RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS MEETING
Professional Recognition and Qualifications Committee
Meeting Date
December 3, 2018
Time
9:00 am PIPSC Office 250 Tremblay Road Ottawa, ON
Members
(Present)
Thomas Landry Chair PRQC
Gerry Sanders, SH Group
John Eng, NR Group
Linda Joly, AFS Group
Stewart Wong, AFS Group
Johanne Potvin, AFS Group
Michael Uminsky, PIPSC Staff Member
Members (Absent)
None
Alternates
None
Invitees/Observers
Steve Hindle
Presenters
None
Secretariat
Linda Joly
Item # / Discussion Summary / Action Required / Completed Action
1. Call to order by the Chair
2.Approval of Agenda
Discussion regarding the agenda.
Motion to approve the meeting agenda.
Moved by: Linda Joly
Seconded by: Stewart Wong
Motion Carried
3.Approval the August 2018 Minutes
Motion to approve the April meeting minutes.
Moved by: Stewart Wong
Seconded by: Gerry Sanders
Motion Carried
Motion to approve the August meeting minutes.
Moved by: Stewart Wong
Seconded by: Gerry Sanders
Motion Carried
4.Items arising from the previous minutes
N/A
5.
Presentation by Steve Hindle
Steve Hindle met with the committee and had a lengthy discussion regarding the Professional Canada concept and the Activity Based workstations. There is a strong message that members need to take the position that they are professionals and should be treated as such. A message to Empower Members. Moving forward in 2019 to the Federal Election, perhaps some thought should be put into the National Public Service week messaging and strategies to promote that our members are strong professionals.
Opening Remarks – Thomas Landry
Reinforced the comments Steve had made, we need to capitalize on ensuring our members are being treated as professionals. There is a concern that we are an underutilized committee and work is needed to help promote our committee. Our booth at the AGM was well attended and the feedback showed that members enjoyed interacting with members of PRQC.
Update on Steward Council Presentations
Johanne – presented to the Quebec Council, the content was well received – members were interested in being recognized as professionals – the feedback was good and members were engaged.
Gerry – it was a full schedule at the Atlantic Council, they did allow the presentation which was well received by the members.
Linda – did not get to present, there was a feeling that the presentation would have been perceived as an election tactic and the Chair did not want Linda to have an unfair advantage over other candidates. The presentation was included in the binder.
Thomas commented that he was worried about our visibility, yet we were the only committee with a booth at the AGM – a presentation was done at the AC.
BC/Yukon – Sean and Debi gave the presentation on our behalf.
John/Pierre gave the presentation at the NCR Council – it was well received and members are discussing professionalism.
Area Based Workspaces (ABW) Discussion Paper presented by Michael. There are strategies in place to address the challenges with ABW such as surveys, consultations, linking performance and professionalism. The ABW reduces productivity, it is noisy, affects on sickness and mental health. It is recommended to perhaps have language on ABW included in the Collective Agreements. Any feedback/input should be directed to Michael. How do we empower members to stand up? Thomas feels that perhaps there could be a link from the paper to the NPSW.
Create an article for Communication for NPSW to help empower members and to make them aware of language in the Collective Agreements.
Action Item
Each of us is to write a paragraph or so, up to 300 words to encourage members to use their collective Agreements to support them in being treated as a Professional. Empower our members on how to better be managed as a Professional.
Due Jan 15/19 All
Collaboration with Professional Associations
Emphasis on more engagements.
SH Update
Gerry – The medical group is large and diverse – meeting in January 16, 2019 – will get in touch with all 9 groups within the SH group to reconnect. PIPSC should collaborate with Group Professionals, ie Canadian Nursing Assn (bi-annual convention)– Gerry to try to make inroads with them. It is believed it would be a good use to time and money to make connections with the association.
Next meeting, identify a couple of groups that we can work with, perhaps speak with the SH Executive to help select these groups – similar to the work that was done with the CPA Group. Identify an activity that we can participate with in the new year.
Gerry ---Feb 25/19
NR Group
John – has spoken with Tim, Engineer Canada/PEO to have them at the AGM in November but it did not happen, unsure why. The NR agreed to fully fund them, but it was not accepted. John to follow up to see which is the most popular activity and see how we can engage with the association that represents the most of our members with a focus on the benefit to our members.
John ------Feb 25/19
CPA
Stewart & Johanne – 10% of the CPA working in the Public Sector, recommended to have a booth at the next meeting to perhaps attract the CPA to Professional Canada if it launches
CS – Pierre missing – slow steps with messaging all CS are all Professionals
6.New Items
John Eng –Eng 2025/ADM (Mat Initiative)
Brief to Burlington/Hamilton Sub Group presentation available for the group to look at. It was proposed that TFO/Environment Canada develop Engineer Soft Skills Yet, want the employer to look at an Employer/Employee relationship. John to provide the slide to review – review on our own and forward any comments & questions to John via email.
BC Legislature
Act brought forward – Professional Governance Act – PIPSC Equivalent, PEA, a professional union in the province pushed to 3rd reading in legislature – used to regulate governing bodies.
PRQC ----Feb 25/19
Next meeting – Feb 25, 2019
Look at the Group AGM’s and make an offer to go ahead and make a PRQC presentation on what we are doing with our committee – similar to the consultation team. We want to stimulate our members to fight to be treated as professional – regain the ground we lost in the Harper years.
Currently looking at a 3 year workplan -