National Executive Meeting - December 2007 - Annex 8

ONTARIO REGION REPORT

The following list represents the activities and meetings I have participated in on behalf of UNDE in the months following the National Executive Meeting in June 2007.  In addition to my role as Vice President Ontario any reports of meetings I have attended, were submitted to the National Office following each meeting and are available on the respective UNDE web page. 

On December 2006/January 2007 there was an attempted decertification of Local 636 Sunlite in Borden.  Paperwork was filed by a member who had solicited the required number of signatures with the Ontario Relations Labour Board, which forced the Labour board to conduct a decertification vote on 08 January 2007.   The local President and Vice President filed charges/allegations against the member(s) that orchestrated the decertification.   After attempts to come up with a satisfactory resolution failed, a mandate was issued, and an Investigation Committee struck.  The membership meeting scheduled to deal with the Committee Report was held on 6 Sept 07.   The membership in attendance not only rejected the committee report, there was not even a simple majority, and therefore there was no continuation to deal with the recommendations.  It was clear at the meeting, with 17 members in attendance, 14 eligible voters, that the allegations/Report were not supported.  3 supported, 2 abstentions, 9 opposed.

The Sunlite Local in Trenton reached a 3 year tentative agreement on 03 July 07 and ratified their agreement on July 30th.  Petawawa also reached a 1 year tentative agreement on 03 July 07, however, overwhelming on Aug 2nd, voted against the agreement.  Consequently, the PSAC contacted the employer, and headed back to the table.   Borden local reached their tentative agreement on 24 July, and ratified their CA 30 Aug 2007.   Their agreement is also a one-year agreement, as the Cleaning Contract with the company will be up for re-tender the following year.   The Local in Petawawa reached another tentative agreement the 25 Oct 07, voted on it on the 14 Nov, again overwhelming with, approx 9 votes for and 59 votes rejected the offer.  More will follow on whether the members will be going on strike or not.  The next step is to go back to the Conciliation officer.  Preparations are however being made for possible action.

Brother MacLennan and I headed to Sudbury and Sault Ste Marie 21-23 August, to visit with members from Local 635.    

Brothers John MacLennan, Barry Turner (GLT Rep), Roger Dodier (EE Rep), and I headed out from the 22 Oct – 30 Oct, on the annual AGMs.  The reps were able to meet the members in the Locals, give presentations on their portfolios and answer any questions from the members.  It was an excellent tour and the members appreciated the opportunity to meet with the two representatives, and the National President.

On behalf of UNDE and the Ontario Region members, I would like to thank the following members for their continued participation on the various PSAC and UNDE committees:

Ontario Region Training Coordinator - Sister Arlene Preston, Local 637

General Services (GS) Committee - Sister Barbara Bailey, Local 629

FR Steering Committee – Brother Serge Desbiens, Local 620

FR Wellness Committee – Brother Steve Gauthier, Local 629

Ontario Region Employment Equity Coordinator - Brother Roger Dodier, Local 641

General Labour (GL) Committee – Brother Barry Turner

Fraternally,

Debra Nadeau
UNDE VP Ontario