Atlantic Regional Director’s Report

76th Atlantic Regional Council
May 24-25, 2019

I would like to begin by saying Thank you to the members of the Atlantic region for their continued support and re-electing me to the position of Regional Director for another term. The past year has been challenging for myself on a personal level and I appreciate the support that has come from my union family in the region and across the country.

Thank you to the members of the Atlantic Regional Executive for their dedication and hard work on behalf of all members in our region and in assisting me as your Regional Director:

• Manny Costain
• Phil Wilson
• Scott McConaghy
• Mike Pauley
• Michael Basque
• Carolyn Hynes
• Marilyn Best
• Christine Newhook
• Marcel Journeay

On behalf of the Executive, I acknowledge and thank the regional office staff for their work with the Regional Executive in keeping the region current and innovative: Paul Hartigan, Max Way, Catherine Pinks and Donna Davis. Without the staff support the Executive receives, we would not be able to function with precision and expertise.

The goals established last year by the Executive were reviewed and new goals were set. These goals, we feel, are measurable and attainable. The goals are set after a review of the strategic goals of the board of directors and analyzing how they can be relevant and beneficial to region. The board’s strategic objectives for the 2018 year have three main characteristics Value to Members, Enhanced Influence and Model Organization.
For the past year the Executive set the following goals:

1. Engage the membership through issuing an invitation for members under 40 in the area of an Executive meeting to attend the meeting as an observer. In the past we have been inviting an observer through the Branch President in the area. To allow for succession planning we have decided to issue the invite to the members directly.

2. In addition to the Meet and Greet in the city of the Executive meetings, we will wherever possible try to do a site visit when time allows. The intent is to introduce members to a Regional Executive member, make the member aware of the role of the Regional Executive and hopefully meet members not normally attending any regional activities.

3. Provide support to the New Brunswick pension challenge – develop our own communication strategy. Prepare a handout for the AGM and have an article in the fall newsletter for the region.

4. Create a schedule of union activities in the region. This will enable to have appropriate swag ordered in a timely fashion for the event.
During the past year I have been invited to and spoke at some Branch and Group AGMs in the region. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with the members whether in a group or one on one. This provides the membership a chance to ask questions and gain information on regional and national activities of the union. Times when I was unable to attend I have asked the Vice Chair, Manny Costain, to attend in my place.Thank you, Manny, for the times you have done this.

I have represented the region at three different lobby days in the past year.  PIPSC lobby day, CLC lobby say and the first ever CLC Indigenous lobby day. Each one is an opportunity to advance our issues with the political parties on the hill. Lobbying can be done at any level of government and by anyone. The key is to know the issues well and never to assume that the person you are speaking with knows or understands the issue you are addressing.

As a board member, I am serving as Chair of the Training and Education committee (TEC) again this year, the political lead on a Steward Framework project, a member of the Pension Committee for the Employees, a member Rof the Executive Compensation Committee, a member representing the board on the Professional Canada’s task force and any other duties as they are assigned at the board.

In solidarity,
Kimberley Skanes
Director, Atlantic Region