Mount Royal Affair

The 1961 National Defence Employees Association (NDEA) Convention was held between 21 and 25 August at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal. Representing 75 Branches were 122 delegates and 15 elected officers. Forty-eight spouses, 20 children and 15 official guests also attended. It promised to be a hectic affair. As was the practice then, all delegates and most elected officials were assigned to one of seven convention committees. That meant little rest for them because work had to be done in the evenings and other down times for the convention.

The shrinking membership was asked for funds to hire a training officer, a research officer and another field officer for eastern Canada to supplement Jim Wyllie’s work in the west. Two staff officers were also requested for classified and prevailing rate employees – as was a lawyer, an office manager and necessary support staff. The additional field representative was approved. Per capita dues were raised to 80 cents a month.

In an effort to stay better informed, the delegates requested an editor for the NDEA Newsletter to ensure it be published on a regular basis. National Secretary-Treasurer Ken Green later hired Lorne Bentham for that express purpose.

The successful Union/management negotiation of a new grievance system was announced to the floor. Strict adherence to its regulations was urged both for current disputes and establishing a foundation for effective relations under a potential future collective agreement.

The “Executive Committee” was renamed the “Management Committee” and reduced in membership to one Provincial President – Ken Frazier from Saskatchewan. The concluding elections returned Jim Wyllie as National President. There would be no rest for the delegates, however, as they steeled themselves for further Defence cuts surely lurking on the horizon.