2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Minutes of Nuclear Regulatory (NUREG) Group
Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 7:30 am at 280 Slater Street, Room 14-32
1. Call to order, Welcome, and Roll Call
Harold Marcotte introduced himself as the Chief Steward and as Chair of the AGM.
H. Marcotte confirmed the presence of a quorum and called the meeting to order.
H. Marcotte introduced the invited special guest, Denise Doherty Delorme, PIPSC Negotiator.
H. Marcotte introduced the NUREG executive: Anne McLay, President; Jennie Esnard, Vice President; Elvin Tekada, Treasurer; Kathleen Ferreira, Secretary; Jennifer Campbell, Member at Large; William Stewart, Member at Large and NUREG stewards.
2. Approval of Agenda
To approve the 2017 AGM agenda: Moved & Seconded: Carried unanimously.
3. Approval of the 2016 AGM Minutes
To approve the November 30, 2016 AGM minutes: Moved & Seconded: Carried unanimously.
4. Business arising from the November 30, 2016 AGM minutes
The Chair confirmed that there wasn’t any business arising from the November 30, 2016 AGM.
5. Report of the NUREG Group President
A. McLay thanked everyone for coming so early in the morning.
A. McLay presented the main events which occurred since the last NUREG Group AGM and reported on the progress made by the group. Highlights included:
- 2017 has been all about bargaining
- The NUREG Group received their first ever ratified agreement and thanked everyone for all the support and for going out to vote.
- The bargaining package is currently with the Governor in Council and once okayed, it will be ready to sign and the 120 days starts ticking. Expects it ready for signing in December as the CNSC has been very organized and focused in getting the package through the government process.
- NUREG had two labour management consultation committee meetings:
- Speaking up and the fear of reprisal - raised the issue of respectful behavior at Commission meetings. J. Campbell and H. Marcotte went to MC and spoke up about Commissioners treating our members with respect.
- REG 4s performing inspections on their own and the downloading of responsibilities down the REG levels.
- In addition, other issues were all raised and discussed with all levels of management and HR such as mental health in the workplace, the way members are performance managed, stopping harassment, and ensuring members get acting pay when they are the point of contact and don’t have time to do their own job.
- J. Esnard, VP, has been very active and effective in fixing issues by approaching all the VPs when issues arise.
- NUREG executive worked hard to keep everyone informed and up to date on what has been happening in bargaining and the broad public service through several lunch and learns and an ice cream day. A number of new events will be scheduled for next year as well.
- Priorities going forward remain:
1) To start next round of bargaining. A survey will be sent out to members to determine what to include in the next round. New bargaining team members will also be sought.
2) To keep members engaged and informed. A number of events will be scheduled. Early next year NUREG will be running an anti-harassment campaign;
3) Members need to be able to speak up and feel safe when coming to work. If members need help they need to talk with the NUREG Executive or stewards. NUREG is making headway with grievances and harassment complaints and the CNSC is listening.
A. McLay ended her report by thanking the stewards and the NUREG Executive for all their help over the last year with a special thank you to Denise Doherty Delorme for her steadfast help with bargaining and for a good agreement.
6 Annual Financial Report
E. Tekada reviewed the Group’s financial statements and budget for 2018.
Motion to approve the expenditures of the 2017 financial report was Moved & Seconded: Carried unanimously.
Motion to discuss the AGM line item to include the surplus budget for the next AGM was Moved & Seconded: Carried unanimously.
Motion to split the surplus money between the AGM and member events was Moved & Seconded: Carried unanimously.
Motion to accept the 2018 budget as proposed was Moved & Seconded: Carried unanimously.
7 Bargaining Update
PIPSC negotiator Denise Doherty Delorme presented the need to commence preparations for the next round of bargaining by first getting volunteers for the bargaining team as they will require the necessary training ahead of time and to start putting bargaining items/issues together. D. D. Delorme stressed the importance of member engagement in events – a form of mobilization. Workplace harassment needs to improve – violence in the workplace needs to stop.
8 New Business
Motion to have more quarterly general meetings in addition to the AGM for better communication was Moved & Seconded: Carried unanimously.
Motion for the NUREG Executive to form a mobilization subcommittee with new members was Moved & Seconded: Carried unanimously.
9 Meeting Adjournment
Motion to adjourn the meeting was Moved &Seconded: Carried unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 9h00.
Meeting Minutes Prepared by: K. Ferreira, Volunteered Secretary
Meeting Minutes Approved by: A. McLay, President Nuclear Regulatory Group