A.M. Session
1) Call to Order
The meeting of the GSU National Council was called to order at 9:00 a.m. with Brother Mark Brunell National President in the Chair and the following Members in attendance:
Participants:
- Mark Brunell, National President
- Daniel Charron, National Vice-President
- Randy Ford, National Vice-President
- Alex Sauvé, National Vice-President
- Donna Lackie, National Equity Officer
- David Cunning, RVP Ontario Region
- Dave Thomson, RVP Ontario Region
- Ron Le Blanc, RVP National Capital Region
- Nicole Rousseau, RVP National Capital Region
- Martine Babcook, RVP Western Region
- Mitch Sylvestre, RVP Western Region
- Robert Cameron, RVP Atlantic Region
- Michelle Little, RVP Atlantic Region
- Bill Walsh, RVP Atlantic Region
- Pierre Alarie, RVP Quebec Region
- Jean-Paul Fortin, RVP Quebec Region
- Jack Gale, RVP Pacific Region
Regrets:
- Phil Robinson, RVP Pacific Region
- Robert Spencer, RVP Ontario Region
Staff:
- Laura Griffin, Communications and Special Projects Officer
- Maria G. Thomas, Administrative Assistant to the National Office
Observers:
- John Jedrasik, Local President 70013
- Frank Nitschmann, Local President 70023 (Morning session on Sept. 23)
- Bill Pleming, Local President 20008
- Linda Harding, Vice-President 20008
Guest:
- Elizabeth McCormick, Former Regional Vice-President Pacific Region
Announcements
- PSAC Rules of Order will apply.
- No cell phones or blackberry are to be used during the meeting.
- On behalf of Sister Sue Soubra, Local President 00027 Brother Brunell thanked Sisters Donna Lackie and Laura Griffin for all their support and assistance. Sister Soubra was very pleased with the accommodations and for all the help she received from her brothers and sisters at the Local Presidents’ Council. She requested that this be noted in the minutes.
- Brothers Spencer (Table 2) and Robinson (Table 3) are members of the PSAC Negotiating Team for the last round of Collective Bargaining and for this reason they were unable to attend this meeting.
- Brother Bill Walsh provided an update on the hurricane that devastated Newfoundland earlier this week.
2) Approval of Agenda
Under GSU Committee Reports that item 6h) Structure Committee be the first item.
m/s Jack Gale / Randy Ford
That the agenda be adopted as modified.
MOTION CARRIED. (Appendix ‘A’ – p. 15)
3) Hours of Session
m/s Bill Walsh / Nicole Rousseau
That the hours of sessions as proposed by the Chair, be approved:
Thursday, September 23, 2010 9:00 – 5:00
Friday, September 24, 2010 9:00 – 5:00 or until completion of business
MOTION CARRIED.
4) Approval of Previous Minutes
a) Conference Call of August 5, 2010
m/s Alex Sauvé / Daniel Charron
That the minutes of August 5th, 2010 be approved.
Recorded vote # 1. MOTION CARRIED.
b) Conference Call of August 23, 2010
m/s Bob Cameron / Ron Le Blanc
That the conference call minutes of August 23, 2010 be approved.
Recorded vote # 2. MOTION CARRIED.
5) Officers’ Reports
a) National President’s Report
Brother Sauvé, National Vice-President assumed the Chair. (9:35 am to 11:35 am)
m/s Mark Brunell / Daniel Charron
That the report of the National President be adopted.
Brother Brunell responded to questions regarding his report.
Recorded vote #3. MOTION CARRIED. (Appendix ‘B’–p. 16)
Brother Brunell assumed the Chair at 11:35 a.m.
Announcement
Brother Brunell announced that the next National Council meeting will be held in St. John’s Newfoundland in the spring.
b) National Vice-Presidents’ and National Equity Officer’s Reports
m/s Michelle Little / Martine Babcook
That the reports of the National Vice-Presidents and National Equity Officer be adopted.
Brothers Sauvé, Ford, Charron and Sister Lackie spoke and answered questions regarding their reports.
The Chairperson ruled that Brother Charron’s vote should not be counted as he was not in the room at the time of the voting. Brother Charron challenged the Chair. The Chair was overruled.
Recorded vote #4. MOTION CARRIED. (Appendix ‘C’–p. 20)
P.M. Session
Announcement
Sister Elizabeth McCormick, former Regional Vice-President for the Pacific Region addressed the National Council. She welcomed everyone and wished everyone success during our meeting.
c) Regional Vice-Presidents’ Reports
m/s Bill Walsh / Daniel Charron
That the reports of the Regional Vice-Presidents be approved.
Recorded vote #5. MOTION CARRIED. (Appendix ‘D’–p. 29)
Sister Rousseau offered a verbal report. She has been away on leave for the past year.
Remarks
- After Brother Alarie presented his report, he asked Brother Laberge to address National Council and to provide an update regarding a member in his Local 10141. On behalf of the member, Brother Laberge thanked the National Council for the donation and reported that the member is doing well.
- The next Convention will be held in Toronto in 2011. Brothers Cunning and Thomson will be part of the host committee.
P.M. Session
6) GSU Committee Reports
h) Structure Committee
m/s Alex Sauvé / Randy Ford
To adopt the Structure Committee Report as presented.
a/s Bill Walsh / Jack Gale
To postpone the Structure Committee Report to the next National Council meeting in 2011.
Recorded vote #6. MOTION DEFEATED.
To adopt the Structure Committee Report as presented.
Recorded vote #7. MOTION CARRIED. (Appendix ‘K’–p. 65)
Announcements
- Brother Brunell invited Local Presidents and Observers to address the National Council.
- Sister Harding thanked Council for giving her the opportunity to attend this meeting. This was her second time observing a National Council Meeting. She indicated that attending offered a very valuable learning experience and she found the debates interesting. Sister Harding is looking forward to seeing everyone at the Convention next year.
- Brother Pleming summarized it very well when he stated that Council is an awesome family working well together.
- Brother Laberge stated that he is very proud to be a member of this organisation.
- Brother Jederasik thanked the National Council for voting in favour of the GSU Structure and said that Convention will decide what is best for the organisation. Good leadership.
The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m. and will reconvene at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, September 24th, 2010.
Friday, September 24th, 2010
GSU Committee Reports (Continued)
9:10 A.M. Session
a) Financial Review Committee
Brother Daniel Charron, Chairperson of the Financial Review Committee, tabled a report on behalf of the Committee.
m/s Daniel Charron / Martine Babcook
Recommendation 1:
Whereas the Royal Canadian Mint is offering a 39% rebate on the remaining GSU Lapel Pins in stock.
Be it resolved that GSU purchase the remaining Lapel Pins in stock from the Royal Canadian Mint.
Recorded vote #8. MOTION CARRIED.
m/s Daniel Charron / Ron Le Blanc
To adopt the Financial Review Committee Report as presented.
Recorded vote #9. MOTION CARRIED. (Appendix ‘E’- p. 52)
b) By-laws and Policy Committee
Brother Randy Ford, Chairperson of the By-laws and Policy Committee, tabled a report on behalf of the Committee.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, the Mover and the Seconder of the committee’s recommendations are Brother Randy Ford and Sister Little respectively. All recommendations carried will be forwarded to the Triennial National Convention as NC Resolutions.
Brother Alarie noted that within the French version of Recommendation #1 that the word ‘Executive’ is missing. The French version will be updated to reflect this change.
Recommendation #1:
Add the following new definitions to By-law 19:
{ General Membership Meeting:
- A meeting of the Local members, called in accordance with the Local By-laws, including appropriate advance notice, where all members present have voice and vote.
- A regular General Membership Meeting is a meeting, as described above, that is called for in the normal schedule of the Local.
- A special General Membership Meeting is a meeting, as described above, that is outside of the normal schedule of the Local, as called for by the Local Executive or the membership.
{ Annual General Membership Meeting:
- The General Membership Meeting of the Local, that is held once each year in accordance with the Local By-laws, where the Local Budget, Audited Financial Statements and the elections of officers, etc. are dealt with.
{ Executive Committee Meeting:
- A meeting of the Local Executive Officers called in accordance with Local By-laws to deal with the business of the Local between General Membership Meetings and that is open to members of the Local.
Recorded vote #10. MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation #2:
By-law 6, Section 2 (d) - Delete the following:
{ Northern Ontario, including Toronto - one (1) RVP
{ Remainder of Ontario, excluding NCR - one (1) RVP
And replace with:
{ Ontario, excluding the National Capital Region - two (2) RVP’s
Recorded vote #11. MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation #3:
By-law 6, Section 4 and 5 - Delete the word “voting.”
Recorded vote #12. MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation #4:
By-law 8, Section 8 and 9 - Reverse the order of these two clauses.
Recorded vote #13. MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation #5
By-law 9, Section 3 - Change “must be voting delegates to Triennial National Convention“ to read “ must have been a voting delegate at the last Triennial National Convention ”.
Recorded vote #14. MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation #6:
By-law 12, Section 6 - Delete the words “as elected by the Local at a general meeting“at the end of the second sentence and insert, in the first sentence after the words shall elect “at a General Membership Meeting, such other delegates as it is entitled to send...”
Recorded vote #15. MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation #7:
By-law 12, Section 11 - Delete the words “in book form “, in the last sentence.
Recorded vote #16 MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation #8:
By-law 12, Section 11 - Insert words “as approved at a General Membership Meeting“ on the first line after “present resolutions “.
That Resolution 8 be withdrawn as it is covered under recommendation 1.
Recommendation #9:
By-law 12, Section 12 - Change the first sentence to read “ Late resolutions to the Convention shall be submitted to the National President no later than seven (7) days prior to the opening of the Convention “.
Recorded vote #17. MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation #10:
By-law 12, Section 18 - Change the word “Component” to “Union” when referring to GSU.
Recorded vote #18. MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation #11:
By-law 12, Section 18 - Change the end of the sentence to read “after consultation with the Local and the Regional Vice-president concerned”.
Recorded vote #19. MOTION CARRIED
Recommendation #12:
Regulation 1 - Delete the following:
{ Northern Ontario, Eastern Ontario and Toronto
{ South Western Ontario
And replace with:
{ Ontario, excluding the National Capital Region
Recorded vote #20. MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation #13:
That recommendation #13 be referred back to the By-laws & Policy Committee in order to examine it further.
Regulation 1 - Change all the bullets describing the individual RVP jurisdictions to match the wording found in By-law 6, Section 2 (d). The wording will now read as follows:
Pacific Region combines the following RVP jurisdictions:
{ Lower BC mainland, including Vancouver
{ Remainder of BC and Yukon Territories
Western Region combines the following RVP jurisdictions:
{ Alberta, Nunavut and the North West Territories
{ Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Ontario Region combines the following RVP jurisdiction:
{ Ontario, excluding the National Capital Region
The National Capital Region is a region in itself.
Quebec Region combines the following RVP jurisdictions:
{ Quebec West, including Montreal
{ Quebec East, including Quebec City
Atlantic Region combines the following RVP jurisdictions:
{ Nova Scotia
{ New Brunswick and PEI
{ Newfoundland and Labrador
MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation #14:
Regulation 2, By-law 7, Section 2 - Insert new paragraph as follows: “submit a written annual Activity Report to the Annual General Membership Meeting.”
Recorded vote #21. MOTION CARRIED.
P.M. Session
Recommendation #15:
Regulation 2, By-law 9, Section 2 (g) - Delete the current clause and replace with the following:
g) A quorum for any General Membership Meeting, including the Annual General Membership Meeting, shall be a majority of the Local Executive Committee and at least ______ members ( the Local shall set a specific number or percentage or combination as determined by the Local ).
Recorded vote #22. MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation #16:
The Committee amended its recommendation to correct an error by deleting: as appointed at the previous Annual General Membership Meeting.
Regulation 2, By-law 11, Section 3 - Label the current text as paragraph a) and insert a new paragraph b) as follows:
b) The Auditors, as appointed at the previous Annual General Membership Meeting, shall audit the Local’s financial statements prior to the next Annual General Membership Meeting in order to present their report.
Recorded vote #23. MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation #17:
To refer Recommendation # 17 to the Finance Review Committee.
Regulation 3, Section 12 (a) - Revise the maximum weeks of severance pay for the National President from 28 weeks to 30 weeks.
MOTION CARRIED.
Recommendation #18:
Regulation 8, Part 3 (a) - Insert the word “or” into the existing language after the words “at the previous Annual General Meeting”. The amended paragraph will now read as follows:
a) Annual Financial Statements shall be prepared for each Annual General Membership Meeting and shall be audited by members of the Local appointed at the previous Annual General Membership Meeting, or by an appropriate firm of accountants, or by the Regional Vice-president or delegate.
Recorded vote #24. MOTION CARRIED.
That the editorial changes made by the Committee be reviewed by the National President. Brother Brunell stated that both versions will be proofread and edited as needed.
To adopt the By-laws and Policy Committee Report as a whole.
Recorded vote #25. MOTION CARRIED. (Appendix ‘F’–p. 54)
c) Communications Committee
Sister Nicole Rousseau, Chairperson of the Communication Committee, tabled a report on behalf of the Committee.
m/s Nicole Rousseau / Bob Cameron
To adopt the Communications Committee Report as presented.
Recorded vote #26. MOTION CARRIED. (Appendix ‘G’–p. 60)
d) Union Recognition Committee
m/s David Cunning / Ron Le Blanc
That a report of progress be adopted.
MOTION CARRIED.
e) Local Development Committee
Brother Bill Walsh Chairperson of the Local Development Committee tabled a report on behalf of the Committee.
m/s Bill Walsh / Martine Babcook
To adopt the Local Development Committee Report as presented.
Recorded vote #27. MOTION CARRIED. (Appendix ‘H’–p. 61)
f) Collective Bargaining Committee
Brother Jack Gale Chairperson of the Collective Bargaining Committee tabled a report on behalf of the Committee.
m/s Jack Gale / Mitch Sylvestre
To adopt the Collective Bargaining Committee Report as presented.
Recorded vote #28. MOTION CARRIED. (Appendix ‘I’–p. 62)
Brother Jack Gale wanted to acknowledge the work done by the GSU National Office Staff and he wanted this to be reflected in the minutes.
g) Equity Committee
Sister Donna Lackie, Chairperson of the Equity Committee, tabled a report on behalf of the Committee.
m/s Donna Lackie / Randy Ford
To adopt the Report of the Equity Committee as presented.
Recorded vote #29. MOTION CARRIED. (Appendix ‘J’–p. 63)
i) Standing Discipline Investigation Committee
Brother Bob Cameron, Chairperson of the Standing Discipline Investigation Committee, tabled a report on behalf of the Committee.
m/s Bob Cameron / Donna Lackie
To adopt the Standing Discipline Investigation Committee as presented.
Recorded vote #30. MOTION CARRIED. (Appendix ‘L’–p. 72)
7) New Business
a) Motion – Scent Free Policy
m/s Michelle Little / Bill Walsh
That the GSU National Council formally adopts and implements the PSAC Scent Free Policy for all GSU Meetings.
a/s Randy Ford / Dave Thomson
That the GSU National Council formally adopts, implements and includes PSAC Scent Free Policy in kits for all meetings.
Recorded vote # 31. AMENDMENT CARRIED.
Recorded vote #32. MOTION AMENDED CARRIED.
b) Motion – PSST Representation
Brother Sauvé, National Vice-President assumed the Chair. (3:50 pm to 4:20 pm)
m/s Mark Brunell / Bob Cameron
That GSU develop a procedure and guidelines to assist Locals with PSST Representation.
a/s Nicole Rousseau / Ron Le Blanc
That the PSST procedure be presented at the next National Council meeting.
Recorded vote #33. AMEDMENT CARRIED.
Recorded vote #34. MOTION AMEMDED CARRIED.
Brother Brunell assumed the Chair at 4:20 p.m.
c) Issues arising from Local Presidents’ Council
Local Presidents were asked to fill-out a questionnaire. A report will be prepared extracting key issues from this meeting.
8) Other Business
No item was added.
9) Round Table
The meeting was concluded with a round table discussion. Overall the meeting was effective and productive. Brother Fortin announced that he is retiring at end of November 2010 and hopes to see everyone at Convention next year. He thanked the National Council for all their support over the years and Council thanked him for his dedication and they wished him success in the future. Brother Le Blanc thanked the National Council for the donation made to his campaign. Brother Sauvé announced that this was his last day as Brother Brunell’s replacement and Brother Ford would be replacing Brother Brunell. Brother Brunell thanked the National Council and ‘everyone behind the scenes’ for a job well done!
10) Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
