After being elected in July 2012, I have had the pleasure and the honour, over the past two (2) years, of being your First National Vice-President. It is now time to look back over that period and look ahead at the next three years. Under the By-Laws of the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE), my official portfolio is that of finance. This is my first convention where I have the opportunity to report to you about our financial situation.
My duties, as outlined in the By-Laws, are as follows:
- Ensure that the funds of UTE are handled in a sound financial manner and in the best interest of the members;
- Ensure that proper books, records and vouchers are kept in connection with the operations of UTE;
- Supply to each Executive Council meeting such statements and supportive material which will enable the Executive Council to properly evaluate and control the financial affairs of UTE;
- Include in the written reports to the Executive Council and the Convention the dollar amount expended by each member of the Council and the Alternate for the Regional Vice-Presidents for the current period as well as the cumulative amount since the last Convention; and
- Chair the Standing Finance Committee.
Over the last two (2) years, I reviewed each expense claim filed and ensured that it was in accordance with UTE Regulation No. 13, “Reimbursement of Expenses”. Other expenditures were approved either by the Executive Council or in consultation with the National President.
The Executive Council and the locals were presented with internal financial statements of the Union on a regular basis.
At each Executive Council meeting:
- I submitted the most recent financial statements for approval;
- I made recommendations to transfer funds among budget items in order to stay within the proposed convention budget;
- The financial statements, along with notes explaining the changes, were included in the Minutes of the Executive Council, which were forwarded to all locals for their review;
- Each Council member was provided a copy of their current expenditures as well as a cumulative summary since the last convention;
- I submitted expense claims that were over 90 days old to the Executive Council for their review and approval, in accordance with By-Law 14, Section 4.
At the end of each calendar year:
- The Regional Vice-Presidents were provided with cumulative figures for the report to their regions.
- Our books and records are subject to audit by an outside accounting firm. I, myself, submitted the audited financial statements to the Executive Council for approval, in accordance with By-Law 14, Section 2. Those statements were then forwarded to each local for their review.
NATIONAL OFFICE
At the National Office, we continue to use the most current technologies. We upgraded our computer software to include the most up-to-date programs for our accounting and cheque-writing systems (AccPac).
In addition to supervising the work of the financial administration officers, Stéphanie Wolff and Monique Desrosiers, I also supervise Sister Susan Duncan in the Communication Branch and Brother Alex Thon in information technology.
Over the last two (2) years, a number of positive changes have been made. We replaced our e-mail server with an innovative hosted email solution from Microsoft. That solution has eliminated service interruptions for users during installation of upgrades.
We also replaced the National Office’s old phone system with an IP telephony solution from Cisco with the service provider Telus. This new system enables us to save a great deal in the operating costs of phones and fax machines. It also provides us with very meaningful telecommunication opportunities. I also proposed and then supervised the set-up of a teleconferencing system using a toll-free phone number. This communication tool enables the National Office to hold conference calls for Executive Council members between the Council’s regular meetings if there is an emergency. It also enables the Regional Vice-Presidents to hold conference calls with their Local Presidents on important common issues, and do so in a timely manner.
Another significant improvement involved introducing an additional service provider in connection with our printing needs, in particular for the “Union News”. This addition has increased the suppliers’ level of competitiveness and enabled the UTE to considerably reduce the costs connected with this type of expense.
Over the past few months, we also began the work connected with replacing the old UTE website with a completely revised and enhanced site. Our goal is to make navigation much more user-friendly for users and facilitate the search for information on our website. Some stages are complete. We have already chosen the external service provider that will set up the new site in co-operation with Sister Susan Duncan. She has also started taking training and has attended workshops for enhancing her knowledge in this completely new environment. We plan to finish the set-up of the new website by the end of 2014 and launch it in early 2015.
I am extremely proud of the work that we have done over the past few years and am excited about the idea of continuing in the same vein.
I would also like to thank all National Office employees for their unfailing support and their understanding and patience toward “the new kid”. They welcomed me into the “National Office family” and have benefited me with their varied knowledge and their professionalism over the past two (2) years, and I am very grateful to them.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Over the past two (2) years, it has been a pleasure for me to chair this committee. The Finance Committee does valuable work for the financial success of the UTE. The Committee took the direction from the last convention very seriously. It reviewed all of the Union’s financial procedures and made the necessary recommendations to the Executive Council. It conducted its work in an unbiased, professional and respectful manner. I am taking the opportunity to thank all Committee members for their work and dedication over the past three years.
I would like to thank the Committee members: Brothers Doug Gaetz, Gary Esslinger, Robert Hume and David Webster. In addition, a special thank-you to Sister Stéphanie Wolff, our Financial Administration Officer, and Sister Monique Desrosiers, our Assistant Financial Administration Officer, for everything during this period.
The Finance Committee has an extensive mandate. It performed that mandate with flying colours. For example, we reviewed UTE By-Law No. 13, “Reimbursement of Expenses”. We also proposed guidelines to the Executive Council for funding political action campaigns and awarding a communication subsidy to enable the locals to acquire a tablet computer and a data plan to facilitate access at any time to the UTE email system. In addition, the Committee suggested to the Executive Council that they annually renew the subsidy connected with funding the data plan. That recommendation was approved by the Council for 2014.
The Committee was also involved in preparing the budget that is submitted at the Convention. I feel that this budget, which was reviewed and amended by the Finance Committee, the Executive Council and the Convention Finance Committee, reflects the UTE’s position for the next three years. It is a realistic budget that will take us into the days, months and years ahead, while ensuring our financial stability.
HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE
Over the past two (2) years, I have had the honour and pleasure of co-chairing this committee and working with very dedicated people who, like me, are passionate about occupational health and safety: Brother Doug Gaetz, Committee Chairperson, Brother Pierre Mulvihill, Technical Advisor, and Sister Debbie Ferguson, representative of the local Presidents.
The knowledge and skills of these people do not leave the slightest doubt. They are equalled only by their intense desire to ensure that the employer meets its obligations under Part II of the Canada Labour Code. I am taking this opportunity to thank them for all their work and efforts over the past three years.
The Committee attended the meetings of the National Health and Safety Policy Committee (NHSPC). A multitude of topics were addressed by this joint union/management committee: implementation of form T4009 on line, the associated ergonomic and training issues, fire extinguisher training, workplace 2.0, job hazard analysis for on-site employees and those in multiple environments, the effectiveness of the local occupational health and safety committees, workplace inspection, security incident reports, requirements for CRA emergency drills, psychological health and safety in the workplace, etc. We continually tracked the following training: health and safety training, workplace violence prevention training, WHMIS training. Some Committee members also attend regular sub-committee meetings with employer representatives.
The Committee also organized a National Health and Safety Conference in October 2012. That conference was very valuable, and the feedback gathered from the attendees was very favourable for the most part.
OTHER DUTIES
As First National Vice-President, I attended every meeting of the PSAC National Board of Directors (NBoD) as advisor to the UTE National President, and sat as UTE representative when the National President was away. Along with the National President, I also attended a number of informal NBoD meetings, including about the fight back campaign “We Are All Affected” and the solidarity card signing campaign.
I also visited a number of CRA offices and attended a great many annual general meetings (AGMs) of the UTE locals. These are opportunities that I particularly value. It is a privilege to meet with the presidents and the local representatives on a more personal basis than at Presidents’ Conferences or a convention. Annual general meetings are especially rewarding because I have the opportunity to hear first hand what the members are thinking and see what direction they want their union to take. Listening to the membership is the very basis of our union's strength. This is why I also value being able to visit the offices. This enables me to promote the AGM and meet with members who are unfortunately unable to attend. I also have the opportunity to speak with the employer’s local management teams.
I also took part in various demonstrations. Whether for supporting our bargaining team and the work performed by the locals, mainly in the National Capital Region, during distribution of flyers to their members or to the general public, or even during events organized by the PSAC, such as National Action Day, the support demonstration for the Customs and Immigration Union or the protest of the federal Conservative government’s austerity policies held in Calgary during the Conservative Party of Canada’s Convention in November 2013.
I also gave a multitude of interviews to various media, whether the print or electronic media (radio and television), both in English and in French, mostly in Ottawa, but also elsewhere in the country.
The National President also entrusted me with various duties and responsibilities, including representing the UTE on the National Steering Committee of the 2011 Public Service Employee Survey (PSES). I am also the UTE representative on the 2014 PSES National Steering Committee. I also took part in a discussion group for preparing the five (5) additional issues submitted to Statistics Canada by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
In addition, I am responsible for funding requests under the Local Loan Regulation and under the Computer Loan Regulation, requests for donations and sponsorships, approval for Alternate Location Fund funding, requests to use the Local Translation Fund, approval for non-UTE events funding, requests to use the Members with Disability Fund, Family Care Expenses and approval for funding from the Membership Appreciation Fund.
Over the past two (2) years, we continued our efforts for promoting our union in the workplace by selling promotional items. We offered a wide range of items at each Presidents’ Conference and at other national activities. We continued producing our own calendar and our own line of clothing as well as offering other items that are too numerous to list here. Judging from the sales and the demand for items that we offered to you, it appears that our efforts are paying off and that the UTE is still gaining in visibility.
As a member of the Executive Council, I had the chance to work with a group of very dedicated people. I would like to take this opportunity to warmly thank all of them for the welcome they gave me, their great co-operation and the solidarity that they managed to demonstrate right from the day I arrived. Through the nature and responsibilities of our work, it sometimes happens that we do not concur on a topic or major issue. However, this did not prevent us from remaining respectful and always working together for the well-being and best interest of our members.
There will be certain changes in the Council after our convention. Among others, Brother Jean-Pierre Fraser has decided to step down as RVP. He deserves our utmost thanks and our respect for the work that he has done for the membership and, in my personal case, for his friendship.
I cannot end this report without speaking of our National President, Brother Robert Campbell. Ever since I started in my position, Bob has shown me a great deal of respect and has continued providing me with his wise advice (that I would do well to follow a little more) and sharing his vast experience and knowledge. As my late father would often tell me, you can’t buy experience. I already knew that this maxim was true, but I truly grasped its full significance and relevance in contact with Brother Campbell.
Robert Campbell is highly respected in our union and among all members of the PSAC National Board of Directors (NBoD), and I understand why. He works hard and does what he says. As they say, “put your money where your mouth is”. He leads by walking the talk. Another excellent quality of our National President is when he says that he consults, and does indeed do so. And I highly value this aspect. Do we always agree? No. Do we often agree? Yes. Brother Campbell and I have open and honest (and very confidential) discussions, and then he makes the decisions, as it should be. And I fully support him, as it should be. The same way he does for me when I have to make the decisions.
It was an honour and a pleasure for me to be his 1st Vice-President over the past two (2) years. I spent that time learning and working with a great leader and outstanding colleague. He always supported me and taught me a great many things. And he is always prepared to help me and teach me all the rudiments of the trade.
I would like to thank him from the bottom of my heart for his ongoing support, his assistance and tremendous co-operation and for his wisdom and friendship. Thanks Bob! I hope to have the pleasure and honour of continuing to be your 1st Vice-President over the next three (3) years, if the Convention delegates wish it thus.
As union representatives and federal public service employees, we are going through a very difficult time. The current Conservative government is disparaging its employees in a public way and has no consideration for the public service. They are preachers of privatization and deregulation to the extreme, with all the risks of aberrations that that involves. In addition, the Conservatives and their right-wing allies and the large companies are constantly attacking the unions. Why? To weaken them and, if possible, wipe them out in order to dwindle the working conditions of all workers. They definitely want to eliminate the “middle class”.
Are we going to let them do that without making a move? Of course not!
This is why we need to be better, to be more aggressive in defending the interests of our members and of all workers in general. We need to do a better job at countering the attacks from the Conservative right and must also be more pro-active by initiating our own attacks to expose all the myths, exaggerations and lies that these people are spreading about us.
And this is why we must, as union leaders, walk the talk and also ask more from our troops, whether they be our locals or our members. We must all work together to defend our interests and protect our rights and what we've acquired.
Our locals, with the support of their members, are the key to our success.
This was a summary of my work and the activities I have been involved in over the past two (2) years. It has been a great pleasure to work for the UTE and all its members, from coast to coast, and I hope to continue doing so for many years to come. Being a member of the UTE is both a pleasure and an honour for me. It means being part of a large family.
Thank you all for letting me serve in this position. I hope that I have met at least part of your expectations.
If you decide it shall be, I would be pleased to continue serving you for the next three (3) years as your 1st National Vice-President.
In solidarity,
Marc Brière
UTE 1st National Vice-President