Minutes of the Executive Council

June 18 - 21, 2007

MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2007
MORNING SESSION

1. CALL TO ORDER OF THE REGULAR MEETING

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 hours.  President Betty Bannon was in the chair. In attendance: Bob Campbell, Pamela Abbott, Terry Dupuis, Shawn Bergeron, Cosimo Crupi, Nick Stein, Jerry Dee, Sabri Khayat, Marcel Bertrand, Doug Gaetz, Pierrette Labrie and Shane O’Brien.

Absent: C. Aylward, Regional Vice-President, NCR;   D. Lalancette, 2nd National Vice-President

2. HOURS OF SESSION OF THE REGULAR MEETING

m/s  P. Abbott/ J. Dee

That the hours of session be as follows:

Monday: 9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.; 1:15 p.m. - 5:00 NUMC
Tuesday:  9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.; 1:15 p.m. - 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Open Discussion
Wednesday:  9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.; 1:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday:  9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.; 1:15 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

  • MOTION CARRIED.

3. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

m/s  S. Bergeron/S. Khayat

That the agenda as printed plus the following additions be adopted:

Discussion Items

18. Pilot Sites (Collections) that are no longer pilots (P. Abbott)
19. PSAC Minutes (AEC-NBoD) (N. Stein)
20. Pre-Convention Committee Books (P. Abbott)

  • MOTION CARRIED.

4. ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

m/s  D. Gaetz/T. Dupuis

That the minutes of the Executive Council Meeting of March 2007 be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #1.  MOTION CARRIED.

With permission, President Bannon moved the next item up in consideration of the National Union-Management Consultation (NUMC) meeting of the afternoon.

23. CONFLICT RESOLUTION POLICY

m/s B. Campbell/D. Gaetz

Whereas the Union of Taxation Employees has not endorsed the employer’s Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) program, as it was created by management without UTE’s input.
 
Be it resolved that UTE endorses the new Canada Revenue Agency “CONFLICT RESOLUTION POLICY” that was jointly created by UTE, PIPSC and Management.

  • Recorded Vote #2.  MOTION CARRIED.

The meeting recessed at 10:30 a.m. to discuss the NUMC Agenda items.

TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2007
MORNING SESSION

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. with President Bannon in the chair.  Brother Aylward was in attendance.

Brother Bergeron served notice to amend the agenda.

1st Vice-President Campbell assumed the chair.

5. PRESIDENT’S FOLLOW UP ITEMS (Appendix A)

m/s  B. Bannon/C. Aylward

That the President’s Follow Up items be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #3.  MOTION CARRIED.

Brother Aylward served notice to amend the agenda.

Recess for break

m/s  S. Bergeron/C. Aylward

That the agenda be amended to add item 21 – MGs Balance Family/Work Life under Open Discussion.

  • MOTION CARRIED.

m/s  C. Aylward/S. Bergeron

That the agenda be amended to add item 22 - Steward Recruitment Initiative under Open Discussion.

  • MOTION CARRIED.

Brother Campbell served notice to amend the agenda.

6. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT (Appendix B)

m/s  B. Bannon/S. Khayat

That the report of the President be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #4.  MOTION CARRIED.

President Bannon resumed the chair.

7. REPORT OF THE 1st VICE-PRESIDENT (Appendix C)

m/s  B. Campbell/C. Aylward

That the report of the 1st Vice-President be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #5.  MOTION CARRIED.

8. REPORT OF THE 2nd VICE-PRESIDENT (Appendix D)

m/s  B. Campbell/T. Dupuis

That the report of the 2nd Vice-President be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #6.  MOTION CARRIED.

9. REPORT OF THE REGIONAL VICE-PRESIDENTS / ALTERNATES (Appendix E)

m/s  D. Gaetz/T. Dupuis

That the activity report of the RVPs/ARVPs be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #7.  MOTION CARRIED.

m/s  J. Dee/S. Bergeron

That the supplemental report of the RVPs be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #8.  MOTION CARRIED.

Brothers Crupi and Stein left with permission to attend a meeting.

1st Vice-President Campbell assumed the chair.

10. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (Appendix F)

m/s  B.Bannon/C. Aylward

That the report of the Executive Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #9.  MOTION CARRIED.

President Bannon resumed the chair.

11 a) REPORT OF THE STAFFING COMMITTEE (Appendix G)

m/s  S. Khayat/P. Abbott

That the report be postponed until Brothers Stein and Crupi return from their meeting.

MOTION CARRIED.

11 b) REPORT OF THE BY-LAWS COMMITTEE (Appendix H)

m/s  C. Aylward/S. Khayat

That the report of the By-Laws Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #10.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 c) REPORT OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE COMMITTEE (Appendix I)

m/s  P. Abbott/T. Dupuis

That the report of the Technological Change Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #11.  MOTION CARRIED.

Recess for lunch

AFTERNOON SESSION

The meeting was called back to order at 1:15 with President Bannon in the chair.

m/s  B. Campbell/C. Aylward

That the agenda be amended to add item 25 - Diana Gee Memorial Trust under New Business.

MOTION CARRIED.

11 d) REPORT OF THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COMMITTEE (Appendix J)

m/s  J. Dee/D. Gaetz

That the report of the Employee Assistance Program Committee be adopted.

m/s  J. Dee/D. Gaetz

Recommendation no. 1

Whereas the discussion on referral agents at the EAP National Conference indicated a strong majority of speakers supported the use of referral agents; and

Whereas the referral agent training focuses on confidentiality and the referral aspect of the job; and

Whereas the referral agent training stresses that RAs are not to counsel individuals; and

Whereas the employee survey done during the EAP Program Evaluation shows a high level (60%) of comfort among employees using RAs as contact points.

Be it Resolved that UTE no longer objects to our members, other than union representatives, becoming referral agents.

m/s  S. Bergeron/P. Abbott

That recommendation no. 1 be tabled.

MOTION TO TABLE CARRIED.

That the report of the EAP Committee be adopted as a whole.

  • Recorded Vote #12.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 a) REPORT OF THE STAFFING COMMITTEE (Appendix G)

m/s  S. Khayat/P. Abbott

That the report of the Staffing Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #13.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 e) REPORT OF THE HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE (Appendix K)

m/s  C. Aylward/D. Gaetz

That the report of the Health & Safety Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #14.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 f)  REPORT OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE (Appendix L)

m/s  S. Bergeron/T. Dupuis

That the report of the EO Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #15.  MOTION CARRIED.

Recess for break

11 g) REPORT OF THE HONOURS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (Appendix M)

m/s  T. Dupuis/J. Dee

That the report of the Honours and Awards Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #16.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 h) REPORT OF THE WORKFORCE ADJUSTMENT COMMITTEE (Appendix N)

m/s  N. Stein/M. Bertrand

That the report of the Workforce Adjustment Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #17. MOTION CARRIED.

11 i) REPORT OF THE HARASSMENT COMMITTEE (Appendix O)

m/s  M. Bertrand/S. Bergeron

That the report of the Harassment Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #18. MOTION CARRIED.

11 j) REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE (Appendix P)

m/s  B. Campbell/C. Crupi

That the report of the Finance Committee be adopted.

m/s  B. Campbell/C. Crupi

The Committee makes the following recommendations 1 to 4 to Council :

Recommendation #1 to Council: That Regulation 13 be amended as shown below.

Regulation 13 – Reimbursement of Expenses

Regulation 13.2.1 Executive

(1) National Officers, when working on union business authorized by UTE outside their home metropolitan area shall be paid a per diem of eighty-five dollars ($85.00) to cover the costs of meals and incidental expenses.  This amount shall be paid for the day of departure from their home up to and including the   day of return.  However, a per diem of one hundred and ten dollars ($110.00) shall be paid for Saturday and Sunday to those on authorized UTE business and not otherwise compensated by UTE.

(5) Officers of the Executive Council shall be entitled to reimbursement of necessary meals in accordance with the UTE rates as shown below, travel and parking costs while on union business authorized by UTE within their home metropolitan area except as provided in Regulation.

  (a) Breakfast $20.00
  (b) Lunch  $27.00
  (c) Dinner  $38.00

Regulation 13.2.2 Members

(1) (a) Members of UTE who are not officers of the Executive Council shall be entitled to receive a per diem of eighty-five dollars ($85.00) while on union business authorized by UTE outside their home metropolitan area or while attending a Presidents’ Conference or any other UTE Conference within their home metropolitan area.  However, a per diem of one hundred and ten dollars ($110.00) shall be paid for Saturday and Sunday to those on authorized UTE business and not otherwise compensated by UTE.  Per Diem for Regional and Inter-regional Conferences shall be established by Regional Vice-Presidents.

  • Recorded Vote #19.  MOTION CARRIED.

Recommendation #2 to Council:

That Council approves the Authority to overspend on line item <Office Expenses: Computer Expenses> by $11,000.00;
(The staff computer upgrade has been completed but we had two additional staff PC’s and also replaced Bob Campbell’s laptop to include him in the staff upgrade cycle rather than the RVPs’ cycle; an additional RVP laptop (T. Dupuis’) had to be replaced for defective reasons; we required two new UPS’s, software licensing and will need to upgrade the servers; these items were not included in the budget.)

  • Recorded Vote #20.  MOTION CARRIED.

Recommendation #3 to Council:

That Council approves Authority to overspend on line item <Translation> by an undetermined amount.

  • Recorded Vote #21.  MOTION CARRIED.

OPEN DISCUSSION

The Council members discussed the items under this section.

The meeting recessed at 5:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2007
MORNING SESSION

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. with President Bannon in the chair.

Continuation of 11 j) REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE (Appendix P)

Recommendation #4 to Council:

That Council approves the attached Union of Taxation Employee Relocation Policy and that this policy take effect as of January 1st, 2007.

m/s  N. Stein/S. Bergeron

That this recommendation be referred back to the committee with the following instructions:

4e) Remove : this does not include packing or unpacking of the materials; and
There is a requirement for quotes from three different moving companies.

Remove 8) entirely

Add: to include time for house-hunting and consider having two separate policies, one for UTE members and one for Non-UTE members.

MOTION TO REFER DEFEATED.

  • Recorded Vote #22.  MOTION CARRIED.

That the report of Finance be adopted as a whole.

  • Recorded Vote #23.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 k) REPORT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE (Appendix Q)

m/s  B. Campbell/S. Khayat

That the report of the Communications Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #24.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 l)  REPORT OF THE BARGAINING COMMITTEE (Appendix R)

m/s  P. Abbott/C. Aylward

That the report of the Bargaining Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #25.  MOTION CARRIED.

11m) REPORT OF THE POLITICAL ACTION (PAC) COMMITTEE (Appendix S)

m/s  N. Stein/C. Crupi

That the report of the Political Action Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #26.  MOTION CARRIED.

12.   ADOPTION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Appendix T)

m/s  B. Campbell/D. Gaetz

That the financial statements of April 30, 2007 be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #27.  MOTION CARRIED.

13. EXPENSE CLAIMS OVER 90 DAYS

 m/s   B. Campbell/D. Gaetz

That the expense claim over 90 days be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #28.  MOTION CARRIED.

14. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

A short discussion took place.

15. 2006 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

m/s  B. Campbell/C. Crupi

Be it resolved that UTE adopted the 2006 Audited Financial Statements.

  • Recorded Vote #29.  MOTION CARRIED.

Recess for lunch

AFTERNOON SESSION

The meeting was called to order at 1:15 hours with President Bannon in the chair.

16. Sponsorship (Thunder Bay Major Midget Kings)

m/s  C. Crupi/N. Stein

Be it resolved that the Union of Taxation Employees sponsors Trevor Whillans in the amount of $250 for his participation on this hockey team which will include a half-page advertisement of our Union of Taxation Logo for this upcoming 2007/08 hockey season.

  • Recorded Vote #32.  MOTION CARRIED.

Brother Campbell served notice to amend the agenda.

17. Sponsorship (Thunder Bay Minor Hockey Association)

 m/s C. Crupi/N. Stein

Be it resolved that the Union of Taxation Employees sponsors Brendan Cahill in the amount of $500 for his participation in the Thunder Bay Minor Hockey Association (2007/08).

  • Recorded Vote #33.  MOTION CARRIED.

18. Donation - Canadian Cancer Society "Relay for Life"

m/s  C. Crupi/P. Abbott

Whereas members of Local 00020 and employees of the Thunder Bay TSO participate in Thunder Bay's annual "Relay for Life". (This year’s event is June 22, 2007)

Whereas each participants goal is to raise a minimum of $100 in donations.

Be it resolved that the Union of Taxation Employees donates $50 per cancer survivor (to a maximum of 10) to the Canadian Cancer Society for each cancer survivor from the Thunder Bay TSO who participates in this year’s relay for life.

  • Recorded Vote #34.  MOTION CARRIED.

19. DONATION – CANADA WORLD YOUTH COMMUNITY EXCHANGE PROGRAM

m/s  S. Khayat/M. Bertrand

Be it resolved that the UTE donates $600.00 to the Exchange Program of Canada World Youth for Dominique Roy-Lajoie.

  • Recorded Vote #35.  MOTION CARRIED.

20. Non-UTE Event – National Council of Visible Minorities

This item was withdrawn by the mover as it was already part of the Non-UTE Events list.

21. DONATION – WELLINGTON COMMUNITY LEAGUE PARK

m/s  T. Dupuis/D. Gaetz

Be it resolved that the Union of Taxation Employees donates 1,000.00 dollars to Wellington Community League Park in Edmonton.

m/s  B. Campbell/S. Khayat

That the amount be reduced to $500.00

MOTION TO AMEND DEFEATED FOR A LACK OF MAJORITY.

  • Recorded Vote #36.  MOTION CARRIED.

24. UTE JACKETS

m/s  P. Abbott/S. Bergeron

Whereas bargaining is increasingly among the priorities of the Locals and members; and

Whereas the visibility of UTE executives must be ensured and enhanced in order to raise the awareness of and engage executive members and Locals; and

Whereas several activities during the bargaining period increase this visibility.

Be it resolved that as part of the promotion for the bargaining period beginning July 1, the UTE pays for jackets for all those participating in the Presidents’ Conference in September 2007; and

Be it further resolved that the amount paid for each jacket not exceed $100.00 excluding tax.

Point of order - Brother Khayat

The resolution stipulates: all those participating in the Presidents Conference in September 2007.

The jackets do not have to be given out at the Presidents Conference if they are not available but they could be mailed to the local afterwards.

The point was well taken by the Chair.

  • Recorded Vote 38.  MOTION CARRIED

m/s  B. Campbell/C. Aylward

That item 23 - Convention Banquet Dinner be added under Open Discussion

MOTION CARRIED.

25. DONATION – DIANA GEE MEMORIAL TRUST (DGMT)

m/s  B. Campbell/J. Dee

Be it Resolved that UTE makes an annual donation to the Diana Gee Memorial Trust in the amount of $1000.00.

  • Recorded Vote 39.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting recessed at 5:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2007
MORNING SESSION

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. with President Bannon in the chair.

OPEN DISCUSSION

The Council members discussed the remaining items under this section.

The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

______________________ ______________________
Betty Bannon
National President		 Bob Campbell
1st Vice-President

Files: 
PDF icon Votesrecorded.pdf
PDF icon VPRreport.pdf