Prairie Region Council Meeting  June 22 – 25, 2002  Calgary

Call to order:
At 9:00 a.m. with Sr. Benson in the Chair.   Sr. Benson welcomed guests Sr. Nycole Turmel, Sr. Patty Ducharme and Br. Steve Jelly.  Sr. Turmel addressed the PRC then introduced Sr. Barb Byers who was elected to the position of Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Labour Congress.  Sr. Byers addressed the PRC.  The guests departed to attend the G6B Conference and the business of the PRC got underway.

Discussion of Roles and Responsibilities:
v     Sr. Benson led the discussion on the roles and responsibilities starting with the PRC Reports.  Reports tabled to the end of the day.
v     Sr. Benson advised that Committees have access to a budget for the work of the Committee and they can use the budget for Conference Calls and other expenses related to meetings.  Sr. Jamieson can set up the Conference Call if assistance is needed.
v     A consensus was reached on permitting time on the PRC Agenda for Committees and geographic Reps to work together.  Work plans will be updated on a regular basis including providing progress to date.  The work plan updates will be a standing item on the agenda.
v     The PRC gave an update on the letter/survey campaign.
v     Additions to the Agenda:
        18.  Appointment by Name Referral
        19.  Briarpatch
        20.  WFA
v     The minutes of February were accepted as there were no errors or omissions.

Agenda Items Submitted:

1.      Review of Financial Documents for 2001:
The PRC Reps from Alberta have reviewed the financial documents.  All PRC Reps have been provided with the reviewed Financial Statement for 2001.  Sr. Benson thanked the Alberta Reps.

2.      Review of 2002 Financial Statement:
Sister Benson presented the Financial Statements for January 1 – March 31, 2002

3.      Collective Bargaining Updates:
Sister Benson gave highlights on the Parks and Royal Canadian Mint Collective Agreements.
Sister Mason provided an update on Deer Lodge Centre.
Aramark negotiations are in progress.

4.      Regional Office Updates:
The Winnipeg RO and the REVP's office lease is up and the current location is not large enough.  Unfortunately, the Union Centre does not have enough space for all of the offices.  Two new locations are being looked at and the most viable seems to be at 175 Hargrave Street.

5.   RCMP/COE:
Information on COE was provided to PRC.  Sr. Benson & Sr. Jackie Schmidt attended meetings in Winnipeg to hear presentation by Deloitte & Touche.

6.      Term Study Update:
The Town Hall decision to come out on July 3.  Sister Benson the locals who sponsored members to travel to Winnipeg.

7.      Table 2 Compensation Comparability Study:
Sister Benson updated the PRC & info is on the PSAC website.

8.   Education Packages for Private Sector Locals:
The Education Kit is currently in draft form and is being formatted to in modules.  Training is also tailored to private sector locals.  We will be able to modify as required.
Sr. Letwinka shared the success story of the Saskatchewan JCTC – Career Pathways which won an award and is now going across Canada.

9.   Joint Learning Program:
Sr. Benson provided an update.

10.   UCS:
Sr. Benson provided the update and discussion ensued.  Sr. Turmel will be meeting with Ms. Robillard and Sr. Benson will advise when information is available.  PSAC is concerned that if it is not universal we will have another pay equity issue.

11.    Pay Equity Task Force:
The Pay Equity Task Force set the Prairies meeting for May 3, 2002 in Edmonton.  The Edmonton RWC took on the responsibility for the presentations and Sr. Benson met with the Edmonton RWC in April to assist in the preparation of the presentations.  There were 4 presenters who told their story in terms of what happened in their life due to pay inequity and the delay in receiving their money in a timely fashion.  Sr. Benson attended to provide support to the members however did make a presentation in the end to the Task Force to ensure they had the facts about the tax implications of lump sum payments interest and penalties.  At the end of the presentation Sr. Balwinder Dhaliwal presented a picture of the memorial to the members who died while awaiting their pay equity payments.  The message was clear that 14 years is too long to wait and they should make corrective legislative changes.

12.    Supply Chain Project:
Calls and letters to the MPs have been making an impact.  Support from other locals within PSAC and affiliates such as the SFL and MFL have helped address our concerns.  Sr. Turmel will meet with MP McCallum.  Sr. Turmel made a presentation to the Liberal Caucus.  Packages were sent to all MPs.  Sr. Benson meets with MP Bill Blaike on Friday, June 28, 2002.  There are plans for a letter to go out to suppliers.  Sr. Benson asked that the PRC contact UNDE local presidents to see what they need from us.  This project affects all PSAC Members and Canadian Citizens.

13.   Area Councils Update:
Discussion ensued on the current status of strengths and opportunities of each active AC.  Winnipeg generally experiences a fluctuation in participation.  Regina has just had an excellent AGM and they have established their goals and strategies.  Saskatoon has been operating for quite a while and recently sponsored a very well received Locals Conference featuring speakers from UW, Council of Canadians, SFL, Br. Brian Molsberry from UNDE and Sr. Benson.  Prince Albert meets monthly at a local restaurant and the RWC meets immediately after.  Edmonton recently placed their by-laws in abeyance and decision making is by consensus.  Calgary took the lead on the G6B & G8 and the president and vice-president are both at the University of Calgary G6B Conference at the PSAC Booth.

14.   SFL Medicare Endorsement:
Sr. Hladun brought forward the call for endorsement.  It is on e of the big campaigns the SFL has taken on largely because Medicare was born is Saskatchewan.  Calls for endorsement are on the website and are tied in with the National Health Coalition which PSAC has endorsed.  PRC endorsed the stand on Medicare.  The CLC Convention had a number of resolutions with respect to Medicare and not allowing a 2 tier system.

15.   SFL Youth Conference:
Sr. Hladun – October 4 – 6, 2002 - Saskatoon & District Labour Council took a resolution to SFL for Youth Conference.

16.   SFL Aboriginal Conference:
This was supposed to take place in late May however there were problems with organizing.  It will be re-scheduled but there is no information on the website.  Sr. Hladun will look into and get back to us and Br. Rogers.

17.   Organizer:
Discussion on PSAC Organizing and the role of the PRC.  Some effective ways are to go to schools to talk about unions.  MFL Workers of Tomorrow – we have committed funds/donation in kind to Sr. Ellen Olfert.  We need to dispel myth that we are a Treasury Board Union only.

18.  Appointment by Named Referral:
Sr. Buck distributed a letter she received on Tuesday, June 18, 2002 and there was a general discussion on the Named Referral Process.  PRC Reps to alter their NVP/RVP/Branch Presidents of this initiative by the Public Service Commission.

19.  Work Force Adjustment:
Sr. Buck advised of the WFA concerns within her component.  PRC expressed an interest and a need for training in the generalities of collective agreements.

20.  Good Locals:
Sr. Benson spoke about the Good Locals and thanked Brother Baglow for the work done on the pamphlet.

21.  Donations:
Sr. Benson advised the PRC of the thank you letters received from the Steel Workers Wheat City.  CUPE Bigger; St. John Airport; and from Sister Jamelle Stevens who raised over $4,200.00 as a result of a fund-raising campaign conducted while she attended the Prairies Womens Conference.  On the same note, Sr. Mason reported that the Prairies Womens Conference was the best of any conferences she has attended in all the years she has been active with the union.

22. Equity Groups Line Item:
Brother Rogers made a recommendation to carry over the $1,000.00 for Solidarity & Pride.  The PRC reached consensus on the decision.

Report of the PRC Finance Committee
The Committee has selected Sr. Letwinka to be Chair of the Committee.

Line Item Descriptions
Sr. Letwinka reported that the wording for line items expenditures has been completed.
Action:
      Sr. Letwinka will forward the document to Sr. Jamieson.

Regina & District Area Council and the Calgary & District Area Council
The Committee reviewed funding requests from the Regina & District Area Council and the Calgary & District Area Council who are both experiencing an increase in costs as they are now operating as District Area Councils.  The Committee recommended an additional $1,500.00 be provided to the Regina Council; and an additional $1,500.00 be provided to the Calgary Council with the stipulation that the REVP will review the needs of the councils.  The PRC reached consensus on the decision to provide and additional $1,500.00 to the respective district Area Councils.
Action:
      The Area Council will not be meeting again until September 2002.  Sr. Jamieson will ensure the cheques are issued in September.  Sr. Benson will check with the Area Councils in the late fall of 2002 to ensure that funding is adequate.

Briar Patch
    The Committee reviewed an advertising request for the Briar Patch magazine and recommended the purchase of a full page advertisement in the special issue on labour success stories.  The PRC reached consensus on expending the funds and also agreed that the PRC Communication Committee prepare an article or two on PSAC's successes for the labour issue.  The deadline for the ad is the end of August.

The Committee also reviewed and recommended using a $388.40 of the 2001 Regional Council surplus to purchase 11 subscriptions for the PRC Reps.
Action:
      The Communication Committee will ensure the article is written to the magazine's specifications and will submit the article to the REVP for approval.  Sr. Jamieson will contact PSAC Communications for assistance with the article.
       The Finance Committee will arrange for the subscription applications and will notify Sr. Benson's office to advise when, where and how the cheque should be issued.

Promotional Expenditures
    The Finance Committee approved $7,500.00 of the 2001 Regional Council surplus be used by the Communications Committee to purchase promotional items for advertising; for promotional give-aways; and for revenue generation.  The PRC reached consensus on this issue.

Remaining Surplus
    The Finance Committee approved $7,500.00 of the 2001 Regional Council surplus for an appropriated reserve for contingency use.  The remaining Regional Council surplus will be placed in the Special PRC Initiatives Appropriate Reserve.
    The Finance Committee tabled the discussion on how to access appropriated funds until the next meeting which will be by conference call.

The Finance Committee discussed some issues of concern with the Council and the following was agreed to:
        The PRC approved financial authority to the REVP to expend $500.00 without prior approval from the PRC.  The rationale is that the PRC is not always available to review funding requests in a timely manner.
         PRC Rep Alternates are funded to attend meetings if the meeting is in their area through the PRC Meetings line item.  There is no additional funding for alternates.
         The PRC Rep Budgets will be carried forward from year to year during the length of the term of the Rep.  The rationale for this included the fact that the Reps are just getting started on their work plans in the first year and really haven't had much opportunity to utilize their budget however, as they continue working, the use of the budget will increase.
          The Finance Committee requested a review of the financial document style and provided a copy of the style used by the components.
           PRC Reps will need to submit requests for funding prior to meetings and conference calls as the Finance Committee cannot deal with requests that are not brought forward before the meeting.

Action:
        The Finance Committee has deferred to the Communication Committee to write a letter advising committees and area councils how to access money for special projects so that it is clear and the requests are in writing for the Finance Committee to review.  Requests that come in to Sr. Benson will be sent to the Finance Committee for approval in between meetings.
        Sr. Jamieson will consult with Sr. Benson to produce a Balance Sheet that shows assets and appropriated reserves.  Sr. Benson advised that new financial statements will be ready for the meeting in October.

Report of the By-Laws Committee
    The Committee reviewed the changes to the by-laws and need to interact with the Communication and Finance Committee.  The Committee will keep an ongoing list of proposed resolutions.  There was a discussion of writing resolutions in the Clear Communications Writing Style.

Report of the Education Committee
    The Committee developed a new mandate.  Consensus was reached on the mandate.  Sr. Ellis agreed to speak with the A/REO to finalize some of the plans and will report back to the Committee.

Report of the Political Action Committee
    The Committee related that the G6B/G8 budget is subject to adjustments as the situation develops in Calgary.  The PRC had approved $5,000.00 from the 2002 political action budget for use at the G6B/G8 however there is existing money in the 2001 political action budget which can only be used for political action and those funds may be accessed during this week.
    The Committee is ready to mobilize whenever the Saskatchewan provincial election is announced.

Report of the Communication Committee
    The existing work plan of the Committee is subject to large scale modifications when the request for additional funding was approved by the PRC.  The work plan now is to have the brochure updated by the target date of mid-July.
        A Communication Kit will include the bios (must be submitted by June 27); revised by-laws; section 14 of PSAC Constitution; and the Good Local Pamphlet.
        The Communication Committee requested that all PRC Reps provide suggestions and examples of promotional items they would like to have ordered.  The Communication Committee will have a conference call and will place orders unless otherwise instructed by the PRC.  A suggestion was to ensure that the website information is included on the promotional materials and a reminder that the REVP Office and the Winnipeg RO is moving so promo material order should wait until new address is available.
        By mid-September each PRC Rep is to contact the Area Councils and other Committees in their area to get a schedule of meetings.  PRC Reps are responsible to invite their alternates in the area where meeting is being held.  PRC Alternates are to be included in emails and mail outs.  Sr. Jamieson will get up-to-date contact information for all the PRC Alternates and supply the information to the appropriate PRC Reps.

The PRC had a moment of silence to recognize the striking NovoStar brothers and sisters who were injured on the picket line by a bus transporting scabs across the line.

Sr. Benson thanked the Calgary Area Council for all of their hard work on the G6B/G8.  Gifts of appreciation were presented to Br. Rob Moss and Br. Timothy Hunt.

Sr. Benson suggested that the PRC have monthly conference calls starting in August.  The PRC reached consensus on this suggestion and the next conference call in set for August 29, 2002 at 7:00 pm.

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