THUSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021
AFTERNOON SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
The virtual meeting is called to order at 1:15 p.m. Marc Brière, President of the Union of Taxation Employees, presided the meeting and welcomed everyone.
A Solidarity Forever video in both French and English is played.
President Brière asked the delegation to respect a moment of silence for members who have passed away since the last conference.
President Brière presents administrative details related to the conference.
He spoke to the Harassment Policy and introduced the Complaint Administrators: Doug Gaetz, Brian Oldford, Mathieu Juneau and Jennifer MacPherson. The contact information can be found in the Resource’s section.
He introduced the members of the Executive Council, the members of the staff from the National Office and the local Presidents. He acknowledges the new local Presidents: Alexandre Dumont- Outaouais
1st Vice-President Doug Gaetz gave finance instructions and UTE store information.
ADOPTION OF THE HOURS OF SESSION
m/s Nicholas Thompson - 00048 / Mike Chartrand - 70000
That the hours of session be as follows.
- MOTION CARRIED
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
m/s David Rochefort - 70022 / Kevin Jenson - 60008
That the proposed amendments to Items submitted by locals be approved.
- MOTION CARRIED
m/s Chris Foucault - 00042 / Raffi Sahakian -10017
That the agenda be adopted as amended.
- MOTION CARRIED
Point of privilege:
Nicholas Thompson - 00001: Would like to add an item, technical difficulties prevented him from doing so before the vote. Stipend for Union representatives
Marc Brière - National President: With the indulgence of the house, he suggests proceeding to a new vote to add the item.
m/s Nicholas Thompson - 00001/ Heather Kenny - 20029
That the proposed amendment to Items submitted by locals be approved.
- MOTION CARRIED
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021
11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Call to Order
Hours of Session
Adoption of Agenda
Opening Remarks - National President
Highlights on Items dealt by the Executive Council
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Presentation from the Honours and Awards Committee
Collective Bargaining Committee Update
Items submitted by Local Presidents
2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. Health break
2:50 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Items submitted by Local Presidents
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021
11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Items submitted by Local Presidents
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Items submitted by Local Presidents
1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Canadian Mental Health Association workshop
Includes a 20-minute health break.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
11:00 a.m. – 11:15 p.m. Health and Safety Committee update
11:15 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Items submitted by Local Presidents
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Items submitted by Local Presidents
2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. Health break
2:50 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Items submitted by Local Presidents
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Election of Presidents representatives to the UTE Standing Committees
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Election of Presidents representatives to the UTE Standing Committees
Items submitted by Local Presidents
2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. Health break
2:50 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Election of Presidents representatives to the UTE Standing Committees
Items submitted by Local Presidents
- Election of two (2) Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Bargaining Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE By-Laws Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Call Centres Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Communications Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Equal Opportunity Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Finance Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Health & Safety Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Honours & Awards Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Political Action Committee
- Election of three (3) Presidents’ Representative to the Staffing Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the Technological Change Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Union Management Approach (UMA) Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Well-Being Committee
- Election of two (2) Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Workforce Adjustment (WFA) Committee
Closing remarks
POINTS SUBMITTED BY LOCALS
Subject to the timeline of the hours of sessions.
BATHURST – LOCAL 60006 – BILLY DEMPSEY
Employer’s use of MS Teams
JONQUIÈRE– LOCAL 10004 – DANIEL GAGNON
- HAD HOC Committee Membership Assignment: where, are we?
- Mandatory vaccination: What is UTE’s position.
OTTAWA- LOCAL 70004 – KIM CARDINAL
Depersonalization of workspaces and health and safety implications.
SHAWINIGAN – LOCAL 10005 – PATRICK BERTRAND
- Mobilisation in telework period and pandemic, need for planification collective agreement ends October 31st.
- Reactivity of UTE, wait times for amounts related to political campaign, no political action training for locals offered by PSAC.
OTTAWA HEADQUARTERS- LOCAL 70000-MIKE CHARTRAND
Monitoring of employees
ST. JOHN’S TC- LOCAL 90000- ASHLEY GREEN
Some items for our President meeting
PACIFIC REGION CALL CENTER – LOCAL 20050- RICHARD HYATT
- Application Clause 60.01
- Union management consultation
- Membership
- Membership card
ADDITIONS:
TORONTO EAST -LOCAL 00001- BRAD FARADAY
Issues for time codes for member to respond to Center for adversity questions.
CALGARY CALL CENTER- LOCAL 30022 -TRIXIE GORZO
- Local president workload
- Hours of work in the Call Centers
TORONTO NORTH- LOCAL 00048- NICHOLAS THOMPSON
Stipend for Union representatives
OPENING REMARKS
President Brière addressed the assembly with the following remarks:
Mental Health Conference, EO Conference. Progressive possible return to work. Reorganization from CRA will affect UTE’s structure. The committee will produce a report and recommendations to the Executive Council in December. Need to mobilize, Town Halls, racism and discrimination - EO Committee. Continued vigilance needed on outsourcing jobs in the Call Centres. He thanked the local representatives for their tireless dedication in serving the members.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BUSINESS
President Brière highlighted the following: Unfinished business from Convention was dealt with. Appointments to the standing Committees. Executive Council open discussions:
Regulation 23- Marguerite Stone House, internal grievance system pilot project, assignment of members to locals, phase 3 UMA. License for Microsoft Teams. Accessibility to events going forward. Membership reports problem.
The meeting recessed at 12:15 p.m. for the lunch break.
AFTERNOON SESSION
President Brière called the session back to order at 1:15 p.m.
PRESENTATION FROM THE HONOURS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE
Brother Cosimo Crupi, Chair of the Honours and Awards Committee, introduced the committee members. Brother Gary Esslinger, Co-chairperson, Sister Melanee Jessup, and Sister Louise Dorion. He thanks former committee member Ken Bye.
The Award of Merit was given to Sister Tracey Marcotte for the Health and Safety-Betty Bannon Award. Sister Marcotte thanks the committee. Brother Crupi encouraged locals to submit applications for the scholarships.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COMMITTEE UPDATE
Adam Jackson 2nd Vice-President. Deadline to submit up to ten bargaining demands for the committee to look at. The selection of the Bargaining Committee will follow. The committee is looking to receive bargaining slogan proposals from locals.
Mike Chartrand -70000: If a demand is related to the pandemic and when things change do we have to submit a demand to go back to the way it was before. Do we withdraw the demand?
Adam Jackson - 2nd Vice-President: If negotiated would be carried forward. The committee will look through the demands. Any demand can be withdrawn at the table.
ITEMS SUBMITTED BY LOCAL PRESIDENTS
BATHURST – LOCAL 60006 – BILLY DEMPSEY
Employer’s use of MS Teams:
Brother Dempsey spoke to the lack of policy on the use MS Teams for monitoring employees.
Shane O’Brien - SLRO: There were no discussions at the National level. There is no policy as to the monitoring of employees. There should be a point put on this issue on the agenda of Tech Change Committee if the problem becomes rampant and not isolated.
Brian Oldford - Chair Tech Change Committee: This as evolved in the last 6 months. There was nothing mentioned recently.
Billy Dempsey - 60006: Asked for feedback from other locals.
Josh Atwood - 80003: It is an issue for his local. Certain team leaders have monitored with the status of Teams.
Sue Moser - 20003: Team leader is asking to report – check in the morning.
Heather Kenny - 20029: Teams leaders are being told to monitor even if I was told by the director that it should not happen, it still is happening. Not a random few, we need assistance from the National.
Shane O’Brien - SLRO: Based on the speakers, it is not isolated. You need to engage locally, file grievances, advanced to the RVP. A follow up will be made by the Tech Change Committee.
Nicholas Thompson - 00048: It is a growing issue. It is unfortunate that our members are put into a situation of carrying it out with another member. Intrusive practices.
Ashley Green - 90000: There are different settings in MS Teams for the status. Mention to the members that they can set it. Suggest putting MS Teams monitoring in a bargaining demand.
Melanee Jessup - 00015: Camera on is an invasion of privacy.
Anaël Haché -10008: Employer uses it as an attendance tool. Members should change their status. Open camera is problematic.
Shane O’Brien-SLRO: He sees the issues has being separate. For the camera on, they would be successful because a breach of the Privacy Act.
Daniel Gagnon -10004: Many situations. He has asked members to change their status or close Teams. Members were reminded to inform him. Actions were taken, and problems identified.
Richard Hyatt - 20050: Another tool for monitoring Call Centre employees. Tracking of employees. A grievance can only be successful if there is punitive action against a member.
Shane O’Brien - SLRO: You still file the grievance; you don’t need to have been disciplined.
Joanne Coish - 90001: Stated that her Call Centre does not have that problem. Does not see how you can monitor through MS Teams.
André Michaud - 10006: When his RVP addressed the problem with the Assistant Commissioner, it was confirmed that MS Teams should not be used a monitoring tool. The problematic was solved.
Mike Chartrand - 70000: He contacted his RVP and AC. He was assured that it should not be a monitoring tool. For the camera, it was not mandatory.
HEALTH BREAK
President Brière calls session back to order at 2:50 p.m.
JONQUIÈRE– LOCAL 10004 – DANIEL GAGNON
The speaker was having technical difficulties. Item was postponed.
OTTAWA- LOCAL 70004 – KIM CARDINAL
Depersonalization of workspaces and health and safety implications.
As the speaker can not be reached, the item is postponed.
SHAWINIGAN – LOCAL 10005 – PATRICK BERTRAND
Mobilisation in telework period and pandemic, need for planification collective agreement ends October 31st.:
Hard to mobilize members. Because of the pandemic members are indifferent. What is the plan to help mobilize?
Marc Brière - National President: Explained that UTE needs to find solutions. Consult PSAC, Bargaining Committee etc.
Ashley Green - 90000: Suggested a screen background. There needs to be the simplest things to reach and engage members.
Richard Weintrager - 70030: Simple banners work to mobilize, add solidarity.
Alexandre Dumont - 70035: Suggested a slogan with an image.
Reactivity of UTE, wait times for amounts related to political campaign, no political action training for locals offered by PSAC.:
Rules have again changed for political campaigns. It has become very complicated. Funds should be more easily accessible. Political action training should be important.
Marc Brière - National President: The electoral law in very restrictive. We have to be mindful of partisan activities. The expenses rules and calculations are very complicated and must be followed.
Alexandre Dumont - 70035: Finds the PSAC were passive in the Quebec elections.
There was a default in reaction, thinks we should have done more.
Brad Faraday - 00001: Opportunity to use elections. Framing the argument and discussion now for political action. Important to reiterate the message with members, the community. We need cohesive messaging.
JONQUIÈRE– LOCAL 10004 – DANIEL GAGNON
HAD HOC Committee Membership Assignment: where, are we?
With telework, mobilization of members is very difficult when you do not know where they are. Very time consuming, we need solutions.
Marc Brière - National President: Mandate of the Membership Assignment Committee is to review the old rule of where the members are assigned with the seat.
Alexandre Dumont - 70035: Small locals’ representation on the Committee is lacking.
Doug Gaetz - Chair of the sub committee of the Membership application: Thinks that the selection was well rounded. We have to look at everything in the best interests of locals and the organization.
Richard Hyatt - 20050: Call Centre implication in Committee. Those centers have had a lot of hires. Very confusing, the membership lists are crazy. Review is long overdue.
The meeting recessed at 4:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021
The virtual meeting was called to order at 11:00 a.m. Marc Brière, President of the Union of Taxation Employees, presided the meeting and welcomed everyone.
ITEMS PRESENTED BY THE LOCAL PRESIDENTS
The meeting recessed at 12:15 p.m. for the lunch break.
AFTERNOON SESSION
CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION WORKSHOP
The meeting recessed at 4:00 p.m.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
The virtual meeting was called to order at 11:00 a.m. Marc Brière, President of the Union of Taxation Employees, presides the meeting and welcomes everyone.
HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE UPDATE
ITEMS PRESENTED BY THE LOCAL PRESIDENTS (CONT’D))
LUNCH
The meeting was called to order at 1:15 p.m. with President Brière in the Chair.
ITEMS PRESENTED BY THE LOCAL PRESIDENTS (CONT’D))
HEALTH BREAK
The session reconvened at 3:20 p.m. with President Brière in the chair.
ITEMS PRESENTED BY THE LOCAL PRESIDENTS (CONT’D)
The meeting recessed at 4:00 p.m.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
The virtual meeting is called to order at 11:00 a.m. Marc Brière, President of the Union of Taxation Employees, presides the meeting and welcomes everyone.
ELECTIONS OF PRESIDENT’S REPRESENTATIVES ON UTE COMMITTEES
- Election of two (2) Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Bargaining Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE By-Laws Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Call Centres Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Communications Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Equal Opportunity Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Finance Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Health & Safety Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Honours & Awards Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Political Action Committee
- Election of three (3) Presidents’ Representative to the Staffing Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the Technological Change Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Union Management Approach (UMA) Committee
- Election of Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Well-Being Committee
- Election of two (2) Presidents’ Representative to the UTE Workforce Adjustment (WFA) Committee
LUNCH
The session reconvened at 1:15 p.m. with President Brière in the chair.
ELECTIONS OF PRESIDENT’S REPRESENTATIVES ON UTE COMMITTEES (CONT’D)
ITEMS PRESENTED BY THE LOCAL PRESIDENTS (CONT’D)
HEALTH BREAK
ELECTIONS OF PRESIDENT’S REPRESENTATIVES ON UTE COMMITTEES (CONT’D)
CLOSING REMARKS
The meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.