First day: members tackle changes to the union’s constitution

In its first day of deliberation, CEIU’s convention made changes to sections of its constitution (known as the By-Laws). Before turning to the constitution however, delegates marched in a loud demonstration in Gatineau in support of our bargaining team.

Here are the decisions taken by the delegates on September 12. To view the full text of each resolution considered by the delegates, follow the link provided.

DAILY PROCEEDINGS – CEIU 2008 CONVENTION

SEPTEMBER 12, 2008 (FRIDAY)

HILTON LAC-LEAMY, GATINEAU

MORNING SESSION:

9:00 Formal Opening of Convention

The Chairperson of the Host Committee, Pierrette Vaillant-Pierre, welcomed the delegates, observers and guests and introduced the members of CEIU’s National Executive.

Sister Vaillant-Pierre introduced Elder Albert Dumont, poet and community activist who has been walking the “Red Road” for all of his 19 years. He has dedicated his life to pursuing spiritual and practical issues including the protection of human rights and the needs of those in his community particularly those of its younger members.

She then introduced of the Host Committee: Francois Gadoury, from HQ, Anne Johnson from Gatineau-Hull. She gave special thanks to Guy Boulanger from CEIU’s Montreal office for his assistance with meeting and transporting delegates to the convention hotel.

CEIU National President, Sister Jeannette Meunier-McKay officially opened the Convention and thanked the Host Committee for their hard work. She invited Sister Francine Vezina to read the harassment policy. The three members of the Convention Harassment Committee were introduced to the delegates: Rose Pitre, Robert Strang and Bev Thurstan.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of members who passed away since the last convention.

The National President then introduced the following guests:

John Gordon PSAC President
Jeannie Baldwin, PSAC REVP for the Atlantic Region
Betty Bannon, UTE
Bob Campbell, UTE
Maxime Lemay, CEIU Member
Kay Sinclair, REVP BC Yukon
Tony Tilley, NHWU
Gary Trivett, NHWU
Daniel Kinsella, National Component

The National President introduced Susan Finn, Accommodation Coordinator, her Assistant, Julie Joanisse and Guy Boulanger.

Delegates were advised that the convention proceedings on Monday September 15 would commence at 08:30 am.

Adoption of Agenda and Hours of Sessions

m/s Tony Nicolas/Paul Croes
That the agenda be adopted as proposed.
CARRIED

Adoption of Rules of Order

m/s Jocelyne Bordage/Bev Bonner
That the CEIU rules of Order be adopted.
CARRIED

At this point, Sister Meunier-McKay introduced the members of the Credentials Committee: Jacques Perrin(chair), Iris Kiryk, Barb Kerekes and Alan Lennon.

Ratification of Appointments to Convention Committees
m/s Sam Wiese/Noreen Klassen

Speech by the National President

Report of National President
m/s Jocelyne Bordage/Paul Croes
That the report of the National President be adopted.
CARRIED

First Report of Credentials Committee
156 Delegates, 44 Observers, 4 Guests.

m/s Jacques Perrin/Iris Kiryk
That the Credentials Committee Report be adopted.
CARRIED

Report of National Executive Vice-President

m/s Bev Bonner Lise levesque
That the National Executive Vice President Report be adopted.
CARRIED

The delegates and observers then broke for a noon time rally in support of their collective bargaining team.

AFTERNOON SESSION:

13:30 Report of Credentials Committee

156 Delegates, 44 Observers, 5 Guests.

m/s Lambert/Kiryk
That the Credentials Committee Report be adopted.
CARRIED

Delegate Frances Russo challenged the ruling of the Election Committee in regard to the election of National Vice-Presidents in the Ontario Region. She was instructed by the chair to provide all relevant documents for her challenge to the Chair of the National Elections Committee for review.

Report of the By-Laws Committee

A-24 Election of National President and National Vice-President

NON-CONCURRENCE – DEFEATED

m/s MacDonald/Bordage
That A-24 be referred to the Committee with instructions for a recommendation of concurrence.

CONCURRENCE – CARRIED

A-7S National Executive Vice-President
NON-CONCURRENCE – CARRIED

Report of Nominations and Elections Chairperson

Sister Barbara Kerekes, Chair of the National Elections Committee, informed delegates that the elections for the positions of National President, National Executive Vice-President and Alternate to the National Executive Vice-President, would be held on the morning of Monday September 15. Sister Kerekes then announced the following nominations:

National President

PJ Finczak
Doris Giguere
Jeannette Meunier-McKay
Irene Psyllias

National Executive Vice-President

Doris Giguere
Steve McCuaig
Norm Murray
Stephen Purcell
Christine Walker

Sister Kerekes also informed delegates that nominations for these positions would be accepted from the floor on the day of the elections.

She also informed the floor that an all candidates night would be held Sunday, September 14 from 6:30 pm to 08:00 pm, and invited delegates and observers to submit written questions in the boxes provided at the union convention office. Questions will be randomly selected from among those submitted. Candidates will be given an opportunity to make a three minute address.

The chair was challenged regarding Resolution A-31, specifically the decision not to bring it to the floor along with other resolutions that could affect the elections scheduled for September 15.

The chair stated that A-31, if passed, would not take effect until after this convention and therefore could have no effect on the elections on September 15.

The chair was SUSTAINED.

A-4S Addition of three alternate National Vice-Presidents for Headquarters Region.

CONCURRENCE – By consent of the floor A-4S was put over until after the Finance Committee had presented its budget. The convention continued to deal with Resolutions from the By-Laws Committee but exclusively those with no cost implications.

A-14 Assistant NVP rather than alternate NVP.

CONCURRENCE – DEFEATED

A-15 Second alternate

CONCURRENCE – The floor referred A-15 back to the Committee with instructions to amend the resolution to provide for the election of three alternates to each position and to provide for further elections only in the event that one alternate remains in a given position.

A-16 CEIU By-Law 15

m/s Fargey/Fagon
That the motion be divided to deal separately with each “Be it resolved” – DEFEATED

CONCURRENCE – CARRIED

Delegate Fargey asked to be recorded as voting against the main motion.

A-17 Compulsory Written NVP Reports

First Be it resolved: CONCURRENCE – CARRIED

A-27 PSAC EOC representatives for CEIU
CONCURRENCE – CARRIED

Delegate Wiese rose to give notice of an emergency resolution. The chair advised that any such motion must be provided in writing and translated before it can be considered by the convention.