Report to the 2019 CS Group AGM Sub-group Officer Report
Sub-group Presidents’ Meeting
On March 18th, lunchtime information sessions were held in Halifax at 3 different workplaces where representatives from the CS Group Executive provided a bargaining update to CS members. That evening, a come and go social event was held for Halifax CS members and the Subgroup Presidents. The 2019 CS Subgroup Presidents meeting was held on March 19th in Halifax where more than 50 members were in attendance. As Subgroup President, it is my honour to lead the planning for and to chair this meeting. The group was addressed by CS Group President Stan Buday. A presentation on the National Organizing Committee (NOC) was provided by Group VP, Pierre Touchette. Updates were provided on bargaining and next steps by Denise Doherty and Robert Tellier. The group enjoyed a birthday cake in celebration of the CS Group’s 50th Anniversary while Stacy McLaren provided a history of the CS Group. Stan Buday, Denise Doherty, and Stan Buday provided an update on the Group’s Contracting Out Action Plan. I facilitated a general discussion amongst the delegates on Subgroup issues and activities. Finally, Pierre Touchette provided an update on the IT Classification. I would like to extend my gratitude to each member of the CS Group Executive and PIPSC support staff who all participated in the planning and running of this important meeting.
CS Sub-group Changes
This year brings a number of changes to the membership of our CS Subgroups. Firstly, we have one less Subgroup in our ranks as the Suffield CS Subgroup has disbanded. The CS Group as a whole, however, has increased in size substantially thanks to the addition of new members from the RCMP. This boost to our ranks will, in some cases, increase Subgroup allocations and/or allow for more members on the Subgroup Executives. I am currently working on a communication plan to engage with the so-affected Subgroups. I will also be encouraging Subgroups to reach out to their new RCMP members. Finally, I’ll be investigating the possibility of forming new RCMP Subgroups where higher concentrations of their members are found.
CS Executive Outreach
The CS Group Executive continues to make an effort to send representatives to CS Subgroup AGMs to bring members up-to-date on current issues and to answer questions. The President or an alternate and the Subgroup Representative from the region are entitled to travel to these meetings and often times they will arrange sites visits or lunch & learns to reach more CS members. Please make an effort to hold your Subgroup AGMs within 15 months of the previous year’s in order to maintain your funding/subgroup status and to keep your members informed. Funding is available from the CS Group Executive to assist small Subgroups with the costs associated with AGMs.
CS Sub-group Network
The CS Subgroups serve as a means of communication and organization for the group across the country. When we need to reach out to the membership for information, for participation in events or campaigns, we will often make use of the Subgroup Presidents as a link to our membership on the ground. I’ll continue to work with the National Organizing Committee (NOC) to help engage the Subgroups in coordinating activities in support of bargaining.
Sub-group Engagement
Work continues on becoming more connected with the Subgroups and improving communications back and forth between them and the CS Group Executive. I am currently working with the IT department at PIPSC to set up a Google Drive for Subgroup Presidents to use for collaboration. If you have any suggestions, please bring them to your Subgroup President or to your regional representative on the CS Executive.
Regional Sub-group Representatives on the CS Group Executive:
Atlantic Lucile Shears shearsl@pipsc.ca
NCR Pierre Touchette ptouchet@pipsc.ca
Ontario Deborah Butler butlerd@pipsc.ca
Pacific Karim Chaggani kchaggani@pipsc.ca
Prairies Robert Scott robscott@pipsc.ca
Québec Robert Tellier rtellier@pipsc.ca
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Scott
Sub-group Officer