PRC CONFERENCE CALL – AUGUST
29, 2002 7:00 PM (WINNIPEG TIME)
Present
Sr. Robyn Benson, REVP Sr.
Dale Buck, MB Rep Sr.
Barb Hall, MB Rep
Br. Satinder Bains, S SK Rep Br.
Don Rogers, EG Rep Br.
Brian Molsberry, Alt REVP
Regrets
Sr. Balwinder Dhaliwal, RWC Sr.
Niru Channan, N AB Rep Sr. Jo Chelick,
N AB Rep
Sr. Mary Jane Ellis, MB Rep Br.
Greg Krokosh, S AB Rep Br. Steve
Pellerin-Fowlie, S AB Rep
Sr. Leila White, N AB Rep Sr.
Pat Mason, MB Rep Sr.
Debbie Metz, DCL
Sr. Janet Letwinka, S SK Rep
Sr. Benson is proud to announce the first National Equal Opportunities
Director for Agriculture Component is Sr. Marianne Hladun. Congratulations
Sr. Hladun! But remember, we were the first to recognize
talents.
1. Health & Safety
Conference 2002
Funding request not approved by Finance Committee.
Action Required
PRC Reps are reminded to respond to every donation/funding request in a timely
manner.
2. Supply Chain Update
Br. Molsberry advised that the work to get the Supply Chain Project onto the
off-ramp must continue. Unfortunately, the department has been able
to get away with using a blanket statement of savings based on other privatization
experiences which do not take into account the efficiency of the current
system. Reports from the standing committees are expected in October
and it is anticipated that the reports will be useful in proving the savings
from privatization are just not there. Br. Molsberry advises that the
political lobbying is working.
Action Required
Ø Sr. Benson requested that the PRC Reps please contact their
respective Area Council Presidents to get the Supply Chain Project on the agenda
and so there will be a concerted effort of action.
Ø Sr. Buck asked the SK Reps and the AB Reps to contact the
UNDE Locals in their areas at their earliest convenience and would appreciate
an information update as well.
3. Availability of Education
Br. Molsberry led the discussion about how the PRC can look at different ways
to assist with the training. Sr. Benson advised the PRC that a regional
education report is provided to the NBOD and is included in the minutes sent
to locals. Sr. Benson provided the information from the most recent
report. Br. Molsberry was interested in statistical analysis on the
attendance at courses by component and local breakdown.
Action Required
Ø Sr. Benson will ask Sr. Judy Shannon, REO if she tracks
component and local attendance at the courses and if not, is there a way this
information could be tracked and provided to the PRC?
Ø The PRC would like to use this information if it is available
to identify how the needs of components and locals are being met and if there
is a role for the PRC to play. It is hoped that this information will be
available in some form for the October meeting so the PRC can strategize at the
meeting.
4. Collective Bargaining
Br. Molsberry provided a briefing on the information he had regarding Aramark.
Action Required
Ø Sr. Jamieson will contact Br. Blaine Pilatzke to request
a copy of the employer demands for Sr. Benson.
5. Update from Saskatchewan
PRC
Sr. Hladun advised that the SK PRC got together in Davidson (midway between
Saskatoon and Regina). The group was joined by Sr. Carol Casey of the
Saskatchewan Area Council. Sr. Allison Irvine was on vacation and unable
to attend the meeting. Also at the meeting, Sr. Marion Searle, VP on
the SFL Executive representing PSAC. SR. Hladun provided highlights of
the meeting and will provide the minutes when available. The topics included:
Ø Sr. Searle provided a link with the SFL Campaigns and the
impact on PSAC Members. Also addressed were resolutions for the SFL Convention;
Medicare Campaign: Youth Delegate poster for the SFL Youth Committee. Sr.
Searle also announced that she will not be seeking re-election to the position
of VP on the SFL Executive Committee. The SK Reps will review their contacts
to see if they can suggest a few candidates.
Ø The members also plan on contacting labour council recruitment
team.
Ø The SK Provincial Election Strategy was also discussed. The
intent is to have members access the training for Political Action Lobbying in
order to get members active in the election process and to make the connection
between political leaders and our work and home environments. Sr. Carol
Casey has expressed a keen interest. The members want to be ready for the
election by having plans already in place. Sometimes people just do not
realize how they can actually help. The SK Reps will ask Br. Blaine Pilatzke
and Sr. Colette Savarie to get that set-up. Sr. Janet Letwinka has stepped
into the position of President of the Regina Area Council. On the topic
of political action, Sr. Benson advised that Winnipeg will
have its civic elections on October 23, 2002 . The Winnipeg Labour Council has
provided the list of candidate that they are supporting.
Required Action
Ø Sr. Hladun will send out the meeting minutes.
Ø The SK Reps will actively seek members to stand for the
position of PSAC Rep as VP on the SFL Executive Council.
Ø The SK Reps will put their plans to prepare for the SK Provincial
election into place including training and recruitment.
Ø The Winnipeg Area Council will be asked to meet in September
to prepare members to become involved in the City of Winnipeg municipal
elections.
6. SFL Youth Conference
Sr. Hladun and the SK Reps met within the past week and did discuss their support
for the conference.
Action Required
Ø Sr. Jamieson will send the information on the 3 Prairies
Youth Leads that Sr. Benson has received to Sr. Hladun and the Youth Leads Committee
for their action. The Committee will report on their outreach at the October
PRC Meeting.
Ø Sr. Hladun will send the information on the SFL Youth Conference
to Sr. Benson at her earliest convenience and will advise Sr. Benson and the
PRC of the support they would like to provide to the SFL Youth Conference including
dollar amounts and when and where the money should be sent.
7. PRC Alternates
PRC Reps should advise alternates of meetings especially if they are unable
to attend. The 1st and 2nd Alternates should
receive email of everything sent to the PRC and the list of the 1st and
2nd Alternates should be placed on the web.
Action Required
Ø Sr. Jamieson will post the 1 & 2 PRC Alternates Names
onto the web at the earliest opportunity.
Ø Sr. Jamieson will confirm and send out the contact information
she has gathered on the PRC Alternates to the PRC Reps by September
15, 2002 .
Ø PRC Reps will contact their alternates to invite them onto
the conference calls when possible and especially when they are unable to attend.
Ø Sr. Jamieson will ensure that she has the updated email
addresses of the PRC Alternates and she will ensure that they are added to the
email list.
8. Bargaining
Sr. Benson provided a report on what is happening in the region and nationally. The
PRC expressed a desire to assist and will be ready when the call for mobilization
occurs.
9. Release of the Joint
Term Study
Sr. Benson provided a briefing about the report but advised
that as the report is so lengthy it will be a little while before
we hear what actions are to be taken nationally. The component
briefing will be available shortly.
Action Required
Ø The PRC will address the issue at their October meeting
and all PRC Reps are asked to update themselves on the report.
Ø The report in its entirety is available from Sr. Benson's
office however the report is at least 150 pages so unless you are planning to
read the report from cover to cover, please read the component summary.
Ø Sr. Jamieson will mail out the synopsis to the PRC as soon
as it is received.
Ø PRC Reps should advise members who believe their lay-off
is tied to the study's finding should document all information and keep it handy
for when PSAC's Sub-Committee on the Joint-Term Study is formed.
Ø Locals need to assist with identifying members and keeping
accurate records in writing.
10. Joint Learning Program
PSAC has sent a call-out for Facilitators and for locals to do a survey. Information
has been sent out to the PRC. Sr. Benson encourages all AFs and members who
have other training skills to apply. Discussion about how to complete
the locals survey ensured.
Required Action
Ø Sr. Hall will follow-up with Br. Cres Pascucci. Discussion
about survey and how to complete it. Ø Sr.
Buck will send an email address re: numbers in local, etc.
11. National Womens Conference
Sr. Benson explained the selection process and how subsidies were allocated.
12. Unity Conference
Sr. Benson provided an update on the organizing progress and the region's involvement
in hosting the conference. There were a lot of applications from the
Prairies which likely resulted from Br. Rogers and Br. Tom Ellis doing outreach. Br.
Rogers also reported success with his lobbying for the ER (HRDC) to cover
loss of salary for the Friday. The PRC offered to assist with Host
Committee duties.
Action Required
Ø Br. Rogers and Sr. Benson will review the subsidy requests. Look
forward to hosting the conference.
Ø Br. Satinder Bains will be on the Host Committee.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm .
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