Report of the Finance Committee

Marc Brière

The Committee held an Ad Hoc meeting on September 24th, 2014 to discuss and review the implementation of the dues increase scheduled for January 1st, 2015.

The Committee also met at the UTE National Office on November 12th and 13th, 2014.

IN ATTENDANCE:  Marc Brière – Chair and 1st National Vice-President, Doug Gaetz – Co-Chair and RVP-Atlantic, Gary Esslinger – Co-Chair and RVP-Prairies, David Webster – Presidents’ Representative and Vice-President Kingston - Local 00011, Monique Desrosiers – Staff.

The Committee discussed and reviewed the August 2014 Financial Statements and Investments, the over expenditures of a few line items as of October 31st, 2014, the revised budget (2015-2016-2017) adopted at the 2014 UTE Convention, the content of UTE Regulation No. 13 – Reimbursement of expenses and the renewal of the communications subsidy to Locals for the data plan used with the electronic tablets.

The Committee also discussed and reviewed a referral from Executive Council from September 2014 about Leave With Income Averaging (LWIA) VS Reimbursement of wages for members carrying out union business authorized by UTE while on LWIA.

Finally, the Committee met with Howard Greenberg, UTE’s Investment Advisor from CIBC Wood Gundy to discuss and review our investment portfolio.

Following this meeting, the Finance Committee recommends the following:

Recommendation #1:

Be it resolved that UTE provide a yearly subsidy in the amount of $250.00 to each Local to help pay, for a period of twelve (12) months, the cost of the data plan used with the electronic tablets; and
Be it further resolved that this communication subsidy be paid by UTE National to the Locals in January 2015, 2016 and 2017; and
Be it further resolved that the Locals must provide proof to the UTE National Office that they have a data plan, within sixty (60) days of receiving the subsidy.  Otherwise, the subsidy shall be recouped by the National Office.

Recommendation #2:

Be it resolved that UTE Regulation 13.9.3 - Receipts be amended as follows:
 13.9.3 Receipts

1. The following receipts should shall be attached to the expense claims:
   
   1. cost of hotel paid; and
   2. cost of airfare paid; and
   3. miscellaneous expenses
2. The reimbursement of these expense claims shall be done as soon as possible.
3. The reason for each expense that is claimed should be indicated as clearly as possible.

Recommendation #3:

Be it resolved that UTE Regulation 13.10 (2) – Guidelines for Expenses, Ground Transportation be amended as follows:

13.10 Guidelines for expenses

(2)  Ground Transportation:  This would include costs for taxis to and from your home to the airport, bus or train station.  This would also include mileage and/or parking to and from the departure point if using a personal vehicle.  At destination, the ground transportation would include taxis to and from the airport or parking if using a personal vehicle, except when a travel grant is received.  For additional costs prior approval must be received from the President or 1st Vice-President.

Recommendation #4:

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

UTE
OVER-EXPENDITURES
DECEMBER 2014 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Respectfully submitted,

Marc Brière
Chair of the Finance Committee