Minutes of the Executive Council Meeting

Minutes of the Executive Council Meeting
March 17 - 19, 2021

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021
MORNING SESSION

1. CALL TO ORDER OF THE REGULAR MEETING

The Executive Council meeting was called to order at 11:00 a.m. via videoconference with President 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 Sylvie Bastien.

2. HOURS OF SESSION OF THE REGULAR MEETING

m/s     Gary Esslinger / Doug Gaetz

That the hours of session be as follows:

Wednesday:  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
Thursday:      11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.; 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Friday:           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.

  • MOTION CARRIED.

3.  ADOPTION OF AGENDA

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Brian Oldford

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

New Business

No addition was made to New Business.

Open discussion

  1. Virtual AGMs request from Alex (D. Gaetz)
  2. CPT-1 Form – CRA decision for Phoenix damages (J. Martel)
  3. CLC Convention (B. Oldford)
  4. Hours of Work in the Call Centres (J. vanSydenborgh)
  5. UTE Video Training (G. Krokosh)
  6. Employer’s misinterpretation – Vacation Scheduling (G. Esslinger)
  7. Big Brother Collections Tracking Tool (J. Martel)
  8. Member engagement and use of MS Teams (B. Oldford)
  • MOTION CARRIED.

4.  ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

m/s     Cosimo Crupi / Doug Gaetz        

That the minutes of the Executive Council Meeting of December 2020 be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #1.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

That the resolutions of February 12, 2021 be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #2.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

          That the resolution of February 24, 2021 be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #3.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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

5.  PRESIDENT’S FOLLOW UP ITEMS

m/s     Marc Brière / Ken Bye

That the follow up items of the President be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #4.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

6. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

m/s     Marc Brière / Adam Jackson

That the report of the National President be adopted.

Recess for lunch

AFTERNOON SESSION

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

6.  REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT (cont’d)

m/s     Marc Brière / Adam Jackson

That the report of the President be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #5.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

President Brière resumed the Chair.

At the request of the Chair, the session went “in camera ".

Council then moved back into its regular session.

OPEN DISCUSSION

The Council members discussed the items under this section.

The meeting recessed at 4:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021
MORNING SESSION

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

7.  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 #6.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

8.  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 #7.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

9. REPORT OF THE REGIONAL VICE-PRESIDENTS / ALTERNATES

m/s     Kimberley Koch / Ken Bye

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

  • Recorded Vote #8.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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

10. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

m/s     Marc Brière / Adam Jackson

That the report of the Executive Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #9.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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 #10. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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 #11. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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 #12.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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 #13.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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 #14.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

11 f)   REPORT OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE

m/s     Linda Koenders / Greg Krokosh

That the report of the Equal Opportunities Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #15.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Recess for lunch

AFTERNOON SESSION

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

Brother Jamie vanSydenborgh was authorized to attend a meeting with the CRA.

11 g)  REPORT OF THE HONOURS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

m/s     Cosimo Crupi / Gary Esslinger

At the request of the Chair, the session went “in camera ".

Council then moved back into its regular session.

That the recommendation #/ of the Honours and Awards Committee be adopted.

Recommendation #1

Moved by: Cosimo Crupi
Seconded by Gary Esslinger

  • Recorded Vote #16.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

That the report of the Honours and Awards Committee be adopted as a whole.

  • Recorded Vote #17.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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 #18.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

11 i)   REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Cosimo Crupi

Recommendation # 1

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Gary Esslinger

Be it resolved that the following line item be approved for overspending:

DATE

LINE ITEM DESCRIPTION

EXPLANATION

 2020 BUDGET

 ACTUAL OR EXPECTED

 OVERAGE

31-Dec-20

Vacation Leave

Over budget approval

18 000,00

74 583,55

56 583,55
  • Recorded Vote #19.   MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Brother Jamie vanSydenborgh joined the meeting.

Recommendation # 2

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Cosimo Crupi

Be it resolved that the following line item be approved for overspending:

DATE

LINE ITEM DESCRIPTION

EXPLANATION

 2021 BUDGET

 ACTUAL OR EXPECTED

 OVERAGE

26-Feb-21

Accounting Software & Maintenance

Over budget approval

7 000,00

8 000,00

1 000,00
  • Recorded Vote #20.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Brother Brian Oldford is absent with the authorization of President Brière.

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

  • Recorded Vote #21.   MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

11 j)   REPORT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

m/s     Gary Esslinger / Ken Bye

That the report of the Communications Committee be adopted.

Brother Brian Oldford rejoined the meeting.

  • Recorded Vote #22.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

11 k)  REPORT OF THE BARGAINING COMMITTEE

m/s     Adam Jackson / Jamie vanSydenborgh

That the report of the Bargaining Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #23.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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 #24.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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 #25.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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 #26.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

12.     ADOPTION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Gary Esslinger

That the Financial Statements as of December 31, 2020, be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #27.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

13.     EXPENSE CLAIMS OVER 90 DAYS

None

14.     COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

With the approval of Council, the item under #14 "Collective Bargaining" be postponed until later today.

15.     CONVENTION COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Adam Jackson

That the #15 (Convention Committee Appointments) under New Business be postponed with the approval of Council.

14.     COLLECTIVE BARGAINING (cont’d)

A short discussion on bargaining took place.

The meeting recessed at 4:00 p.m.

 

FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2021
MORNING SESSION

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

15. CONVENTION COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS (cont’d)

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Adam Jackson

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the following Convention Committees be appointed:

Bargaining
Finance
General
By-Laws

  • Recorded Vote #28.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

16.     TERMS OF REFERENCE OF CONVENTION COMMITTEES

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Adam Jackson

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the following Terms of Reference of Convention Committees be adopted:

REGULATION  NO. 4 - CONVENTION COMMITTEES

(8)      Terms of Reference:

(a)      The Committees will recommend concurrence or non-concurrence, to the delegates of all resolutions placed before them. Unanimous recommendation shall be recorded when such is the case;

(b)      The Committee shall not themselves originate or include in their report any new resolutions;

(c)      Each Committee shall produce a written report;

(d)      All decisions of the Committees shall be by majority vote, with the chairperson having a deciding vote in case of a tie;

(e)      The Committees may recommend the combination of two of more similar resolutions into one resolution, and shall themselves produce the recommended wording of the composite resolution;

(f)       The Committees may recommend that one or two or more similar resolutions be concurred in, and the others voided on the grounds that their full intent is embodied in the recommended resolutions;

(g)      The Committees may recommend the separation of resolutions into two or more resolutions, and shall themselves produce such divided resolutions;

(h)      The Committees shall not, in any combination, separation, rewording of resolutions, or production of composite or divided resolutions, in any way change, diminish or expand the full intent and thrust of the original resolutions so affected.  The Committee shall be permitted for clarity and translation purposes only to reword resolutions, provided that such rewording does not diminish or expand the full intent and thrust of the original resolutions so affected.  The Committee shall be permitted for clarity and translation purposes only (in consultation with the submitting local) to reword resolutions, provided that such rewording does not diminish or expand the full intent and thrust of the original resolution;

(i)       The Committees shall clearly identify all original resolutions that have been combined, divided or embodied in resolutions;

(j)       The normal referral of any proposed changes to resolutions to the originating Local, for their views, can be affected through liaison with members on other Committees, since all Locals are represented;

(k)      When a resolution affects the work of another Committee, immediate liaison should be established with the other Committee to advise accordingly; and

(l)       The Committee chairperson will present to convention, resolutions in order of priority as concurred in by Committee members.  Such a priority should consider recognition of those resolutions which were ‘dissent’ recorded.

  • Recorded Vote #29.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

17.     CONVENTION RULES OF ORDER

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Adam Jackson

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Virtual Rules of Order be submitted to the Convention for adoption.

  • Recorded Vote #30.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

18.     CONVENTION NOMINATION COMMITTEE

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Adam Jackson

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Executive Council appoints the following members on the 2021 Convention Nomination Committee.

Chair of the committee: Sister Betty Bannon
Co-Chairs of the committee: Brothers Jean Bergeron and Marcel Bertrand

  • Recorded Vote #31.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

19.     CONVENTION CREDENTIAL COMMITTEE

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Adam Jackson

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Executive Council appoints the following members on the 2021 Convention Credential Committee.

Sister Kimberley Koch and Brother Eddy Aristil.

  • Recorded Vote #32.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

20.     INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE REPORT

At the request of the Council the session went “in camera ".

m/s     Greg Krokosh / Brian Oldford

Recess for lunch

AFTERNOON SESSION

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

20.     INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE REPORT (cont’d)

m/s     Greg Krokosh / Brian Oldford

That the Investigation Committee report be accepted.

  • Recorded Vote #33.  MOTION DEFEATED.

The Council then moved back into its regular session.

OPEN DISCUSSION (cont’d)

The Council members discussed the items under this section.

With the approval of the Executive Council, Brother Adam Jackson would like to remove the item "Contracting Out" from the open discussion section.

With the approval of the Executive Council, Brother Adam Jackson would like to remove the item "Overtime Codes" from the open discussion section.

The meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

 

________________________                          ______________________
Marc Brière                                                       Doug Gaetz
National President                                            First National Vice-President

Resolutions of FEBRUARY 12, 2021

1.  NEW DATE FOR THE HOLDING OF THE UTE 2020 NATIONAL TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

m/s     Doug Gaetz / Adam Jackson

Whereas Canadian public health authorities directives prohibit public gatherings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and require the closure of several workplaces and make self-isolation of our members mandatory;

Whereas the pandemic and these public health directives have forced all PSAC Components to postpone their Conventions scheduled to be held between July and October 2020, into 2021;

Whereas the pandemic and these public health directives have forced the PSAC and all Components to hold virtual Conventions;

Whereas the holding of a virtual Convention significantly reduces the hours of the sessions on each day due to the different time zones, forcing us to add an additional day to the Convention;

Be it resolved that the UTE National Triennial Convention scheduled to be held in July 2021 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, be now held virtually July 19-23, 2021.

2.  RESOLUTION TO DETERMINE THE LOCATION OF THE 2023 UTE NATIONAL TRIENNIAL CONVENTION

m/s     Gary Esslinger / Ken Bye

Be it resolved that the 2023 UTE National Triennial Convention be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Resolution of FEBRUARY 24, 2021

1.  BLACK CLASS ACTION TRUST FUND

m/s     Ken Bye / Adam Jackson  

WHEREAS the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) exists in part to promote and defend the rights and interests of all members; and

WHEREAS Black UTE members have historically and presently continued to suffer from lack of employment and promotional opportunities as a result of systemic discrimination; and

WHEREAS the systemic nature of Black employee exclusion and systemic racism has been recognized by UTE, the PSAC and the Government of Canada as well as many other public bodies; and

WHEREAS it is in the best interest of UTE and the fulfillment of its mandate to support the removal of all systemic barriers facing Black employees 

BE IT RESOLVED THAT UTE support the Black Class Action launched on behalf of all Black Federal public service employees to remedy the injustices and inequalities which Black Federal public service employees have faced going back as far as 1970; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT UTE contribute an amount of $10,000 to be set aside as a special fund to the Black Class Action Trust Fund to assist in supporting the following:

Fees for special examiners, expert reports, and expert attendance. 
Fees for witnesses – this is a legislated amount. 
Investigative fees and search fees. 
Fees for the service of documents/courier costs. 
Agency fees and Legal fees.
Marketing and broadcasting fees. 
National and community outreach costs.
And any other expenses as they may arise throughout the case.

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