February 25-27, 2024

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEETING

Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel, OTTAWA

Renaissance Meeting Room

February 25 to 27, 2024

OPENING REMARKS

The National President will send an email in the coming weeks to the National Officers with follow-up from the Strategic Session and expects feedback after it being reviewed to ensure it captures what each National Officer understood.  Need to come to consensus of where union is moving forward.

The National President reminded the group that the next National Executive meeting will take place at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa May 22-23-24 before the PSAC National Convention.  National President Winger stressed the importance of getting reports in on time prior to the meeting.

May 25 is the UNDE caucus where UNDE delegates, observers and members sitting on Area Councils are invited to attend the caucus, prior to the start of the PSAC National Convention on May 26.  The UNDE member from each PSAC Convention Committee will come to the caucus to highlight priorities and identify any contentious issues.  Also, candidates offering for elected positions may come to the caucus to speak to delegates.

Delegates are asked to wear their UNDE Convention jerseys at the PSAC Convention on the first day, May 26.  The UNDE seating area has been determined by EVP Jones who attended the draw, seating chart to follow once received.  Delegates are asked to review resolutions in advance and come prepared.

The agenda was adopted.                                                      m-s Poissant/Simcoe – CARRIED

Previous minutes adopted.                                                        m-s Peterson/King – CARRIED

Honour Roll – Moment of silence

Questions to National President:

VP Poissant advised she was concerned the workplace harassment and violence program is not being followed correctly in her region. The National President recommended she raise concerns with the Health & Safety Policy Committee portfolio holders.  If there are ongoing issues about investigations being undertaken, she asks that the Health & Safety Policy Committee to track information; as well, she asks for each VP of the region to bring up this information from their region and then she will work with the Committee to determine the best method to address this.

VP Tang asked how Locals become Locals, what is the guidance and criteria, how to decide to split a Local.  The National President referenced the UNDE Bylaw 7 and Regulation 0702, advising the current structure predates her however it appears to be reliant upon location and the employer’s chain of command.

STANDING ITEMS / COMMITTEE REPORTS                                                   m-s Poissant/Jones

Air Division RCAF L2 – VP Poissant asked about FR hiring, is there a solution? VP Simcoe said that they are holding the L2s accountable about the amount of FRs they have in their areas, that they should all be hired with the same standard as per their compliance review.  EVP Jones says they are making efforts now, postings for open positions have been up.  DVP Peterson says there have not been many job openings, they have a high overtime budget.

Air Division RCAF L1 – VP Poissant asked is there still an issue with teambuilding, having participation in events?  VP Simcoe says they brought it up at L1 level, it was supposed to go down from L2s to L4s about members attending sanctioned events and that they can view or participate in these events without having to take their own leave.  It’s supposed to be resolved but she has not seen anything in writing yet.  They will meet on March 15, and she will find out if direction is being sent out.  The National President said she raised this at the National UMCC and all the L1s at that table said they would pass this information down their chain.  She said that if there are issues with members attending sanctioned events for VPs to please bring it up to their counterpart and let her know if that is unsuccessful.

Firefighter – VP Poissant asked how often they are meeting virtually.  EVP Jones says they were given Terms of Reference for that Committee.  He says the situational table committee have not met in a long time (Nov 2022), they will assess the need and value of this Committee, he will confer with the FR Steering Committee to see if there is a need.

Apprenticeship – VP Poissant is interested in the ammo technicians’ portion and asked if there are other regions who might benefit from this program.  VP Simcoe said Dundurn and CMSG have an apprenticeship program for ammo techs. EVP Jones said he was unaware there were other depots but will look into it.

COMTRA– VP Poissant asked for an update on the VP orientation manual and when it will be shared.  EVP Jones says it’s being formatted, will provide feedback to Kim at National Office to complete it and then send out the link.

VP Grenon says this is long overdue and that the new VPs still have not had their orientation.

VP Poissant also asked about facilitators and when will there be more training for facilitators.  EVP Jones said a communication will go out to the VPs soon and that regions need to assess their educational needs.  Currently, the majority of training is Mod 8 grievance training which is provided by the LROs.  National President Winger said that in addition to UNDE trained facilitators, members who are Alliance or Joint Learning Program (JLP) facilitators may facilitate UNDE Workshops. VP Simcoe said something will be presented by COMTRA at the May NE meeting about training.

Young Worker – EVP Jones asked about the Terms of Reference concerning regional networks, what kind of networks are they and how effective are they?  VP Warren said his goal with the Committee is to meet every two months.  He’s had one meeting with them so far and asked the Committee members what their expectations are and what he can work on for the next three years.  He confirmed there are reps for every region but not all attended this meeting.  Unfortunately, not every Local has a young worker rep. Discussion on a formal process to elect reps in light of the young workers now having automatic delegate seats at convention.

ADM-IE– VP Smith asked about stand-by pay for HPs, if there is any direction on what the way forward is.  VP Simcoe says it was discussed at last meeting but no decision yet, under advisement, question if it’s meant to subsidize pay instead of standardizing pay, coming up next month for discussion.  The National President says they need to negotiate reasonable rates of pay into the collective agreement before taking this away or the department will have even greater recruitment and retention issues.  VP Simcoe also says to be aware of DCC in the regions and let her know if they are entrenched within the RPOPs groups.

RPOPs Atlantic – VP Simcoe asked about evolution team meeting, there has only been an introductory meeting, but they said a presentation can be provided if anyone wants it.  VP Smith said that he would like to have an in-person presentation.  VP Simcoe said that all regions should get an update on this evolution team.  VP Smith says workplace culture is very important, people need to feel safe and happy, so he brings that up at every meeting.

RPOPs Ontario– VP Simcoe said she is curious about who attends meetings, in the West it’s VPs who sit at these meetings, but in Ontario it is the VP and every Local President.  VP Grenon says it’s the same in Quebec also.  Discussion on who attends these meetings in each region.

3 CDSG – VP Simcoe asked how other portfolio holders meet.  Is it with their Canadian division group (CDSG) or with the army of the division as a whole?  VP Smith says there is no difference for his 5 Canadian Division LMCC, they don’t meet as CDSG.  VP Grenon says for the 2^nd Division they meet at all levels, to represent all members.

Canadian Army – VP Grenon explained that there was no report because they did not consult before setting the LMCC meeting timings and what was proposed conflicted with his schedule.  He doesn’t know if they had the meeting anyway or not.

Human Rights– National President Winger asked about initiatives that came out of the three Human Rights meetings.  Human Rights Advisor Griffith-Bonaparte said that they have some virtual training coming up as well as planning an in-person meeting in May 2024.  The National President also asked if the newsletter will continue.  Human Rights Advisor Griffith-Bonaparte said that it will continue on a quarterly basis.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          RV 01 – CARRIED

REGIONAL REPORTS                                                                                       m-s Jones/Warren

Questions from National Officers:

NPF Report:  VP Simcoe asked that those who hold Army portfolios around the table to contact the head commanders in the military and tell them about the disrespect of the military while in uniform.  Military swearing at picketers and rushing the line with their vehicles.  VP O’Kane says the strikers will start making videos of those rushing the line and abusing the strikers.  The National President asked for those videos to be sent to the VP of the region and to her as well.

Man-Sask Report:  VP Simcoe highlighted that Local 40800 are in negotiations, they are having difficulties but meeting again next week.

BC Report: DVP Peterson attended AGMs for the Locals in the region on behalf of the VP BC, DVP Peterson said this was a good learning experience for him.   They also did JLP for UMCCs, it was really good.  Education went really well, thanked staff and the National President for pulling this off at the last minute.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          RV 02 – CARRIED

NATIONAL OFFICE                                                                                         m-s Jones/Poissant

Questions from National Officers:

VP Grenon asked about Phoenix pay issues grievances and the priority of them, when do they become a priority.  EVP Jones said he has no influence on when the manager sends in the paperwork, he will escalate it if the member comes to him then he will go back to the pay centre.  VP Grenon suggested EVP Jones ask for statistics, these would be good to have because our members are suffering. EVP Jones said he will ask for that with the resources that are at HR Connect and the resources at the pod that it’s escalated to.  EVP Jones will ask for the service standards from the pay centre as well as the pod.  VP Grenon is also asking for how many are being processed at data entry.

DVP Peterson asked about the sexual misconduct harassment lawsuit and if it’s a committee that determines classes of cases.  EVP Jones says $900 M was given to that lawsuit to pay out the claimants, he gave a description of the process and how there is an assessor team for each case.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              RV 03 – CARRIED

NEW BUSINESS

Real Property Ops Unit North – VP Poissant wanted clarification on how members up North are being represented?  The National President says it can be raised at ADM IE UMCC.

Union Cost recoverable leave letters – VP Poissant says that planning travel for an event is difficult because need to wait for leave letter before booking travel.  The National President says members may submit leave without the letter, managers should not rely on that for the approval process, the letter is only administrative.

NPF escalations – VP NPF thanked all the VPs and their regions for all they have done for strikers on the picket lines.  She talked about escalations during the strike, an idea would be for every base to do something on the same day to show support to NPF.

She asked the group for ideas or suggestions on how to accomplish this and to let her know about events on bases so they can target them.  She would like to have boxes available on the lines for a food drive.

Ideas to help out: hand out pamphlets at info pickets, unsubscribe to CANEX emails, day of action every week on same day, rotating pickets on different bases.  The National President suggests coordinating something at each base, on one day across Canada, but need to be sure to get members’ commitment to do this if it’s planned.

Adjournment.