Minutes of the March 2-3, 2016 Executive Board Meeting

May 9, 2016
3:20 pm

May 9, 2016 - 3:20 pm

Table of Contents

Coopers Office

March 2, 2016

The Executive Board was called to order at 9:32 a.m. President Thomas was in the Chair. All members were present except Sean Platt and Felicia Fahey, the reasons were acceptable to the Chair. Peggy Maybury, Executive Assistant to the President, was also in attendance.

Agenda

The agenda was amended to add:

AGCO Negotiations Procedures
Recommendation from Officers L319, L317
Timed presentation: 2016 Young Workers Conference
OFL Make it Fair
Convention delegates

The question was called on the Agenda as amended:

Roll Call #1

Almeida, Eddy for
Arbus, Jeff         for
Archer, Glen    for
Arvelin, Ed           for
Bisaillon, Michel for
Bozai, Ibrahim for
Elliott, Len   for
Fahey, Felicia    —
Finucane, Drew for
Jones, Gareth for
Labelle, Sara for
Longhi, Gord    for
Magner, Myles    for
Platt, Sean         —
Shearer, Philip    for
Strachan, Edie for
Thibodeau, Carl for
Thomas, Warren for
Tremblay, Chrisy for
Tungatt, Debbie for

Carried 18 for 0 against

Consent Agenda

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The minutes of January 27-28, 2016 and February 26, 2016 E-Poll Stopping the privatization of Canada’s blood supply were adopted.

Stopping the privatization of Canada’s blood supply

Moved by Thomas/Almeida

Be it resolved that OPSEU support the proposal for web site development and a lobby day on Parliament Hill, with funds to be drawn from the Contingency Fund.

Almeida, Eddy for
Arbus, Jeff         for
Archer, Glen    for
Arvelin, Ed           for
Bisaillon, Michel for
Bozai, Ibrahim for
Elliott, Len   for
Fahey, Felicia    for
Finucane, Drew for
Jones, Gareth for
Labelle, Sara for
Longhi, Gord    for
Magner, Myles    for
Platt, Sean         for
Shearer, Philip    for
Strachan, Edie —
Thibodeau, Carl for
Thomas, Warren for
Tremblay, Chrisy for
Tungatt, Debbie for

Carried 19 for 0 against

Business Arising

RPN Occupational Division Proposal

Moved by Arvelin/Thomas

WHEREAS the Health Care Divisional Council is proposing the creation of a Registered Practical Nurses occupational division; and,

WHEREAS the proposal has merits and warrants further review,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Executive Board adopt the RPN proposal and that the funds be drawn from the Contingency Fund.

First Vice President/Treasurer Almeida in the Chair

Roll Call #2

Carried 18 for 0 against

President Thomas in the Chair

Section 13.2 Policy Manual

Under review, will come back as part of the motion under President’s Report regarding review of all Section 13 (page 20).

Treasurer’s Report

First Vice President/Treasurer Almeida presented the Treasurer’s Report, which addressed the following items:

Financials
Contingency Fund
Defence Fund
ODSP Fund – OPS Job Protection Fund
ODSP Fund – MERC Action Plan
ODSP Fund – OPS Redeployment Fund
LBED – Anti-privatization Fund
Summary Report
Retiree Committee Chairs – Expenses for Monthly Incidentals

Moved by Almeida/Thomas

WHEREAS there is currently no policy outlining expenses for chairs of the Retiree Division; and

WHEREAS there has been a long standing practice of allowing each Retiree chair to claim $40.00 per month for incidentals in regards their duties;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Accounting have a code line, allocating $40.00 per month, per Retiree Committee chair for incidentals; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT each Retiree Committee chair include receipts and/or an explanation for such incidentals on their expense claims.

An amendment was made and withdrawn

The question was called on the motion:

Roll Call #3

Carried 18 for 0 against

President’s Report

Internal Issues

Board Committee election – Pension Liaison
2016 OPSEU Convention Agenda
Stanley Knowles Award
2016 Convention Resolution
Organizational Chart
NUPGE Convention Resolutions
Community Services Divisional Council Bargaining Conference
Terms of Reference: Workers of Colour Caucus
Mental Health Division Anti-Violence Campaign
Section 13 of Policy Manual
AGCO Negotiations Procedures
Recommendation from Officers L319, L317
Convention delegates

Staffing Issues – In Camera

Central Labour Updates (OFL/NUPGE/CLC)

OFL Make it Fair

Internal Issues

Board Committee election – Pension Liaison Committee

The following Executive Board Members were nominated and indicated their willingness to stand for election; Len Elliott, Gareth Jones, Edie Strachan.

Ballots were distributed, collected and counted. President Thomas announced the election of Len Elliott and Gareth Jones to the Pension Liaison Committee.

Stanley Knowles Award

Discussion

First Vice President/Treasurer Almeida in the Chair

Education Policy

Moved by Arbus/Tremblay

Whereas OPSEU's Education Policy provides the foundation, structure, and framework of member education, Local and Sector development, and developing capacity, and

Whereas the Education Policy was drafted many years ago, and has seen few significant changes in recent years, and

Whereas the structure of member education has changed over the years, for example, the advent of courses running mid-week as opposed to the weekend, and the development of service area schools, and the introduction of smart tv's in members centres, and

Whereas the Education Policy is in need of upgrading to reflect current and future trends,
Therefore Be it Resolved that the Board set up an ad-hoc Sub-Committee to review the Education Policy, with the objective of modernizing that Policy, and

Be it further resolved that this sub-committee bring a preliminary report to the June Board Meeting, with a final report for the September meeting, and

Be it further resolved that this sub-committee include one Regional Vice-President, two Executive Board Members, the Supervisor of the Education department, and staff as assigned by that Supervisor.

RVP Debbie Tungatt in Chair

Moved by Almeida/Tungatt – Amendment:

In the last resolve remove “2 exec board members” and replace with “3 regional vice presidents or designee and replace “and staff” with “and a staff member”

Roll Call #4

Almeida, Eddy for
Arbus, Jeff         for
Archer, Glen    for
Arvelin, Ed           for
Bisaillon, Michel against
Bozai, Ibrahim for
Elliott, Len   for
Fahey, Felicia    —
Finucane, Drew for
Jones, Gareth against
Labelle, Sara for
Longhi, Gord    for
Magner, Myles    for
Platt, Sean         —
Shearer, Philip    for
Strachan, Edie against
Thibodeau, Carl for
Thomas, Warren for
Tremblay, Chrisy for
Tungatt, Debbie for

Carried 15 for 3 against

First Vice President/Treasurer Almeida in the Chair

Moved by Magner/Strachan – Amendment:

In last resolve add “and 2 member co-facilitator and 2 local officers”

Roll Call #5

Almeida, Eddy against
Arbus, Jeff         against
Archer, Glen    against
Arvelin, Ed           against
Bisaillon, Michel against
Bozai, Ibrahim against
Elliott, Len   against
Fahey, Felicia    —
Finucane, Drew against
Jones, Gareth against
Labelle, Sara against
Longhi, Gord    against
Magner, Myles    for
Platt, Sean         —
Shearer, Philip    against
Strachan, Edie against
Thibodeau, Carl against
Thomas, Warren against
Tremblay, Chrisy against
Tungatt, Debbie against

DEFEATED 1 for 17 against

The question was called on the motion as amended:

Whereas OPSEU's Education Policy provides the foundation, structure, and framework of member education, Local and Sector development, and developing capacity, and

Whereas the Education Policy was drafted many years ago, and has seen few significant changes in recent years, and

Be it further resolved that this sub-committee bring a preliminary report to the June Board Meeting, with a final report for the September meeting, and

Be it further resolved that this sub-committee include 3 regional vice presidents or designees, the Supervisor of the Education department and a staff member as assigned by that Supervisor.

Roll Call #6

Almeida, Eddy for
Arbus, Jeff         for
Archer, Glen    for
Arvelin, Ed           for
Bisaillon, Michel for
Bozai, Ibrahim for
Elliott, Len   against
Fahey, Felicia    —
Finucane, Drew against
Jones, Gareth for
Labelle, Sara for
Longhi, Gord    for
Magner, Myles    against
Platt, Sean         —
Shearer, Philip    against
Strachan, Edie against
Thibodeau, Carl for
Thomas, Warren —
Tremblay, Chrisy for
Tungatt, Debbie against

Carried 11 for 6 against

President Thomas in the Chair

New Business

2016 Young Workers Conference

Ken Maclam and Adrian Balojin gave a presentation to the Board

Moved by Thomas/Almeida

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the OPSEU Executive Board waive the 30-day notice for expenditures in excess of $20,000.

Roll Call #7

Carried 18 for 0 against

A motion was made and ruled out of order

Moved by Thomas/Almeida

WHEREAS over 140 young workers (75% first time attendees) from across the province were invited to attend the 2015 Young Workers Conference; and

WHEREAS 84% of young workers in attendance indicated that the Young Workers Conference motivated them to return to their local communities and serve as activists and labour leaders; and

WHEREAS young worker issues are incredibly important to the future of the labour movement and this conference is an invaluable opportunity to discuss, explore and develop the necessary skills to overcome the barriers that young workers face.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT up to $63,000 be added to the existing Young Workers Conference budget line for a new total of up to $163,000, with the additional funds to come from the Contingency Fund.

Roll Call #8

Carried 18 for 0 against

2016 OPSEU Convention Agenda

Moved by Thomas/Almeida

Therefore be it resolved that the Executive Board approve the 2016 OPSEU Convention Agenda as amended

Roll Call #9

Carried 18 for 0 against

NUPGE Resolutions

Spreading the “We Own It!” anti-privatization campaign across Canada

Moved by Thomas/Tungatt

WHEREAS across Canada we are seeing an explosion in the privatization of public services, and a proliferation of the forms privatization takes, including contracting-out, public-private partnerships, asset sales and Social Impact Bonds; and

WHEREAS privatization constitutes a transfer of wealth from the public realm to private hands, a regressive action that does nothing to improve services and wastes public dollars; and

WHEREAS privatization affects all Canadians by undermining public accountability, eliminating transparency, reducing access to services, and dramatically increasing costs; and

WHEREAS privatization is to the public sector what free trade is to the private sector, namely, a destroyer of good jobs and decent wages; and

WHEREAS the Ontario Public Service Employees Union has just launched “We Own It!”, a long-term campaign to stop the privatization rip-off;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NUPGE adopt the “We Own It!,” branding, customized by province and coordinated by NUPGE component unions, for a Canada-wide campaign to build a truly national opposition to privatization.

Roll Call #10

Almeida, Eddy for
Arbus, Jeff         for
Archer, Glen    for
Arvelin, Ed           for
Bisaillon, Michel for
Bozai, Ibrahim for
Elliott, Len   —
Fahey, Felicia    —
Finucane, Drew for
Jones, Gareth for
Labelle, Sara —
Longhi, Gord    for
Magner, Myles    for
Platt, Sean         —
Shearer, Philip    for
Strachan, Edie for
Thibodeau, Carl for
Thomas, Warren for
Tremblay, Chrisy for
Tungatt, Debbie for

Carried 16 for 0 against

Keeping Canada’s blood supply safe

Moved by Thomas/Tungatt

WHEREAS the tainted blood crisis of the 1980s and 1990s was the worst public health disaster in Canada’s history, in which thousands of Canadians lost their lives from blood transfusions and blood products infected with HIV and Hepatitis C; and

WHEREAS private paid-donor blood collection clinics are contrary to the recommendations put forward by the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Blood System in Canada, which explicitly concluded that in Canada, blood is a public resource; donors should not be paid; and, safety of the blood system must be paramount; and

WHEREAS a coalition of tainted-blood survivors and safe-blood advocates succeeded in shutting down for-profit paid-donor clinics opened in Ontario by lobbying the Ontario government to pass the Voluntary Donations Act to ban paid-donor clinics; and

WHEREAS Health Canada has granted a license to Exapharma (Canadian Plasma Resources) to open a paid-donor clinic in Saskatchewan, and the same company is actively looking to open more clinics in Alberta, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia; and

WHEREAS Bloodwatch.org, a new coalition of tainted blood survivors and safe-blood advocates is calling on the federal government to legislate an all-out ban on privatized blood collection in Canada; and

WHEREAS this is a national issue not only for the safety of all Canadians, but also for the jobs of blood services workers whose jobs will be put at risk if blood/plasma collection is privatized;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the National Union and all component unions educate their members on the threat posed by for-profit paid-donor blood collection in Canada; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all components commit to providing financial support to Bloodwatch.org to further its work across the country; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Union make an immediate contribution to Bloodwatch.org of $10,000.

Roll Call #11

Carried 16 for 0 against

Missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls

Moved by Thomas/Tungatt

WHEREAS the Government of Canada will launch a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls; and

WHEREAS the Government states it is committed to reconciliation and a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples in Canada; and

WHEREAS the Native Women’s Association of Canada was one of the first organizations to advocate for an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and is well positioned to monitor the scope of the investigation and the implementation of its recommendations; and

WHEREAS the inquiry needs to expose the root causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls; and

WHEREAS the inquiry must engage people from across the country as an important, first step; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Union call on all components to cover wages and travel expenses for their members to give testimony or support a family member involved in the national inquiry; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all components work with their Indigenous members to monitor the process of the inquiry and provide recommendations to the National Union to hold the government accountable to its commitment to reconciliation and a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples in Canada; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Union donate $5,000 to the Sisters in Spirit initiative of the Native Women’s Association of Canada.

Roll Call #12

Carried 16 for 0 against

Bringing proportional representation to Canada’s Parliament

Moved by Thomas/Tungatt

WHEREAS government policies and decisions should reflect the will of the majority while respecting the rights of minorities: and

WHEREAS an electoral system that is seen to be fair by a majority of citizens will encourage voter participation, while an electoral system that is seen to be unfair fosters disrespect for government and the laws that it makes; and

WHEREAS a parliamentary electoral system that routinely awards majority governments to political parties that capture less than 50 per cent of the vote is blatantly unfair and goes against the principle of majority rule; and

WHEREAS the current Liberal government won 39.5 per cent of the popular vote but 54 per cent of the seats in the House of Commons; and

WHEREAS the Liberal Party of Canada said it would consider a ranked ballot electoral system as a possible replacement to the existing first-past-the-post system; and

WHEREAS such a system would distort the allocation of seats in the House of Commons even worse than first-past-the-post does; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NUPGE call on the Liberal government to reject the ranked ballot system as a possible replacement to the current electoral system; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NUPGE and its components educate members and the general public about the flaws in the first-past-the-post and preferential ballot systems; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NUPGE and its components call on the federal government to pass legislation before the next election that changes Canada’s electoral system so that seats in the House of Commons are allocated to the political parties to reflect the percentage of the popular vote that each party received in the election; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NUPGE and its constituent organizations support and work with citizen groups promoting the adoption of such a proportionately representative system.

Roll Call #13

Carried 16 for 0 against

Community Services Divisional Council Bargaining Conference

Moved by Thomas/Almeida

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the OPSEU Executive Board waive the 30-day notice for expenditures in excess of $20,000.

Roll Call #14

Carried 18 for 0 against

(continued on page 20)

Terms of Reference: Workers of Color Caucus

Move by Thibodeau/Archer – Referral to the President’s office to return back to the May 2016 Executive Board meeting.

Roll Call #15

Carried 18 for 0 against

First Vice President/Treasurer Almeida in the Chair

Mental Health Anti-Violent Campaign

Moved by Thomas/Almeida

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the OPSEU Executive Board waive the 30-day notice for expenditures in excess of $20,000.

Roll Call #16

Carried 18 for 0 against

Moved by Thomas/Arvelin

WHEREAS the Mental Health Division has been working to raise awareness about the violence members of our division experience at work; and

WHEREAS the violence is significant enough that we have taken three hospitals to the OLRB recently; and

WHEREAS the Health and Safety Unit is creating a toolkit for our members to use to identify workplace violence, assess the risk of workplace violence, report workplace violence, and work with the employer to prevent workplace violence; and

WHEREAS the members of the Mental Health Division require mobilizing and training in order to recognize workplace violence and to use this toolkit effectively to challenge and prevent it;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the OPSEU Executive Board approve the Mental Health Division’s Anti-Violence Campaign as proposed at a total amount of $91,931. This amount is to be drawn from the Contingency Fund.

Roll Call #17

Carried 18 for 0 against

President Thomas in the Chair

Moved by Thomas/Almeida – In Camera

Roll Call #18

Carried 18 for 0 against

Afternoon

The meeting resumed at 1:30p.m.

Rise & Report

Community Services Divisional Council (continued from page 17)

Moved by Almeida/Arvelin – Referral to the President’s office to be brought back to the May 2016 Executive Board meeting

Roll Call #19

Carried 18 for 0 against

Section 13 of the Policy Manual

Moved by Thomas/Almeida

WHEREAS Section 13 of the OPSEU Policy Manual has not been reviewed in some time; and

WHEREAS some parts of Section 13 go back forty three years; and

WHEREAS some of these sections no longer reflect the staff collective agreement requirements or practice of the Union

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT an “Under Revision” stamp be affixed to this Section with revisions brought back to the Executive Board in June 2016.

Roll Call #20

Carried 18 for 0 against

Organizational Chart

Moved by Thomas/Almeida

WHEREAS the organization chart was recently updated to reflect a re-organization; and

WHEREAS some of the resulting moves from the re-organization have not been reflected on the organization chart as they happened after;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the attached organization chart be approved as final by the Executive Board.

Roll Call #21

Carried 18 for 0 against

Central Labour Updates (OFL/NUPGE/CLC)

President Thomas provided an update

Campaign for Labour Law Reform

Moved by Thomas/Almeida

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the OPSEU Executive Board waive the 30-day notice for expenditures in excess of $20,000.

Roll Call #22

Carried 18 for 0 against

Moved by Thomas/Magner

WHEREAS the Government of Ontario has launched the Changing Workplaces Review to consult with Ontarians and recommend changes to the Ontario Labour Relations Act (OLRA) and Ontario’s Employment Standards Act (ESA); and

WHEREAS the review panel is expected to provide its findings and recommendations in a series of reports to be released between early April and September 2016; and

WHEREAS the government is expected to introduce legislation to amend the OLRA and ESA in the fall of 2016; and

WHEREAS OPSEU has long advocated for important reforms to the ESA to strengthen the workplace rights and minimum employment standards – and their enforcement – for all workers in Ontario, including contract, part-time, casual, precarious and low-wage workers; and

WHEREAS OPSEU has consistently advocated for key changes to the OLRA – including restoring card-check certification, providing access to first contract arbitration, banning scab labour and strengthening successor rights – to make it easier for workers to organize and bargain fair wages and working conditions; and

WHEREAS the Changing Workplaces Review and the government’s plan to amend the OLRA and ESA represents a historic opportunity to achieve fairness for all Ontario workers and advance the fight for good jobs; and

WHEREAS the Ontario Federation of Labour has invited affiliates and other major unions, including OPSEU, to participate in a major provincewide Campaign for Labour Law Reform to
i) achieve key improvements to the OLRA and ESA, in partnership with our labour and community allies, and ii) to counter pressure from employers to weaken workers’ rights and protections under these acts;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OPSEU endorses and will participate in the Campaign for Labour Law Reform together with the OFL and its affiliates and other participating unions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT OPSEU will encourage locals, area councils, sectors, divisions and equity committees and caucuses to endorse and participate in the campaign their areas, together with their local labour councils and labour and community allies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT OPSEU will contribute $50,000 to help fund the OFL-sponsored Campaign for Labour Law Reform.

Moved by Almeida/Arbus – Amendment:

Delete first and second resolve, change funds amount in last resolve to $10,000 and indicate that the funds to come from Contingency fund.

Moved by Magner/Bozai – Amendment to amendment:

divide the 3 resolves

Roll Call #23

Almeida, Eddy for
Arbus, Jeff         for
Archer, Glen    against
Arvelin, Ed           for
Bisaillon, Michel against
Bozai, Ibrahim for
Elliott, Len   for
Fahey, Felicia    —
Finucane, Drew for
Jones, Gareth for
Labelle, Sara for
Longhi, Gord    for
Magner, Myles    for
Platt, Sean         —
Shearer, Philip    against
Strachan, Edie for
Thibodeau, Carl for
Thomas, Warren for
Tremblay, Chrisy for
Tungatt, Debbie for

Carried 15 for 3 against

Moved by Thomas/Almeida – Amendment to First Resolve

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OPSEU will campaign for Labour Law reform and will join with other like-minded groups.

RVP Tungatt in the Chair

Roll Call #24

Almeida, Eddy for
Arbus, Jeff         for
Archer, Glen    for
Arvelin, Ed           for
Bisaillon, Michel for
Bozai, Ibrahim against
Elliott, Len   for
Fahey, Felicia    —
Finucane, Drew for
Jones, Gareth for
Labelle, Sara for
Longhi, Gord    for
Magner, Myles    against
Platt, Sean         —
Shearer, Philip    for
Strachan, Edie for
Thibodeau, Carl for
Thomas, Warren for
Tremblay, Chrisy for
Tungatt, Debbie for

Carried 16 for 2 against

First Vice President/Treasurer Almeida in the Chair

Moved by Thomas/Almeida – Amendment to Second Resolve:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT OPSEU will encourage locals, area councils, sectors, divisions and equity committees and caucuses to endorse and participate in the campaign in their areas, together with their labour councils and community allies

Roll Call #25

Carried 18 for 0 against

Moved by Thomoas/Almeida – Amendment to Third Resolve:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT OPSEU will contribute $10,000 to the OFL campaign for Labour Law Reform

Moved by Shearer/Thomas – Amendment to Amendment:

Change “OFL” to “community allies”

Roll Call #26

Almeida, Eddy against
Arbus, Jeff         against
Archer, Glen    against
Arvelin, Ed           against
Bisaillon, Michel against
Bozai, Ibrahim against
Elliott, Len   against
Fahey, Felicia    —
Finucane, Drew against
Jones, Gareth against
Labelle, Sara against
Longhi, Gord    for
Magner, Myles    against
Platt, Sean         —
Shearer, Philip    for
Strachan, Edie against
Thibodeau, Carl against
Thomas, Warren for
Tremblay, Chrisy against
Tungatt, Debbie against

DEFEATED 2 for 16 against

Moved by Archer/Arvelin – Amendment to amendment:

After “OPSEU” insert “with endorsement of the 2016 OPSEU Convention”

Move to Object Consideration:

Roll Call #27

Almeida, Eddy against
Arbus, Jeff         against
Archer, Glen    for
Arvelin, Ed           for
Bisaillon, Michel for
Bozai, Ibrahim against
Elliott, Len   against
Fahey, Felicia    —
Finucane, Drew against
Jones, Gareth for
Labelle, Sara against
Longhi, Gord    for
Magner, Myles    against
Platt, Sean         —
Shearer, Philip    against
Strachan, Edie against
Thibodeau, Carl against
Thomas, Warren against
Tremblay, Chrisy against
Tungatt, Debbie for

6 for 12 against – The amendment to amendment was considered

Question was called on the amendment to amendment:

After “OPSEU” add “with endorsement of the 2016 OPSEU Convention”

Moved by Labelle/Arbus – Closure

Roll Call #28

Carried 17 for 1 against

Question called on amendment to amendment:

After “OPSEU” add “with endorsement of the 2016 OPSEU Convention”

Roll Call #29

Almeida, Eddy against
Arbus, Jeff         against
Archer, Glen    for
Arvelin, Ed           for
Bisaillon, Michel for
Bozai, Ibrahim against
Elliott, Len   for
Fahey, Felicia    —
Finucane, Drew for
Jones, Gareth against
Labelle, Sara against
Longhi, Gord    for
Magner, Myles    against
Platt, Sean         —
Shearer, Philip    against
Strachan, Edie against
Thibodeau, Carl against
Thomas, Warren against
Tremblay, Chrisy against
Tungatt, Debbie for

DEFEATED 7 for 11 against

The question was called on the amendment to Third Resolve:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT OPSEU will contribute $10,000 to the OFL campaign for Labour Law Reform

Roll Call #30

Almeida, Eddy against
Arbus, Jeff         against
Archer, Glen    against
Arvelin, Ed           against
Bisaillon, Michel against
Bozai, Ibrahim for
Elliott, Len   against
Fahey, Felicia    —
Finucane, Drew against
Jones, Gareth for
Labelle, Sara against
Longhi, Gord    against
Magner, Myles    for
Platt, Sean         —
Shearer, Philip    against
Strachan, Edie for
Thibodeau, Carl against
Thomas, Warren against
Tremblay, Chrisy against
Tungatt, Debbie against

DEFEATED 4 for 14 against

Moved by Thomas/Arbus – Amendment:

The third resolve be amended to read “each region will have $3,000 to enable participation in the campaign for Labour Law Reform” and the last whereas be deleted.

Moved by Archer/Arvelin – Closure

Roll Call #31

Carried 18 for 0 against

The question was called on the amendment:

Roll Call #32

Almeida, Eddy against
Arbus, Jeff         for
Archer, Glen    against
Arvelin, Ed           for
Bisaillon, Michel against
Bozai, Ibrahim for
Elliott, Len   against
Fahey, Felicia    —
Finucane, Drew against
Jones, Gareth against
Labelle, Sara for
Longhi, Gord    against
Magner, Myles    against
Platt, Sean         —
Shearer, Philip    against
Strachan, Edie against
Thibodeau, Carl against
Thomas, Warren for
Tremblay, Chrisy against
Tungatt, Debbie against

DEFEATED 5 for 13 against

Moved by Tungatt/Magner – Amendment:

Delete fourth whereas and delete third resolve

Moved by Thomas/Almeida – Closure

Roll Call #33

Carried 18 for 0 against

The question was called on the amendment:

Roll Call #34

Carried 18 for 0 against

Moved by Thomas/Arbus – Closure

Roll Call #35

Carried 18 for 0 against

The question was called on the motion as amended:

WHEREAS the review panel is expected to provide its findings and recommendations in a series of reports to be released between early April and September 2016; and

WHEREAS the government is expected to introduce legislation to amend the OLRA and ESA in the fall of 2016; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OPSEU will campaign for Labour Law reform and will join with other like-minded groups; and,

Roll Call #36

Carried 18 for 0 against

President’s Report

Internal Issues

President Thomas in the Chair

Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario – Bargaining Procedures

Moved by Thomas/Almeida

WHEREAS negotiations procedures must be approved by the Executive Board; and,

WHEREAS the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) members have been consulted on the changes in their negotiations procedures and have indicated their support through motions passed at the meeting held in September 2014;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the AGCO Procedures are approved by the Executive Board.

Roll Call #37

Carried 18 for 0 against

Recommendation from the February 25th, 2016 Executive Committee meeting:

Transfer Parry Sound members in Local 319 to Local 317

Whereas the MPAC members who worked in Parry Sound previously were transferred to the Bracebridge office, and;

Whereas there is an existing Local with MPAC members in Bracebridge, and;

Be it resolved that the Executive Board approve that the 9 members who worked in Parry Sound be transferred from Local 319 to Local 317

Roll Call #38

Carried 18 for 0 against

2016 OPSEU Convention Resolution

Closing the Gender Wage Gap

WHEREAS OPSEU represents over 130,000 Ontario workers, of whom two-thirds are women; and

WHEREAS women in Ontario earn, on average, 31.5 per cent less per year than their male counterparts; and

WHEREAS this disparity is greater among racialized women (36 per cent), aboriginal women (42 per cent), and women with disabilities (44 per cent); and

WHEREAS there is a gender wage gap whether it is measured by the year, the week, or the hour; and

WHEREAS in spite of the beneficial effects of union membership, many OPSEU women continue to face systemic wage discrimination, particularly in the Broader Public Service, and

WHEREAS OPSEU supports and endorses the provincial government’s intention to address wage discrimination through its Gender Wage Gap initiative; and

WHEREAS the Equal Pay Coalition, of which OPSEU is a member, has identified 12 steps the government must take in order to end the gender wage gap by 2025;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that OPSEU endorse the Coalition’s plan and call on the government to:

treat closing the gap as a human rights priority;
raise awareness of the gender wage gap through annual Equal Pay Days and education;
develop the “Close the gender pay gap by 2025 Plan”;
enforce and expand pay equity laws;
implement employment equity laws and policies;
promote access to collective bargaining;
increase the minimum wage;
provide affordable and accessible child care;
mainstream equity compliance into government laws and policies;
mainstream equity compliance into workplaces and businesses;
end violence and harassment of women; and
secure decent work for women across the economic spectrum.

Roll Call #39

Carried 18 for 0 against

Recess

The Executive Board recessed at 4:55 p.m. All members were present except Felicia Fahey and Sean Platt.

March 3, 2016

The Executive Board was called to order at 9:00 a.m. President Thomas was in the Chair. All members were present except Felicia Fahey, Gareth Jones and Sean Platt, the reasons were acceptable to the Chair.

President’s Report

Internal Issues

Convention Delegates

Moved by Tungatt/Elliott

Therefore be it resolved that we extend the 2016 OPSEU Convention cut-off date for submitting elected convention delegates, alternates and observers to March 25th and,

Be it further resolved that we allow delegate nominations/voting to be done via ballot boxes with instruction to go out to local presidents from the President’s office.

Roll Call #40

Almeida, Eddy for
Arbus, Jeff         for
Archer, Glen    for
Arvelin, Ed           for
Bisaillon, Michel for
Bozai, Ibrahim for
Elliott, Len   for
Fahey, Felicia    —
Finucane, Drew for
Jones, Gareth —
Labelle, Sara for
Longhi, Gord    for
Magner, Myles    for
Platt, Sean         —
Shearer, Philip    for
Strachan, Edie for
Thibodeau, Carl for
Thomas, Warren for
Tremblay, Chrisy for
Tungatt, Debbie for

Carried 17 for 0 against

Committee Reports

Standing Committee Reports:

Aboriginal Circle
Audit
Central Political Action

Broadbent

Moved Labelle/ Longhi

Be it resolved that the Executive Board approve up to $51,356 to cover expenses and registration for 2 members per region to attend the Ed Broadbent Progress Summit in Ottawa from Mar 31 to April 2, 2016 with funds to be drawn from the existing CPAC budget line.

Roll Call #41

Carried 17 for 0 against

Convention
- Resolutions
- Constitutional
- Credentials (reports at Convention)
- Planning
Disability Rights Caucus
Excluded Staff Hiring
Francophone
In Solidarity
OPSEU Resource/Enterprises
Pension Liaison
PHRC
PWC
PYC
Rainbow Alliance
Retirees Board
Social Mapping
Solidarity Fund Board
- Live and Let Live
- International Humanity Work
- International Solidarity Work

A motion was made and ruled out of order

Staff Negotiating
Staff Pension Plan Trustees
Strategic Planning

An update was provided on all Committees.

Adjournment

The Executive Board adjourned at 10:30 a.m. All members were present except Felicia Fahey, Gareth Jones and Sean Platt.

Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President

Nicole Glass, A/Corporate Secretary