Our second day of Convention opened with 166 delegates, 121 observers, 24 guests and 15 life members. The Finance Resolutions Committee was called back up. Resolution 3 – that carries over some line items year to year until 2020, was carried. Resolution 4 which creates a new budget line item called Political Action / Campaigns was carried. This resolution has a cost of 0.17 per member per month for 2018, 2019 and 2020. Resolution 5 was referred back to the committee with instruction. Resolution 6 which would have provided a yearly communications subsidy to locals was defeated.
The By-Laws Resolutions Committee was called up. Seven housekeeping resolutions were treated as a block. These changes were carried unanimously.
After the break there was a motion of reconsidering the Finance Resolutions Committee’s resolution 1 – Union Dues. The motion passed.
The By-Laws Resolutions Committee continued with resolution 404 which seeks to eliminate regional EO conferences from the by-laws. There was a passionate debate both for saving money and for keeping the conferences. The resolution was defeated by secret ballot.
Our guest speaker, Jessica Holmes, a comedian, author and mental health advocate had us all laughing with her Air Farce jokes, skits, and music. She also discussed mental health and depression.
Our next guest speaker, Pierre-Luc Dusseault, Member of Parliament for the New Democratic Party, spoke about the re-organization at CRA. He spoke against part-time and contract work as well as the Phoenix issues. He mentioned some successes including the defeat of anti-union bills which he credits to groups like UTE who campaigned against these bills.
Our final guest speaker was PSAC President, Robyn Benson. She talked about her roots with UTE and the lessons she learned from others in UTE; working in the best interest of the members. She said that each of us in the room changed the tide against Harper but that the sad part is that we didn’t get an NDP government and we didn’t get what the Liberals promised.
The Honours and Awards Committee was called up to make some presentations. Barry Melanson received the Godfroy Côté Award. Debbie Ferguson received the Life Member Award and her 40 year pin. Jean-Pierre Fraser received the Life Member Award.