Regina AC Minutes (Jan 10 2012)

4.         New Business

1.  Financial Report

Lorrie gave the bank balance of $3717.41.  Gave a brief description of the last few deposits and withdrawals.  Lorrie will contact the other two financial people from the RWC and the Human Rights Committee to prepare for an audit.

 2.  Shaun Brennand gave update on the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.  We have tried to get a petition Campaign against Katherine Swift that she stop attacking our Public Service.  Katherine Swift is trying to get rid of pensions and stop complaining about severance.  Shaun described the tweets that Katherine sends.

 3.  Member’s plan - How many people completed the survey - everyone here at the meeting raised their hands.

 4.  Next meeting here in Regina will tentatively be in March 30/31 or April 13/14.  Robyn Benson will be invited and will depend on scheduling.

 5.  Fran Moore retired and has been replaced by Trina Runs at Casino Regina.  Kevin King in the Calgary geographic stepped down.

 6.  Federal Budget usually comes out in early March.  Connie - they are giving the Senior Management bonuses with the money they are saving.  The unions need to know this.  Steve Van Opstal - people should be concerned about Catipillar.  Connie - know one knows until it affects them personally.  Lisa Garnier - Don’t Cut Our Jobs - very good turnout on the petition.  Connie - How is Milt’s department doing as his department has been cutting positions.  Milt - have to cut by 10%, whereas they have been cutting and grinding all along.  Even the Senior managers aren’t sure where the cuts are coming from.  They are talking about contracting out and privatizing.  Connie - niece, someone is on maternity leave and there is no one there to help her, no service.  The reason no one is there is because the government in power is cutting their budget.  There was a threat out of the new bill, they hired 30 new MP’s at a time while people were being cut.  Connie - would like to know that PSAC is going to do about it.  Are they going to wait until people are all gone or are they going to be proactive instead of reactive.  Lisa - PSAC tried to get support but there was no support.  Steve - no one comes to rally’s.  Connie - they always hold rally’s when members are working.  Milt - With the Ag component, where it is going to fall.  We are fighting food safety, and the Wheat Board.  You can get all kinds of dollars for Casuals but none for permanent workers.  Melissa - travel status, self service kiosks were discussed and she still stands in line, but some are shifted over to the self-service kiosks.  The older generation wants to go and stand in line.

 7.  PRC - signature campaign was a failure.  We don’t know what to expect - might be

5 % to 10% cutbacks but we don’t know.  Milt - we have full time work force adjustment committees and they are working in full force.  Bruce Cook - they have their 1st meeting coming up for the workforce adjustment committee.  Melissa - staff on 1 year leave have never been replaced and juggling the duties between the 2 land services people.  Shaun - in order to monitor this we need to have site visits to see what is going on.  Melissa - they are creating an entire department. 

8.  TC Bargaining - couple of hot issues on the table because of military service.  You become a priority and you don’t get to carry over your leave credits you start from brand new.  TC group is torn - abuse, staffing.  Connie has a member on priority because of this the 4 weeks went back down to 3 weeks because of starting over again.

Milt - that group is a small subset within that group.   If this goes to a vote the membership will not go for this.  At the end of the day, we want to give someone who is coming into our group this, it’s not just the EG’s its everyone.  Connie - Area Council would be nice to show support somehow to the TC group.  Connie - other hot issues - it would be nice to write a letter of solidarity and had it mailed to each member.  PSAC could mail to the TC membership.  TC group is a small table.  Milt - Customs group is a small group also.  Steve - a flag or banner would be a great idea.  Steve - are they making any progress?  Milt - there was a resolution at convention once your in arbitrary bindness you are always in arbitrary bindness.

 9.  Conference Call - Lisa - presentation - Swift Current - Louise and Lisa will be coordinating to visit them to discuss January 19th in Swift Current at noon and Regina meeting that evening.  Milt - having a lot of TC members, they say lets not sign for anything.  Lisa - it will be interesting to see where the groups will go - one group says Customs are prepared to pound the pavement to do whatever they need to do.  Bruce - made a motion to send a letter of support to the member of the TC group.  Lisa - there are Parks, CFIA, CFIU and the TC’s.  Lisa - there is no money in the budget to pay for postage.  The cost may come out to be about $300 - $400 and no more than $500.  Connie seconds Bruce’s motion.  Milt - would like to send a letter sent to the Bargaining team members saying we support them.  Richard - I agree with the timing of sending it out.  Milt - it’s a good message to send out saying you’re not forgotten.  Melissa - do you think we could ask Robin to give us a hand.  Steve - would like a “Day of Action”.  Lisa - its great to say you have our support.  What is your support exactly.  Steve - If we go with this letter we have to be there.  Connie - why do we have to be reactive instead of proactive.  Right now we tell each one of them and let them know that we do support them.  Close discussion.  All those in favour.  Carried.  “Spend up to $500 for costs and develop a letter and send it to Jeffery Vialis in Communications in Winnipeg.

10.  We should start thinking - what are we going to do - start planning now.  Canada Post and Pay Equity - they will be getting a payout, 8 UPC members.  Connie - maybe we could invite them for cake to our next meeting.