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CULE Convention Resolutions – General

REPORT OF THE GENERAL RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE TO THE CULE CONVENTION JANUARY 21 AND 22, 2006, CUBA.

Lisa Garnier acted as Chair of the Committee on the initial review of resolutions. Bruce Campbell is Chair replacing Lisa Garnier in December, 2005 following Lisa’s election as the CULE president.

Committee Members

Janice Grant Patrick Bragg Mary McNeil

The Committee work was completed via Conference call and Email.

Any decision of the committee is subject to ratification by the delegates to the 2006 CULE Convention. The Committee established its priorities as follows:

  1. Resolution #16 Concurrence

  2. #17 Concurrence

  3. #28 Concurrence

  4. #29 Concurrence

  5. #31 Concurrence

  6. #12 Non-concurrence

  7. #13 Non-concurrence

  8. #23 Non-concurrence

  9. #24 Non-concurrence

  10. #25 Non-concurrence

  11. #26 Non-concurrence

  12. #27 Non-concurrence

  13. #30 Non-concurrence

The report begins with the Committee’s Priorities. Committee Concurrence resolutions are first in numerical order followed by non-concurrence again in numerical order.

The Chairperson of the Committee would like to thank each member of the Committee for their hard work and contribution during the deliberations and finalization of the report.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the committee

Bruce Campbell, Director, Prairies

Canadian Union of Labour Employees (CULE) General Resolutions

Resolution 16 – Observer Status

Originator: Monika Duggal, Winnipeg RO, Shelley Jamieson, Winnipeg RO

WHEREAS, the CULE Executive has observer status at PSAC Member Conventions; and

WHEREAS, a cost/benefit analysis may prove that having more than one observer at the PSAC convention is unwarranted in light of the fact that a number of CULE members are already in attendance at convention in their role as employees.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT CULE Observer status at PSAC Convention be limited to one CULE Executive Member voted upon by the CULE Executive; and

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT such CULE Executive provide a brief written end of day report to the CULE Membership on the PSAC Triennial Convention proceedings in light of its impact on the CULE membership.

Recommendation: concurrence

Resolution 17 – Convention

Originators: Monika Duggal, Winnipeg RO, Shelley Jamieson, Winnipeg RO

WHEREAS, the members of the Canadian Union of Labour Employees have agreed to hold a pilot convention in Cuba; and

WHEREAS, CULE members will assess the merits of conducting union business in a convention environment; and

WHEREAS, the membership may determine that conventions should be held on a recurring basis; and

WHEREAS, CULE is a Canadian union that bears the responsibility of protecting the interests, rights and privileges of not only its members but also of Canadian union brothers and sisters; and

WHEREAS, CULE as a business entity has an obligation to conduct itself in an ethical manner by supporting first and foremost the Canadian economy.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that all future CULE conventions be held within Canada at a unionized facility.

Recommendation: concurrence

Resolution 28 – Policy Paper

Originator: Jack Rudd, Vancouver RO

WHEREAS, CULE members have an interest in ensuring that the human resources of the PSAC are managed in a manner which honors union principles and creates a healthy work life balance.

WHEREAS, the work of CULE members is one of human resources that the PSAC manages, and

WHEREAS, most management systems were created to maximize corporate profit objectives;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT CULE develop a policy paper which outlines how CULE members could be managed in a way which recognized union principles, creates a healthy workplace and which contributes to a management system where all the participants can have their legitimate needs met.

Recommendation: concurrence

Resolution 29 – Co-ordination of Bargaining Demands

Originators: Gail Chafe, Calgary RO, Maggie Armstrong, Calgary RO

WHEREAS, CULE prepares and submits bargaining demands before AEU; and

WHEREAS, this has resulted in AEU having, in some cases, better language in their collective agreement, and

WHEREAS, coalition bargaining would give both units more strength during negotiations

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT CULE attempt to co-ordinate their bargaining demands and bargaining timetable with AEU, prior to presentation to the Employer and prior to commencement of negotiations for either of these unions.

Recommendation: concurrence

Resolution 31 – Picket Line Protocol

Originators: Gail Chafe, Calgary RO, Maggie Armstrong, Calgary RO

WHEREAS, CULE now has both CULE and AEU members working within the regions; and

WHEREAS, a strike by either of these units could cause considerable upheaval and animosity within a Regional Office,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT a picket line policy and/or regulations be negotiated between CULE and AEU at the commencement of bargaining; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT such picket line policy be distributed to the parties well in advance of any such strike action/s.

Recommendation: concurrence

Resolution 12 – Standing Finance Committee

Originator: Monika Duggal, Winnipeg RO, Shelley Jamieson, Winnipeg

WHEREAS, the CULE Executive have absolute responsibility for the financial resources of the CULE Membership; and

WHEREAS, the task of allocating resources in a comprehensive manner is onerous, particularly as it applies to the ever changing Executive; and

WHEREAS, the membership should take ownership for the financial direction of CULE.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a Standing Finance Committee (SFC) comprised of the Treasurer and one other CULE Executive Member along with 3 members-at-large be struck within one month of this convention; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the SFC establishes the manner in which the financial resources and obligations of CULE are applied including but not limited establishing a yearly budget and to determining dues percentages for the following items:

The Strike Fund Liability Protection Short & Long-Term Investments.

Recommendation: non-concurrence

Rationale: The executive have been given the authority to make financial decisions on behalf of the membership who elected them.

Resolution 13- Honorarium for Webmaster

Originator: Heather Longstaff, Saskatoon RO

WHEREAS, the webmaster dedicates an enormous amount of personal time to updating the CULE website;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT CULE give a yearly honorarium, amount to be decided by the CULE Executive, to the webmaster.

Recommendation: non-concurrence

Rationale: Many of our members donate/volunteer their own time for committees and/or union activities.

Resolution 23 – PSAC Triennial Convention – Observer Status

Originator: May Saunders, Edmonton RO

WHEREAS CULE has observer status at PSAC Conventions; and

WHEREAS it can be very expensive if more than one officer attends; and

WHEREAS PSAC Conventions are always held in a region where CULE has Directors.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT PSAC Convention attendance be limited to the Director or their Alternate for the region where the PSAC Convention is being held.

Recommendation: non-concurrence

Rationale: as this resolution is very similar to Resolution # 16 which the recommendation of the committee was concurrence.

Resolution 24 – CULE Convention

Originators: Gail Chafe, Calgary RO, Maggie Armstrong, Calgary RO

WHEREAS, CULE’s first convention is being held outside of Canada; and

WHEREAS, that decision had caused some division within CULE; and

WHEREAS, CULE is a Canadian Union and should support Canadian workers; and

WHEREAS, the cost of holding a convention outside of Canada has caused untold problems (i.e. due to cost, due to Revenue Canada Regulations, etc.)

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT if and when CULE holds future CULE Conventions, that they be held inside of Canada.

Recommendation: non-concurrence

Rationale: as this resolution is very similar to Resolution # 17 which the recommendation of the committee was concurrence.

Resolution 25 – PSAC Triennial Convention – CULE Executive Attendance

Originators: Gail Chafe, Calgary RO, Maggie Armstrong, Calgary RO

WHEREAS, CULE has observer status at PSAC Conventions; and

WHEREAS, it can be very expensive if more than one officer attends;

And

WHEREAS, PSAC Conventions are always held in a region where CULE has a Director and an Alternate.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT PSAC Convention attendance be limited to the Director and/or their Alternate for the region where the PSAC Convention is being held; and

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such Director and/or his Alternate provide a written daily report to the CULE Executive on the PSAC Triennial Convention proceedings.

Recommendation: non-concurrence

Rationale: as this resolution is very similar to Resolution # 16 which the recommendation of the committee was concurrence.

Resolution 26 – Voting Procedures

Originator: May Saunders, Edmonton RO

WHEREAS, votes have recently been conducted using the e-mail system which is the employer’s property, and the ballots cast by e-mail, and

WHEREAS, there is no confidentiality for individual email ballots

BE IT RESOLVED THAT all ballots be cast on paper.

Recommendation: non-concurrence

Rationale: The current by-laws state (Section 9 A). Election of Officers shall be held by a vote by mail. (Secton 9 G). All elections shall be by secrect ballot and decided by a simple majority. The current regulations therefore address the concern.

Resolution 27 – Hospitality Suites

Originator: May Saunders, Edmonton RO

WHEREAS, Employer generated staff functions has always allowed for the after hours use of the meeting facility; and

WHEREAS, not all CULE members are in attendance; and

WHEREAS, a CULE Hospitality Suite is not used to conduct CULE business.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT CULE no longer fund CULE hospitality suites.

Recommendation: non-concurrence

Rationale: Current practice is only to provide space for members to meet and not to provide complimentary alcoholic beverages. The expenditure is not a one person decision and controls are sufficient.

Resolution 30 – Standardized Voting Procedures

Originators: Gail Chafe, Calgary RO, Maggie Armstrong, Calgary RO

WHEREAS, votes have recently been conducted using CULE’s website and/or using the email system, which is the employer’s property, and the allot cast by e-mail; and

WHEREAS, there is no confidentiality for individual using this system; and

WHEREAS, there have been some very short turn around times to return ballots due to members being on leave or out of the office.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT all ballots be cast using secret ballot, via mail, and using realistic return deadlines.

Recommendation: non-concurrence

Rationale: We understand that there are concerns with how voting takes place, however the adding term “realistic” to what is currently in place will not provide clarification or rules and procedures.

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