Meeting of the atlantic regional council

Jeannie Baldwin, REVP Atlantic

Katie Murphy-Langille, EA to the REVP

Sébastien Bezeau, Political Communications Officer

Gaby Levesque, Atlantic Regional Coordinator

Angela Decker, Director for Women – NL

Steve Johnson, Provincial Director – NL

Chris Lansdell, Provincial Director – NL

Mike LeBlanc, Provincial Director – NB

Chris Di Liberatore, Provincial Director – NS

Brian Oldford, Director for Non-Treasury Board/Separate Employer – Maritimes

Shanny Doucet, Director for Francophone Members

Rhonda Doyle–LeBlanc, Director for Women – Maritimes

Joey Dunphy, Director for Aboriginal Members

Neville David, Director for Racially Visible Members

Wayne Kelley, Director for GLBT Members

Allyson Garrison, Director for Young Workers

Jody LaPierre, Provincial Director – PE

Debi Buell, Provincial Director – PE

Regrets:

Nathalie Paulin, Director for Members with Disabilities

Darlene Bembridge, Provincial Director – NB

Bill Bennett, Director for Non-Treasury Board/Separate Employer – NL

Terry Kiley, UNDE – NVP NS

Dan Frost, UNDE – NVP NL & NB

Kelly Bush – Bargaining Team Member, PA Table

Mark Butler – Ecology Action Centre

Imam Zia Khan – Director for the Centre of Islamic Development

Guest Speaker, Kelly Bush from the PA group provided an overview of what happened at the latest round of bargaining with Treasury Board.

When the team met with employer, the employer brought the same short term disability to the table.

Liberals took away C-377, C- and525 and division 20 of Bill C-59 which gave power to reach into Collective greement andAgreement and pull out sick leave. The Liberals have put forward Bill C-4 that has that information in it but it is likely the Conservatives will block it.

We haven’t yet discussed an economic package.

Bargaining takes so long because the employer has only one mandate, which is sick leave. Now bargaining frequency is increasing from about every 8 weeks to every 5 weeks.

They are talking about extending long term disability to 26 weeks. No banking or carrying over sick days.

2. Hours of the Atlantic Regional Council Meeting

Meeting of the Atlantic Regional Council, February 18-21, 2015

February 18, Committee Meetings 9:00 a.m – 4:45 p.m

February 19, Safe Spaces Training 9:00 a.m – 4:00 p.m

February 20, Council Business 9:00 a.m – 4:30 p.m

February 21, Council Business 9:00 a.m – 12 Noon

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m with the REVP in the chair.

A moment of silence was held in memory of our union brothers and sisters who passed away since the last Council Meeting. The following names were read in to the minutes:

- Bill White, brother of Annette Brown, UNE Human Rights Representative and past President of Local SSO Local 99104.

- Kevin Ullman member of Parks Local 80040.

- Ada Myles, mother of Dan Critch, long time Past President & current member of Parks Local 90265.

- Mary Hatcher, mother of Dwayne Hatcher, current Treasurer Parks Local 90265.

Sister Shanny Doucet and Brother Wayne Kelley read aloud the PSAC Statement on Harassment.

The agenda was reviewed and adopted.

• 
  Communication
  
• 
  Staffing
  

Review of the previous minutes of November 12-15, 2015.

Sister Baldwin advised Council that Sister Paulin is still on sick leave. Sister Bembridge has a family commitment and sends her regrets. Lastly, Brother Bill Bennett is recovering from surgery. A card will be circulated and Sister Decker has offered to deliver to Brother Bennett.

Sister Baldwin reminds everyone that February is Black History Month. In the spirit of struggle, PSAC recognizes and celebrates the important past and present contributions of Black people and people of African descent. In Halifax, the Human Rights Committee in partnership with the Halifax Regional Women’s Committee organized an event on February 17 to celebrate Black History Month.

International Women’s Day takes place on March 8^th. For the first time, PSAC Atlantic Region will be airing radio ads in Halifax and St. John’s to speak on domestic violence in the workplace.

The NBoD made a decision that our main lobby focus would be on Bill C-4 which was introduced by the Conservative Government in 2013. Sister Baldwin advised that the Lobby Kit is included with the Council documents and it has been sent via email.

Brother Di Liberatore met with is MP, Scott Brison after much difficulty in securing an appointment. He also advised that the NS Area Council is attempting to set up a lobby meeting with the MP, Andy Filmore.

Brother LaPierre advised that he and Sister Buell met with MP, Sean Casey who was very obliging.

Brother Lansdell is meeting with MP, Seamus O’Regan February 27^th and is also hoping to meet with MPs Judy Foote and Nick Whalen very soon as well.

Brother Oldford and Brother Gaetz met with MP, Darren Fisher of Dartmouth last week.

Sister Baldwin requested that Council Directors attend any pre-budget consultation meetings that are taking place in their area.

Sister Baldwin advised that she was invited to provide a 5 minute presentation to the Finance Committee of Parliament.

Brother Steve Johnson advised that he, along with four other members attended the pre-budget consultation forum in the riding of MP, Scott Simms.

Guest speaker Mark Butler, Director for the Ecology Action Centre spoke on the environment.

The Ecology Action Centre is an environmental organization that deals with fracking, protection of nature, oceans and thinking of nature and people as co-habitating. One of their themes is environmental justice, working with African NS communities and First Nation Communities, etc. around certain environmental issues.

The Centre does not receive any gov’t funding per say but they do apply thru funding programs at the federal level (eco-action). During the reign of the Conservative government, many of their funding applications were turned down simply because of the name on the proposal.

They are a membership based organization, with approximately 4500 members which serve as their source of funding. The Centre does a lot of work on energy and climate change, transition to renewable energy, food poverty, fisheries; transportation work around active and public transport.

In NS we have the highest amount of protected land in Canada which is 12%.

At the Centre, Mark is responsible for genetically modified organisms. Recently, a company in Prince Edward Island have come up with genetically modified salmon. It is the first approval for a genetically modified animal. There are other fish species that are being worked on as well.

Q&A’s for Mark Butler:

Q: Salmon Farming, do you have comments on that?

A: Basic approach is to keep it out of the bays and inlets of our province because of the waste potential escape of the salmon. Future of industry is not open net it is closed containment on land.

Q: Regarding fracking. The waste water that is produced, where it is stored and what are they doing with the Brine? A rumor is that the Brine (salty water) is being used in on the roads to de-ice.

A: Mark wasn’t aware but will certainly look into it.

Q: Do you assist with First Nations communities’ in providing safe drinking water?

A: Yes, we do assist with community projects.

Q: Does the Centre lobby or create your own research?

A: We do on the ground community work as well like research reports, assisting in local projects, we also lobby MPs.

Q: What are your thoughts on Bay of Fundy tidal power?

A: It is a god idea, however, getting power from turbine to shore could be troublesome and as long as impact to marine life is low it would be amazing.

10. Committee Reports

Human Rights Committee

Brother Wayne Kelley read aloud the report of the committee. Recommendations were voted on separately.

m/s Brothers Kelley/LaPierre

Carried__Education_Committee_Report'>Carried

Recommendations, as per the committee:

1. 
   Recommendation has costing associated and is referred to finance for costing. Carried
   
2. 
   Recommendation is out of order.
   

• 
  At the last AEC, a decision was made that equity directors and young workers can attend the “CLC Rise Up Conference” and that PSAC nationally will cover 50% but regional budgets must cover other 50%.
  

3. 
   Referred to Education Committee.
   

Brother Chris Di Liberatore read aloud the report of the committee. The 2016 Budget was voted on separately.

m/s Brothers Di Liberatore/Lansdell

Carried

Brother Di Liberatore provided an overview of the 2016 Political Action Budget.

m/s Brothers Di Liberatore/LeBlanc

Carried

Women’s Committee Report

Sister Angela Decker read aloud the report of the committee. The committee had made no recommendations.

m/s Sisters Decker/Doyle-LeBlanc

Carried

Health, Safety & Environment Committee Report

Brother Brian Oldford read aloud the report of the committee.

Brother Lansdell raised point that education on domestic violence should be also provided to men as they can and are victims of domestic violence as well. Sister Baldwin advised she would bring this point forward to the education program.

m/s Brother Oldford/LaPierre

Brother Jody LaPierre read loud the report of the committee. Recommendations were voted on separately.

m/s Brother LaPierre/Sister Doucet

Carried
Recommendations, as per the committee:

3a) Carried

3b) Carried

3c) Carried

3d) Carried

3e) No recommendation

3f) Carried

3g) Carried

The proposed 3 year education plan was distributed to Council and discussion ensued.

m/s Brother LaPierre/Sister Doucet

Carried

11. Guest Speaker from Centre for Islamic Development

Guest speaker, Imam Zia Khan is the Director from the Islamic Centre in Halifax. He educated every individual in the room about the Muslim community. He is from Pakistan, originates from Afghanistan and grew up in Halifax.

Zia prepared a quiz which tested knowledge around Muslim culture, people, and religion. This quiz provided a great learning experience.

Zia welcomes anyone who would like to learn more about the Islamic community to visit the Islamic Centre.

Reports of the Council Directors were adopted as a whole.

m/s Brother Johnson/Sister Decker

Carried

13. Meeting of the Next Atlantic Regional Council / Convention

Sister Baldwin advised that the next meeting of the Atlantic Regional Council will take place in Saint John, NB at either the Hilton or Delta Brunswick September 29 – October 2, 2016.

Regional Coordinator, Gaby Levesque explained that there are two National Education Officers that develop core education programming. The program is then filtered through the regions for consistency. The importance of the Regional Education Officer is to develop programs that are region specific; particularly new and or advanced programs. Without an REO, we would be hard pressed to write courses or deliver advanced programs. The REO is also responsible for UDP & Atlantic School. Anything outside of core weekend programs is the REO’s responsibility.

The Regional Coordinator, Gaby Levesque explained that her job as the coordinator is to ensure the regional reps deliver programs and are providing member representation. The coordinator also supports the work of REVP and Council by ensuring staff know what they are doing, acting as a bridge between the political office and operational side.

Political Communications Officer, Sebastien Bezeau provided an overview of the lobby kit as well as providing the necessary documents. Any member/Director attending a lobby meeting will be provided with background information on the particular MP they are lobbying prior to the meeting. Brother Bezeau also mentioned it is also a good idea to look at the parliamentary website and view the MP you are lobbying to see what they have recently spoke on in the House, in media or through tweets.

An overview of the forum was provided along with a copy of the forum agenda.

Chairpersons Forum Videos (2) re: Chronicle Herald Labour Dispute

General overview of the CLC Municipalities Matter Campaign.

Brother Oldford asked how to ensure visibility in their roles as Directors and explained there is a cost associated which make it hard to attend different events.

Sister Baldwin explained that Directors have access to their full allotted budget and it is important to attend events in close proximity but if there is an event you would like to attend than a request can be made.

21. Other Items

Communication

Brother LaPierre asked if there was any promotion of Council at the chairperson’s forum and if not it would be a god idea to do so going forward. Sister Baldwin explained that the meeting was strictly on roles and responsibilities of the Regional Committees and discussing their bylaws, financials etc. there were several Council directors at the forum and they were able to inform those attendees of their role on Council.

A suggestion was put forth that when providing education courses i.e TUB, that information on the role of Regional Council be included. Sister Baldwin note this.

Brother Lansdell spoke to the AEC’s decision to fund 50% of Regional Council directors to attend the CLC Rise Up Conference. Brother Lansdell felt this should have been communicated to the HR Committee prior to their committee meeting.

Lastly, a request was made that when REVP is going to events in the Region, that as a courtesy, the Directors be advised so can also show their presence or meet with the REVP.

Staffing

Brother LaPierre requested an explanation with regards to the staffing situation in the Charlottetown RO.

Sister Baldwin advised that the Executive Assistants are indeterminate and as such Katie will remain in the REVP’s office. Sister Levesque explained that Beth Bennett was the second successful applicant on the Charlottetown Admin board. The Coordinator in the Toronto office allowed a trip to PEI to assist Beth in making a decision whether to accept the job, which she has and will begin in her role as administrative assistant on March 14^th.

Sister Levesque advised that with Debbie McLaughlin’s temporary move to the North, it was important to fill her Halifax position. As staff have transfer rights which are based on seniority, Mary MacNeil, from the Charlottetown Office requested and was approved the transfer. Alex Stuit, from the St. John’s Office transferred to the Charlottetown office. Sister Levesque advised that the Charlottetown office has never been unstaffed during the period Colleen MacKay has retired or when Mary MacNeil was on leave or when she transferred to Halifax.

Brother LaPierre thanked Sister Levesque for her explanation and requested that when there is change and fluctuation with staffing that Council be informed.

22. Roundtable

Roundtable discussion was held.

Sister Hodder announced that she will be offering for REVP at the PSAC Atlantic Triennial Convention next year.

Sister Baldwin asks Directors to meet with their MP’s and keep their feet to the fire as it looks like this Liberal government will also attack sick leave.

Sister Baldwin thanked Directors, translators, technician, guests and staff.

Meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m