Edmonton Area Council Meeting

April 14, 2004

Executive in Attendance

President                    Mary Veilleux (arrived late)
Vice-President            Tamara Kozlowska
Treasurer                    Elaine Haase
Secretary                    Patty Ganczar

Members in attendance

Michael McCarthy
Irene Berube
Lorna Themelis
Bev Grenier

6.1    Call to order

         Tamara Kozlowska called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

6.2   Adoption on Agenda
        Tamara asked if there was any changes/additions to                            the agenda.  There was one from Elaine Haase
        concerning a Petition to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta on              Alberta Health Care received from Alberta Federation of Labour.

        Lorna Themelis made the motion to adopt the agenda with the              change presented by Elaine Haase.  
        2nd by Michael McCarthy.  All were in favour.  Motion Carried

6.3   Approval of previous minutes

        Thank you and well done to Elaine Haase for assisting Patty                   Ganczar (secretary) who was on 3 PSAC weekend training

        sessions in March.

        Tamara asked if there was any errors or omissions and also

        advised that her names was spelt
        incorrectly.  Elaine Haase noted the Treasurers Balance as of 01              January 2004 should read $348.69 vs $348.59.  Irene Berube

        made the motion to adopt the minutes as presented with the         changes noted above. 

        2nd by Elaine Haase.  All were in favour.  Motion Carried.

6.4   May Day Week: Schedule

        28 April - Unions Day of Mourning - The Kick-off ceremony will

        take place in front of Edmonton City Hall officiated by AFL.

        29 April - Art Exhibit Titled "All We Work For" at Stanley Milner   

        Library.  Brochures with in-depth detail will be published end of

        March.

        30 April - Workers Are Show - opens at the Works Gallery,

        7:00 pm Main Floor Commerce Place,
        10155-102 St (30 Apr - 08 May)

        01 May - May Day Parade - This day is the International Day                    of Working Class people.  Meet at Tipton Park, 108 St & 81 Ave              at 11:30 am and march at noon to MacIntyre (Gazebo) Park.               Parade will be lead by a West Indian Group of approximately

        40-60 person band.  Everyone is encouraged to
        participate and invite others to attend May Day March.  Get

        commitments in each local.

        01 May - Stompin' Chaos Labour, Arts & Youth - Street                           Jam following parade at MacIntyre (Gazebo) Park.  This                          is a celebration of young workers in puppet show, music.  This

        will be approximately 1-2 hours in length.  More to follow.

        01 May - Notre Dame des Bananes Labour Choir, featuring Fail              Nolan at the Ukrainian Centre, 11018 - 97 St.  Doors open

        at 7:00 pm , music at 8:00 pm .  Tickets $12.50 - Contact Karen

        @ 483-8999/483- 3021.

        02 May - Access Television "A Heaven on Earth" presents the

        dramatic events and people involved in the 1946 steel strike in

        Hamilton, Ontario at 11:00 am (1 hour).

        03 May - Access Television "Do Not Fold, Staple, Spindle or

        Mutilate", an aging union leader who, after a lifetime of service

        for the cause, finds that he has outlived his usefulness and

        esteem among the workers of his factory, that times have

        changed and a new strategy is needed in bargaining with
        the company 7:00 am (1 hour).

        04 May - Poetic Justice! Poetry Slam Competition presented by

        the Raving Poets, Backroom Vodka Bar, 10324 - 82 Ave. 

        Doors open at 7:00 pm competition starts at 8:30 pm.  1st prize

        $100.00

        06 May - An evening with Robert Clinton at Sacred Heart School,

        9624-108 Ave.  Doors Open at 7:00 pm show at 7:30 pm

        Access Television:

        "12,000 Men" the story of Cape Breton's union struggles in the coal and steel industries from the 1890s through the labour wars of the 1920s.  9:00 pm (30 min)

        "On strike: the Winnipeg General Strike" the dramatic story of the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919 told through the recollections of the men and women who were there.  9:30 pm (30 min)

        07 May - WAR PARTY  the Hip Hop and Rap an Aboriginal Group

        from the Hobbema Reserve perform at the Power Plant

        Lounge/Bar located at the University of Alberta.  Doors open

        at 8:30 pm tickets $10.00.

        08 May - Labour Cabaret, Westmount Community League,

        10970 - 127 St.  Doors open at 7:00 pm, music at 7:30 pm

        Meghan McMaster will be opening for Guy Smith and his

        band.  Tickets $10. -
        Contact Karen @ 483-8999/483-3021 or Natasha at 469-0112.

6.5    Business arising from previous minutes

        David Lee and Blair Winger drew the 4 names for persons to

        attend United Way/Labour Appreciation Night on 17 April 2004

        at the Shaw Conference Centre. 

6.6    Reports

        AFL RWC:  Tamara Kozlowska
        A presentation of fighting privatization is scheduled on September

        24, 2004.  The panel speakers are:

        Mary Veilleux - our President
        Debbie Malnik - Police Officer
        Elizabeth Martin - Women in Building Trades

        Registration is $60.00s by Friday

        Accommodations at Hawthorne Suite Hotel, Calgary at $109 per

        night, Buffet Breakfast included in price.

        Those in attendance will be CUPE; Postal Workers; Nurses;

        Teachers; PSAC; Health Science; and others.

        AFL is organizing a campaign awareness of a decline in support

        services by in rural areas.  Rural areas have most of the services

        taken away that were provided by Federal Government.

        Income Support Programs and Employment Insurance are in the

        process of Harmonizing.

        Conference on harmonization in February 2004, Winnipeg, MB. 

        National PSAC Women's Conference is in the planning stages for

        2005.

        Tamara moved that her report be accepted as presented.

        Treasurer Report
        Financial Statement has been audited, signed by Irene Berube,

        Michael McCarthy but still requires Elaine Alt's signature as one

        of the volunteer auditors.  Then the Audit report and Proposed

        budget will be mailed to Robyn Benson.

        Irene suggests - add line for donation on proposed budget to

        cover items such as the $100.00's given to A-channel (while on

        strike).

        Irene Berube made the motion to accept the Treasurers report

        as presented. 

        2nd by Elaine Haase.  All were in favour.  Motion Carried

6.7    New Business

        Tamara asked if all Local's had received their information on PSAC

        Access Conference  scheduled 30 Sept 04 - 03 Oct 04 in Montreal

        at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel.  There will be a total of 87 delegates
        selected throughout Canada.  Must have self-identified as disabled

        or a visible minority.

        Speaker on pensions on April 21, 2004 at the PSAC office, in

        regards to the Pension Reduction Formula.  (attach e-mail with

        information)

        Negotiations - value of the service to the public.

        Joanna Miazga did a presentation for Strike Vote today at Canada

        Place.

6.8    Adjournment

        Meeting adjourned 6:30 p.m.

        Mary Veilleux's Report  (6:30 - 6:45 p.m.)

        Due to previous engagement, Mary was not able to arrive until

        6:30 p.m.  Mary gave a report on negotiations.

        We are offered 1.75% first year; 1.25% second year; 1.25% third

        year.

        It is anticipated that there will be a Spring Federal Election and at

        that time all negotiations will be on hold.

        CCRA as an Agency - has reduction in staff,  their own rules and

        work can be contracted out. 

        3 P's.  Public jobs moving to privatization.  Organization will answer

        to shareholders and not Taxpayers.  There will be panel

        discussions held at Community Halls.  Dates and times will be
        provided at a later time.

Next meeting: May 12, 2004, 5:30 p.m.

                       PSAC office.

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