GSU National Council Conference Call

Tuesday, June 21, 2011 – 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Minutes of meeting 

1)  Call to Order

Brother Mark Brunell, GSU National President called the meeting to order at 1:20 p.m.  He called the roll of officers present, as follows:

Present in person – Bonnie Robichaud Boardroom

• Mark Brunell, Chair
• Pierre Alarie, RVP Quebec
• Daniel Charron, NVP
• David Cunning, RVP Ontario
• Mélanie Hamel, RVP Quebec
• Donna Lackie, NEO
• Ron Le Blanc, RVP NCR
• Nicole Rousseau, RVP NCR
• Alex Sauvé, NVP

By phone:

• Martine Babcook, RVP Western
• Bob Cameron, RVP Atlantic
• Randy Ford, NVP
• Jack Gale, RVP Pacific
• Michelle Little, RVP Atlantic
• Phil Robinson, RVP Pacific
• Bill Walsh, RVP Atlantic

Regrets:

• Robert Spencer, RVP NCR (French Training)
• Mitch Sylvestre, RVP Western

Staff:

• Gail Peck, Finance and Administration Officer
• Laura Griffin, Special Advisor to National President
• Maria Thomas, Administrative Assistant to National President

Announcements

• Due to Air Canada Strike, the National Council meeting scheduled for June 21, 22 and 23, 20011 in St. John’s, Newfoundland was cancelled and replaced with this conference call.  Brother Brunell thanked everyone for their flexibility and for accepting the format of this conference call.
• He forwarded a special thank you to Sisters Peck, Griffin and Thomas for all of their hard work over the last of couple weeks.
• Requested that National Council identify themselves when speaking.
• Indicated that cell phones were not to be used for the duration of the meeting.
• Highlighted the need to deal with two very important issues: 1)  2011 GSU Triennial Convention and 2) 2011 Federal Budget. (Strategic Review Results)
• Spoke with Brother Bill Dennis (former Ontario RVP).  Brother Dennis is doing well and he is looking forward to meeting everyone at the Convention in Toronto.
• Royal Canadian Mint has reached a tentative agreement.

2)  Agenda

m/s     Phil Robinson / David Cunning

That the agenda be adopted.

Recorded vote #1.  MOTION CARRIED.                       (Appendix ‘A’ – p. 6)

3)  New Business (Convention 2011)

A)      Convention Update

• Sister Griffin reported on the preparations regarding Convention 2011.  A copy of the “Draft Convention Programme” was provided in the kits and by email.
• Brother Brunell asked the RVPs to remind their Locals to send by email or by fax their credentials and their resolutions to the National Office as the deadline is June 25, 2011.  Due to a postal strike the Locals can send their payment for the registration fee at a later time.
• For the 2011 GSU Triennial Convention, there will be a total of four committees:  General, By-laws, Finance and Structure.  For each committee, there will be two co-chairs and at least one representative from each region.
• It was suggested to invite Sister Nycole Turmel to the Convention.  She is the Public Works and Government Services critic and National Caucus Chair for the NDP.
• Brother Brunell will prepare an Emergency Resolution on Strategic Review.
• Brother Gordon, PSAC National President is planning to attend the Convention.

B)      GSU Structure Resolutions

m/s     Alex Sauvé /Phil Robinson

The Committee recommended that the National Council adopt the four Structure Resolutions and forward them to the 2011 GSU Triennial Convention.

Recorded vote #2.  MOTION CARRIED.  (Appendix ‘B’ – p. 7)

C)      By-laws Resolutions

The Committee recommended that the National Council adopt the following By-laws resolutions and forward them to the 2011 GSU Triennial Convention.

Recorded vote # 3.  MOTION CARRIED. (Appendix ‘C’ – p. 11)

D)      Proposed Budget 2012-2014

m/s     Daniel Charron / Donna Lackie

To adopt the Proposed GSU Budget 2012 to 2014 and forward it to the 2011 GSU Triennial Convention.

Recorded vote #4.  MOTION CARRIED.  (Appendix ‘D’ – p. 17)

4)  GSU Committee Reports

A)      Financial Review Committee

m/s     Daniel Charron / Michelle Little

That the 2010 Audited Financial Statements be accepted as presented.

Recorded vote #5.  MOTION CARRIED.

Brother Randy Ford, National Vice-President assumed the Chair. (3:20 p.m.)

B)      Union Recognition Committee

Brother Pierre Alarie, Chair of the Union Recognition Committee reported on behalf of the Committee.  The other member is Brother David Cunning.

The voting procedure for Life Membership is usually conducted by a secret ballot.  As this is a conference call, it will not follow the normal procedure.

Recommendations from the Union Recognition Committee

m/s     Pierre Alarie / David Cunning

1.  The committee recommends that Brother Mark Brunell be awarded a GSU Life membership in recognition of his dedicated and outstanding service to the members of GSU.

m/s     Pierre Alarie / David Cunning

2.  The committee recommends that Brother Phil Robinson be awarded a GSU Life membership in recognition of his dedicated and outstanding service to the members of GSU.

m/s     Randy Ford / Jack Gale

3.  The GSU National Council recommends that Brother Mark Brunell be awarded a PSAC Life membership in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the welfare of PSAC members at many levels of the organization.

Brother Ford, with the assistance of Sister Griffin, explained the voting process.

• National Council Members agreed to vote by email.
• In the email, Sister Griffin will enclose a ballot with two recommendations from the URC and a third submitted by Brother Ford.
• National Council Members will complete the ballot and email back to Sister Griffin at griffil@psac.com
• Deadline is June 29, 2011.
• Sister Griffin will maintain the confidentiality of the ballots and advise National Council of the results.

Also, the URC committee was tasked to review Policy 4 (Awards of merit).  The Committee will submit a written report to a future conference call meeting.

Brother Brunell assumed the Chair at 4:00 p.m.

5)  Round Table

• The meeting ended with a round table discussion.  In brief, National Council members expressed their concerns regarding the Strategic Review.  Management held various briefing sessions throughout the regions for PSAC members and the majority of the RVPs attended these sessions. A special meeting on Work Force Adjustment Committee is scheduled for
  June 29, 2011.  Brother Brunell will be working closely with the PSAC to develop an Emergency Resolution to be presented at the 2011 GSU Triennial National Convention.
• Another conference call will be scheduled in July 2011.
• Brother Brunell administered the Oath of Office to Sister Mélanie Hamel, the new Regional Vice-President for the Quebec Region.

6)  Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

Recorded Votes