Author: Greg McNamara

Our union owes a great debt to countless members who put themselves forward and run as candidates for elected positions. Whether at the national, regional or local level, these individuals offer an invaluable service to their members.

During Convention, we will hold elections for the following positions:

• National President
• National Executive Vice-President
• National Vice-President for Human Rights
• Assistant National Vice-President for Human Rights
• Regional Vice-Presidents
• Assistant Regional Vice-Presidents
• Regional Human Rights Representatives
• Alternate Regional Human Rights Representatives
• Delegates and alternates to the PSAC Convention

Any member in good standing may run for any of these positions, whether or not they attend Convention. The nomination form is available on the website. If you wish to run for a position, please ensure that your form is sent to the attention of Ateau Zola.

Your form can be mailed, faxed or emailed no later than 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday September 15, 2021.

900-150 Isabella Street
Ottawa (ON) K1S 1V7
Fax: 613-560-4208
Email: ateau.zola@une-sen.org
Subject line: Nomination for Elected UNE Position

Nominations may also take place on the Convention floor for national positions and in the regional caucuses for any of the other positions. The forms are not required for delegates running from the floor.

If you are considering running for office, you should have a clear and complete understanding of our Policy FIN 9, which will give you all the important details about campaign spending limits and ethical considerations. All candidates must provide a written report of all expenses, even if no expenses are incurred.

Delegates are entitled to make informed decisions on issues which will be presented to them, including the election of UNE officers. Similarly, members who run for elected office within the UNE have the right and responsibility to communicate with Convention delegates. As a result, upon request, candidates are entitled to receive delegate personal contact information. Personal contact information includes name, address, phone number and email address. The personal contact information of delegates will be shared on a need-to-know basis only. Therefore, candidates may only obtain personal contact information on members who are entitled to vote on the position for which they are seeking elected office. Candidates may only use this information to communicate with delegates about their candidacy. They are also required to safeguard all personal contact information as required by our privacy policies. Any improper disclosure of this information or violation of this policy will be treated seriously and may result in discipline.

The 2021 UNE Triennial Convention has been rescheduled to be held virtually September 13-17, 2021.

If you have already registered, you will be contacted with updated information as it becomes available. Please note the new deadlines below if your Local has not yet elected delegates, alternates or observers.

Locals are encouraged to hold elections through virtual membership meetings.

NEW DATE – May 13, 2021 is the deadline for resolutions, delegate registration and for your Local to be in conformance.

Make sure your Local is in Conformance
You can only attend Convention if your Local is in conformance. For a complete list of documents needed from your Local, see the Convention section of the UNE website.

Elect Delegates and their Alternates
Delegates and alternates are elected during general Local meetings. The number of delegates per Local is determined by the number of members in good standing six months before the start of Convention as per UNE Bylaw 6, Section 11:

1. Four to 100 members = one delegate;
2. One delegate for each 100 members or portion thereof to a maximum of five delegates for any given Local.

Observers
Locals in conformance can also send observers to Convention at the Local’s expense. These members can attend Convention, but they cannot participate in debate or vote.

Submit Credential Forms
Credential forms for each delegate, alternate and observer must be submitted to UNE. Credential forms for delegates and alternates must include a copy of the general Local meeting minutes showing the election of those members. The credentials forms are available for download on the Convention section of the UNE website.

Registration Deadline

To be recognized as a delegate to Convention, members must complete the online registration and submit the following documents by May 13, 2021:

1. Credential forms, including meeting minutes showing election of delegates and alternates;
2. Local financial documents in conformance with UNE Bylaws and Policies.

Members who miss the deadline will not be able to participate on Convention committees and are considered late delegates. Late delegates are seated at Convention by way of procedural motion during the early stages of the opening of our Convention.

Questions about Convention Logistics and Registration?
We hope you will find all the answers on the Convention section of our website.

If you require additional information, please contact Suzanne Boucher, Convention Coordinator, at events@une-sen.org or at 613-560-4359 or 1-800-663-6685.

RESOLUTIONS

Option 1

Locals should appoint a Convention resolutions committee; these are normally made up of three to five members. Some Locals may prefer to appoint a committee for each resolution topic: constitution and bylaws, finance, and general resolutions. Your Local should issue a notice asking members to submit resolutions to your Convention resolutions committee. Allow plenty of time for the committee to prepare a report. Members of the committee should also be encouraged to submit their own resolutions. Each committee’s report and additional resolutions should be presented during a general membership meeting. This meeting should provide ample time to debate resolutions before members cast a vote.

Option 2

Any member in good standing can submit a resolution to Convention by having it co-signed by five other members in good standing.

Submit Your Resolution Online

You should submit your resolutions electronically on our website. Completing this process significantly reduces the time required to prepare resolutions for committee review in June. If you do not have internet access, you can submit your resolutions by mail or fax.

Submit Supporting Documentation

The resolutions you submit online must also be supported by hardcopy versions of either the signed minutes verifying that the resolution was adopted during a general membership meeting or the resolutions form co-signed by five other members in good standing. You can download the resolution template on our Convention page here.

Please send these hard copies to the attention of Ateau Zola by email at resolutions@une-sen.org.

You can also submit by fax at 613-560-5208, or by mail at: Union of National Employees 900-150 Isabella St. Ottawa (ON) K1S 1V7.

Resolutions received after May 13, 2021 will be deemed late and will be dealt with after all other resolutions.

Questions about resolutions?

Please contact Ateau Zola at resolutions@une-sen.org or at 613-560-4343 or 1-800-663-6685.

In Solidarity,

Kevin King
National President
Union of National Employees

The 2020 UNE Triennial Convention has been rescheduled to July 12-16, 2021.

If you have already registered, you will be contacted with updated information as it becomes available. Please note the new deadlines below if your Local has not yet elected delegates, alternates or observers.

Locals are encouraged to hold elections through virtual membership meetings.

NEW DATE – March 12, 2021 is the deadline for resolutions, delegate registration and for your Local to be in conformance.

Make sure your Local is in Conformance
You can only attend Convention if your Local is in conformance. For a complete list of documents needed from your Local, see the Convention section of the UNE website.

Elect Delegates and their Alternates
Delegates and alternates are elected during general Local meetings. The number of delegates per Local is determined by the number of members in good standing six months before the start of Convention as per UNE Bylaw 6, Section 11:

1. Four to 100 members = one delegate;
2. One delegate for each 100 members or portion thereof to a maximum of five delegates for any given Local.

Observers
Locals in conformance can also send observers to Convention at the Local’s expense. These members can attend Convention, but they cannot participate in debate or vote.

Submit Credential Forms
Credential forms for each delegate, alternate and observer must be submitted to UNE. Credential forms for delegates and alternates must include a copy of the general Local meeting minutes showing the election of those members. The credentials forms are available for download on the Convention section of the UNE website.

Registration Deadline

To be recognized as a delegate to Convention, members must complete the online registration

and submit the following documents by March 12, 2021 at 4pm Eastern Standard Time:

1. Credential forms, including meeting minutes showing election of delegates and alternates;
2. Local financial documents in conformance with UNE Bylaws and Policies.

Members who miss the deadline will not be able to participate on Convention committees and are considered late delegates. Late delegates are seated at Convention by way of procedural motion during the early stages of the opening of our Convention.

Questions about Convention Logistics and Registration?
We hope you will find all the answers on the Convention section of our website.

If you require additional information, please contact Suzanne Boucher, Convention Coordinator, at events@une-sen.org or at 613-560-4359 or 1-800-663-6685.

RESOLUTIONS

Option 1

Locals should appoint a Convention resolutions committee; these are normally made up of three to five members. Some Locals may prefer to appoint a committee for each resolution topic: constitution and bylaws, finance, and general resolutions. Your Local should issue a notice asking members to submit resolutions to your Convention resolutions committee. Allow plenty of time for the committee to prepare a report. Members of the committee should also be encouraged to submit their own resolutions. Each committee’s report and additional resolutions should be presented during a general membership meeting. This meeting should provide ample time to debate resolutions before members cast a vote.

Option 2

Any member in good standing can submit a resolution to Convention by having it co-signed by five other members in good standing.

Submit Your Resolution Online

You should submit your resolutions electronically on our website. Completing this process significantly reduces the time required to prepare resolutions for committee review in June. If you do not have internet access, you can submit your resolutions by mail or fax.

Submit Supporting Documentation

The resolutions you submit online must also be supported by hardcopy versions of either the signed minutes verifying that the resolution was adopted during a general membership meeting or the resolutions form co-signed by five other members in good standing. You can download the resolution template on our Convention page here.

Please send these hard copies to the attention of Ateau Zola by email at resolutions@une-sen.org.

You can also submit by fax at 613-560-5208, or by mail at: Union of National Employees 900-150 Isabella St. Ottawa, ON  K1S 1V7.

Resolutions received after March 12, 2021 at 4pm Eastern Standard Time will be deemed late and will be dealt with after all other resolutions.

Questions about resolutions? Please contact Ateau Zola at resolutions@une-sen.org or at 613-560-4343 or 1-800-663-6685.

 In Solidarity,

Kevin King
National President
Union of National Employees