Minutes of the Executive Council

Minutes of the Executive Council
June 6 - 9, 2016

MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2016
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, Madonna Gardiner, Wayne Little, Greg Krokosh, Gary Esslinger, Cosimo Crupi, Jamie vanSydenborgh, Doug Gaetz, Ken Bye, Bill Blair, Daniel Camara, Denis Lalancette, Annette Melanson and Pierrette Labrie.

2.  HOURS OF SESSION OF THE REGULAR MEETING

m/s       Bill Blair / Gary Esslinger

That the hours of session be as follows:

Monday:         9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.; 1:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
                       4:00 p.m. -   5:00 p.m. Open Discussion
Tuesday:         9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.; 1:15 p.m. - 5:00
Wednesday:   9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.; 1:15 p.m. - 3:45
                       4:00 p.m. -   5:00 p.m.  *NSCC Conference Call
Thursday        9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.; 1:15 p.m. - 5:00 Training
* National Strategy Coordination Committee

  • MOTION CARRIED.

3.   ADOPTION OF AGENDA

m/s      Madonna Gardiner / Wayne Little

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

New Business

21. Investigation Committee Reports (#5 & #6) (G. Esslinger)

Open discussion

8.         Virtual Electronic Collective Agreement (D. Lalancette)
9.         “No” Stickers and Tent Cards Campaign (C. Crupi)
10.      CRA Ball Tournament (J. vanSydenborgh)
11.      New Phoenix System (C. Crupi)

  • Recorded Vote #1.  MOTION CARRIED.

4.  ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

m/s      Wayne Little / Ken Bye

            That the minutes of the Executive Council Meeting of March 2016 be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #2.  MOTION CARRIED.

m/s      Gary Esslinger / Wayne Little

That the minutes of the Executive Council meeting via a Conference Call on April 29 be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #3.  MOTION CARRIED.

m/s      Gary Esslinger / Greg Krokosh

That the electronic vote for the donation to the Edmonton Emergency Relief Services re. Fort McMurray Fires be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #4.  MOTION CARRIED.

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

5. PRESIDENT’S FOLLOW UP ITEMS

m/s      Bob Campbell / Madonna Gardiner

That the follow up items of the President be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #5.  MOTION CARRIED.

6. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

m/s      Bob Campbell / Madonna Gardiner

That the report of the President be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #6.  MOTION CARRIED.

President Campbell resumed the Chair.

7.  REPORT OF THE 1st NATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT

m/s      Marc Brière / Gary Esslinger

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

  • Recorded Vote #7.  MOTION CARRIED.

8. REPORT OF THE 2nd NATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT

m/s      Madonna Gardiner / Denis Lalancette

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

  • Recorded Vote #8.  MOTION CARRIED.

9. REPORT OF THE REGIONAL VICE-PRESIDENTS / ALTERNATES

m/s      Gary Esslinger / Doug Gaetz

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

  • Recorded Vote #9.  MOTION CARRIED.

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

10. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

m/s      Bob Campbell / Madonna Gardiner

That the report of the Executive Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #10.  MOTION CARRIED.

President Campbell resumed the Chair.

11 a)   REPORT OF THE STAFFING COMMITTEE

m/s      Ken Bye / Daniel Camara

That the report of the Staffing Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #11.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 b)   REPORT OF THE BY-LAWS COMMITTEE

m/s      Daniel Camara / Ken Bye

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

m/s      Daniel Camara / Ken Bye

Recommendation

That new Regulation 31 be adopted as presented.

Regulation No. 31 - Guidelines for Funding Political Action/Campaigns

The Guidelines apply to requests to conduct Political Action or Campaigns submitted by a UTE Local, a Region, Executive Council or the National Office.

GUIDELINES:

  1. A Local, a Region, Executive Council or the National Office may request funding to conduct a Political Action or Campaign.
  2. To request funding, a “proposal for funding” shall be submitted. The proposal should include:
    1. type of event/campaign;
    2. objective of the event/ campaign, including targeted audiences;
    3. date/timeline of the event/campaign;
    4. location of the event/campaign;
    5. estimate of number of members attending, if applicable;
    6. budget for the event/campaign should include, but not limited to, costs for travel, translation, loss of salary, per diems, rentals, materials, etc.
    7. amount requested;
    8. an outline of how the event or campaign is UTE specific;
    9. the name and the contact information of 1 (one) direct contact person.
  3. All proposals must get prior approval by both the President and the 1st Vice-President before the event occurs.
  4. A Local request shall be forwarded to their RVP, who will forward it to the President and 1st Vice-President. All other requests shall be forwarded directly to the President and 1st Vice- President.
  5. An advance may be requested prior to the event taking place. Such requests are subject to approval by both the President and the 1st Vice-President.
  6. Within thirty days of the event/ campaign, the requester shall provide a report to the President on how well the event/campaign went and an accounting of all monies spent, including receipts for reimbursement.
  • Recorded Vote #12.  MOTION CARRIED.

That the report of the By-Laws Committee be adopted as a whole.

  • Recorded Vote #13.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 c)   REPORT OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE COMMITTEE

m/s      Madonna Gardiner / Doug Gaetz

            That the report of the Technological Change Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #14.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 d)   REPORT OF THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COMMITTEE

m/s      Wayne Little / Bill Blair

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

  • Recorded Vote #15.  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 #16.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 f)    REPORT OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE

m/s      Madonna Gardiner / Denis Lalancette

That the report of the Equal Opportunities Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #17.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 g)   REPORT OF THE HONOURS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

m/s      Denis Lalancette / Wayne Little

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

  • Recorded Vote #18.   MOTION CARRIED.

11 h)   REPORT OF THE WORKFORCE ADJUSTMENT COMMITTEE

m/s      Bill Blair / Cosimo Crupi

That the report of the Workforce Adjustment Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #19.   MOTION CARRIED.

11 i)    REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

m/s      Marc Brière / Gary Esslinger

That the report of the Finance Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #20.   MOTION CARRIED.

11 j)    REPORT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

m/s      Gary Esslinger / Daniel Camara

That the report of the Communications Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #21.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 k)   REPORT OF THE BARGAINING COMMITTEE

m/s      Madonna Gardiner / Denis Lalancette

That the report of the Bargaining Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #22.  MOTION CARRIED.

11l)     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 #23.  MOTION CARRIED.

11 m) REPORT OF THE CALL CENTRE COMMITTEE

m/s      Ken Bye / Greg Krokosh

That the report of the Call Centre Committee be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #24.  MOTION CARRIED.

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

m/s      Doug Gaetz / Wayne Little

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

  • Recorded Vote #25.  MOTION CARRIED.

12.      ADOPTION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

m/s      Marc Brière / Doug Gaetz

That the Financial Statements as of April 30, 2016 be adopted.

  • Recorded Vote #26.   MOTION CARRIED.

13.       EXPENSE CLAIMS OVER 90 DAYS

m/s      Marc Brière / Doug Gaetz

That one expense claim over 90 days be approved.

  • Recorded Vote #27.  MOTION CARRIED.

14.      COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

A discussion on bargaining took place.

Recess for lunch


AFTERNOON SESSION

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

15.  AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2015

m/s      Marc Brière / Doug Gaetz

Be it Resolved that the 2015 Audited Financial Statements be accepted.

  • Recorded Vote #28.  MOTION CARRIED.

16.   INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE REPORT (#1) (D. Kosteniuk/E. Egger)

m/s      Gary Esslinger / Ken Bye

That the Investigation Committee Report against Sister Evelyn Egger be accepted.

That the charges laid against Evelyn Egger under By-Law 12 Section 3 (5), By-Law- 12 Section 3 (7), By-Law 12 Section 3 (13), and By-Law 12 Section 3 (15) are unfounded and therefore dismissed.

  • Recorded Vote #29.  MOTION CARRIED.

17.   INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE REPORT (#2) (D. Kosteniuk/F. Willier)

m/s      Gary Esslinger / Ken Bye

That the Investigation Committee Report against Brother Francis Willier be accepted.

m/s      Gary Esslinger / Ken Bye

            That the report be postponed until the recommendation is back from translation.

  • MOTION CARRIED.

18. INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE REPORT (#3) (K. Strachey/E. Bertamini)

m/s      Gary Esslinger / Ken Bye

That the Investigation Committee Report against Sister Emma Bertamini be accepted.

In the matter of By-Law 12 Section 3 (5) the charges were unfounded and therefore dismissed.

In the matter of By-Law 12 Section 3 (7) the charges were unfounded and therefore dismissed.

In the matter of By-Law 12 Section 3 (13) the charges were unfounded and therefore dismissed.

  • Recorded Vote #30.  MOTION CARRIED.

19.  INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE REPORT (#4) (K. Strachey/F. Willier)

m/s      Gary Esslinger / Ken Bye

That the Investigation Committee Report against Brother Francis Willier be accepted.

In the matter of By-Law 12 Section 3 (5) the charges were unfounded and therefore dismissed.

In the matter of By-Law 12 Section 3 (7) the charges were unfounded and therefore dismissed.

In the matter of By-Law 12 Section 3 (15) the charges were unfounded and therefore dismissed.

  • Recorded Vote #31.  MOTION CARRIED.

20. MODIFICATION TO REGULATION 7 – GUIDELINES FOR REGIONAL EDUCATION BUDGETS

m/s      Denis Lalancette / Daniel Camara

Whereas it is important to make accessible the training and workshops provided at Presidents’ Conferences to the largest number of delegates; and

Whereas the UTE consider very important the transfer of knowledge.

Be it resolved that Regulation 7 be modified as follows:

Current Regulation

7.3       GUIDELINES FOR REGIONAL EDUCATION BUDGETS

(1)       The regional education budget is divided equally among the ten regions.
(2)       For a regional to use their educational budget, it must be matched dollar for dollar from their regional budget.
(3)       The President may approve the use of the educational budget for approved UTE courses, in part, or in combination of the approved courses.
(4)       Portions allocated to each region that are not used in a given year shall be carried over to a subsequent year for that region until the next UTE Convention.
(5)       Non-UTE educational courses shall need the approval of the Executive Council.  Once Council has approved a course, it will be an approved UTE course, therefore only needing the approval of the President:
(6)       (a)       UTE courses approved by Council:
·         Staffing;
·         Grievance Handling;
·         Local Officers Course;
·         Developing Membership Activism;
·         OFL Return to Work Course;
·         PSAC Duty to Accommodate; and
(b)        Modules of the PSAC Local Officer Kit as follows:
            1.3, 1.4, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.9 and 3.1
            (i)        If the education portion of a regional session lasts a full day or more, they may expend fifty (50) % of the expense from their education budget.
           (ii)        If the education portion of a regional session lasts at least half (½)   day, they may expend twenty-five (25%) of the expense from their  education budget.
(7)       (a)       when planning a Regional or Inter-regional conference that includes a training element or module not listed as an approved course as shown above. The RVP will meet the requirement to access their regional education funds if approved by the President; and
(b)        the RVP requesting approval for training not listed above must provide information to the President, including but not limited to the following: Overview of the training to be provided, Length of the module and Subject Matter before the approval can be granted.

Modified Regulation – Section 3 and 6

(3)       The President may approve the use of the educational budget for approved UTE courses, in part, or in combination of the approved courses in combination of approved courses and/or workshops provided at Presidents’ Conferences listed in 7.3.6.

(6)       (a)       UTE courses/workshops approved by Council:

·         Staffing;
·         Grievance Handling;
·         Local Officers Course;
·         Developing Membership Activism;
·         OFL Return to Work Course;
·         PSAC Duty to Accommodate;
·      Workshop on Performance Management;
·      Workshop for Local Treasurers; and
·     
Workshop on Local By-Laws.

  • Recorded Vote #32.  MOTION CARRIED.

OPEN DISCUSSION

The Council members discussed the items under this section.

The meeting adjourned at 5h00 p.m.


TUESDAY, June 7, 2016
MORNING SESSION

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

m/s      Marc Brière / Denis Lalancette

That the agenda be amended.

  • MOTION CARRIED.

Cont’d Item 17.       INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE REPORT (#2) (D.Kosteniuk/F. Willier)

m/s      Gary Esslinger / Ken Bye

That the Investigation Committee Report against Brother Francis Willier be accepted.

In the matter of By-Law 12 Section 3 (5) the charges were unfounded and therefore dismissed;

In the matter of By-Law 12 Section 3 (7) the charges were unfounded and therefore dismissed;

In the matter of By-Law 12 Section 3 (15) the charges were unfounded and therefore dismissed;

In the matter of By-Law 12 Section 3 (13) the Committee found that through the respondent’s actions they did engage in conduct prejudicial to the good order of UTE and the local.

  • Recorded Vote #33.  MOTION CARRIED.

m/s      Gary Esslinger / Ken Bye

Recommendation

Be it resolved that Brother Francis Willier not to be allowed to hold any union office for a period of two (2) years.

  • Recorded Vote #34.  MOTION CARRIED.

21. INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE REPORT (#5) (D. Kosteniuk/E. Bertamini)

m/s      Gary Esslinger / Ken Bye

That the Investigation Committee Report against Emma Bertamini be accepted.

In the matter of By-Law 12 Section 3 (5) the charges were unfounded and therefore dismissed;

In the matter of By-Law 12 Section 3 (15) the charges were unfounded and therefore dismissed;

In the matter of By-Law 12 Section 3 (7) the committee found that through the respondent’s actions they did engage in conduct that wilfully wronged an officer or member of the PSAC, UTE or locals;

In the matter of By-Law 12 Section 3 (13) the committee found that through the respondent’s actions they did engage in conduct prejudicial to the good order of UTE and the local.

  • Recorded Vote #35.  MOTION CARRIED.

m/s      Gary Esslinger / Ken Bye

Recommendation

Be it resolved that Sister Emma Bertamini not to be allowed to hold any union office for a period of two (2) years.

  • Recorded Vote #36.  MOTION CARRIED.

Brother Marc Brière and Denis Lalancette served notice to amend the agenda.

Recess for break

m/s      Denis Lalancette / Jamie vanSydenborgh

That the agenda be amended to add under Discussion Item 12 - Severance Pay for Term Employees.

  • MOTION CARRIED.

m/s      Marc Brière / Gary Esslinger

That the agenda be amended to add under New Business Item 22 - Resolution  "Premises".

  • MOTION CARRIED.

21. INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE REPORT (#6) (H. McGoldrick/B. Blair)

m/s      Gary Esslinger / Ken Bye

That the Investigation Committee Report against Brother Bill Blair be accepted.

m/s      Doug Gaetz / Wayne Little

An amendment to the report was moved. This amendment was later determined to be out of order and therefore, has been declared null and void.

  • MOTION CARRIED.

m/s      Gary Esslinger / Madonna Gardiner

That the report be dealt separately from the recommendation.

  • MOTION CARRIED.
  • Recorded Vote #37.  MOTION CARRIED.

m/s      Doug Gaetz / Wayne Little

m/s      Madonna Gardiner / Daniel Camara

That the recommendation be divided to deal with the two (2) issues separately.

  • MOTION TO DIVIDE DEFEATED.
  • Recorded Vote #38.  MOTION CARRIED.

Recess for lunch

The meeting recess at 12h30 p.m.


AFTERNOON SESSION

The meeting was called back to order at 1:45 with President Campbell in the Chair. 

Sister Gesine Campbell, Alternate RVP for the National Capital Region replaced Brother Blair.

m/s      Marc Brière / Doug Gaetz

Whereas the Union of Taxation Employees has to look to its future in regards to our needs for office space and the economic costs involved.

Be it resolved that the National President in conjunction with the UTE Standing Finance Committee has the authority to take all actions necessary to find economical space for our office, up to and including the purchase of a building.  

  • Recorded Vote #39.  MOTION CARRIED.

OPEN DISCUSSION

The Council members discussed the items under this section.

The meeting recessed at 5:00 p.m.


WEDNESDAY, June 8, 2016
MORNING SESSION

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

OPEN DISCUSSION

The Council members discussed the remaining items under this section.

The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

________________________                  ______________________

Bob Campbell                                               Marc Brière

National President                                       First National Vice-President