Convention 2008: submit your resolutions

CEIU holds its convention in 2008 and locals wishing to make changes to our union are invited to put forward resolutions. Here is all the information you need to develop and submit the resolutions that convention delegates will consider in September.

“Be it resolved that …”

This year is a convention year for CEIU, and the year 2009 is a convention year for the PSAC. All matters dealt with by these Conventions will take the form of resolutions which are either adopted or rejected by the delegates. Below are relevant details.

1. I have some issues which I want my Union to deal with at Convention. How do I go about this?

Issues discussed at Convention may deal with union policy, social and economic conditions, the Union’s Constitution, and so on. In essence, any issue may be discussed by delegates to convention. However, no issue will be discussed unless it has been put in the form of a resolution.

2. Exactly what types of issues can be addressed by resolutions?

The range of issues which can be addressed by resolutions is almost as broad as the collective imagination of the Union’s membership. While the resolutions must be limited to actions which the Union (CEIU and/or PSAC) can undertake, they can, and often do, deal with issues as specific as changes to the Union’s Constitution and as broad as governmental economic and social policy.

3. What about collective bargaining issues?

This is an area that is sometimes confusing. Often, resolutions will be submitted which direct the Union to adopt specific bargaining demands. These are more properly addressed when the input call for bargaining demands is issued; should these be received, the Local will be advised and they will be submitted to the next bargaining round. They will not go to Convention.

Other policy-oriented items related to collective bargaining procedures will be accepted as resolutions. For example, such policy-oriented resolutions could be, among others: proposals on making items negotiable or not negotiable; policy on the designation of members of the bargaining unit; method of negotiation, etc…

4. How do I write up my resolution?

While the subject area for resolutions can be very broad, members should keep certain parameters in mind when they are constructing resolutions. For example:

(a) Consequence of your resolution:
It should be remembered that the Union is bound by any resolution that Convention adopts – that course become POLICY for the Union, or part of the Union’s Constitution until it is changed by action of another convention.

(b) The resolution must propose that the Union do something, or adopt some policy or course of action:
Resolutions that require that the Government of Canada do something, or that HRSDC/SDC, IRB, CIC or Service Canada do something will be rejected, regardless of their relevance to the membership. However, if those same resolutions instruct the Union to take whatever action is necessary to encourage the government or the employer to do something, then those same resolutions will be acceptable.

(c) The resolution must be written in a certain format:
Resolutions generally consist of two parts: The first part, beginning with “Whereas”, identifies the problem and describes the reasons why the issue is considered to be a problem.

The second part of the resolution, containing one paragraph starting with the phrase “Be it resolved”, identifies the course of action which the Union must adopt in order to address the problem.

Do not overly concern yourself with proper “wording” – the important thing is the idea. As well, the Convention committees will/may edit the resolution to ensure that it is properly worded.

If at all possible, resolutions should be kept simple. Complicated resolutions are adopted from time to time; but these resolutions are often split at Convention, and each proposed course of action or policy is voted upon separately. In many instances, it is easier to submit two or three simple resolutions, rather than one complicated one.

(d) The resolution must be submitted on the appropriate form:
Resolutions from your Local or appropriate submitting body should be typed or printed on the enclosed Resolution Form and also have to be submitted electronically. Extra copies are available from your respective CEIU office, or may be photocopied from the attached form; the form is also available on the CEIU website.

5. Who can submit resolutions?

Local Rule 14.1 indicates that Locals, provided they are in good standing, shall have the right to present resolutions to Convention. Locals which are in trusteeship, or Locals which have had their Charters revoked are excluded as they are not Locals in good standing. (These Locals are not entitled to send delegates to convention either).

Further, By-law 11.6, indicates that the National Convention shall deal with all resolutions submitted from Locals, the National Executive, and all official national, regional or district meetings of members. This means, for example, that resolutions may come to Convention from District meetings/conferences, Regional Council meetings/conferences, Regional Women’s Conferences, and National Conferences sponsored by CEIU.

6. Can I submit a resolution as an individual member?

Individual members cannot submit resolutions directly to convention in most cases. If a member has a concern which he or she wants the convention to deal with, he or she must submit it to a Local General Meeting, or to some other official meeting of members, and convince those present at that meeting that his or her idea is worth supporting.

The only instance where an individual member may present a resolution to Convention, is the case where the member is an accredited delegate to Convention, and where he or she is presenting a late or emergency resolution (see # 9 below).

7. Do our resolutions have to be sent in by a certain date?

Yes. All resolutions must be received in the CEIU National Office in Ottawa no later than March 28, 2008, 6:00 p.m. (Ottawa time) in order to be eligible.

8. Why is it necessary for our resolutions to be received by a deadline date?

By-law 11.14 indicates that copies of the agenda of the convention, and of resolutions which will be considered by the Convention must be sent to accredited delegates and members of the National Executive no less than 30 days prior to the opening date of the convention. In order to accommodate this 30-day time frame, By-law 11.8 provides that resolutions must reach the National Office no less than five months prior to the start of the Convention.

9. What if a particular issue arises after the specified deadline date?

By-law 11.7 stipulates that any accredited delegate shall have the right to submit to the convention an emergency or late resolution in writing on a matter of urgent concern to the welfare of the members, and one which was not capable of prior submission through the normal channels. However, it must be duly seconded by another accredited delegate, and it must be acceptable to either the Chair or to a majority of the accredited delegates present. An “Emergency Resolution” is defined as a resolution that deals with events and issues that arise after the deadline date. A “Late Resolution” is defined as a resolution that arrives after the deadline date. It should be noted that these resolutions will be considered only after business listed on the Convention agenda has been dealt with, unless the delegates vote to amend the agenda.

10. What happens to our resolutions once they’re received by National Office?

Prior to Convention, all resolutions are translated, sorted by topic, and referred to one of four Convention Committees (Constitution/By-laws, Finance, PSAC, General). The Committees review the resolutions and prepare a report containing recommendations on the various resolutions. The resolutions and reports are then debated at Convention.

11. How do we make sure we don’t submit a resolution that’s already been adopted in the past?

A copy of the CEIU’s Resolutions of Record are being sent with this mailing. Locals/submitting bodies are urged to consult this document so as not to submit resolutions when they are already a matter of record – unless they want a further action on a particular resolution.

So, in summary….., if members have a specific concern which they want the Convention to address, they should:

• Submit the issue to a duly-constituted forum of members where it must be adopted by a majority of members present.
• Put it in the form of a resolution, i.e.: “Whereas…” “Be It Resolved…”
• Type or print the resolution on the appropriate resolution form.
• Ensure the resolution form is sent (by mail or fax) so that the CEIU National Office in Ottawa receives it by the specified deadline date, i.e. March 28/08, 6:00 p.m. (Ottawa time)
• Send the mandatory electronic version of your resolution to guillej@ceiu-seic.ca

Remember
– This Union is your Union –
Your resolutions will provide its direction for the next three years

Attachments:

• Resolution Form CEIU/C5-08
• Resolutions of Record