75th ARC - Atlantic Regional Director’s Report

On behalf of the Executive I acknowledge and thank the regional office staff for their work with the executive and for all members in the region: Paul Hartigan, Barry Hébert, Max Way, Catherine Pinks and Donna Davis. Without the staff support the Executive receives, we would not be able to function with the precision and expertise.

The goals set last year by the Executive were reviewed and new goals were set. These goals, we feel, are measurable and attainable.  The goals are set after a review of the strategic goals of the board of directors and analyzing how they can be relevant and beneficial to region. The board’s strategic objectives have three main characteristics Value to Members, Enhanced Influence and Model Organization.

For this year, the Executive has set the following goals:

1. Profile a branch each year at the ARC and follow up with an article in the          Spring/Summer Newsletter.

2. Increase the number of lunch and learns provided in the region.

3. Enhance and promote our two awards in the region, Executive of the Year and Steward of the year

During the past year, I have been invited to and spoke at some Branch and Group AGMs in the region.  I appreciate the opportunity to speak with the members whether in a group or one on one. This provides the membership a chance to ask questions and gain information on regional and national activities of the union.

As your Regional Director, I have participated at the board of directors meetings of the Institute.  The board on average meets eight to nine times a year, which is approximately every six to eight weeks. The board starts each new calendar year with a strategic planning session attached to its meeting. The board is in the final year of the strategic directions that were set at the beginning of 2016 and at the strategic planning all the directions are reviewed for progress and or completion. The institute has grown and developed with the implementation of these directions on both the membership and organizational sides. Both aspects of the institute must be able to work together and having strategic objectives that can be applied on both sides of the house will allow that to happen.

Last June I attended, as an invited guest, the Atlantic PSAC triennial convention.  It is interesting to note that the issues they were raising and the resolutions that were coming forward for consideration do not differ from our issues.

Governance of the Institute remains an issue with which the Board of Directors is working on. There is a task force on governance made up from members of the board, to review the governance reports and sessions that the institute has done over the last several years and bring recommendations to the board.  Governance seems to be something that all board of director’s struggle with as the organizations develops and changes.

Sadly, Phoenix is still a major issue that the institute is trying to deal with. While some progress has been made by the unions, this is going to create a lot of work for the union for years to come.  The number of cases has not decreased since I reported to you last year, if anything the caseload has grown.  While the government has put money towards replacing this system, that is years away.  If you or any of coworkers are having pay issues, please contact your local steward, the regional office, myself or the president directly.  We will do our best to provide you with assistance to finding resolutions to your problems. 

As a board member, I served as Chair of the Training and Education committee (TEC), a member of the Pension Committee and other duties as they are assigned at the board.  The TEC has started the implementation of the new training model, the committee is still working on many of the details of this and it will take a few years to get to full implementation of the new training model.

Thank you to the membership for the support given to me as your Director.  Your feedback helps me develop in this position and assists me in meeting the needs of the region both at the regional and national level.

In solidarity,

Kimberley Skanes

Director, Atlantic Region