DND Halifax Branch Minutes, December 5, 2019

DND HALIFAX BRANCH EXECUTIVE MEETING Dec. 05/2019 MICMAC TAVERN, DARTMOUTH N.S. MINUTES AND ACTIONS OF THE MEETING MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: 5:00 PM 

WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS: 

Present: Everett Scott – President, Kevin Jack – Treasurer, Paul Smith – Secretary, Don Eldershaw, Mounah Zrein, Joe Rossiter, Joe Williams, Eric Thornhill and Christine Dugal – Members at Large. 

1. CALL FOR ADDED AGENDA ITEMS 

Everett welcomed everyone to the meeting. Everett asked if there were any new agenda items. None were put forth. 

2. MOTION TO ACCEPT AGENDA 

Everett asked for a motion to accept the agenda. Joe Rossiter moved to accept the agenda and Kevin seconded the motion and the agenda was accepted as presented. 

3. REVIEW OF MINUTES FROM (Oct 24^th Meeting) 

Everett asked if there were any errors or omissions with the minutes. None were put forth. 

4. MOTION TO ACCEPT MINUTES 

Everett asked for a motion to accept the minutes. Joe Williams moved to accept the minutes and Joe Rossiter seconded the motion and the minutes were accepted. 

5. REVIEW OF ACTION ITEMS (Oct 24th meeting) 

Kevin gave an update on the STEM event. John Irving was contacted and advised that any food for the STEM event would need to go through SMU catering. $XXX.00 is budgeted and Kevin will attend the Feb event where he will try to network for future events. It was discussed that we should publicize our attendance/contribution to the event nationally. 

Member engagement event is deferred until next meeting 

Action: Executive to brainstorm ideas for member engagement social. 

Everett mentioned that there is a Marlant LMRC later in the month. He will raise the issue of Public Service Employment Survey better allowing you to voice your opinions adequately. 

Action: Everett to raise issue at upcoming Marlant LMRC. 

Don reported back that he received very little feedback to his email about a beer and appetizer type of event. Executive discussed ways to engage the membership, either through an event like axe throwing or a local noon time event (pizza provided by the branch). It was also mentioned that executive members should bring up the topic in their local work areas to come up with ideas. 

Action: Mounah to look into a suitable location for a social event in Feb or Mar. 

All other action items closed. 

6. FINANCIAL UPDATE 

Kevin passed out an updated 2019 budget and gave a short summary of the changes from the budget presented at the last executive meeting. Right now we have $XXX.XX. There was some question about the support for an EAP luncheon. Executive agreed to contribute $XXX to the DRDC Christmas event. 

Action: Kevin and Everett to follow up with Holly Scothorn about EAP luncheon support. 

7. CONSULTATION 

Everett mentioned that after a long trip he finally made it to the National consultation meeting in Toronto. Issues discussed were: 

- Encouraging more collaboration with management by attending events such as National Public Service week and possibly inviting management leaders to union meetings (AGM's). From this discussion led to whether the branch would be better suited to direct more support to management/union events where more branch members would attend. 

- Long discussion about a presentation given by the CS group on the reclassification of some CS2's to CS3's because of supervisory duties and the unexpected ramifications. This has led to SWE issues in some units and the removal of supervisory duties for some CS2's. 

- Everett also mentioned the new language in the CS group collective agreement concerning contracting out. CS group has been analyzing data of submitted grievances concerning contracting out and it has decided to concentrate on the six most common grievances and that these will cover the 900+ grievances currently submitted. 

- short discussion on the prevalence of OT approval lately. Everett attended the RPOU(A) LMRC and Joe Williams attended the RPOS(H) LMRC recently . 

Note: After the meeting, Everett emailed the following addendum: 

Capt(N) Mazur is negotiating with Ambassatours to do a two-month trial next spring of a ferry service between Dartmouth and the Dockyard. Details of times and cost are not finalized yet. He asked Union Reps if we thought our members would support such a service. We said it would depend on the cost and convenience of the service, but an alternative to driving over the bridge is at least worth trying. 

8. SOCIAL EVENTS 

Already discussed. 

9. APPETIZER REFRESHMENT EVENT - DEFERRAL 

Already discussed. 

10. NATIONAL AGM RESOLUTION REPORT 

Everett and Joe Williams provided their impressions of the recent AGM. Budgetary resolution concerning Professionals Canada was the most discussed resolution, which was eventually voted down. With more people attending the AGM and some resolutions taking up significant time, there was not enough time to cover all resolutions. 

11. ROUND TABLE 

Nothing brought up. 

The meeting adjourned at 6:35 PM. 

Next meeting: Thursday Feb 6^th location TBD. 

Action Items from Halifax DND Executive Meeting Dec 5 /19