Oak Room, Westwood Inn

Call to order at 09:00

Quorum declared.

Chair: Doug Gamble

Distribution of General Council Minutes from the September 29, 2000 meeting.

Motion to accept the minutes as distributed. M/S/C

Business arising from Minutes:

• Legal fees associated with Conservation Officer charged with assault have been paid for by the Department.

Correspondence:

• Due to the just ended strike at AUPE there is a lack of correspondence.
• Letter from Conservation Officer named in legal action thanking Local 005 for their support.

Reports of Officers:

Chair to Bob Glover

There has been a lot of activity generated by the strike that has involved me. The Locals position has been to remain neutral through all of the strike issues.

The contract details are not out yet, but the USWA side took some significant losses.

Motion to accept verbal report as tabled. M/S/C

Chair back to Doug Gamble.

Re-iterated the Local's position over neutrality in the USWA/AUPE strike.

Motion to accept. M/S/C

Secretary's report (Dave Finn)

Not much happening other than conference call at 11:00 this morning (coming up).

Question: Who arranged the conference call?

Answer: AUPE HQ

Question: What was the issue over benefits?

Answer: The fee schedule is a core issue.

17. Is this Union wide?

1. Yes.

Motion to accept. M/S/C

Chair to Bob Glover

One meeting since last GC meeting, it was in Calgary. The main issue of discussion was over Contract Negotiations. Also Convention has been booked, and dates are set.

Motion to accept: M/S/C

Chair back to Doug Gamble.

Last report from AUPE not in yet, but accounts presently standing at about $65 000 total.

Question: Money requested for Ft. McMurray and Valleyview.

Answer: It is on its way.

Motion to accept: M/S/C

Committee Reports:

(Brian Randall) Discussion from draft document from last EMAC meeting. Important change is that people responsible to do things are named. This will provide accountability.

The vehicle policy and its application to staff were also discussed. The vehicle policy final policy has been distributed. This policy also makes reference to standardizing standby, overtime, callback and days of rest.

Question: Who is on the EMAC committee?

Answer: Doug Gamble, Bob Glover, Dave Hogarth and Wes Nimco

New Business:

Need people to accompany Brian to meet with the EMAC Employers side to discuss the vehicle policy and the associated policies. Group discussion over vehicle policy issues.

Agreement that Negotiating Committee will discuss the issues arising from the vehicle policy, and the other identified issues

Discussion on other issues within EMAC

• Uniforms (including Nomex PPE policy)
• Modified Hayes system
• Union will look at Employer submission, but no commitments made.
• Education fund
• Use of the Forestry Aide Classification.
• Our concern is that the Employer is over using and abusing the FA series.

• The issue of employees "giving" lieu time to other employees who may need time off.
• Apparently the Deputy Minister has the authority to grant such requests.

• Instructors at the Hinton ETC have moved from Local 002 to Local 005.
• Inconsistencies in standby application were identified.
• Discussion over the "Compliance Officer" series.
• Discussion over subsistence pay for WFU IR members.
• Question: Can moving rates be adjusted to reflect "true" costs.
• Forestry Lookouts: Need to look at a process to provide fair compensation for the work demands that may be placed on tower people. A system based on what the computer says for hazard and thus tower occupancy would be most fair. Much discussion and muttering. Brian: how do we ratify it? We'll all think about it.

Discussion on Resource CO's: Pat brought this up. Some CO's need an enforcement uniform, some don't. Some parks are not enforcement oriented and just work in resource end. Looking at a change in classification. Brian: easy to push idea of one CO, one uniform. Doug: resource CO's should look at reclassification to get out of wearing all the enforcement paraphernalia. Brian: I need to know names of people who wish to take on responsibilities of regular CO and those who don't so that we can eliminate the gray area.

Dan MacLennan

Introduction of Dave Climenhaga, AUPE Communications Director

Dan MacLennan: review of current AUPE issues.

Discussion on Bovar Swan Hills plant take over by Alberta Environment.

Discussion on staff changes in the USWA / AUPE strike resolution.

• Some 12 staff have resigned.

• There will be two secondment postions.

New Business:

• Boundary Changes:
• With Fire Centre issues, this will be sent back to the committee to review further and report later.

General Discussion:

Date of next meeting:

At the call of the chair to accommodate negotiations. Probably sometime in April.

Motion to adjourn. M/S/C

Attendence:

Doug Gamble

Bob Glover

Brian Randall

Dave Hogarth

Mike Benedictson

Terry Sayers

Mike Dempsey

Wayne Bowles

Pat Ronald

Marty Paetz

Michelle Shesterniak

Jackie Gerwing

Dave Finn