GSU Special National Council Conference Call
June 30, 2010 – 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm Ottawa time
Minutes
1) Call to order
M. Brunell called the Conference call to order at 1:36 pm and called the roll of present, in person:
- M. Brunell
- A. Sauvé
- D. Charron
- R. Ford
- D. Lackie
- R. Le Blanc
and the officers present by phone:
- B. Cameron
- D. Cunning
- J. Gale
- M. Little
- M. Mongeon-Babcook
- M. Sylvestre
- B. Walsh
The following Officers were not available to participate:
- P. Alarie
- J-P Fortin
- R. Spencer
- D. Thomson
The following staff members were present, in person
- L. Griffin
- G. Peck
- P. Michon-Hamelin
2) Parking for Persons with disabilities
D. Lackie reported on recent events regarding the changes to parking fees for our members with accessible parking. Treasury Board has put in on hold until Dec 31, 2010. It is not clear what will happen after that. She asked RVPs to encourage Locals with affected members to prepare details and cases for grievances, in case we need them next year – rather than having to go back in January 2011 and find the affected members and the details on their situations then. She encouraged Locals to submit bargaining demands on this issue as well.
M. Brunell congratulated GSU for leading the fight on this issue. If we had not brought the changes to light, all members with accessible parking would be now paying the full rate.
3) Collective Bargaining
J. Gale reported on the status of bargaining at the Mint and with Treasury Board. He also reported that 24 demands were submitted on the PSHCP. A summary of the PSHCP demand subjects will be shared with the National council.
The Mint bargaining committee will meet to review the Locals’ demands in early August.
The deadline for nominees for the PSAC TB Bargaining Conferences is July 31.
The deadline for TB unit bargaining demands is August 31.
M. Brunell asked RVPs to touch base with their Locals to encourage involvement in bargaining and to remind them of the deadlines.
4) Local Presidents' Council and National Council Agenda - Victoria
M. Brunell reviewed the agenda for the upcoming GSU Local Presidents’ council. A copy of the agenda will be sent to all participants after this conference call meeting.
GSU Standing Committee will meeting on Sunday Sept 19, followed by an opening reception for all participants in the evening.
Monday, Sept 20 will open with the GSU Presidents’ address and then Regional meetings of RVPs and Local Presidents until 2:00 pm. At that time there will be another plenary session to receive reports from the Regional Meetings. From 3:30 pm until the end of session the meeting will deal with Local Presidents’ Issues.
On Tuesday, September 21, 2010 we will hear from a PWGSC Guest Speaker and then the GSU Structure Committee. There will be a session led by GSU and PSAC staff on Workforce Adjustment. The remainder of the day will feature a tour of the Esquimalt Graving Dock and a group dinner.
On Wednesday, September 22, 2010 the PSAC National President will address the meeting and there will be a session on Claims case management presented jointly by PWGSC and GSU representatives and then PWGSC will present a pilot course on “Resilience” Training. The Collective Bargaining Committee will report on events around negotiations and the Local Presidents’ council will close at about 5:00 pm.
The GSU National Council will meet on September 23 and 24, 2010.
5) 2009 GSU Audited financial statements
D. Charron reported that the Audited Financial Statements had been distributed by mail early in June.
M / S / D. Charron / M. Mongeon-Babcook
That the National Council approve the Audited Financial Statements as distributed.
Carried – Recorded Vote #1
6) National Council / National Office Announcements
M. Brunell reminded the council that Monique Boyer will retire from GSU after 36 years of employment at the end of July. She is presently on holidays and will return for a final week on July 26, 2010.
M. Brunell advised the council that he will be on holidays from July 5 to August 9 and that NVP Alex Sauvé will be acting President.
The GSU office structure will be reviewed again this summer. It has been 10 years since the last review and with M. Boyer’s and B. Kipper’s retirements it is a good time to review. A consultant has been hired.
The site of the next convention will be Toronto. Staff is presently reviewing bids from various hotels and site inspections should be completed this month. The hotel choice should be finalized by August.
M. Brunell reported that P. Laberge has contacted him about a Local member who is ill and needed some assistance. He asked if the Council would make a donation to this member.
M / S / M. Little / B. Cameron
That GSU donate $1,000.00 to Luc Guimond in Local 10141.
Carried Recorded Vote #2
7) Round Table
R. Ford asked if there was any announcement about the restructuring of RPBAC
M. Brunell explained what was being considered and that there has been no response from RPB at this time.
D. Lackie informed the council of the award of excellence PWGSC has awarded to the staff of the Cliff Street Heating Plant and that many people have felt it was inappropriate. She has received many emails expressing concerns about it. She asked officers to forward to her any emails they may have received expressing similar concerns.
D. Charron will follow-up on the next ABC Consultation.
M. Little will not be available in August.
M. Mongeon-Babcook will be on leave from the end of July until the end of September.
A. Sauvé reported that he has been working with a Consultation sub-committee for the Print Production Centres. He will present a recommendation for NC endorsement of this activity at the next national council meeting.
B. Walsh expressed his appreciation to M. Little and B. Cameron for their assistance during his secondment to the PSAC. He will return to PWGSC and his RVP position on July 19.
8) Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 2:53 pm.
