AFS IOTSO Sub-Group AGM Meeting Minutes – Draft

Date: March 27, 2019

Location: Tucker’s Marketplace – 61 York Street, Ottawa, ON, K1N 5T2.

Agenda Item /Discussion /Follow-up

Call To Order

Michael Kenny, AFS Sub-Group Vice-President, called the meeting to order at 17:48

Roll Call

Executive Present:

Bryan Adderley
Burgess Antroliwalla
Tom Iwinski
Tony D’Arienzo
Kalman Estrin
Jason Payne
Michael Kenny
Amanda Volpe
Matthieu Dufault
Michael Kocher
Molly Dong

Stewards Present:

Lee Cunningham
Allison Thompson
Sharon Yu
Michelle Tran
Patrono Rodrigues

Guests Present:

Shawn Gillis, Ontario Representative for AFS National Executive, member of bargaining team
Susan Amog-Hassal, President of AFS-HQ Sub-Group
Brian Hassall, HQ Representative for AFS National Executive
J. Gordon Bulmer, Chair of NCR Council

President’s Remark

As the president is regretfully not in attendance tonight, the Vice-President was provided the opportunity for opening remarks.
The Vice-President will address the room during closing remarks.

Adoption of Agenda

No items to add to the agenda.
Motion to approve the agenda:
Moved by:  Michael Kenny
Seconded by: Edgar Watts

Carried.

Adoption of the Rules of Procedure

Motion to approve the use of STURGIS.
Moved by: Michael Kenny
Seconded by: Matthieu Dufault

Carried.

Minutes of Previous Meetings

Allison Thompson was recorded as a steward at the previous AGM but didn’t receive her stewardship until after the meeting. Thus, her name should be removed from the list of stewards in attendance.

Additionally, it was noted that Allaudin Alibhai’s name was spelled incorrectly.
Changes have been made.

Motion to approve the minutes as amended:
Moved by: Neil Thompson
Seconded by: Tom Iwinski

Carried.

Business Arising from the Minutes

None.

Nominations and Elections

Call for nominations of President:

1st call: Michael Kenny nominated by Tom Iwinski. Accepted.

2nd call: Matthieu Dufault nominated by Allison Thompson. Declined.

Kalman Estrin nominated by Brian Pepper. Ruled out of order as Kalman is the chair of the election.

3rd call: None.

Michael Kenny as President by acclamation.

Call for nominations of Secretary:

1st call: Amanda Volpe nominated by Tom Iwinski. Accepted.

2nd call: None.

3rd call: None.

Amanda Volpe as Secretary by acclamation.

Call for nominations for 3 Members at Large:

1st Call: Antonio D’Arienzo nominated by Michael Kenny. Accepted.

 Allison Thompson nominated by Sumit Katyal. Accepted.

Sumit Katyal nominated by Laurie Makinson. Accepted.

Tejinder Toor nominated by Laurie Steele. Accepted.

2nd call: None.

3rd call: Patrono Rodrigues nominated by Burgess Antroliwalla. Accepted.

Call for speeches.

Vote conducted.

Results:

  1. Antonio D’Arienzo – 2 Year Term
  2. Allison Thompson – 2 Year Term
  3. Patrono Rodrigues – 2 Year Term

Motion to destroy the ballots after 30 Days:
Moved by: Kalman Estrin
Seconded by: Neil Thompson

Carried.

Report of the Officers

As President-Elect, Michael Kenny addresses the members.

There have been only the usual issues throughout the year. This week we have the training sessions for the Union-Management Approach. We’ve held coffee in the lobby for various promotions such as the AGM, bargaining and the national election, etc.

Looking forward to a funding increase which will increase the activities to be held in the office.

Audience comment: Would like to see some Lunch & Learns this year.

The Training and Learning group would love to help out with bringing L&Ls to the office.

Audience comment: Would like to see some additional involvement with the Walkley location.

Treasurer’s Report

Burgess Antroliwalla, Treasurer, discussed the financials for the 2018 year, the 2019 Budget as approved at the 2018 AGM and the 2020 Budget Proposal. (Please see attachment below.)

The missed handout from the 2018 AGM has been provided this year for convenience.

All line items were read aloud and reviewed for the financials.

Michelle Tran would like to point out that the funding contribution from Shawn Gillis should read “AFS” and not “PIPSC”.

Motion to approve the 2019 Financial Statements as amended:
Moved by: Burgess Antroliwalla
Seconded by: Tom Iwinski

Carried.

The Budget Proposal was discussed.
Michelle Tran would like to see that the allotment estimate is increased to be more in line with what was received in the previous year.
Michelle Tran would like to see an increase in the AGM cost estimate to better match what was actually spent in the previous year.

Motion to change as according to the above notes:
Moved by: Michelle Tran
Seconded By: Sharon Yu

Carried.

No further discussion on the matter.

Motion to approve the 2020 Budget as amended with the above notes:
Moved by: Burgess Antroliwalla
Seconded by: Michael Kocher

Carried.

Resolution on Amendment of Bylaws

A handout was provided to the members containing the proposed amendments to our sub-group’s by-laws.  Please see below for the submission.

Motion to amend the bylaws:
Moved by: Matthieu Dufault
Seconded by: Kalman Estrin

Carried.

Guest Speaker/Bargaining Update:Shawn Gillis

Shawn Gillis has a powerpoint presentation for the members.
Some of the topics currently up for discussion include:

  • Dues coverage
  • Definition of “Family”; bereavement leave, etc.
  • Medical
  • Smoothing out the structure of vacation entitlement increases
  • Discrimination
  • Market adjustments
  • AU03 and AU-07 changes
  • Actuarial and Psychologist –only issues.

The CRA is looking into demands, not just for the AFS group employees, regarding such topics as vacation, family, discipline, etc.

The next bargaining sessions will take place in April and May.
Followed by an elections break.

Funding Resolution for Constituent Bodies

This resolution will be submitted to PIPSC National. It will also be forwarded to the AFS group and NCR branch for sponsorship.

This resolution was presented at last year’s AGM and passed.

The difference this year is that the resolution reads at $XX per member instead of the $XX as proposed last year.

Motion to submit this resolution PIPSC National:
Moved by: Michael Kenny
Seconded by: Kalman Estrin

Carried.

President-Elect’s Closing Remark

Thank you Kalman for chairing the meeting one last time before retirement.
Look out for upcoming union events.
OCBwill be hosting a retirement planning session soon.
The NCR’s YPN committee will have other events upcoming as well.

Thanks everyone for coming.

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn the meeting at 19:05.
Moved by: Neil Thompson

Carried.

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

The following are the proposed amendments to the subgroup bylaws:

Current wording:
BY-LAW 1 NAME
Current wording:
The name of this Sub-Group shall be the PIPSC AFS IOTSO, hereinafter referred to as the "Sub-Group".

Proposed wording:

The name of this Sub-Group shall be the "PIPSC AFS" followed by Canada Revenue Agency's (or its’ successor organization) acronym for “Tax Services Office” located in Ottawa, hereinafter referred to as the "Sub-Group".

BY-LAW 3 MEMBERSHIP

Current wording:

3.1 Every Regular member of the AFS Group working in the International and Ottawa Tax Services Office shall be a Regular member of the Sub-Group.

Proposed wording:

3.1 Every Regular member of the AFS Group working in the physical locations designated by the employer as being part of the Tax Services Office located in Ottawa regardless of which office the member reports to.

3.2 Any regular member of the AFS Group working within the National Capital Region and reporting to the Tax Services Office located in Ottawa.

BY-LAW 4 RIGHTS OF MEMBERS

New

4.3 All members shall be eligible to attend and speak at General Meetings of the Sub-Group.

BY-LAW 5 FINANCES

New

5.7 Sub-Group Finances: Sub-Group finances shall be consistent with Institute policies.

7.3 Election Procedure

New

7.3.1 The election shall be at the Sub-Group Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Renumber existing 7.3.1 to 7.3.2
Renumber existing 7.3.2 to 7.3.3

8.1.3 Agenda The agenda shall include the following items:

Current wording:

Roll Call (members of the Sub-Group Executive)
Approval of the Agenda
Adoption of the Minutes of the previous Annual General meeting
Business Arising from the Minutes
Report of the President
Annual Financial Report
Report of the Elections Committee
New Business, including By-Law Amendments

Proposed wording:
Roll Call (members of the Sub-Group Executive)
Approval of the Agenda
Adoption of the Minutes of the previous Annual General meeting
Business Arising from the Minutes
Report of the President
Annual Financial Report
Approval of Budget
Report of the Elections Committee
New Business, including By-Law Amendments

BY-LAW 9 RULES OF PROCEDURE

Current wording:

At any meeting of the Sub-Group Executive, Annual or Special General Meetings, matters of procedure, insofar as they are not specifically provided for, shall be governed by a majority vote of the members present and voting. The Chair of such meeting shall first rule on a matter of procedure or order and shall, in his rulings, in the absence of any By-Law to the contrary, rely upon and be governed by the latest version of Sturgis' Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure available at the meeting.

Proposed wording:

At any meeting of the Sub-Group, Sub-Group Executive or Committees thereof, matters of procedure, insofar as they are not specifically provided for, shall be governed by a majority vote of the members present and voting on the matter of procedure. The Chair of such meeting shall first rule on a matter of procedure or order and shall, in the absence of any By-Law to the contrary, rely upon and be governed by the latest edition of the American Institute of Parliamentarians Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure or “Le code des procédures des assemblées délibérantes” available at the meeting.