Convention brings improved representation and services, with a dues reduction!

(posted October 28, 2005)

Improved representation. Increased services. And a dues decrease .

Not too many unions can make that claim. But, that's precisely what emerged from last August's Triennial National Convention - the Agriculture Union's supreme governing body

The three-day Convention saw delegates from Locals across the country meet in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador , to discuss issues, set policy and elect our national and regional leadership.

Not surprisingly, the last few weeks have been hectic as our Union 's officers and staff worked to implement the delegates' numerous decisions.

Structure Committee Recommendations Adopted

 

The report of the Agriculture Union Structure Committee took centre-place among the many resolutions considered by delegates. The Committee, put into place at our 2002 Convention, was mandated to explore ways to strengthen the links between elected officers and the membership.

The Structure Committee's membership reflected both a depth of experience and breadth of knowledge of our Union: Deborah Forsythe, currently Second National Executive Vice- President; Fred Coates, Agriculture Union National President for the decade ending 1993; Gilles Pelletier, former Director; Susan Giampietri, former PSAC Vice- President; and Sylvie Rochon, Agriculture Union Service Officer.

The Committee's recommendations, presented to Convention delegates for their consideration, were based on lengthy and detailed consultation with officers, staff, activists and rank-and-file members.

Key Structure Committee recommendations adopted include:

•  That the position of First National Executive Vice-President become full-time and be based in the National Capital Region. This was urged in the face of ongoing government restructuring and greatly increased calls for consultation with our various employers. Brother Bob Kingston has already relocated to Ottawa and is working from the National Office.

•  That the regional structure of our Union be changed as follows:

           - the Eastern Ontario and National Capital Region continue to represent Locals 32 (Kapuskasing), 67

             (Nepean ) and 75 ( Ottawa );

           - a new Central Ontario Region represent Locals 14 ( Toronto ), 15 ( Hamilton ), 26 ( Belleville ), 77

             (Guelph ) and 00330 ( Toronto );

           - the former Western Ontario Region be renamed Southwestern Ontario Region and represent                       Locals 16 ( London ), 17 ( Delhi ), 18 (Harrow), 19 (Windsor) and 33 ( Kitchener ); and

           - the former Northwestern Ontario Region become part of an expanded Manitoba, Northwestern                     Ontario and Nunavut Region and represent Locals 30 (Thunder Bay), 55 (Brandon), 56 (Morden), 57                 (Winnipeg), 71 (Winnipeg CGC) and 73 (Winnipeg P&M).

•  That a National Director position (along with an Alternate) be created for our members employed by the Canadian Grain Commission, to ensure that their particular needs and issues are fully represented on our National Council. Brother Curt Elash was elected to this new position at this year's Convention. (Similar National Director positions already exist for our members at the Public Service Commission/Canada School of Public Service and the Department of National Defence.)

•  That the National Directors be responsible for representing their members at national union-employer meetings, such as union-management consultation and health and safety.

•  That additional encouragement and assistance be provided Locals to ensure maximum participation at our Union 's Regional Seminars. This includes additional funding for both small and isolated Locals, and for our Canadian Grain Commission members.

 

New Faces on our Executive and Council

 

Our 2005 Convention saw a significant changes in the faces seated around our executive table. The much-resisted retirement of R.S. 'Pani' Panickar saw Deborah Forsythe move up a rank to fill his position as Second National Vice-President. Denis Sicard in his turn was elected Third National Vice-President. Howard Willems, Regional Vice-President for Northern Saskatchewan , replaced Brother Sicard as Fourth National Vice-President.

In addition to Brother Panikar, four National Council members also stepped down after years of valuable service: Steve Kaytor; Ernie Mazepa; Madeleine David; and Ruth McDiarmid. These retirements, plus a number of contested elections, resulted in the election of eight new Regional Vice-Presidents and three new National Directors:

Life memberships were presented to Brother Panickar, Brother Gilles Pelletier and to Sister Henriette Pollon for having performed "exemplary services for the membership". Life Memberships are the highest honour our Union can bestow on a member; there can only be 10 at any one time. (Sister Pollon has also been recognized by the PSAC for having been one of the longest-serving employees in the history of the federal public service.)

Dues Reduced

Our Union was able to implement the many improvements to service noted above within the context of a reduced budget that saw a decrease in union dues an average of 0.22 cent per member per month. In this day and age, with employer actions demanding greater vigilance and activism, this reduction was an impressive commentary on the Agriculture Union's careful stewardship of our members' dues.

Solidarity and Sociability

Union activism also spilled out of the Convention hall as delegates joined the St. John's picket line of the then-locked-out employees of CBC-Radio Canada . As well, more than $350 raised from the sale of Agriculture Union T-shirts was donated to Iris Kirby House, a shelter for battered women and children. Proceeds - more than $1,500 - from a silent auction, along with soaps and shampoos from delegates' hotel rooms, were donated to Naomi House, a shelter for young women.

Of course, the Convention wasn't all work. An energetic Host Committee ensured that all delegates were exposed to the warmth and hospitality that so characterizes Newfoundlanders. All at Convention were deeply appreciative of the contagious spirit and hard work of the Committee members: Sean Glavine; Gia Tran; Roy Russell; Tom St. Croix; Frank Hender; and Fabian Murphy (Regional Vice-President for the Eastern Atlantic and himself a resident of 'The Rock').

Last, but not least, Convention also elected Agriculture Union delegates to next May's Triennial Convention of our bargaining agent - the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

All in all, our 2005 Triennial National Convention well reflected the Agriculture Union's reputation for progressive policies and superior service to the membership.