The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
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AFS AGM - Headquarters Regional Report

Headquarters Regional Report

In 2017 the AFS Headquarters Sub Group underwent a number of changes. Ian Tait who served as HQ Regional Representative retired after serving for over 10 years in that position and on the Sub Group Executive.

Zul Nanji who served on the Sub Group executive in a number of different position retired after more than 10 years of service on the sub group executive.

Allan Laaksonen who has served on the Sub Executive for a number of years relocated form Headquarters to Southern Ontario and resigned from the executive.

Brian Hassall was elected as HQ Regional Representative and stepped down as Sub Group President.

As a result of these changes, a new Sub Group core executive took office after the Sub Group Annual General Meeting in Oct. Congratulation to the new executive: Susan Amog-Hassall – President, Abraham Garcia – Vice President, Art Iwinski – Secretary and Nick Watson – Treasurer.  Also, thank you to Ian, Zul and Allan for your service to AFS members in Headquarters and best wishes for your future plans.

The focus of AFS Headquarters over the last year has been consultation with management and support for our bargaining team.  With respect to consultation, the AFS Group sits on 8 different Branch Union Management Committees in Headquarters. Each committee consists of the Assistant Commissioner of the Branch and their senior management team. Items impacting AFS members in the Branch are discussed at these meeting. In addition AFS members and stewards serve on the Employment Assistant Program Committee, the Employment Equity Committee and various Occupational Health and Safety Committees through the Headquarters area.

The biggest news of 2018 was the new tentative agreement.  After three years of hard negotiations, the AFS Group reached an agreement with the Agency. Local members support by showing AFS colours in the workplace and by attending events in support of bargaining was instrumental in reaching this agreement. My thanks to all members for their support of the bargaining team.

The AFS Group has been active in recruiting new stewards. Thanks the new stewards for stepping up and thanks to all current stewards for their work on behalf of our members.

The AFS Group has also been active within the NCR. A large number of AFS members and stewards attended but the Regional Council and the Regional Stewards council. At both of these events AFS members met is a separate meeting with members of the National Executive to discuss AFS issues.

In closing I would like to thank all AFS members in Headquarters for a successful year and I look forward to continued success if the coming year.  I would also like to express my thanks to Susan and the rest of the Sub Group executive to stepping up and serving the membership.  Your efforts are appreciated by your membership.