National Executive Meeting - June 2007 - Annex 3

UNDE VP ONTARIO – 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 October 2006.  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. 

The Kingston Local Executive conducted elections for a new 3rd Vice President 24 January, after Brother High resigned earlier in the fall.  Brother Bill Moore was elected to the position.

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.  I am happy to report that the Local, and UNDE with the assistance of PSAC reps from Toronto Regional Office, were successful in keeping the Union in place.  I would like to thank the Local Executive Sisters Lori Baker, Lisa Adsit, Gina Brennan, and Brother Rob Clark for their tireless and outstanding efforts, during what was a very frustrating time for them.  I would further like to thank the PSAC Reps, Brother Doug Kosakowski, Sisters Michelle Sweeney and Brenda Shillington and everyone at the Regional Office, for all their support, hard work, late nights and show of solidarity in coming to the aid of the Local during this very frustrating time.   (NOTE:  The local has filed charges against the member(s) that orchestrated the decertification, more to follow.)

Local 639 Sunlite Local in Petawawa, in consultation with Brother MacLennan, was again  placed into the situation of being a non viable local; when the President, Secretary, and Chief Steward resigned.  I was informed through the Locals’ VP and the President’s Spouse that she had resigned.  With the Local at the critical stage of entering their round of bargaining the Alliance Reps decided to move forward and canvass for volunteers for the bargaining teams.  Sisters Marion Agnew (Treasurer) and Donna Fowler (VP) have volunteered to stay on as representatives for the membership until elections can take place.  It is hoped that with a new CA in place that members will come forward to stand for the positions.   I was informed that there is a member that may be interested in stepping into the VP position.   As of May 07, I am happy to announce that the local is back up and running with Sister Fowler as the President, Brother Richard Desrocher as the VP and Sister Marion Agnew, Treasurer/Secretary.

This past year IMP entered into their bargaining process, and hopefully by the time this report has been filed they will have obtained a Collective Agreement.  In April 2007 all 3 Sunlite Locals in ON Region, served notice to bargain with their employer.  The lead negotiator, Doug Kosakowski and I, visited the 3 locals, to discuss the bargaining process and Coalition Bargaining.  On the 16-19 April the team members met with their Employer to start their round of negotiations.  The team is also meeting 13-16 June, in Trenton with the Employer, and this will be to bargain the monetary issues, having signed off on the non-monetary demands during the previous meeting in April.

With the resignation, on 15 March 2007, of Brother Scott Stewart, President Sault Ste-Marie/North Bay, Local 635, Brother Kevin McNama VP of the local moved up into the President’s position.  However, with no replacement for the VP position even after informing the membership in advance by e-mail, several times, the local was placed into abeyance and all rebate cheques are being held at the National Office.  I will again try to elect an executive, in the fall, unless someone comes forward before then.  Should that fail, the matter will be brought to the NEC for further guidance and direction.  The local Treasurer Sister Diane Brown, has agreed to stay on to represent the members, at least until she retires.  As well, Brother McNama has also agreed to stay involved as a local representative for the membership, to attend the LMRCs and act as a liaison between the members and myself, as it is split between the Sault and North Bay.

There have been several training sessions in the Region since November, ESA Training conducted in January at the Holiday Inn in Trenton, Local Executive Training was conducted at Isaiah Tubbs for locals in that area 12-15 April and for the locals in Petawawa 27 & 28 April.   I would like to thank Sister Preston, and Brother Hansen for facilitating the courses for the members.  Not to mention the Grievance Handling Course and the Health & Safety Conference, conducted in Ottawa, which members from the Region attended.

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

ASR Committee – Brother Scott Stewart; Local 635

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

General Labour (GL) Committee – Brother Barry Turner

Debra Nadeau
UNDE VP Ontario