Prince Albert & District Area Council Meeting

Minutes of Meeting

Wednesday, November 22, 2006 – 5:15p.m.

Diefenbaker Room – Travelodge Hotel

Present:  Frank MacGregor-APSAR, Jamie Untereiner-Health Canada, Gerald Wiegers-USGE Local 40023, Coralee Vaillancourt-Parks Local 40107, Andre Paul-Parks Local 40107, Karen MacGregor-APSAR

Guest:  Colette Savarie-PSAC

Meeting called to order:       5:25pm

1.  Minutes of last meetinG

Moved by:    FrankMacGregor

Seconded by:  GeraldWiegers

2.  Business arising out of last meeting minutes

3.  NAIM update

• The committee has not met yet; they have been communicating/working through emails.
• The aboriginal education kit is not ready; this kit is basically a TUB course for aboriginal people.

4.  Waskesiu Self-Governance

• Dottie Despins has a petition against the self-governance.
• Area council requests Dottie to speak at next meeting.

Action:  Contact Dottie to speak at next General meeting in January, 2007

5.  Collective Bargaining

• December 1-3 will be the Western Bargaining Conference in Vancouver for Treasury Board employees and Parks employees.
• Delegates will be elected to go to the National Bargaining Conference in early 2007.
• At the National Bargaining Conference, negotiating team members will be elected.  The focus will be on keeping the membership behind the bargaining committee and letting them know what the issues are.
• To ensure a clear understanding of the bargaining process, including changes brought about by the PSLRA
• To maximize participation of delegates in the bargaining process.
• To build capacity for effective debate on bargaining issues from the perspective of the union building and equality rights.
• To develop the groundwork for mobilizing members in all regions in support of union bargaining issues.
• To elect delegates to the National Bargaining Conference.
• Further discussions on the collective bargaining process.
• Colette handed out some information sheets:

        #1 – Public Service Labour Relations Act – Federal

        #2 – A Quick Look at the Legalities of Negotiating Essential Service         Agreements.

        #3 – Types of Essential Services.

• All locals should have been sent applications for the Pride Conference on March 30 to April 1, 2007 at the Vancouver Hiatt Regency.  Deadline for applications is January 11, 2007.

6.  APSAR

• There has been a change in policy; Area Council’s and Local’s can join APSAR for a $20.00 annual fee and should have an older representative.  Hoping for more members, membership numbers are unknown.
• APSAR has 5 or 6 cases in court at this time, all on going.
• Pension grab has some movement, waiting for information from Ottawa.
• APSAR is open to PSAC retirees or people who have worked for the PSAC.

7.  Financial Report

• Rob is away; he sent an email that he would not be able to make it.
• An invoice for the Travelodge was sent to Local 40107 through the Saskatoon office, will notify Rob to see if this invoice was paid.

8.  Elections

• The elections were held for the Prince Albert & District Area Council’s executive.  Colette Savarie conducted the election.

        President - Andre Paul was nominated by Coralee Vaillancourt and seconded by Gerald Wiegers

Andre Paul was acclaimed

        Vice-President – Gerald Wiegers was nominated by Frank MacGregor and seconded by Jaime Untereiner.

• Coralee Vaillancourt was nominated by Gerald Wiegers                         and seconded by Andre Paul.
• Coralee Vaillancourt did not let her name stand.

Gerald Wiegers was acclaimed

Secretary – Coralee Vaillancourt was nominated by Frank MacGregor and seconded by Andre Paul.

Coralee Vaillancourt was acclaimed

Treasurer – Rob Coffee was nominated by Andre Paul and seconded by Frank MacGregor.

Rob Coffee was acclaimed

-President, Secretary and Treasurer all have signing authority.

9.  New Business

        - No new business at this time.

10.  Round Table

        Gerald Wiegers – Hopefully the collective bargaining will be collective as a local and as a group.

        Frank MacGregor – We need to start looking at working on an election strategy if one should be called.

11.  Next Meeting

        Executive meeting – December 13, 2006 at 5:15pm

        at Tim Horton’s 2nd Ave. Location

12.  Adjournment

        With no further business coming before the meeting, the meeting was adjourned by Frank MacGregor and seconded by Gerald Wiegers.

Andre Paul                                 Coralee Vaillancourt

Chairperson/President                  Secretary