed that this was a good initiative and it should be
rolled out throughout the CRA. As recommended, a national steering committee
will be established to oversee the whole process and it will be implemented
nationally. However, it may not be implemented all at the same time
in all the regions. Sister Bannon was concerned that the employer was
receiving training while the union wasn’t. She added that she would
discuss the issue with Sister Cassidy who sat on the working group that
had recommended the one (1) day training sessions and would advise later
on the matter.
Bargaining
The National Strike Strategy Committee is looking for ideas for national
activities that would show solidarity within the union and that would,
at the same time, send a message to the employer. In the past, some
locals refused to do what was asked and chose to do something else. In
light of this, the Regional Strike Coordinating Committees were requested
to provide some suggestions on activities that could be implemented nationally.
She requested the locals to provide any ideas to their respective Strike
Coordinating Committees. Sister Bannon also asked the locals to get ready
to answer questions from the membership related to a possible strike,
to read all the bulletins and to post them. She also emphasized that
local executives should know what our demands are, what the employer’s
demands are and to be ready to explain them to the membership. Sister
Bannon also discussed the designations. She explained that the employer
initially proposed between 1700 and 1800 designations. Through negotiations
with the employer that number has gone down to less than 500 designations
across the country. We are working with the employer to ensure that no
union executives are designated. The designation list will be signed
off very shortly and will be sent to locals.
Demonstration
Sister Bannon announced that a demonstration has been organized for
6:30 am tomorrow morning to show the employer our displeasure with his
behavior. She emphasized that we were heading toward a strike and instructed
the locals to talk as much as possible about a strike with the members
to know their readiness. She said that she attended many AGM’s were members
were angry, frustrated and ready for a strike and explained that it was
the locals’ responsibility to make the membership ready for a
strike. She also reminded the locals to check their e-mail and educate
the members.
Conclusion
Sister Bannon announced that there will be a draw for three (3) UTE jackets
on Saturday.
HOURS OF SESSION
M/S/C Doug Gaetz/Denis Brunette
That the hours of session be as follows:
Thursday: 1:15 to 5:00
Friday: 0900 to 11:45; 1:15 to 5:00;
Saturday: 0900 to 11:45; 1:15 to 4:00.
MOTION CARRIED.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
(see attached Agenda and Items
submitted by the Local Presidents)
M/S/C Doug Gaetz/Denis Brunette
That the agenda be adopted as circulated with the following additions
from the delegates.
• Public Service Employee Survey (Halifax)
• Interest Call Letter (Halifax)
• Term Employees and Union Dues (St’ John TC)
• Medical Card Petition (Surrey)
• Care and Nurturing Leave (Surrey)
• National Committee Reports (Surrey)
• UTE / CEUDA Dispute (Surrey)
• Donation Sponsorship (Edmonton)
• Terms over 3 years (Ottawa TC)
• UTE e-mail System (St. Catharines)
• ACS (St. Catharines)
• WSIB Training (Toronto North)
• Call Sites (Greater Toronto)
• WSIB Coverage for Activists (Toronto East)
MOTION CARRIED.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BUSINESS
The Chairperson reported briefly on some of the business conducted by
the Executive Council earlier during the week. (see Council
Minutes March 04).
• Adoption of the 2003 Audit Financial Statements – Item
12
• Adoption of the Bargaining Retrospective Document – Item 13
• Motion referred to EO Committee - Earphones – Item 16
• Adoption - Formula for Regional Budget – Item 22
• Adoption - PSAC Duty to Accommodate Course – Item 23
• Donation - 1 Youth chosen out of 10 to represent Canada – Item
31
• Adoption - Non UTE Events – Human Rights Course – Item
33
• Adoption - Local Officer Advanced Training Course – Item 37
All remaining outstanding items will be dealt with on Sunday morning.
m/s David Quist/Anna Gill
Motion to move the agenda item “Presidents’ Conference Minutes” to
the first item of discussion.
MOTION CARRIED.
Point of privilege - David Quist
Brother Quist commended Sister Bannon for her courage for putting forward
a motion to the NBoD for the removal from office of Brother Tony White.
The point of privilege was well taken by the chair.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Sister Bannon presented a UTE 5-year pin to Brother Dave Berofe from the
Kingston Local for his good services to the union.
ITEMS SUBMITTED BY THE PRESIDENTS
1. President Minutes (Peterborough 00008)
Local: The local would like to see more substance on the discussion
rather than mostly action to be taken by the chair and/or the National
Office. This will be more helpful for the members not attending the meetings.
Also for the website the local asked if we could include the agenda, the
list of participants and the items of discussion.
Chair: Most definitely we can put the documents on the website.
For the minutes we will try to incorporate some of the highlights of the
discussions.
2. Workplace Accommodation: committees, alternate work, bundling & unbundling
of jobs (Toronto Local 00001)
Local: This is with respect to team leaders not being trained properly
in dealing with return to work issues when a member was returning to work
after a workplace injury. We asked that a committee be formed and Local
Management took it under advisement and a return to work committee would
be put in place as a pilot project. Management asked for input regarding
the type of training committee members should receive. It was suggested
that at least WSIB Levels 1 and 2 be taken as well as the return to work
course that deals with what is suitable work for an injured worker.
The local asked what was available in other regions.
Locals: There are cases of duty to accommodate that went very well without
an official committee in place and others were fiascos. If a change arises
in the job while the employee is off work it should be mentioned to the
employee and such committee should deal with this. With the Health Canada
findings, a local managed to create a job for an employee while in another
case they didn’t know how the employee could be accommodated and
they are consulting with the union to find something. One local mentioned
that with the upcoming National Health and Safety Conference it would be
a good time to set-up a committee. Some other locals have developed tools
related to the return to work when the employee returns from a burn-out,
depression or exhaustion. Training was given to management and co-workers
from a psychologist on how to deal with re-integration of these employees
to avoid relapses. The Surrey Local will send copy of a draft study. Brother
Wenzel offered his help and advice as a newly certified workers compensation
instructor with the OFL.
Chair: The CRA is in the process of finalizing a document that relates
to the return to work issue and the maintenance of such cases from the
time of the injury to the time the employee returns to work. It has been
given to the OSH Committee as a draft. It should be in the field shortly.
We will also ask the PSAC if they have something on this already.
Alternate Work
Local: There is a CPP/EI ruling member with a tunnel carpel injury who
returned to work and couldn’t enter data in the system. She was given
a job in the mailroom sorting the mail. The member felt that the job was
not intellectually stimulating. She felt that the employer should have
tried to find something that would challenge her intellectually. The employer
did not accommodate the employee because the work was still affecting her
health.
Are there any locals that are experiencing situations where the members
feel they are not given suitable work? In some locals the employer does
a good job in accommodating people and in other locals there is still lots
to do in that respect. One local identified a concern regarding telework
accommodations and asked to be careful not to restrict the employees by
isolating them at home. We want the members to feel they are part of the
work place and try to integrate them back to work and not to isolate them
at home. A local responded that they had five members working from home
and they are very pleased with that. The submitting local concluded by
stating that there still was a lot of work to be done with the employer
regarding the duty to accommodate.
PRESENTATION BY THE PSAC / CRA BARGAINING TEAM
The team was greeted with a standing ovation from the participants. Sister
Bannon introduced the team starting with brother Chris Aylward, Sister
Linda Cassidy, the researcher, Brother Liam McCarthy, Sister April Preston
representing CEUDA, brother Denis Brunette, brother John Kosiba, brother
Nick Stein and brother Denis Lalancette, Second National Vice-President
in charge of bargaining and the negotiator, Sister Theresa Johnson. Sister
Johnson explained the conciliation board process (see: PSAC
document called What happens when negotiations fail?(link no longer active))
and concluded by elaborating on two points. First, she explained that there
is a prohibition in the PSSRB Act against strike actions during an election
period. In the event of a change of government, we will still go ahead
with the conciliation board process and we would
have a period of 21 days where we could not take action. Then when the
results are in we would be in a position to take what ever action we
need to take and this may encourage the new government to sit and talk
to us. Brother Liam then commented on two central issues. Job Security
and Wages. He said the bargaining team was pursuing a “no-lay-off/no-contracting-out” clause
and concerning the wages, there was a demand for an increase of 8% per
year. He explained that this may seem to be a large amount however, considering
the wage freeze of the 90’s, members of the CRA have some catching
up to do for the wages to get back up to what they should be. The team
is also demanding a “cost of living allowance” clause. He
explained that if for the first year the negotiated 8% does not meet
the inflation cost for that year then there would be a cost of living
adjustment. If inflation for the year 2003 was 8.9% then the members
would get an additional .9% increase.
The team answered questions from the participants.
Point of privilege – Esther Burt
On behalf of the Toronto North Local and as encouragement to the bargaining
team, Sister Esther Burt presented a petition to brother Lalancette. The
petition was signed by members of the local and is to be given to the employer.
Brother Lalancette thanked Sister Burt and commented that it was with this
type of action that we will be able to demonstrate to the employer that
members support the action taken by the bargaining team.
Brothers Denis Lalancette and Denis Brunette requested permission to leave
to attend a general annual meeting.
The point of privilege was well taken by the chair.
ITEMS SUBMITTED BY THE LOCAL PRESIDENTS
Workplace Accommodation: committees, alternate work, bundling & unbundling
of jobs (Toronto Local 00001)
Bundling & unbundling of jobs:
Local: What is the National direction on this?
President: I do not believe that the EO Committee has discussed this in
relationship to duty to accommodate.
L. Ruel: Confirmed that this was not discussed and further stated that
a new accommodation policy will be introduced tomorrow and will be on
the infozone by next week.
3. Article 37.01 (Injury-on-duty leave) (Toronto Local 00001)
Local: Commented that leave will be granted when Health Canada has notified
the employer that it has accepted the claim as a work related claim. Often
the process is lengthy and members run out of sick credits. In situations
where the claim is denied even though there were witnesses to prove that
the accident occurred at the work place, there should be a recourse mechanism
available to correct the situation. We should put pressure on the employer.
Sometime ago, there was talk to the effect that when people retire their
unused sick credits would go to a bank to be used by people who do not
have sick credits. What happened with this?
Chair: A committee was formed following the last round of negotiations
and its mandate was to look at different ways to assist people who run
out of leave and one example that was highlighted was the leave credit
bank. Sister Stewart, who sat on the committee will talk about the recommendations.
B. Stewart: One of the recommendations was to establish a bank of sick
leave credits that people could use until they qualified for disability
insurance. It was suggested that the employer could start by adding a certain
amount of days to the bank after which the employees could give an hour
a year. Criteria governing the use of this bank would be established first.
Another recommendation was to have a sub-plan for when people go on E.I.
where the employer would provide the difference up to about 93%. For the
sick leave bank we will put a number of hours to start the bank. Guidelines
regarding sick leave policy after unemployment or D.I. are being drafted,
outlining what the employee, the employer, and the union should be doing.
Sister Stewart confirmed that there was a recommendation covering a bank
for unused credits after retirement
What do we do with a situation where the income earned while on injured
duty leave (before you received benefits from WSIB – non taxable)
is shown on the T4 slip and also as benefits for the same amount on the
T5007. A suggestion was made from a member in client services that a letter
from WSIB stating that this has already been included in the T4 would possibly
correct the situation
4. Transfer to CBSA (Jonquière 10004)
Local: When CEUDA is gone who will represent the remaining members?
President: CEUDA still has members in the CRA. They represent the members
in HR, IT, F&A in TSO’s and HQ, as well as, the Regional Offices,
in accordance with the original Riche Decision. All of the TC’s are
ours in their entirety, including HR, IT, F&A and Regional Office members
housed in the TC’s, except Summerside, which belongs to CEUDA. Due
to the Riche Decision on the anomalies, we also have several offices that
are strictly UTE. We must also remember that the members doing pure GST
work, which are mostly in HQ, were never part of the dispute and remain
members of CEUDA. However, we believe that all members working in the CRA
should be members of UTE and we will be taking whatever actions are required
to make this happen.
5. Contracting out (Jonquière 10004)
Local: Commented on Statistics Canada contracting out a portion of the
work for the 2006 Census. Do we have any news?
Chair: A detailed e-mail was sent to all locals on this issue.
The census will be contracted out to a consortium of companies headed
by Lockheed Martin Canada.
6. Whistle Blowing (Peterborough 00088)
Local: Recommended that UTE send letters to all political leaders of all
parties to get their commitment for the best whistle blowing legislation
in the world as noted by the NDP member Pat Martin from Manitoba. We as
employees of the federal government and all Canadians need such a legislation.
Chair: Will make contact with leaders of all parties with respect to this
issue.
The meeting recessed at 1700 hours.
FRIDAY, APRIL 2ND, 2004
MORNING SESSION
The Conference was called to order at 09:00 a.m. with Sister Bannon presiding.
She explained that the group demonstrated at 200 Laurier
this morning which
houses the Human Resources and Staff Relations’ Office. Sister Bannon
wondered why both the Assistant Commissioner of Human Resources and the
CRA negotiator were absent from the building. After this morning’s
demonstration the president though it would be highly appropriate to start
the session with the Bargaining Committee and she invited the committee
members to the stage. Brothers Aylward and MacDonald were absent with permission.
REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEES
The Chair of Bargaining Committee Brother Lalancette congratulated all
the participants for their participation and action earlier this morning.
He gave a brief resume of the bargaining situation mentioning that we are
at the stage of having a conciliation board to help us progress with the
negotiations. Brother Lalancette thanks the locals for their excellent
pressure tactics used to show the employer their displeasure with the way
bargaining is going. He then commented on the attached document that he
prepared called Looking back at our Bargaining Process. Brother Lalancette
asked that all locals remit their Strike Structure before leaving on Saturday.
PRESENTATION - ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY
Sister Bannon introduced Debra Sine and Virginia Salares, two experts
on Environmental Sensitivities and Indoor Air Quality.
The presentation on indoor air quality by Virginia Salares provided information
on the sources of pollutants and contaminants in the buildings and how
indoor air quality can be improved. Debra Sine covered the topic of environmental
sensitivities by first talking of the toxins, irritants that may cause
adverse reactions in people and gave examples of the physical and behavioral
symptoms. She explained the duty to accommodate and how, by working all
together, we can make healthier environments for all and accommodate the
needs of persons with environmental sensitivities.
AWARD PRESENTATION
The chair of the Honours and Awards Committee sister Pamela Abbott introduced
the other members of the committee, namely Brother Denis Lalancette and
Brother Terry Dupuis. She talked about the UTE Scholarship announcing that
June 15th was the deadline for receiving applications. She then asked Sister
Bannon to present a special award. Sister Bannon expressed that she was
honoured to present Brother Bob Campbell, UTE 1st National Vice-President
with the UTE Life Membership Award. (See attached related
information).
PRESENTATION ON DUTY TO ACCOMMODATE
Sister Bannon introduced Alexander Waddell, Education Officer with the
Canadian Human Rights Commission.
The duty to accommodate is a legal principle which all employees, managers
and union members in the federal sector need to understand. This presentation
discussed:
- what the duty to accommodate means;
- where it comes from in the law;
- the meaning of the term ‘bona fide occupational requirement’;
- the idea of undue hardship
- benefits for the workplace when accommodation is implemented correctly;
- everyone’s responsibilities with regard
to accommodation
- how to proceed with accommodation requests
These topics were discussed using examples and questions from the participants.
Point of Privilege – Darlene Muise
She explained that one of her members lost her home in a fire last week
and that she did not have any insurance. Sister Muise thanked the Executive
Council for approving a donation of $1000. earlier during the week. She
asked permission from the chair to circulate an envelop for further donations
to help this member and her family.
The point of privilege was well taken by the Chair.
The meeting recessed at 5:00 p.m.
SATURDAY, APRIL 3RD, 2004
MORNING SESSION
The meeting was called to order at 09:00 a.m. with President Bannon presiding.
ITEMS SUBMITTED BY THE LOCAL PRESIDENTS
7. 5 year LWOP & Pensionable Service (Peterborough 00008)
Local: The issue of the 5-year LWOP and pensionable was presented to the
Executive Council earlier during the week and the local asked for a brief
overview of the discussion.
Chair: Union leave without pay when accumulated to 5 years can
drastically affect the pension. Calculations were done by some RVPs and
they were within the 1.5 to 2-year range. We asked the employer if they
would make an agreement with us or would they consider combining with us
jointly and try for legislation changes. They said no to an agreement because
they were not allowed to do that and they did not answer substantively
on would they help us trying to have the legislation changed. We have contacted
the Alliance and they did open a file on that issue when the legislative
changes were made. Now what is needed is to follow up with the Alliance
to see what path they will take to try to rectify this situation. The local
had no further comment on the issue.
8. Youth Involvement (Peterborough 00008)
Local: Presented a motion as follows:
m/s D. Quist/J. Lafontaine
Whereas the youth involvement during the March 2002 President’s
Conference was deemed a great success; and
Whereas we need our Union to take steps to ensure successorship within
the UTE.
Be it resolved that UTE fully fund one (1) youth member from each local
at the September 2004 President’s Conference.
Local: Commented that at the last December Council a motion was
moved on the Youth Conference and it has been defeated.
Be it resolved that hold a youth conference during Presidents’ Conference;
and
Be it further resolved that UTE fully found 1 youth from each local.
Since this body did not have the chance to debate on the motion put forward
in December it is presented today for discussion and debate and money should
not be an issue.
Locals that went to the mike were unanimous on the issue that we should
bring back the youth, encourage them and train them when they are young
for the future of the Union of Taxation Employees and the union movement
in general.
MOTION CARRIED.
Chair: The President added as a point of clarification that when it went
to Council in December some discussions were about the fact that we brought
youth in the last time and that may be we should be looking for another
group of members such as any body that has been with CCRA less than 5 years
or someone who has been there for 20 years. The idea was to diversify the
membership and bring them to the Presidents’ Conference because we
did the youth once. She added that the youth will have to come as observers
as per our by-laws.
9. Independent Third Party Review (Edmonton 30025)
Local: How many do we have in inventory?
Chair: 36 which 31 are dealt at once.
Local: Do we have a plan of who will be doing ITPR?
Chair: It has been discussed at Council a few times. We had Brother O’Brien
last December at Council to give us an overview of what ITPRs entailed
because they are nothing like appeals. We have two labour relations officers
who do them now and we are keeping an eye on the numbers. They will not
be doing them forever. We will either ask other LROs to do some or we will
ask council members.
Local: Could we have some successful results on ITPR on our newsletter?
Chair: We could put numbers in the newsletter but as far as a summary
of what they entailed we may fit 1 at the time.
10. Staffing (Montreal 10008)
Local: Presented a motion as follows:
m/s Jean-Pierre Bonin/Denis Brunette
Whereas the costs related to staffing are very high; and
Whereas inventories should be used to staff positions continuously and
within reasonable periods of time; and
Whereas the CCRA attempts by every means possible to reduce its operating
costs;
Be it resolved that the National President or a representative of the
Executive Council use every means possible to convince head office that,
when there is a staffing freeze or any other control measure or process
intended to delay the appointment of candidates, inventories be extended
for an equivalent period of time.
Local: Commented that the motion was self-explanatory and added that the
employer abuses from the freeze on staffing when it suits him.
N. Stein: Chair of the WFA Committee commented that it is our position
that the employer does not undetermined staffing until our affected members
have been placed. So you may go back to your members and emphasized that
there should be no staffing until our affected members have a job to go
to.
Local: Would there be a change to the policy with respect to the time
frame for the pool? And what would be the limitation on the extension of
the pool?
Chair: In all probability if the employer was willing to move at
all with this, there would be a time limit on it and yes there would be
a policy change to one or more of the staffing directives.
Local: Would the chair explain what are some of the means referred to in
the motion that would be used by the person dealing with this issue?
Chair: It could probably be by way of consultation, we could add it to
a UMC meeting, the staffing committee could pursue this in their deliberations,
and we could also use the PSAC to give us some directions. There are more
avenues that we would have to look at.
MOTION CARRIED.
11. Pool of Collection Accounts (Montreal 10008)
Local: We would ask that the Technological Change Committee to look into
this issue:
Last year the employer asked that the regular accounts that the PM-1 officers
have in their inventory be placed in a collecting pool to help other offices
that couldn’t collect all accounts. Now they are talking about a
regional pool for all the PM-1 accounts coming from the national pool that
will be distributed to TSOs in the order of 160 accounts per PM-1. When
one (1) account is dealt with another one will be added having always a
total of 160 accounts in their inventory. If this initiative is successful
then there will be a national pool where all Canadian accounts will be
put in and where an officer from Vancouver would deal with an account from
Saint John and vice versa. The concern we have is that by eliminating the
alphabetical sorting it would be difficult to control the calls, the counter
and the mail, that no accounts can be re-transferred in the pool having
to dealt with that account from beginning to end and since the accounts
in the officers’ inventory will never diminish that it could be de-motivating
for some of them. Most importantly to ensure that there will be no PM-1s
job lost resulting from this initiative. We believe that the employer is
trying to collect rapidly as much accounts as they can and get rid of PM-1s.
The employer wants the 1-800 number.
Chair: The reason this was done was to ensure ‘work’ in smaller
offices. The employer told us that it was not their intention to close
any offices.
On the question was there terms employ in the national pool? On a show
of hand most of the regions have terms and 7 regions said it is mostly
terms in national pool. Vancouver said that it was only indeterminate employees
who work on national pool. On the subject of national pool they have a
concern that in the future there will be no PM-1s entrance level to revenue
collections it will be only PM-2s complex files.
Ottawa TSO was told this morning that someone in headquarters was working
on how to get rid of PM-1 in the TSOs. They will get more information
and give it to the RVP Brother Aylward.
Chair: Will follow on that with the employer on Monday.
12. Technical Advisor – reclassification (Montreal 10008)
Local: Commented as a point of information that the PM-1s would like to
be paid as PM-2 because they are asked to do more that what’s on
their job description, the PM-2s technical advisors think that they should
be PM-3 because they supervised the PM-2s. There is presently a classification
grievance with the PM-3s and we also have the MG that are unhappy with
their situation. We will have serious work to do on this issue of reclassification.
One local asked the status on the ROCCOs.
Chair: A memo and emails were sent out last week to all locals. (see attached
memo)
13. Group MG Grievances (Laval 10028)
Local: Withdraws by the local as brother Mulvihill had already provided
information earlier on the issue. Brother Champoux thanked brother Mulvihil
for his commitment.
14. Bill C-43 (Laval 10028)
Local: Commented that according to section 89 of Bill C-43 that 5 years
after the bill is adopted there were committees created to examine and
evaluate the dispositions, the applications and the effects of the bill.
Then the committees present their reports to the parliament. Last February
the commissioner sent a memo to all employees informing them that a review
will soon be presented in chamber on the creation of the Agency and that
this would be a good occasion to do a review of our realizations and to
plan what is ahead of us.
Now it’s been 5 years that the Agency has been created and since
we are in a bargaining period it would be a good time (lets not miss the
boat) to let all political parties know what has come out from this agency.
The staffing freeze, the consecutive 7 days of work, posting of notice
of competition in places where it is not visible to members, no appeal
tribunal for employees but one for the employer side etc.. The participants
applauded the intervention of the local. There was no further comment from
other locals.
15. Web Site (Peterborough 00008)
Local: Commented on the fact that there
seems to be problems with the actual email address and the web site.
What can we expect as improvements with our web site?
Chair: Three of the Council members wished to keep the attglobal address.
The rest are using ute-sei.org. We are working on two fronts. The first
one being a brand new site, which is almost completed. The address has
been given to council, communication committee and to a blind member in
Saskatoon to review. In the meantime our communication officer is keeping
the site up to date and the site is given the attention it deserved. Hopefully
the new site will be launched in April.
Local: Belleville local wished to talk about the email system
item now. He commented that he was rather shocked and surprised that viruses
were floating around with web mail. He opened CCRA email addresses regarding
email that came through local 12 mail box. He would like to know how many
locals have experienced this situation of receiving undesired email.
Chair: This has happened in all of the locals. A virus has gone to someone
address book and automatically send stuff out and as you know locals got
it. It has gone to CCRA, PSAC and personal addresses. She added that spam
and viruses have become a huge problem for everyone.
The problem with attachments being all codes and unreadable will be fixed
if not already done as I speak.
A local asked as a suggestion that a banner (approx. 2’ long x 6’’ high)
be provided to all locals to announce the new website and showing also
the website address to catch attention of the members. The chair said that
our communication officer could look in to this.
Brother Dupuis provided information on how to get rid of unwanted ads
that pop up on the screen. He suggested to use popswatter.com and another
one called Ad-aware.com both are free to download.
16. President’s Conference Funding (Peterborough 00008)
Withdrawn by the submitting local.
17. PM-1 Competition vs Appointment CR-4 (Montréal 10008)
Local: Commented as a point of information that members were applying
for PM-1 position and ended up as CR-4. When asked on the situation, the
employer tells us that this is only for a period of time that eventually
probably next year they will become PM-1. The local asked people to be
vigilant and check carefully the posting on jobs competitions before applying
and to denounce this situation.
Chair: Have any employees been appointed to PM-1? The local answered
NO.
No further comment was made on the issue.
Note: Brother Gaetz was absent with permission. The chair presented the
next item on the agenda.
18. Terms Employees and Union Dues (St. John’s 90000)
Local: Commented as a point of information on a compensation bulletin
issued last February that stated: ‘’employees appointed for
less that 3 months who employment is extended to 3 months or more pay union
dues from the 1st of the month following the date the person has been so
employed for a period of 3 months. This cancels the previous direction
provided to Treasury Board departments and the Agencies in 1993 and 1997’’.
At that time it was stated that the employee became subject to the collective
agreement as soon as it was known that the total period of employment would
equal or exceed 3 months.
19. Medical Card Petition (Surrey 20029)
Local: Asked that locals send their petition directly to the National
Office as soon as possible.
20. Care and Nurturing Leave (Surrey 20029)
Local: Stated that these are 2 different leaves. One is for 5 years of
age and under and the other ones for older kids. The 5 year and under get
the leave and the ones up to 18 years of age fell under operation requirements.
We had a situation were it was denied and we filed grievances. Is there
any thing we can use against these operation requirements?
Chair: If this is adjudicable then they have to prove it is operation
requirements.
The only other avenue is to take these words out of the collective agreement.
21. Committee Reports (Surrey 20029)
Local: It was noticed on the website that there are some National Committees
that have not met since a few years. Do they have to meet every year and
what is there mandate?
Chair: The committees that have terms of reference those terms are posted
on the web site. The mandate of the ones that do not have terms of reference
is that they will deal with any items submitted to them by the convention,
the executive council, the executive committee or the local presidents.
If no business has been referred to a committee the committee will not
meet.
A local commented that by having a meeting this could put forward thoughts,
requests and feedback requests from the local to create more causes for
the meetings and more directions for the locals. As point of information
it was added that under the by-laws Sister Bannon is the ex-officio member
on each committee and that she has the right to request that committees
meet and she also has the right to refer items to any committees.
22. UTE/CEUDA Dispute (Surrey 20029)
Local: Withdrawn by the submitting local.
Point of privilege – Joy Harrison
She thanked all brothers and sisters in the room and from across the country
for their generous contributions made to the 3 staff members who lost their
home in the Okanagan Mountain Park fire in August 2003. All members have
commenced to rebuild their homes. Coast to coast donations rolled in approximately
$10,000.
The point of privilege was well taken by the chair.
ELECTIONS OF THE TSO REPRESENTATIVE TO THE WFA COMMITTEE
Sister Bannon called for nominations.
m/s Cosimo Crupi/Linda Kinhnicki
Nominated Doug Gaetz.
m/s Heleen Hickey/Joy Harrison
Nominated Barb Stewart
Sister Bannon closed the nominations.
Both nominees stand for the position. Sister Bannon then proceeded with
the votes.
Brother Gaetz was the successful candidate chosen to seat on the WFA Committee.
m/s Ian Daykin/Normand Pelletier
That the ballots be destroyed.
MOTION CARRIED.
23. Public Service Employee Survey (Halifax 80003)
Local: What is happening now nationally on that issue? There will be local
and regional issues and questions. What would happen when they reach Ottawa
if no national committee has been formed to look at them?
Chair: We will ask the employer if there is a committee. Who seats on
it if one? And when is the plan coming out?
24. Interest Call Letter / Expression of Interest (Halifax 80003)
Local: Is there any other offices using this avenue for staffing?
On a show of hand quite a few locals shown yes. Then the local asked if
any body else had problems with that process from the employer?
K. MacDonald: Chair of the Staffing Committee responded that this issue
was brought last Monday at a meeting with the employer. The question was
ask: Can you show us in the staffing regime what is an Interest Letter,
what it does and how it is formulated then we can have a discussion on
it. Their answer was that there is no such thing in the staffing regime.
Brother MacDonald went on to say that no matter how they staff it is either
a temporary lateral assignment and you avail yourself to those recourse
rights or it is an acting assignment.
REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEES
The Chair of the WFA presented the other members of the committee brother
Doug Gaetz and Pierre Mulvihill the technical advisor. The two other members
were absent with permission on union business. Brother Stein started by
talking about the attached Bulletin 04/04 that was passed to all participants
that would also be available on the web site. He mentioned that the terms
of reference are suggested ones and can be used as a guide. Brother Stein
mentioned that locals should eventually have a local WFA committee. He
suggested to local presidents that have affected compensation members to
go to their employer and ask that a committee be set-up. Brother Stein
reiterate the UTE position on staffing that they should not be staffing
any position at the equivalent or lower level until our affected members
have been placed and this message has to go out to your members.
He then when on by enumerating a few WFA situations over the past few
years: Ottawa TC that wanted to become a Technology Centre which was one
of the biggest downsizing in this government, Client Services, Collections
Call Centres, Pay and Benefits, Administrative reform and renewal for the
F & A, Non-Filers, Trust Examiners, Pension Adjustment part, PM-1s
in collections. Some locals brought other situations to the floor: trust
compliance will be leaving TSOs, CR-3 Audit jobs, Appeal Division to name
a few. Brother Stein asked the participants to stand if they though that
job security was a strike issue. Everybody got up and when clear and loud
STRIKE, STRIKE, STRIKE. A comment was made that if we do not have job security
we can say good-bye to many of us.
ITEMS SUBMITTED BY THE LOCAL PRESIDENTS
25. Donation/Sponsorship (Edmonton)
Local: Presented a motion:
m/s Ian Daykin/Bob Carpenter
Whereas it appears that the number of requests for donations or sponsorships
from UTE is increasing;
Whereas the consideration of individual requests for donations
or sponsorships has proven to be time consuming;
Be it resolved that requests
for donations or sponsorships from UTE be referred to the Executive Committee
for consideration before being presented to the Executive Council.
Local: We believe that all items pertaining to the noted subject presented
to Executive Council last week, 14 of them take to much time from the time
they are sent in to the National Office for typing and processing and then
are debated by the Executive Council one by one. They could be dealt with
by the Executive Committee then come back as one (1) motion including all
motion to the Executive Council for adoption.
Comments from locals were to the effect that it would still generate
debate at Council and take time.
Chair: She agreed and said that it is not because it is coming from the
Executive Committee that the Council will automatically say yes to the
motion.
She added that these motions for donations/sponsorship are most likely
to be presented in December or March because the leagues and else are starting
off in the spring or early summer.
MOTION DEFEATED.
26. Terms over 3 years (Ottawa TC)
Local: The local commented that this was coming from a good source that
the director asked all their team leaders to let go their 3 years terms
employees in May and to rehire them in September when the contract is signed.
Did any other offices hear that rumor? The answer was NO.
Point of privilege – Doug Gaetz
Wish to have is email corrected in the UTE phone book as follows:
Union laptop address: utehfx@accesswave.ca and the home address dgaetz@accesswave.ca
The point of privilege was well taken by the chair.
27. ACS (St. Catharines 00016)
Local: Would ACS be coming back after the classification freeze?
Chair: She had called Dan Tucker to see if it was coming back and his
answer was that it was not coming back for this round of negotiations.
They have concerns because CEUDA is gone and because of some of the issues
that the PSAC has raised. They will keep us informed.
28. WSIB Training (Toronto North 00048)
Local: Shared that the training was given by the PSAC. Last year a request
from their RVP was made and the training was given to about 12 to 15 members,
mostly the executive. They are now trained up to level 2 and also on the
return to work course. It is very beneficial and helpful for the local
and she encouraged other locals to get the training.
Chair: This training is available in Ontario and locals should inquire
about it through their REVP or their regional council.
29. Call Sites (Toronto 00013)
Local: Requested if possible that the Technological Change Committee could
oversee as part of their duty specific issues related the Call Sites? It
could be beneficial if the issues across Canada could be treated together
at one place.
Chair: We have to know what the issues are first. She requested that any
locals who have call sites that have specifics issues to please give them
to their RVP.
30. WSIB Coverage for Activists (equivalent to WCB) (Toronto E. 00001)
Local: Requested that since we hare heading for a strike that we find
out what would happened with WSIB while on union leave. It is imperative
that we find out what the cost is locally, regionally and nationally.
Chair: Will look in to this. Probably the PSAC will have something on
this issue.
This concluded the items submitted by the local presidents.
Sister Bannon asked that everybody remit their evaluation forms.
In order to give the UTE Jacket away, Brother Campbell had a contest of
knowledge on UTE Business.
The winners were David Quist, Anne Mary Bernard and Annette Melanson.
CLOSING REMARKS
Sister Bannon asked the delegates to make sure that their members are
aware of the scholarships and that they can get the details on our web
or they could give them some information. The National Office has started
to look into the 2005 convention preparation and have set up dates for
convention committees and that they will be made available shortly. With
respect to the bargaining, a tentative agreement would be a far better
resolution to the problem than a strike and the team is doing its best.
We will need a severe attitude change from the employer to avoid a strike.
Get ready, check your email daily and the web site, have your members subscribe
to the PSAC to get bulletins right away and send your strike structure
to the National Office. Your members have to be ready and by talking about
the strike over and over this should mobilize the members to take actions
and this may help us to avoid one. She wished a safe trip home to all the
participants.
The meeting adjourned at 4:00 PM.
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