AGM Minutes Feb 25/15 meeting For CEIU Local 00581

Thanks to all those who came out to the meeting. If you were not able to make it, info is being shared here and on the union board at 457 Richmond St. London.

CEIU Local 00581 AGM Minutes
Meeting held: February 25. 2015 (4:15p.m.-6p.m.)
Location: 457 Richmond Street London, ON, first floor “orange boardroom”
In Attendance:
Local Executive: Sara Johnson Vleuten,- President, Nancy York- Chief Steward, Sandy Snider-Treasurer, Raquel Ireland-Staats-V.P. Satellite Offices (phone), Nathan Haley-V.P. CIC (phone)
Guests: Travis Lahnalampi, member of PSAC bargaining team, local union president in Mississauga Local 00570 and Lynn Meston, PSAC regional rep
Members: list attached
Regrets: guest, Nicole Ma-CEIU NVP, H & S Employee Co-Chair, Barb Derbyshire
Call to Order
After some technical difficulties getting the phone to work/conference call set up, quorum was established and the meeting was called to order at 4:15p.m. by Sara Johnson Vleuten.
The CEIU Statement on Harassment was read by volunteers –Julie Andres and Nusrat Rahman.
Additional Agenda Items
Sara called for any additional agenda items and there were none.
Approval of Previous Minutes
The previous minutes from the AGM meeting held on Feb. 20/14 were reviewed. Jacquie Gyorgy motioned to accept the previous minutes and Khyber Khattak seconded this motion. The motion to approve the previous minutes was carried.
Treasurer’s Report (financial documents attached)
Sandy Snider presented the treasurer’s report. He passed out copies of the local 581annual financial statement for the year 2014, the budget for 2014 and 2015, and local dues breakdown information. We are on budget or under for everything right now. GIC update: During the last meeting, we had discussed splitting the GIC’s into several different, smaller ones, after receiving advice from a financial advisor at TD-Canada Trust bank, where our business account for our local is held. The membership had agreed with this decision, so this was done in the summer 2014. Previously, we had a longer term GIC all lumped into one. We wanted to try to earn more interest, if possible, and split it up/diversify. Currently, we have 4 different GIC’s – 3x $5000 in 3 month terms, with the balance in a fourth 15 month term with a slightly higher interest rate. Prime interest rate has gone down recently, so our 3 month term GIC’s are not making much interest. A longer term GIC would be required to obtain a higher rate of return. As we are without a contract and could eventually be in a strike position the shorter term lower interest GIC’s were purchased to ensure funds would be quickly available if a strike fund was required. The financial statement was audited by a member in good standing. Amy Sussex called the vote to approve the financial statements for 2014 and the budget for 2015 and all were in favour. Motion to accept CEIU Local 581’s financial statement for 2014 and the budget for 2015 was carried.
Sandy also talked a little bit about union dues and noted that it is actually the local membership that determines how much the local portion of dues are. They are quite low, and we are going to leave them as is, for now.
Chief Steward Welcome New Stewards
Nancy York welcomed Jacquie Gyorgy and Julie Andres as new stewards for Local 581.
President’s Report (attached).
Sara talked about her experience as the local president during the past two years and how our membership has basically doubled in about a year’s time.
She also shared information about the union events and training attended by the local executive team in the past year. Highlights: Sara attended training to become an Alliance Facilitator and a Joint Learning Facilitator. Nathan Haley attended the PSAC Ontario Convention in June as a delegate. Sara attended the CEIU National Convention as a delegate in Sept. (highlights from both conventions attached)
The local exec team hosted a couple of union drop-ins and we have been participating in the 19th of the month days of action – the significance of these is to support the local bargaining team and the date of the 19th comes from the tentative date of the next federal election. There will be another one coming up in March. We also hosted a number of union orientation sessions. We have also hosted Joint Learning Program workshops on union –management consultation and Mental Health in the Workplace. Sara is the union organizer for these and is in the process of planning more upcoming Mental Health workshops. The union management consultation and health and safety committees both support this initiative.
Employee Committee Co-Chair’s Health and Safety Report (attached)
In Barb’s absence, Sara read highlights from her previously prepared Health and Safety report: -total of 13 incident reports in 2014; no significant increase from 11 the year before. -reminders> complete a LAB1070 report with a team leader, if an incident does occur, service requests for housekeeping issues can also be called in without the approval of a H & S rep, EAP info reminder -monthly workplace inspections continue to be done in a different part of the building each month, as per the Canada Labour Code., very few violations have been identified ,complete building inspection –date to be announced. -personal protective equipment was procured by Labour Canada for its officers as a result of a recommendation by the committee. (currently awaiting to receive it) -Barb attended a PSAC weekend course on harassment and bullying in the workplace in April and the JLP Mental Health in the workplace workshop in November. Violence in the workplace training to be rolled out – to be announced.
Guest Speaker – Travis Lahnalampi, member of PSAC bargaining team
Travis gave a first-hand update on the current bargaining process. Our contract expired in June 2014.
-the bargaining process started about a year ago. The bargaining team was selected at the bargaining conference, which Nancy York also attended.
-there are 10 employee reps and a staff negotiator and researcher, the employer has 6 reps from different departments
– first face to face meeting was in July 2014 and they have had meetings in September, November and January 2015. There are three more session tentatively scheduled, the next one coming in March, followed by May and June.
-the rest of the process depends on the federal election; when it is called. Once an election happens, the bargaining process will be put on hold. If a new party is in power, they will have to determine what their mandate on the bargaining process will be before proceeding.
-We are in the PA group, which is the biggest bargaining group (public or private) in Canada, so we do have power. Travis encouraged members to keep up to date/get educated on the bargaining process – sign up for PSAC email updates, proposals from both sides on PSAC website and bargaining updates, once there is a tentative agreement reached, we, as members, have the FINAL SAY
-we have made a solidarity pact with 9/10 bargaining units about “no concessions”
What is being discussed in bargaining so far?
PSAC :
-classification system is 45+ years old, we want to find creative ways to bargain about this issue, so it doesn’t fall off (appendix?)
-PSAC is saying no to negotiating employer’s sick leave proposal because the employer wants to negotiate it outside the collective agreement (approval/denial done by 3rd party, what recourse would we have if people are denied or if the agreement/contract is changed?) and because of the unpaid waiting period, also a huge change from what we currently have
-PSAC has a proposal to improve workforce adjustment proposal and have seniority recognized, which would make it more like the private sector
-PSAC wants the employer to comply with the voluntary standards for employers created by the Mental Health Commission; mental health is a huge issue across Canada, 1 in 5 Canadians affected by mental health issue
-PSAC wants to add LGBTQ to discrimination article (Bill to add to Human Rights Code is stuck in the senate currently)
-PSAC wants some rights under political activity, other than just voting, we should not have to be completely non-partisan outside work
EMPLOYER:
-sick leave is the main issue on the table, -the Treasury Board presented sick leave proposal in Sept, tweaked it in November
-A member asked for a summary of the TB’s sick leave changes: currently offering to start in Sept 2016- 6 sick days per fiscal year (pro-rated in the first year) with limited carryover, then you would have to apply for short term disability, The sick hours members have accumulated could be used to top up their short term disability, but that will expire in Sept 2018
-Another member asked if the employer has other proposals: They aren’t pushing much else, other than sick leave, they want to change our core hours to make them longer and avoid paying late hour premiums, a few other administrative changes
-if you have info (first-hand situations/examples) that could help them speak on an issue, send an email to bargaining@psac.com (not new demands)
-locals can create posters, etc.. with messages of support for bargaining team that the bargaining team can bring and display at bargaining meetings
-long process, not close to tentative contract at this point, the employer has presented their info and listened to ours, but not really given much response (yes or no)
Guest Speaker: Lynn Meston, PSAC Regional Rep
Lynn spoke a little bit about her role as a regional rep and reminded us that the power of the union is YOU. (all of its’ members!)
Lynn spoke about past strikes – 1980 and 1991. Many people didn’t realize or forget what was actually gained from those actions. We got workforce adjustment out of the 3 week long 1991 strike and this was ground breaking.
Lynn spoke about the damage the Conservative government has done and continues to do to our country. What may get you interested in politics is thinking about the Canada we are leaving for generations to come behind us. Stephen Harper is a very smart man, but he has made some foolish moves, including challenging the Supreme Court seven times and losing. The labour movement had major gains in the past several decades, but now we are on a downward slide. The government wants to take power away from the “union”. This government has gutted our right to bargain fairly with legislation. They want to make the process slower and slower and grind down our resolve. During the last bargaining process, we made a concession and lost our severance. This time – no concessions.
Ontario successfully got rid of Tim Hudak. The upcoming federal election is a very important issue and we are electing our own employer.
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Lynn encouraged members to continue to participate in the days of action on the 19th of each month. She said that the employer is required to report any union actions (anything – wearing buttons, stickers on cubicles, everyone wearing a certain colour to show solidarity) up to Treasury Board, sometimes twice a day, so it does have an impact.
Local Executive Elections
Nicole Ma did not arrive in time, so Lynn Meston assisted with the elections.
President – Sara Johnson Vleuten nominated by Sandy Snider, seconded by Nancy York, Sara accepted and acclaimed president of Local 581. (2 year term)
VP London Proper (vacant) – Jacquie Gyorgy nominated by Julie Andres, seconded by Nusrat Rahman, Jacquie accepted and acclaimed vice-president of London Proper, Local 581. > one year term, so that this position can be staggered with other VP positions (will be up for election again Feb 2016)
Treasurer – Sandy Snider was nominated by Jacquie Gyorgy and seconded by Susan Robinson, Sandy accepted and acclaimed treasurer of Local 581. (2 year term)
Secretary (vacant)- Julie Andres was nominated by Jacquie Gyorgy and seconded by Amy Sussex, accepted and acclaimed secretary of Local 581. (2 year term)
The newly elected executives took their oath and will complete their witnessed declarations of office as soon as possible.
Door Prizes
Sara drew for the door prizes – Treats gift certificates: winners were Amy Sussex, Donna Wells and Robyn Hurdle.
Motion was made to adjourn meeting by Sara Johnson Vleuten. Seconded by Sandy Snider. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6p.m.
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Members in Attendance – AGM meeting Feb 25/15
Patty Meertens (phone)
Julie Andres
Jacquie Gyorgy
Dona Wells
Amy Sussex
Neil Vaz
Khyber Khattak
Susan Robinson
Nusrat Rahman
Robyn Hurdle
Gord Mitchell
Kim Levesque
Ismael Sanchez
Janice Howarth
Michele Rioux
Mary Collins
Libby Watson
Natalie Da Costa – Cox
Ryan Lamothe
Kristina Kulikow
Jenn Pedersen
Ashley Mauk
Xin Yi Guo
Gina Costa
Margaret Paton