Minutes of the Executive Council Meeting

Minutes of the Executive Council Meeting
June 7 - 9, 2021

MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021
MORNING SESSION

1. CALL TO ORDER OF THE REGULAR MEETING

The Executive Council meeting was called to order at 11:08 A.M. via videoconference with President Marc Brière in the Chair.  In attendance: Doug Gaetz, Adam Jackson, Kimberley Koch, Greg Krokosh, Gary Esslinger, Cosimo Crupi, Jamie vanSydenborgh, Linda Koenders, Brian Oldford, Ken Bye, Jérôme Martel, Eddy Aristil, Daniel Camara and Carmen Menard.

2. HOURS OF SESSION OF THE REGULAR MEETING

m/s     Gary Esslinger / Ken Bye 

That the hours of session be as follows:

Monday:       11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
                      3:00 p.m. -    4:00 p.m. Open Discussion
Tuesday:      11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.; 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.; 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Lunch:   12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Break:     2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

  • Vote: HOURS ADOPTED.

3.   ADOPTION OF AGENDA

m/s     Item not moved or seconded.

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

New Business

Motion: Donation to Faez Afzaal in London.     

Open discussion

  1. Changes to the Bylaws and Regulations for voting for UTE national committees (J. Martel)
  2. RVPs at triennial convention (B. Oldford)
  3. Receipt of Council reports (K. Bye)
  4. UTE Regulation 23 (C. Crupi)
  5. Hours of work (J. vanSydenborgh)
  6. Local protocol re assignment of members to locals (K. Koch)
  7. Encore system for voting (B. Oldford)
  8. Yearly regional funding formula for RVPs allocations (C. Crupi)
  9. Marc’s email system (B. Oldford)
  10. ​Union time - employer-sponsored training (J. Martel
  • Vote: AGENDA ADOPTED.

4.   ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

m/s     Cosimo Crupi / Doug Gaetz        

That the minutes of the Executive Council Meeting of March 2021 be adopted with amendments.

  • Recorded Vote #1:  MOTION CARRIED.

5.  ADOPTION OF THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2020  

m/s     Gary Esslinger / Adam Jackson

That the Audited Financial Statements 2020 be reported in the minutes.

  • Recorded Vote #2:  MOTION CARRIED.

President Brière turned the Chair over to Brother Doug Gaetz, 1st Vice-President.

6. PRESIDENT’S FOLLOW UP ITEMS

m/s     Marc Brière / Adam Jackson

That the follow up items of the President be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #3:  MOTION CARRIED.

7.  REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

m/s     Marc Brière / Adam Jackson

That the report of the National President be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #4:  MOTION CARRIED.

President Brière resumed the Chair.

Recess for lunch


AFTERNOON SESSION

The meeting was called back to order at 1:10 p.m. 

8.  REPORT OF THE 1st NATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Adam Jackson

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

  • Recorded Vote #5:  MOTION CARRIED.

9. REPORT OF THE 2nd NATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT

m/s     Adam Jackson / Doug Gaetz

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

  • Recorded Vote #6:  MOTION CARRIED.

10. REPORT OF THE REGIONAL VICE-PRESIDENTS / ALTERNATES

m/s     Ken Bye / Brian Oldford

That the activity reports of the RVPs and ARVPs be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #7:  MOTION CARRIED.

President Brière turned the Chair over to Brother Doug Gaetz, 1st Vice-President.

11.  REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

m/s     Marc Brière / Adam Jackson

That the report of the Executive Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #8:  MOTION CARRIED.

President Brière resumed the Chair.

11 a)  REPORT OF THE STAFFING COMMITTEE

m/s     Jérôme Martel / Adam Jackson

That the report of the Staffing Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #9:  MOTION CARRIED.

11 b)  REPORT OF THE BY-LAWS COMMITTEE

m/s     Ken Bye / Jérôme Martel

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

  • Recorded Vote #10: MOTION CARRIED.

11 c)  REPORT OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE COMMITTEE

m/s     Brian Oldford / Greg Krokosh

That the report of the Technological Change Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #11:  MOTION CARRIED.

11 d)  REPORT OF THE WELL-BEING COMMITTEE

m/s     Kimberley Koch / Linda Koenders

That the report of the Well-Being Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #12:  MOTION CARRIED.

11 e)  REPORT OF THE HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Brian Oldford

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

  • Recorded Vote #13:  MOTION CARRIED.

11 f)   REPORT OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE

m/s     Linda Koenders / Greg Krokosh

Recommendation #1: That the following persons be appointed to these committees.

Persons with Disabilities:             Tony Crupi
Indigenous Peoples:                    Sarah Osbourne
LGBTQ2+                                    Blake Noelte
Racially Visible:                           Christopher Vicente
Women:                                       Jackie Robertson
 

  • Recorded Vote #14:  MOTION CARRIED.

Recess for health break

OPEN DISCUSSION

The Council members discussed the items under this section.

The meeting recessed at 4:00 p.m.


TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2021
MORNING SESSION

The meeting was called to order at 11:00 with President Brière in the Chair. 

11 f)   REPORT OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE (cont’d)

m/s     Linda Koenders / Greg Krokosh

That the report of the Equal Opportunities Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #15:  MOTION CARRIED.

11 g)  REPORT OF THE HONOURS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

m/s     Cosimo Crupi / Ken Bye

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

  • Recorded Vote #16:  MOTION CARRIED.

Recess for lunch


AFTERNOON SESSION

The meeting was called back to order at 1:05 with Brother Brière in the Chair. 

11 h)  REPORT OF THE WORKFORCE ADJUSTMENT COMMITTEE

m/s     Adam Jackson / Eddy Aristil

That the report of the Workforce Adjustment Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #17:  MOTION CARRIED.

11 i)   REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Gary Esslinger

Recommendation #1: That the line item be approved for overspending

  • Recorded Vote #18:   MOTION CARRIED.

That the report of the Finance Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #19:   MOTION CARRIED.

11 j)   REPORT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

m/s     Gary Esslinger / Ken Bye

That the report of the Communications Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #20:  MOTION CARRIED.

11 k)  REPORT OF THE BARGAINING COMMITTEE

m/s     Adam Jackson / Jamie vanSydenborgh

That the report of the Bargaining Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #21:  MOTION CARRIED.

11 l)   REPORT OF THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC)

m/s     Jamie vanSydenborgh / Cosimo Crupi

That the report of the Political Action Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #22:  MOTION CARRIED.

11 m)  REPORT OF THE CALL CENTRE COMMITTEE

m/s     Greg Krokosh / Jamie vanSydenborgh

That the report of the Call Centre Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #23:  MOTION CARRIED.

11 n)  REPORT OF THE UNION MANAGEMENT APPROACH (UMA) COMMITTEE

m/s     Eddy Aristil / Doug Gaetz

That the report of the Union Management Approach (UMA) Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #24:  MOTION CARRIED.

12.   ADOPTION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Gary Esslinger

That the Financial Statements as of April 30th, 2021, be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #25:  MOTION CARRIED.

13.     EXPENSE CLAIMS OVER 90 DAYS

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Cosimo Crupi

That the Expense Claims over 90 days be accepted.

  • Recorded Vote #26:  MOTION CARRIED.

Recess for health break

14.     COLLECTIVE BARGAINING (Discussion)

A short discussion took place and remains status quo.

NEW BUSINESS

15.     REGULATION 13.4(5)

m/s     Kimberley Koch / Gary Esslinger

That an amendment to wording requested be approved. 

A short discussion took place; item to resume on Wednesday morning.

The meeting recessed at 4:00 p.m.


WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021
MORNING SESSION

The meeting was called to order at 11:00 with President Brière in the Chair. 

15.   REGULATION 13.4(5) revised

m/s     Gary Esslinger / Greg Krokosh

That the 2nd amendment to wording requested be approved. 

  • Vote:  2nd AMENDMENT OPPOSED

15.  REGULATION 13.4(5) (cont’d)

m/s     Kimberley Koch / Gary Esslinger

Discussion resumed on original amendment.  That the original amendment to wording requested be approved. 

Recess for lunch


AFTERNOON SESSION

The meeting was called back to order at 1:00 with President Brière in the Chair. 

15.  REGULATION 13.4(5) (cont’d)

m/s     Kimberley Koch / Gary Esslinger

Discussion resumed on original amendment.  That the original amendment to wording requested be approved. 

  • Recorded Vote #27:  MOTION DEFEATED.

16. MOTION: THE WORKERS’ HISTORY MUSEUM CALENDAR (WHM)

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Adam Jackson

That the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) sponsor the project in the amount of $1,000.00.

  • Recorded Vote #28:  MOTION CARRIED.

17. MOTION: DONATION TO FAEZ AFZAAL

m/s     Adam Jackson / Jamie vanSydenborgh

That the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) provide a donation to The London Mosque in the amount of $10,000.00 in order to help and support Faez Afzaal

  • Recorded Vote #29:  MOTION CARRIED.

OPEN DISCUSSION (cont’d)

The Council members discussed the items under this section.

Recess for health break

OPEN DISCUSSION (cont’d)

The Council members discussed the items under this section.

The meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

________________________                          ______________________

Marc Brière                                                      Doug Gaetz
National President                                           First National Vice-President

 


15. Regulation 13.4

Regulation 13.4

Whereas the current UTE travel regulation is silent regarding travel after union business and arriving home location late in relation to Ottawa time zone.

BE IT RESOLVED

Regulation 13.4 be amended as follows:

13.4(5) (NEW)

Where a member travels home after being on Union business, authorized by UTE, and arrives at their residents past 9pm, that the member shall be entitled to the loss of wages for ½ day the next day, if requested and if that day is a scheduled workday and they take the ½ day off with LWOP Union leave.

Moved by Kim Koch
Second by Gary Esslinger


16. MOTION: The Workers’ History Museum Calendar (WHM)

 

m/s      Doug Gaetz / Adam Jackson

WHEREAS The Workers’ History Museum (WHM) is a registered charity not-for-profit corporation based in the National Capital Region which is dedicated to the development and preservation of workers’ history and heritage; AND

WHEREAS each year, the Museum produces a printed calendar both to publicize the work of the museum and as a fund raiser for the year to come. For the year 2022, the chosen theme is “Essential Workers” to honour the heroes and heroines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Paying tribute to these workers in 2022 with different photos for each month of the year will ensure that their contributions are not forgotten; AND

WHEREAS the Museum is also creating an online exhibit about pandemic experiences in the National Capital Region and across Canada that will be fully launched in 2021. The exhibit will address pandemics like 1918-1919 influenza, tuberculosis, smallpox, polio, HIV, H1N1, SARS and, of course, COVID-19. These historical events will be portrayed by highlighting first-hand stories from front-line workers through their own words, images, and sound.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) supports The Workers’ History Museum for both the online exhibit being created in 2021 and the calendar for the year 2022 with photos and stories; AND

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) sponsors the project in the amount of $1,000.00.


MOTION: DONATION TO FAEZ AFZAAL

WHEREAS the tragedy in London has shaken all of us; and

WHEREAS this murder has left a child without a family;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) provide a donation to any GoFundMe or related campaign in the amount of $10,000.00 in order to help and support Faez Afzaal.