NOVEMBER 5,6 & 7,1999 CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL

REPORT OF THE LOCAL 5 DELEGATES

Complements to Dave Finn for an excellent job of organizing the rooms and credentials for the delegates. Complements to Doug Gamble for his leadership and for answering all the questions and providing guidance when the delegates asked. While he guided us, he also made it very clear that we were to vote as directed by our chapters or by our conscience. Questionnaires handed out to Local 005 delegates were a good idea and made it much easier to answer all the important questions regarding the way the convention and local 005’s activities were ran. It also assisted greatly in compiling this report.

Many of the delegates were "seasoned veterans" but nonetheless the convention was still enlightening and educational for all. It would be nice if all the members could attend a convention and see who the UNION really is and how it operates. The union has released a new video explaining who the union is and what it does called "A.U.P.E. Works". It was played on the convention floor for all delegates to see. It was suggested that each chapter should have a copy of this video. Having staff rep Brian Randall attend some of the caucuses and the informal sessions was a bonus. Inviting the provincial executive staff and the elects to our room was very worthwhile as it gave everyone a chance to meet the "up and comers", interact with them and ask questions. It was the general consensus that smoking should not be permitted during our caucuses. It would be appreciated if they could go out onto the balcony to have a smoke. It was also felt that breakfast caucuses should be re-instituted next year to alleviate the hassles of getting breakfast before or after the caucus.

Local 5 delegates acquitted themselves well and brought credit to the local. They had fun, enjoyed themselves and showed up ready to conduct the business of the Union at each session. The delegates where a mite shy at the mike with the more seasoned delegates expressing themselves in professional manner.

"Mike from Canmore" was entertaining again this year. There were few Local 5 issues to support and the resolutions were generally well debated so further input was not missed.

The Convention opened with a moment of silence to remember workers injured and killed in the course of serving the public during the past year. This included Allen Polland who died while on duty as a fire towerman in the summer of 1998. The 1999 Convention was predominantly filled with "politics" as many candidates polled the crowd for their provincial executive ballots. Dan Mclennan was re-elected by acclamation for president. It is believed that this is the first time this has happened since the civil service in the 1963. Peggy Hoffman was re-elected as one of the four vice-presidents. The other 3 were new to the provincial executive and were Lynn Gingras (local 001), Tim Falkener (local 042) and Bill Pollard (local 52 – U of C). Ed Mardell was re-elected as Secretary-Treasurer. Earl Thompson was defeated and will return to his local chapter. Guy Smith did not put his name in for VP as he now has a new family to raise. A tremendous presentation was given to the convention floor from Buzz Hargrove regarding collective bargaining. Just enough time was spent on various reports allowing more time to be available for important resolutions. The remainder of the convention was pretty routine with congratulations from AFL and NUPGE on the good job AUPE is doing for its’ members. More and more support in coming in from unions and associations from across Canada in support of AUPE’s activities.

The convention facilities were satisfactory. Local 005 delegates were housed at the same hotel as the convention was held in, making it convenient in all aspects of convention activities. The convention hall is definitely not large enough to accommodate the number of people attending.

This was a very good, productive conference. There was good debate on most of the resolutions, with some resolutions being hugged to death before someone called question. The biggest resolutions passed included the union to bank back at the Alberta Treasury Branch, the beginning of a "union school" similar to the Alberta Federation of Labour School., 1% of all dues to go to union membership benefits fund and the $300,000 for the war-fund which will be used in the case of an "emergency". The Union has its financial house in order and it has more bargaining power then ever before with over 40,000 members (Alberta’s Largest Union). It got even stronger with the merger with 6000 members of the Canadian Health Care Guild including amalgamating some of it’s executive committee with the existing AUPE executive.

Local 5 Delegates and Committee members attending:

Stephen Beson
Pat Ronald
Dave Finn
Wayne Bowles
Ken Podulsky
Kevin Winghirt
John Graham
Rick Bambrick
Doug Nicholls
Doug Gamble

Ian Tarr – observer - Pension Committee
Mike Dempsey – Anti-privatization committee

Some observers were asked to stand as delegates at the last minute due to the lack of response/attendance from some chapters to send a delegate or alternate.