BY-LAW 8 - CONFERENCES

Section 1 – Presidents’ Conference

(1) There shall be a Presidents' Conference constituted in the following manner: 

  1. the President or their Alternate shall be the Chairperson; 
  2. the delegates shall be the President or Alternate of all Locals as defined in Regulation; 
  3. the Presidents' Conference shall meet at the call of the Executive Council, not less than two (2) times in a year;
  4. each sitting of a Presidents' Conference will normally be for a maximum of two and one-half (2 ½) days;
  5. the Presidents' Conference shall be vested with the authority to discuss all the business transacted by the Executive Council between Conventions;
  6. the discussion of the business transacted by the Executive Council may not normally extend past one-half (1/2) day sitting;
  7. it will be the responsibility of the Chairperson to prepare an agenda dealing with the following items: 
    1. business conducted by the Executive Council,
    2. those items Executive Council wishes to have discussed;
    3. items submitted in writing by the Local Presidents;
    4. the election of the Presidents’ representative(s) on UTE Standing Committees every three (3) years at the September Presidents’ Conference after Convention;
    5. if a vacancy occurs on a UTE Standing Committee, the election of the President’s representative(s) shall take place at the next Presidents’ Conference to fill the remainder of that term.
  8. the Presidents' Conference, by a simple majority vote of those delegates in attendance, may make recommendations by means of motions to Executive Council;
  9. all expenditures for a sitting of a Presidents' Conference will be the responsibility of UTE;
  10. members of UTE in good standing may attend as observers at their own or Local’s expense or by the approval of the Executive Council at UTE’s expense;
  11. observers shall have no vote but with the approval of the Chairperson and a simple majority vote may have voice once during the full sitting; and
  12. Executive Council shall attend as fully funded observers.

Section 2 – Equal Opportunities Conferences

(1) There shall be Equal Opportunities Conferences constituted in the following manner:

  1. a National Conference shall normally be held in Ottawa the calendar year prior to the Convention;
  2. the dates, location and regions attending the Regional Conferences held prior to the National Equal Opportunities Conference shall be recommended by the Equal Opportunities Committee and approved by the Executive Council;
  3. the Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Committee or their Alternate shall be the Chairperson of the National and Regional Conferences;
  4. UTE shall fund two (2) members per Local as defined in Regulation;
  5. members of the Equal Opportunities Committee shall be funded by National to attend the National Conference and all Equal Opportunity Regional Conferences;
  6. it will be the responsibility of the Equal Opportunities Committee to set the agenda and workshops for the Conferences.  Expenses related to the agenda, the workshops, and/or items for the Conferences require prior approval of the 1st Vice-President responsible for Finance, or in their absence the National President;
  7. each Regional Equal Opportunities Conference shall normally be scheduled for two and a half (2 1/2) days on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday;
  8. the National Conference shall normally be scheduled for two and a half (2 ½) days on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday;
  9. members of the Executive Council shall be funded to attend the National Conference and the Regional Conferences in which their home Local has been assigned or to which Locals in their region have been assigned to attend; and
  10. notwithstanding (d), members of UTE in good standing may attend at their own or Local’s expense, subject to space availability.

Section 3 – National Health & Safety Conference

(1) There shall be a National Health and Safety Conference constituted in the following manner:

  1. a National Conference shall normally be held in Ottawa the calendar year prior to Convention;
  2. the Chairperson of the Health and Safety Committee or their Alternate shall be the Chairperson of the Conference;
  3. UTE National fund the cost of the greater of one (1) delegate per workplace committee or two (2) delegates per local to each Health and Safety Conference;
  4. it is the responsibility of the National Health and Safety Committee to set the agenda and workshops for this conference. Expenses related to the agenda, the workshops, and/or items for the Conferences require prior approval of the 1st Vice-President responsible for Finance, or in their absence the National President;
  5. the Conference shall normally be scheduled for two and one half (2 ½) days;
  6. members of the Executive Council shall be funded to attend the Conference; and
  7. notwithstanding (c), members of UTE in good standing may attend at their own or Local’s expense, subject to space availability.