Grant Notley Room B AUPE HQ

Call to order at 0910.

Quorum declared.

Chair: Doug Gamble

Distribution of Convention Report

Distribution of General Council Minutes from the December 8, 2000 meeting.

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

Business arising from Minutes.

-chapter boundaries: we will put this to rest until the whole restructuring picture resolves itself.

Correspondence

-Peggy Hoffman looking for a Regional Contact Person for Ad Hoc WCB/LTDI Committee.

-Letter from Dan MacLennan setting date that convention resolution due by.

-Press release on improvement to Dental Plan.

-NUPGE letter to AUPE suspending AUPE from National Union.

-letter from AFL officially condemning us for raiding.

Acceptance of correspondence. M/S/C

Reports of Officers:

Chair to Bob Glover

Chairpersons report:

As a result of disaffiliation vote to AFL at last annual convention, affiliation to AFL will only be by Local vote, by Local.

Getting about 100 hits per week on Web page. If anyone has contributions to the We b Page then email to Doug in a Word format.

Chair's report: M/S/C

Vice Chair report (Bob Glover)

-Bob's been fielding questions from tower people on some issues.

Vice chair's report M/S/C.

Chair back to Bob Glover

Provincial Executive report (Doug Gamble)

-CLC/NUPGE suspension was a big topic. AUPE was suspended for supposedly raiding another union (CUPE), even though they came to us. Brian and Doug discussed the reasons for suspension.

- Date for convention set for October 25-27/2001.

- As a result of the union strike there are 13 new reps. Seem to be good people.

- Calgary office was sold for $630,000. When mortgage for renewal comes up on the AUPE HQ, it is officially paid off.

- Remuneration for Vice-President honorarium increased by $100/month to $500/month, the increase towards RRSP's.

- A search for new Calgary office is happening. We will rent the old office until a new spot is found.

- Local rebates will be reviewed in July and will probably go up an amount related to the average negotiated increase.

- Mileage rate increased to .35/kilometer

Report is M/S/C.

Committee Reports

GSBC Negotiations (Brian Randall)

• Tower people are fearing a rumor that will have them move to a 10 and 4 shift. This issue was raised as a result of a complaint to the Labour Board. In discussions with the department the union put forward an off the record position. This off the record position did not involving working10 and 4. Some discussion ensued. Brian wants us to put out to the rank and file that the Union is just pushing a bonus and is not supporting a change to the workweek.

• Dental Plan negotiation was finally settled. We are now on a 2000 fee schedule. Amount went up 4.6%; effective this past March.

• GSBC conference call on March 20. Larry O'Connell has resigned because he moved to UNA.

Discussion on whom will be negotiating what in the Master. We need to get moving on electing members to the negotiating committee. The Committee will be elected at the Local Annual General Meeting..

• Brian wants to know what we want to do about soliciting input to find out what people want in this round of negotiation. Discussion ensued on how we should go about negotiating this time.

• Can we solicit opinion from the members on what to negotiate for on the web? There was discussion on this. Easier to do, many more results expected. Questions about getting input from staff who don't have computers, and seasonal staff who are hired too late to input their needs. Doug says we can do a mail out as well. It only cost about $700.

-Motion: that a negotiating questionnaires go out to the members, as soon as the Negotiating committee has developed one. M/S/C.

Doug moved to accept the Negotiating Report

Report was M/S/C.

Recognition of Dan MacLennan, who dropped in on meeting. He discussed the suspension; upcoming bargaining.

Bob Glover brought up a concern he has about bridging benefits between the ages of 55 and 65, if one elects to retire at 55. Dan says this is negotiable.

Break for coffee.

Delegates Report for Convention

(Available on the Local Home Page)

Report was M/S/C.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

• Fire centers: we discussed concerns. People were assigned to FC instead of applying for it. Then came out as a priority directive: fire center people go first to fires, then Forest Management, Can it be grieved if OT is being unfairly distributed in this manner?

There was a question about shifting of permanent staff. Answer: (Brian) Shifting has to be long term - at least 3 months; otherwise it is seen as just an attempt to eliminate OT. If someone is rescheduled, then Brian wants to know all the details, to see if it is done properly.

There was also had concerns about resource staff being denied fires due to wishes of Resource Manger contrary to Fire Manager.

There was a concern about compensation for forced days off after 21 or 24 days. Brian says latest reading is you get it out of Annual Leave or TOI L. Thus says PAO. Lots of concern and discussion on this, but the govn't is clear on not paying it out anymore.

Doug will direct these questions to EMAC. Brian says most of these issues aren't grievable, as OT is seen as a penalty against the employer, not as extra money for staff.

NEW BUSINESS

• Departmental Restructuring: Action Item: Brian will touch bases with his contacts in the government to see which way we are going; especially with regard to the CO's and which way some are going (i.e.; some going to Parks...do they lose their enforcement powers, etc.?)

DATE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

• May 11, 2001. This is a Friday. Tentatively scheduled for AUPE HQ.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

• Concerns about training being considered a privilege rather than a requirement, as per a recent dept. of environment policy released; Consequently, travel time will not be compensated, which seems contradictory to the MA. Question: what is the definition of training? Brian will pursue.

MEETING ADJOURNMENT AT 1235 HRS.

ATTENDEES

Doug Gamble
Bob Glover
Brian Randall
Mike Benedictson
Mike Dempsey
Pat Ronald
Michelle Shesterniak
Terry Fredrich
Norm Hawkes
Kim Bradford