2024 Kingston Branch Annual General Meeting - May 15, 2024
Meeting Welcoming and Opening Remarks
Move to approve the Agenda:
Viola Conner
Seconded Sohail Uamr-Khitab
Accepted
Move to approve Minutes of last Annual General Meeting
Viola Conner
Seconded Janet Roloson
Accepted
Discussion of Finances and Treasurer’s report: Leasha Fuller
Move to approve financials as of current known state
Jim Young
Seconded Dan Guthrie
Accepted
Branch Vice President Presentation
Presentation of guest speakers Sean O’Reilly (National Vice President of PIPSC) and Eric Massée (Bargaining President & VP of SH Group):
Eric Massée discussed challenges of negotiating with 4,400 SH members, 12 professions across Canada across the different organizations. Fighting for a market adjustment. End of April, beginning of May were in negotiations. Signed off on nonmonetary issues in Collective Agreement.
Treasury Board is saying they have no money to move forward; PIPSC is looking at salaries in other groups who have signed in provinces and comparable professional situations to ask for more money. General market adjustment (general economic increase) will not go above 12.5%; on route for arbitration. Will need to prioritize five demands if go the arbitration route. Asking for comparable averages in negotiations. Not just market adjustment, but catching up on salaries. Drop-in session at end of May/June bargaining session; June 5 & 6 in evening EST 8:00. If go to arbitration, will begin in the fall and will be resolved by 2025; will happen quickly. Nothing has been signed as of yet. If members have a question, they can send it to members of the SH bargaining team. Information is not on the website but will be available at the town hall call.
Sean O’Reilly stressed the importance of having a nonwork email to receive PIPSC information. Key issues we’re facing today at PIPSC: just surpassed 80,000 members, which fluctuates month to month with retirements, new members etc. 4,400 SH group; 22,000 IT group; RCO small group; AFS large group; PIPSC represents people provincially and federally. Five major things PIPSC deals with: bargaining; representation; lawyers for judicial reviews; government relations; & member engagement. Five major issues, we will discuss two tonight: return to offices/workplace; Phoenix. Mandating people back to work 3 days a week come September 2024; there was no consultation with PIPSC on this issue. As a union we are fighting back. Support all parts of our union. We need to stand up and fight. Phoenix – next gen pay is being looked into; going on 8 years with Phoenix and the backlog of cases keeps going up. Cases from 2016 are still in the system and have not been treated. $135 million from federal budget is being put towards Phoenix. There is a Phoenix help team at PIPSC which will triage issues. Repayment letter: some letters are wrong and don’t make sense; make sure to reply, ask questions if it doesn’t make sense; give them proof if you can within time period to make them aware that it’s a mistake; they should get back to you with more information. If it makes sense; pay back the money according to the choices. Repayment limits if within 6 years, becomes statute barred, don’t have to pay it back; still considered a debt to the crown. Crown has picked a new vendor for pay system; still a lot of work before this comes into effect.
Canada Life – a lot of the issues in the fall have been resolved. One of the biggest problems was a lack of service standards was signed. Section at PIPSC to help with benefits, contact them. If have “vanilla claims,” eye glasses, orthotics have been resolved – problems continue with nongeneric medications, biosimilar drugs. MSH is the provider for outside the country; trying to push to maintain standards. Over 7 years; pay back the gross; can readjust tax return that year for overpayments; since 2018, only have to pay net back, but it depends on what the overpayment letter says; it’s more based on what the letter says. Problems happen in Phoenix when have to go back in time to change something; if pay issues are put in on time, it's processed properly; employers need to do the paperwork in a timely manner; stewards get on HR to get paperwork done on time!!! Need direct manager to push HR to get job done. If over 10% for overpayment, member should be informed. Members can go to their MP or Deputy Minister, or severe cases can escalate with union ($0 pay or tens of thousands of dollars) for pay issues. MP, MPP, or municipal counsellor – we should be talking to about issues (it doesn’t matter what party they belong to)! Escalate (3 levels) if claim that was previously approved of through Sun Life is denied with Canada Life; appeal; get in touch with pension & benefits at PIPSC (see pshcp.ca also). There is a loan to members policy through PIPSC that would be dealt with through Employment Relations Officer in hardship cases.
Concerns with service to members today (e.g., access to EROs). There are many ways to tackle this: better training to stewards; increase number of EROs.
What is PIPSC doing about contracting out? Federal public service in budget said they want to decrease public servants by 5,000 people. IT group was very active on this front. Contracting out group at all levels was started, fizzled out, then is restarting back up. PIPSC is trying to fight back.
Dinner break
Cindy provided local update pre elections.
Nominations for Branch Vice-President: Cindy Gagnon
was nominated by Dan Guthrie
Elected by acclamation
Cindy Gagnon accepted the position of Vice-President
Elections for Treasurer:
Leasha Fuller nominated by Jennifer van de Ven
Elected by acclamation
Leasha Fuller accepted the position of Treasurer by acclamation
Elections for member at large positions (4):
Nominated were: Rob Hammer; Sam Bilton; Kelly De Torres; Jess Whidden; Dan Guthrie.
Jess Whiddon, Kelly De Torres, Rob Hammer, Dan Guthrie all accepted nominations.
Elected were Rob Hammer, Kelly De Torres, Jess Whidden, Dan Guthrie.
Leasha Fuller made a motion to destroy ballots, seconded by Viola Conner.
Question and answer opportunity with Cindy Gagnon
Meeting Adjourned at 1945 hrs.