Foggy Convention

The 1975 UNDE Convention was scheduled for 4-8 August at the Holiday Inn in St John’s Newfoundland. The fog could not wait, however, and blanketed the Avalon Peninsula the day before. Some of the 214 delegates were lucky enough to slip into town just in time. Less fortunate ones were detoured to Gander where buses transported them late for the official opening.

PSAC President Claude Edwards and UNDE President Joe Power opened the proceedings by burying the hatchet over recent differences of opinion. UNDE was complimented on having established the first Day Care Centre in the Alliance. Power thanked Edwards but warned that “healthy” friction between the two entities would continue over the near future.

That evening, during an extraordinary session, they unburied their hatchets. Power expounded upon UNDE discontent with PSAC's handling of the recent strike by the General Labour and Trades (GL&T) Group, then threw down the gauntlet by declaring: “no procedure.” Edwards offered a long, eloquent defence of his role in the strike, which Power could not stop because there was “no procedure.” Other issues concerned communication problems during the strike and no follow-on support for designated employees facing legal action for refusing to come to work. The delegates even supported a “vote of no confidence against the PSAC President.” The National Executive later decided the motion should “be filed and no further action be taken.”

Another highlight called for a full time paid President who would reside in the Ottawa area. Because of personal interests, Power left the chair during the debate. He did, nonetheless, argue in its favour. The motion passed, and that Friday morning, Joe Power was elected National President – on salary.