National Executive Meeting
August 15-18, 2023
Delta Marriott Hotel, St. John’s, NL
| Chair | June Winger | National President |
| Members | Paul Jones | Executive Vice-President |
| Craig Smith | Vice-President (NS) | |
| Gérald Grenon | Vice-President (QC) | |
| Jeff Wrinn | Vice-President (NCR) | |
| James Potts | Vice-President (ON) | |
| Mona Simcoe | Vice-President (MB/SK) | |
| Bryan Meakin | Vice-President (AB/North) | |
| Marcelo Lazaro | Vice-President (BC) | |
| Cathy O’Kane | Vice-President (NPF) | |
| Eugene Stone | Vice-President (CSE) | |
| Stephanie Torrealba | Human Rights Advisor | |
| Recording Secretary | Sandra Mombourquette | |
| Absent | Dan Frost | Vice-President (NL/NB) |
OPENING REMARKS
The National President welcomed everyone to St. John’s, NL.
The harassment statement was read out by Human Rights Advisor Torrealba and she was named intervener.
The hours of sessions were set as follows:
Tuesday August 15, 2023 9am to 11:30am – 1:00pm to 4:30pm
Wednesday August 16, 2023 9am to 11:30am – 1:00pm to 4:30pm
Thursday August 17, 2023 9am to 11:30am – 1:00pm to 4:30pm
Friday August 18, 2023 9am to 11:30am – 1:00pm to until end of Convention.
The agenda was adopted. m-s O’Kane/Meakin CARRIED
Previous minutes adopted. m-s Wrinn/Lazaro CARRIED
Honour Roll
Louis Slipchuk, Local 30905
Ross Walters, Local 80405
Glen Poope, Local 21016
National President Update on State of the Union:
Last meeting in mandate: The National President thanked everyone and their families for all the work accomplished in this mandate. This meeting stays in session for the duration of Convention in case an emergency meeting is necessary. She also reminded everyone that this body cannot do work at this meeting for the next mandate since it is the last meeting.
Treasury Board Strike: The National President thanked everyone as UNDE did very well during the strike but said we need to do things differently and will look at lessons learned to see what worked or didn’t work for next time. PSAC to send out language shortly about strike pay for May 1, 2023. It will not be automatic, members will need to request it and explain what they suffered, ie: loss of pay or leave. The National President also informed NPF strikes probably coming up next.
Discussion concerning how to manage Essential Service Agreements (ESAs) in future as well as detailed instructions on strike pay. The National President said she has noted these and that they should be included in VP orientation manual.
Also, the National President says the Firefighter (FR) manning needs to be better managed and organized next time UNDE is consulted in an ESA.
VP Grenon asked if PSAC will put in a group grievance in principle? The National President says she has not heard of this grievance process being planned, there is already a backlog on grievances which creates a problem with new grievances being filed, she advises to talk with the Labour Relations Officer in your region to see about getting these resolved and if proceeding, perhaps put grievances in abeyance.
UNDE Mobilization Summit: The National President said there was good feedback following the Summit, we need to continue with this. At the next NE meeting she has scheduled to have PSAC staff come to present on how to keep up momentum. Continued weekly emails from Kim Brackhahn to show usage in your region.
VP Lazaro stated issues about changes in those in charge of ULink, need to stay ahead of the game. The National President says mobilization should be ongoing, not only before a strike and recommends this be discussed at regional conferences. Keep members always thinking about it.
VP Wrinn says issues with PSAC keeping ULink updated. The National President says she will ask PSAC to increase frequency of updates.
UNDE National Office: Completed hiring process for National Office staff, Andrew Beck (Labour Relations Officer) and Elanor Sherlock (Special Projects Officer) have both been hired.
Motion m-s Jones/Wrinn
EVP motioned to set per diem at $150 for Convention, banquet night to be deducted.
CARRIED – SHOW OF HANDS
STANDING ITEMS
Air Division – RCAF L2 m-s Simcoe/Meakin
VP Simcoe presented her written report.
Summary: Management says they were denied Salary Wage Envelope (SWE) so their only option is contracting out. Security clearances are also a significant issue in staffing. National President Winger informed VPs not to only rely on vacancy reports when they receive them but rather bring up the subject during LMCC meetings to have a discussion about it. RV 1 – CARRIED
Air Division – RCAF L1 m-s Simcoe/Potts
VP Simcoe presented her written report.
Summary: Again, there are staffing issues due to SWE. RCAF is filling most of the Public Service (PS) positions and growth will soon be seen. They explained the Future Aircrew Training (FacT) program, VP Simcoe expressed her disappointment that UNDE was not consulted for this contract. RV 2 – CARRIED
Maritimes Forces Atlantic NO REPORT
Maritimes Forces Pacific m-s Lazaro/Jones
VP Lazaro presented his written report.
Summary: Hiring has been an issue for a long time and discussions with management are ongoing.
Action Item: National President Winger stressed importance of vacancy reports. She wants to hear about sketchy hiring processes. She says to bring them up at UMCCs.
Royal Canadian Navy NO REPORT
3rd Canadian Division Support Group (CDSG) m-s Simcoe/Meakin
VP Simcoe presented her written report.
Summary: They are asking for additional funding, not enough SWE to cover all positions.
VP Meakin gave a BATUS update, it is the largest training area in Canada, many jobs lost with them leaving, no definitive answers yet, speculation that most will be given incentive plan for retirement or moved to other jobs. RV 4 – CARRIED
4th Canadian Division Support Group (CDSG) m-s Potts/Wrinn
VP Potts presented his written report.
Summary: Vacancy reports being provided. Asking for more SWE, but only for one year, security clearances taking a long time, in other regions as well. Discussion about Health & Safety. Issue with legionella, RPOPs Ontario, will now have more rigorous testing. Next meeting is in September. Lots of discussion on security clearances slowing down hiring process.
Action Item: The National President says to bring specific issues to her, so she has clear examples of where this happened and if work was contracted out due to this.
5th Canadian Division Support Group (CDSG) NO REPORT
Canadian Army NO REPORT
Real Property Operations Unit (RPOPS) Atlantic m-s Smith/Lazaro
VP Smith presented his written report.
Summary: Again, the issue of security clearances is a challenge in the hiring process, it is taking more than 10 days to get a reliability clearance. Also issues of non advertised positions being filled. Discussion on costs of stand by as opposed to calling in on overtime.
Real Property Operations Unit (RPOPS) Quebec NO REPORT
RPOPS Ontario m-s Potts/Meakin
VP Potts presented his written report.
Summary: Health & Safety was discussed concerning asbestos and other hazardous materials. Testing of standing water will now be part of program after legionella discovery in Kingston. Realignment of classifications being done although they are accepting promotion but foregoing back pay. The National President asked if this happening in other regions, does not seem to be. Action Item: VP Potts says they are circumventing hiring process in order to wait for the person they want to hire. The National President asked VP Potts to send her specific examples of this.
RPOPS West m-s Simcoe/Meakin
VP Simcoe presented her written report.
Summary: Concerns of Essential Service Agreements (ESAs) during strike and the role of codes 1, 2 and 3. Staffing delays due to constant change in HR staffing or being understaffed.
RPOPS Pacific m-s Lazaro/Potts
VP Lazaro presented his written report.
Summary: Discussion about strike, and also on Preventive Maintenance Inspections (PMI) which has been working well for the past 8 months at CFB Comox.
ADM Infrastructure & Environment m-s Simcoe/Lazaro
VP Simcoe presented her written report.
Summary: Discussion on modernization study following Deloitte & Touche study, a working group including union consultation will be required moving forward. UNDE expressed concern on the practice to hire CAF personnel into a civilian position.
Military Command Personnel NO REPORT
Material – ADM Mat GLMC NO REPORT
Material – CMSG LMCC NO REPORT
Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) NO REPORT
Discussion: VP Grenon said that they are still working on the reclassification of CR3s to CR4s, this has been ongoing for years.
Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA) NO REPORT
Defence Research & Development Canada (DRDC) m-s Meakin/Stone
VP Meakin presented his written report.
Summary: No meeting in this period. The ADM held some townhalls where there were discussions on travel and procurement.
Information Management NO REPORT
Health & Safety m-s Potts/Grenon
VP Potts presented his written report.
Summary: The Committee met in June. On the cannabis file, looking to replace the cannabis DAOD with an impairment DAOD. Legacy harassment complaints are being dealt with but no timeline for these to be resolved. The current language of work for the NHSPC is English, VP Potts raised the concern that some members will not be able to participate in the language of their choice. Might make an official language complaint.
Action Item: VP Potts says there are five sub-committees within this Committee, that it might be good to think about distributing them to others. The National President requested the portfolio holders assess their needs and develop a recommendation.
Firefighters m-s Meakin/Potts
VP Meakin presented his written report.
Summary: The FR Situational Committee has not met, disappointing that these meetings often get postponed. Ongoing FR issues, VP ABN says pay, clothing and lieu days are biggest concerns.
Action Item: Since the regions appoint the FR reps, the National President says to be cognizant of who is selected to ensure regional representation.
Employee Assistance Program m-s Wrinn/Jones
VP Wrinn presented his written report.
Summary: There was a meeting in July, new recognition coins being presented to EAP representatives in each location by Fall meeting. Trying to triple number of peer referral agents in 2023/2024. VP Meakin asked if training is still an issue. VP Wrinn says it is not an issue since the pandemic.
Action Item: VP Grenon suggests inviting an EAP representative to an upcoming National Executive Meeting to give a presentation and educate the group. The National President says she will add that to a future agenda. VP Simcoe suggests Carla Forester for this presentation to the NE, she gave a great presentation at their regional conference. RV 14 – CARRIED
Apprenticeship NO REPORT
Discussion: The National President asked about movement on this portfolio since there has not been a report since 2015 and asked if it makes sense to keep this portfolio. VP Lazaro says the reason for no movement on this portfolio is due to lack of DND funding and the workforce they have. VP Simcoe says with RPOPS not filling positions, we don’t have the apprenticeships. EVP Jones says it’s important to keep this alive, need to sell the value of the program to the department.
Communications and Training (COMTRA) NO REPORT
Discussion: VP O’Kane talked about facilitator training which is urgently needed as many regions don’t currently have a facilitator. The National President says this needs to be looked at in the next mandate. Need to look at the requirement in regions for trainers. Do forecasting at the start of next term. The last facilitators training took place in 2015.
VP Simcoe also says we need to update the modules we already have and add new ones, as well as the VP orientation manual and says COMTRA needs to do more than just plan the Presidents Conference. We need to look at how we offer our training and the modules. VP Potts asked about Human Rights the training module creation that came out of last Convention and why it is still not done. EVP Jones says it has been difficult to get the work done in this mandate. Human Rights Advisor Torrealba asked if there has ben any thought about having virtual facilitation training. EVP Jones said it’s a good idea and will be considered as there is a need. He said perhaps there could be a national training course to get many regions involved.
Honours & Awards m-s O’Kane/Smith
MOTION – to split report m-s O’Kane/Smith
30-year long service award and pin Tony Cranford, Local 80407. RV 15 – CARRIED
NOTICE OF MOTION – Lifetime membership: Bonnie Robichaud m-s O’Kane/Smith
Secret ballot – CARRIED
NOTICE OF MOTION – Lifetime membership: Johanne Roberge m-s O’Kane/Smith
Secret ballot – CARRIED
Motion to destroy ballots m-s Simcoe/O’Kane – CARRIED
Finance m-s Meakin/Wrinn
VP Meakin presented the written report on behalf of the Committee.
Summary: Went through audit report. Reminded about Locals needing to confirm emails to Kim about 5X memberships. Visa cards reminder only to be used for UNDE expenses. Seven Locals no financial statements. Next mandate how to manage remote work locations with actual work location. RV 17 – CARRIED
Bylaws m-s Lazaro/O’Kane
VP Lazaro presented the written report on behalf of the Committee.
Summary: The Committee got lots of work done in this mandate. They have been working on the instruction of a new Privacy Policy, a Relocation Policy and have introduced a new Family Care policy, as well as a revised Statement of Harassment (Annex A).
Young Workers m-s Potts/Stone
VP Potts presented his written report.
Summary: All 10 regions now have a representative. The Committee had two virtual meetings where the discussion was concerning Young Worker resolutions for the 2023 Triennial Convention. They also planned an event for upcoming Convention to raise visibility. The first ever PSAC Young Worker conference in Toronto is coming up in Sept. 2023.
Human Rights Report m-s Meakin/Stone
Human Rights Advisor Torrealba presented her written report.
Summary: The Committee has monthly virtual meetings. There is a new Human Rights video almost ready to be released. Working on reviewing the Human Rights webpage as well as the Human Rights Committee policy
REGIONAL REPORTS
NL/NB Report m-s Jones/O’Kane
Summary: Classification training coming up in September. All Locals in this region have completed their AGMs and elections. Meetings and activities for this mandate were itemized.
Nova Scotia Report m-s Smith/Grenon
VP Smith presented his written report.
Summary: VP Smith’s report highlighted activities in his region, including members being affected by the wildfires and floods. He thanked Brother Gord Williams for all his hard work during the strike.
Quebec Report NO REPORT
Ontario Report m-s Potts/Stone
VP Potts presented his written report.
Summary: VP Potts listed his activities in this mandate and highlighted changes in his Locals as well as gave an update on his portfolios.
NCR Report m-s Wrinn/O’Kane
VP Wrinn presented his written report.
Summary: Continues work on realignment of Locals in the NCR as well as working on the MUD lists to ensure new members are showing up in the right local.
CSE Report m-s Stone/Potts
VP Stone presented his written report.
Summary: Negotiations were a success. Relationship with management continues to improve.
A regional conference is being planned for Fall 2023.
NPF Report m-s O’Kane/Meakin
VP O’Kane presented her written report.
Summary: Bargaining has continued during this period, most of the NPF Locals met with the employer and are at an impasse after one round, most will go to Public Interest Commission (PIC). Issue with low wages which is why no one wants these jobs.
Man-Sask Report m-s Simcoe/Wrinn
VP Simcoe presented her written report.
Summary: Training for Mods 8 and 7 coming up in the Fall. Had a regional conference in June with ABN region, Council of Locals, topic was lessons learned from strike. VP Simcoe also highlighted activities in her Locals.
ABN Report m-s Meakin/Potts
VP Meakin presented his written report.
Summary: VP Meakin listed his activities since last meeting, highlighting the strike as well as the wildfires in Yellowknife. He also gave a BATUS (British Army Training Unit Suffield) update which is not looking good for UNDE members’ jobs. Trying to get DRDC to take on some of the employees to save their jobs.
BC Report m-s Lazaro/Meakin
VP Lazaro presented his written report.
Summary: VP Lazaro highlighted his activities in this period including his committees. He mentioned that it’s unfortunate of not having been passed down any UNDE flags/paraphernalia from the previous VP when attending events.
Action: The National President says handovers from the outgoing VP to the new incoming VP is essential, all information should be passed on to the next VP. She says UNDE and Pride flags will be going out to all Locals, the National Executive Officers and the Human Rights Coordinators as well and reminds everyone these are the property of the elected position, not the person in the position.
NATIONAL OFFICE
EVP Report m-s Jones/Wrinn
EVP Jones presented his written report.
Summary: EVP Jones highlighted events during the strike, continued Phoenix pay issues as well as the hiring of new staff at National Office. Working on a grievance process where there is less paper, electronic grievances to come eventually with the increased use of ULink/One Drive. His report also included reports from each of the Labour Relations Officers (LROs).
NEW BUSINESS
Canada Life – The National Officers has a discussion on the difficulties dealing with Canada Life. There are constant issues with claims processing and bad service.
Debrief from group on strike – The National Officers discussed what worked and didn’t work pre-strike, during the strike and post strike. These notes will be put into a living document that will be adjusted as required and used again for future strikes.
Adjournment.