Hamilton CRA-AFS Subgroup and Hamilton CRA Branch Minutes of AGM - Thursday December 7, 2023
Meeting was preceded by social hour and dinner at The Grand Olympia in Stoney Creek.
Meeting was called to order at 7 pm by Tony D’Amico, President of the Hamilton CRA Branch on behalf of both the Branch and the Hamilton AFS Subgroup.
Tony started off the meeting with a land acknowledgement.
Approval of Agenda as per Notice of Meeting
Tony D’Amico asked that a Motion be made to accept the Agenda.
|
Moved: |
Ward Cluff
|
Seconded: |
Allan Laaksonen |
Carried |
Guest Speaker: John Purdie:
John is the Director of Ontario PIPSC, the Chair of Finance, and on the Board of Directors for PIPSC.
Recently the staff at Headquarters unionized and just received a contract.
At the moment, the budget for PIPSC has a $XX.XM deficit but it has been approved and he assures members that PIPSC is stable. It is larger now because of the extra salaries. They need funds for training Stewards and negotiating. John spoke about initiatives and things PIPSC are involved with. They joined the Labour Day Parade this past September. They are travelling to more offices to meet with members and promote PIPSC. PIPSC supported PSAC while striking by walking with them and donating food. They had Steward Council and trained Stewards this year in Niagara Falls and Tony D’Amico was awarded Steward of the Year. They are hoping to have 2 training courses for Stewards next year, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. They also trained Treasurers and Executive this year.
They created the PIPSC Young Professionals to support young staff.
They do not plan to hire more EROs, even though they are needed. Currently PIPSC has over 74,000 members.
Adoption of Minutes of previous Annual General Meeting
Tony D’Amico asked that a motion be made to accept the Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting, copies of which are located on the tables.
|
Moved: |
Ward Cluff
|
Seconded: |
Rehan Shahid |
Carried |
Business arising from the last Meeting
Nothing
Treasurer’s Report
For the sake of time, Lucy Bourak presented the Treasurer’s Report for Subgroup and Branch. Jaspreet Gill was absent. The dates listed on the budget indicated the future budget as 2023 and it should be 2024. Chris L’Estrange proposed to amend the date on the financial statements. Allan Laaksonen Seconded. Voted and Carried.
Tony D’Amico asked that a motion be made to accept the Treasurer’s report.
|
Moved: |
Debra Potter
|
Seconded: |
Lori Ermes |
Carried |
President’s Report-Subgroup – Ward Cluff
Ward welcomed special guests, AFS President Doug Mason and our Ontario Regional Representative, Shawn Gillis, Ontario Regional Executive John Purdie, AFS Hamilton member Chris L’Estrange (also a member of the Ontario Regional Executive, and new and former president of the St. Catherines Subgroup, Tom Doherty and Tom McBryane.
Ward acknowledged Tony D’Amico who received Steward of the Year this year at Steward Council and how he represents our members tirelessly in grievances and accommodations. He acknowledged Tony’s efforts in organizing many local events at 55 Bay Street this year, got approval to host events at the office, and organized donuts and coffee for the UTE picket lines.
Ward also acknowledged our past treasurer, Steve Budz for his past work.
Ward introduced all Executives and Stewards. He introduced the members who represent PIPSC at our OSH Committee: Heather Geddes, Tony D’Amico, Chris Bozek, and Rehan Shahid.
Ward discussed the vaccine policy, return to the office, and OROR, and how they affect our members. Ward spoke about his duty to work with multiple directors, since OROR. He is part of the UMC and minutes are taken but they have not yet decided where the minutes should be posted. These need to be posted so members can read them, so they are unsigned, as of now. Since OROR, there has been confusion as to which subgroup members should be reporting. Previously, local management have communicated details of our local AGMs, but since OROR, they will no longer do that.
Ward discussed compressed schedules and the inconsistency with the policies regarding these.
The Stewards continue to represent members in many areas. Please reach out to a Steward if you have any unresolved issues.
Ward hopes to attract more younger members to the executive, once season members retire.
Lucy Bourak moved to accept the Subgroup President’s Report.
|
Moved: |
Lucy Bourak |
Seconded: |
Simon Harrison |
Carried |
President’s Report-Branch – Tony D’Amico
Tony D’Amico spoke about the events planned this year and spoke about getting Better Together funding to pay for some of them.
Tanya Terry Berry asked for someone to move to accept his Branch presidential report.
|
Moved: |
Tanya Terry Berry
|
Seconded: |
Heather Geddes |
Carried |
Special Guest – Doug Mason
Doug spoke about what happened this year. They did a bargaining survey to determine what is important to members.
Aug 22/22 they served notice to bargain. They met 9 times over the year and a half.
The tentative agreement was reached Sept 16/23. It was voted and passed. The scheduled signing is Dec 14/23.
Pay adjustments will date back to Dec 22/22, when the last contract expired. All provisions will come into effect Dec 14/23.
Backpay and the $X,XXX signing bonus should be paid within 180 days, or there will be an extra $XXX payable.
Details about the contract:
13.14% Cumulative increase over the years, $X,XXX Signing bonus, and Flexible Work Hours Pilot. (allowing people to have more flex time but must punch in and out. It is happening in Quebec now and it has been popular.)
Special Guest Shawn Gillis
Shawn spoke about the CRA Act.
Report of the Elections Committee – Hamilton CRA AFS Subgroup 2023-2025
The Election Committee for this year consisted of: Laura Armes and Jennifer Tufgar. Jennifer Tufgar spoke for the Committee at the AGM and announced the positions.
The following are acclaimed to those positions:
President: Ward Cluff
Vice President: Zaigham Butt (Joe Stanziani was also nominated but stepped down)
Treasurer: Lucy Bourak
Secretary: Roxane McMillan
Members at Large:
Joe Staziani
Tony D’Amico
Heather Geddes
Simon Harrison
Rehan Shahid
Allan Laaksonen
Ken Bald (was nominated at the meeting by Heather Geddes and Chris L’Estrange)
Congratulations to the new Executive of the Hamilton CRA AFS Subgroup.
Anne Budzynski asked for someone to move to accept the results of the election.
|
Moved: |
Anne Budzynski |
Seconded: |
Allan Laaksonen |
Carried |
Ward Cluff thanked everyone for attending and asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
|
Moved: |
Ken Bald
|
Seconded: |
Allan Laaksonen |
Carried |
Meeting adjourned at 8:56pm.