Executive Meeting February 27, 2025, 12:00
Mill Street Pub / 555 Wellington Street
Present: Randy Oomen, Brian Murray, Cheryl Jennings, Steve Anderson, Fred Curson, Hannah Rodrigues, Yazhuo Zhang, O’Neil Brooke, Antwan Hakko, Jun Shi, Amar Auluck
The President of the IT Ottawa Metro Subgroup (ITOMSG), Randy Oomen, welcomed the other Executives and called the meeting to order at 12:05 PM.
AGENDA
A draft agenda was presented. MOTION To adopt the agenda as presented. M/S Randy Oomen, Brian Murray. Carried.
MINUTES
The draft minutes of the November 25 2024 meeting were presented. M/S Steve Anderson, Cheryl Jennings. Carried.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Randy Oomen asked that the ITOMSG mailbox not be used for political chatter. He also mentioned the recent IT Group bargaining survey (no results have been distributed yet), the upcoming IT AGM (no date or location certain yet), that he will be attending the upcoming Subgroup President’s gathering in Ottawa on March 15 2025, and that Cheryl Jennings and Antwan Hakko will be representing the Metro Subgroup at the IT Group NOC (National Organizing Committee) / ROC (Regional Organizing Committee). Randy requested that Brian source out Canadian-made promo going forward, and suggestions were made of items from Lee Valley Tools and maple candies. He also touched on the successful Lunch n’ Learn at DND in Leitrim on January 21 2025, and suggested that the next Lunch n’ Learn would likely be held at IRCC / 365 Laurier Avenue – he has been working with Patrick Provost, the IRCC Consultation President, and they are looking at the potential date of March 20th. Randy suggested that everyone should keep an eye open for any potential future Lunch n’ Learn locations – and proposed that Absolute Comedy might be a possible venue for an evening event. A show of hands was made around the table of those hoping to attend the NCR Regional Council and the IT Group AGM. Finally, he asked that if any of the current Members-at-Large are interested in stepping up to be on the Metro Steering Committee, that they make themselves known so that they can be mentored in the respective target role.
VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Cheryl Jennings mentioned that she is mentoring Antwan for a possible future Steering Committee role. They are developing a list of active Metro stewards (there are approx. 12 currently), and filling in any blanks for their phone numbers and email addresses. They will make it known that Metro is always looking for volunteers. They are working on compiling a list of Metro RANDS. There are approximately 4200 IT Group members covered by the ITOMSG.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Brian Murray apologized that no documents were available for distribution at this meeting. He asked that in future, all expense submissions be sent in Excel, and not .pdfs. He stated, again, that all receipts submitted must be originals – no copies will be accepted going forward.
He suggested that the official PIPSC limits on cellphone and internet reimbursements were too high; that it would use up much of the Metro budget if they were paid out. A discussion ensued around the table, and a consensus was reached.
Brian said that he will write out the cheques and have them ready for distribution at the next meeting.
REPORT ON THE JANUARY 21 2025 LUNCH N’ LEARN
Fred Curson reported on the Lunch n’ Learn he held in his DND workplace at 3545 Leitrim Road. A report of this successful event will be posted on the ITOMSG webpage under the “Events” tab. Most significantly, 34 members attended from several nearby locations, and at least two have signed up to become stewards.
PROMO ITEMS REPORT
Brian Murray spoke about his ongoing progress with sourcing out appropriate ITOMSG promotional items. He distributed a quantity of the multi-tool keys with the ITOMSG logo stamped on them.
Steve Anderson displayed a PIPSC promo item that was quite popular in the past, and which those present generally liked; a large memo cube with a PIPSC logo printed on the side. He committed to finding a Canadian supplier for these cubes and reporting back on what cost would be involved in a potential future purchase.
ROUNDTABLE
Fred Curson noted that no yearly rollover of new vacation time is being allowed at DND. Randy Oomen volunteered to follow up on that with Fred.
Steve Anderson reported on his attendance at a recent virtual Steward Check-in event (led by NCR Chief Steward Jennie Esnard), that he had met two Metro members for lunch and a union discussion, and that he had posted PIPSC information posters in three SSC work locations.
NEXT MEETING
No date was set for the next ITOMSG meeting, but it will likely be in April.
MOTION To adjourn, at 13:40. M/S Cheryl Jennings, Randy Oomen. Carried.
- Minutes recorded by Steve Anderson, Metro Secretary