Minutes of the Executive Council

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013
MORNING SESSION

1. CALL TO ORDER OF THE REGULAR MEETING

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 hours.  President Bob Campbell was in the Chair. In attendance: Marc Brière, Denis Lalancette, Robert Hume, Lorne Roslinski, Gary Esslinger, Adam Jackson, Jamie vanSydenborgh, Doug Gaetz, Robin Johnson, Bill Blair, Sabri Khayat, Jean-Pierre Fraser, Annette Melanson and Pierrette Labrie.

2. HOURS OF SESSION OF THE REGULAR MEETING

m/s Doug Gaetz / Sabri Khayat

That the hours of session be as follows:

• MOTION CARRIED.

3. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

m/s  Gary Esslinger / Robin Johnson

That the agenda be adopted as printed with the following addition.

Open discussion

15. UTE Promotional Items for RVPs (S. Khayat)

• MOTION CARRIED.

4. ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

m/s  Jamie vanSydenborgh / Jean-Pierre Fraser

That the minutes of the Executive Council Meeting of June 2013 be adopted with the addition of the following 2 votes that were taken via email in August.

m/s  Jean-Pierre Fraser / Denis Lalancette

RELIEF FUNDS FOR THE LAC- MÉGANTIC CATASTROPHE

Whereas the Lac-Mégantic catastrophe is an unprecedented event involving several deceased persons and many missing persons; and

Whereas one-half of the downtown centre has been destroyed; and

Whereas the population will need enormous support to recover from this catastrophe.

Be It Resolved that UTE make a donation of five thousand dollars ($5,000) to the Red Cross Lac-Mégantic Relief Fund; and

Be It Further Resolved that this money come from our surplus.

m/s  Doug Gaetz / Adam Jackson

CALGARY FLOOD RELIEF

Be it resolved that UTE donate five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) to the Red Cross Calgary Flood Relief Fund; and

Be it further resolved that this money comes out of Surplus.

• Recorded Vote #1.  MOTION CARRIED.

m/s  Marc Brière / Denis Lalancette

That the ballots used for the election of the Alternate RVP, Pacific Region be destroyed.

• Recorded Vote #2.  MOTION CARRIED.

President Campbell turned the Chair to Brother Brière, First National Vice-President

5. PRESIDENT’S FOLLOW UP ITEMS

m/s  Bob Campbell / Denis Lalancette

That the follow up items of the President be adopted.

• Recorded Vote #3.  MOTION CARRIED.

6. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

m/s  Bob Campbell / Denis Lalancette

That the report of the President be adopted.

• Recorded Vote #4.  MOTION CARRIED.

President Campbell resumed the Chair.

7. REPORT OF THE 1st VICE-PRESIDENT

m/s  Marc Brière / Denis Lalancette

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

• Recorded Vote #5.  MOTION CARRIED.

8. REPORT OF THE 2nd VICE-PRESIDENT

m/s  Denis Lalancette / Marc Brière

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

• Recorded Vote #6.  MOTION CARRIED.

9. REPORT OF THE REGIONAL VICE-PRESIDENTS / ALTERNATES

m/s Bill Blair / Jean-Pierre Fraser

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

• Recorded Vote #7.  MOTION CARRIED.

President Campbell turned the Chair to Brother Brière, First National Vice-President

10. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

m/s  Bob Campbell / Doug Gaetz

That the report of the Executive Committee be adopted.

• Recorded Vote #8.  MOTION CARRIED.

President Campbell resumed the Chair.

11 a) REPORT OF THE STAFFING COMMITTEE

m/s  Sabri Khayat / 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  Gary Esslinger / Sabri Khayat

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  Doug Gaetz / Gary Esslinger

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 Brother Campbell in the Chair. 

11 d) REPORT OF THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COMMITTEE

m/s  Bill Blair / Lorne Roslinski

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

• Recorded Vote #12.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 e) REPORT OF THE HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE

m/s  Doug Gaetz / Marc Brière

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  Robin Johnson / Jean-Pierre Fraser

That the report of the EO Committee be adopted.

• Recorded Vote #14.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 g) REPORT OF THE HONOURS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

m/s  Jean-Pierre Fraser / Robin Johnson

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

m/s  Jean-Pierre Fraser / Robin Johnson

Recommendation #1 :

The committee is making slight changes to Regulation 24.8 to improve the clarity of the instructions. (See changes in yellow)

24.8 UTE SCHOLARSHIP

The Union of Taxation Employees - PSAC
Scholarship Guidelines

The Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) each year offers two (2) two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) National Scholarships, one of which has been named the Diana Gee Scholarship and ten (10) one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) Regional Scholarships (Al Rollins Regional Scholarship, Quebec, Jean Bergeron Montreal Regional Scholarship, National Capital, Greater Toronto, Nick Stein Southwestern Ontario Regional Scholarship, Northern and Eastern Ontario, Prairie, Don Davoren Regional Rocky Mountains Scholarship and Pacific Regions).

If after reviewing the circumstances and agreed to by the National President and the Chairperson of the Honours and Awards Committee, the UTE may defer the awarding of a scholarship of a successful applicant for a period of twelve (12) months. If the scholarship is not awarded after twelve (12) months, an additional scholarship may be awarded for the current year.

Eligibility:

All scholarships are available for members in good standing of the UTE (or who at the time of their departure from CRA in the same calendar year were members in good standing of the UTE), their spouse, their common-law spouse (including same sex partners) and/or their children or grandchildren. However, no more than one scholarship will be awarded to the same family in a given year.

For this purpose, children or grandchildren of a UTE member in good standing is defined as follows:

1. a person of whom the member is the natural parent or grandparent, whether the person was born within or outside marriage;
2. a person who is wholly dependent on the member for support and of whom the member has immediately or before the person attained the age of nineteen (19) years had, in law or in fact, the custody and control;
3. a child or grandchild of the member’s spouse or common-law partner; or
4. an adopted child of the member.

Requirements:

• Brief statements from two (2) persons with whom you have worked during the past year, containing their general evaluation of your work, your capabilities, your character and performance. These persons could include: teachers, clergy, community service leaders, supervisors etc.
• Proof of registration with the name of the University, College or Institute of higher learning you will be attending must be submitted with your application. Attendance shall be verified before the granting of the award; and
• A minimum of five hundred (500) words to a maximum of seven hundred (700) words essay or submission in an audio, visual (painting, drawing, sculpture or photograph), or video format that would express your view.  Failure to stay within the minimum and maximum word requirement will result in disqualification.

These are the following topics you may choose from

• Labour’s contribution to the community;
• What you foresee as the role of organized labour in the future or;
• What affected you most in the previous year (news, personal, social)

Note: All submissions become the property of the UTE.

PLEASE PROVIDE US WITH A WORD COUNT OF YOUR ESSAY

If your submission is by visual, please provide an explanation of how it meets one of the topics.

Criteria:

The UTE reserves the right to publish a picture of the award winner recipient and the right to withhold the granting of an award if no applicant is deemed to possess the necessary requirements, or for other valid reasons. The UTE Honours and Awards Committee may award a Regional Scholarship outside of a particular region if no applicants from that region are deemed to possess the necessary requirements or there were no applicants from that region.

All documents MUST be supplied with your application, otherwise it will be considered incomplete. Your application MUST be postmarked by no later than June 15th.

Application forms are available from your Local Union Executive, Regional Vice-President, the UTE National Office and at: www.ute-sei.org (the UTE website).

Application forms should be completed on-line at www.ute-sei.org or send by mail at:
The Union of Taxation Employees
Attn: UTE Honours and Awards Committee
233 Gilmour Street Suite 800
Ottawa ON K2P 0P2

m/s  Lorne Roslinski / Gary Esslinger

That the recommendation be referred back to the committee with instructions to provide the original regulation together with the amended copy.

• MOTION TO REFER CARRIED.

m/s  Jean-Pierre Fraser / Robin Johnson

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

• Recorded Vote #15. MOTION CARRIED.

11 h) REPORT OF THE WORKFORCE ADJUSTMENT COMMITTEE

m/s  Bill Blair / Doug Gaetz

  That the report of the Workforce Adjustment Committee be adopted.

• Recorded Vote #16. MOTION CARRIED.

11 i) REPORT OF THE HARASSMENT COMMITTEE

m/s  Jamie vanSydenborgh / Robert Hume

That the report of the Harassment Committee be adopted.

• Recorded Vote #17. MOTION CARRIED.

11 j) REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

m/s  Marc Brière / Doug Gaetz

That the report of the Finance Committee be adopted.

m/s  Marc Brière / Gary Esslinger

The Finance Committee recommends the following:

Recommendation #1:

Whereas the Calgary June 21st to 23rd,  2013 Mental Health Conference was cancelled due to an act of Nature; and

Whereas this Conference will be rescheduled in the future in accordance with Resolution # 329 passed at the 2011 UTE Triennial Convention.

Be It Resolved that the “Mental Health Conferences” line item be approved for overspending.

m/s  Jamie vanSydenborgh / Denis Lalancette

That the recommendation be referred back to the committee with instructions to amend the over expenditures to a maximum of $90 000.00.

• MOTION TO REFER DEFEATED.
• Recorded Vote #18. MOTION CARRIED.

m/s  Marc Brière / Gary Esslinger

Recommendation #2:

Whereas the Calgary June 21st to 23rd ,  2013 Mental Health Conference was cancelled due to an act of Nature. 

Whereas this Conference will be rescheduled in the future. 

Be it resolved that for the Regional Mental Health Conference that will be held to replace the canceled Calgary June 21st to 23rd,  2013 conference, that UTE Regulation 13.5.1 be set aside. Travel grants to Locals will be the cost of two (2) times the Flex Airfare for all Locals that had previously sent observers to this conference. For Locals who did not send observers to this conference, the travel grants will be the cost of one (1) time the Flex Airfare. 

For ease of reference, a copy of the Regulation 13.5.1 is included below.

13.5.1 Travel Grants to Locals

1. Local travel grants for delegates and or paid observers issued by the National Office for Conferences and Conventions will be issued in the name of the Local for their administration and accountability.
2. The travel grants for Locals shall normally be the cost of 2 times the Flex Airfare without receipt. The intent of the two times Flex airfare is to ensure the participation of the delegate and to assist Locals in sending additional participants. Any airfare other than as described herein shall have prior approval of the President or in their absence the 1st Vice-President.
3. If the Local receives a travel grant and does not send participants, they must return the travel grant in full to the National Office.

• Recorded Vote #19.  MOTION CARRIED.

m/s  Marc Brière / Gary Esslinger

Recommendation #3:

Whereas the coverage in travel accident insurance for UTE’s activists has to be reassessed from time to time; and

Whereas UTE wants to ensure that all of its activists are covered in terms of travel accident insurance.

Be it resolved that an amount of $6,000.00 be transferred from the line item “Telephone, Fax & Internet” to the line item “Office & Travel Insurance” in the 2013 Budget to pay for the increase cost in travel accident insurance coverage.

• Recorded Vote #20.  MOTION CARRIED.

m/s  Marc Brière / Gary Esslinger

Recommendation #4:

Be It Resolved that the following line item be approved for overspending:

• Recorded Vote #21.  MOTION CARRIED.

m/s  Marc Brière / Gary Esslinger

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

• Recorded Vote #22.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 k) REPORT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

m/s  Lorne Roslinski / Sabri Khayat

That the report of the Communications Committee be adopted.

• Recorded Vote #23.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 l)  REPORT OF THE BARGAINING COMMITTEE

m/s  Denis Lalancette / Jean-Pierre Fraser

That the report of the Bargaining Committee be adopted.

• Recorded Vote #24.  MOTION CARRIED.

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

m/s  Adam Jackson / Jamie vanSydenborgh

That the report of the Political Action Committee be adopted.

• Recorded Vote #25.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 n)   REPORT OF THE AD-HOC CALL CENTRE COMMITTEE

m/s  Robert Hume / Jamie vanSydenborgh

That the report of the Ad-Hoc Call Centre Committee be adopted.

• Recorded Vote #26.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 o) REPORT OF THE AD HOC UNION MANAGEMENT APPROACH (UMA) AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION COMMITTEE

m/s  Sabri Khayat / Doug Gaetz

That the verbal report of the Ad-Hoc UMA and Conflict Resolution Committee be adopted.

• Recorded Vote #27.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 p)   REPORT OF THE AD HOC MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCES COMMITTEE

m/s  Doug Gaetz / Bill Blair

That the report of the Ad-Hoc Mental Health Conferences Committee be adopted.

• Recorded Vote #28.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 p)   REPORT OF THE AD HOC UTE STRUCTURE COMMITTEE

m/s  Jamie vanSydenborgh / Denis Lalancette

• Recorded Vote #29.  MOTION CARRIED.

12.   ADOPTION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

m/s  Marc Brière / Gary Esslinger

That the financial statements of June 30, 2013 be adopted.

• Recorded Vote #30.  MOTION CARRIED.

13. EXPENSE CLAIMS OVER 90 DAYS

m/s Marc Brière / Doug Gaetz

That the expense claim over 90 days be approved.

OPEN DISCUSSION

The Council members discussed the items under this section.

The meeting recessed at 5:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013
MORNING SESSION

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

At this point, Brother Gaetz served notice to amend the agenda.

(Cont’d) item 13. EXPENSE CLAIMS OVER 90 DAYS

m/s Marc Brière / Doug Gaetz

That the expense claim over 90 days incurred to attend Collective Bargaining meetings in Ottawa by Brother Doug Gaetz be approved.

• Recorded Vote #31.  MOTION CARRIED.

m/s Marc Brière / Doug Gaetz

That the other expense claims over 90 days be approved.

• Recorded Vote #32.  MOTION CARRIED.

14. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

A discussion took place.

m/s  Doug Gaetz / Robin Johnson

That the agenda be amended to add open discussion item 16 Collective Bargaining expense claims over 90 days.

• MOTION CARRIED.

15. STUDENT AND MEMBER FOR THE ICA

m/s  Denis Lalancette / Jean-Pierre Fraser

Whereas every year it is provided that one student and one member can accompany those in charge of the ICA to Africa; and

Whereas the UTE pays out a sum of money to cover the student’s various expenses; and

Whereas the UTE provides a grant to cover part of the various expenses of one member; and

Whereas the ICA fully invests the amounts paid to it by the UTE for African citizens, whose achievements are considerable such as building schools, a fresh water distribution system, houses etc; and

Whereas occasionally there is no student or member or either to go to Africa with the ICA and the UTE has no outlay.

Be it resolved that when, in a given year, there is no student to go to Africa with the ICA, that the UTE provide the ICA with the sum of roughly $5,000.00 (Such as the current resolution); and

Be it further resolved that when, in a given year, there is no member to go to Africa with the ICA, that the UTE provide the ICA with the sum of roughly $2,500.00 (Such as the current resolution).

• Recorded Vote #33.  MOTION CARRIED.

16. VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE

m/s Doug Gaetz /Jamie vanSydenborgh

Be it resolved that when members encounter situations of violence in the workplace, UTE will advocate to members that they should file a complaint pursuant to Regulation 20 of the Canada Labour Code Regulations and theCRA’sWorkplace Violence Prevention Policy, along with a grievance; and

Be it further resolved that UTE will advocate that the grievance should be held in abeyance pending the disposition of the complaint; and

Be it further resolved that UTE will advocate that harassment grievances and/or complaints not be filed when dealing with complaints of violence in the workplace.

m/s  Sabri Khayat / Denis Lalancette

That the motion be divided to deal with the 2 first Be it resolved separately from the 3rd one.

• MOTION TO DIVIDE DEFEATED.

• Recorded Vote #34.  MOTION CARRIED.

Recess for lunch

AFTERNOON SESSION

The meeting was called back to order at 1:15 with Brother Campbell in the Chair. 

17. NEW LOCAL IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION (NCR)

m/s  Bill Blair / Adam Jackson

Whereas a petition containing greater than 25% of affected employees was provided to their home local, that being Local 70000, comprised of names of affected employees who wished to create a new local; and

Whereas a vote was supervised by the RVP of the NCR on September 4 and September 5, and the results of said vote being 152 in favour, 69 against with 2 spoiled ballots; and

Whereas 4 members have put forth their name to participate in an interim role until the 1st AGM can be held.

Be it resolved that a new local be created in the National Capital Region comprised of the Headquarters Human Resources Branch and the Headquarters Taxpayer Services Debt Management Branch in accordance with the UTE Regulations and By-Laws.

• Recorded Vote #35.  MOTION CARRIED.

OPEN DISCUSSION

The Council members discussed the remaining items under this section.

The meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

RECORDED VOTES