The Credentials Committee reported first thing in the morning that we have 180 delegates at this year’s Triennial Convention. After some administrative announcements, it was right back to business with the Finance Committee and a lively debate on the budget. Delegates got behind all the work done and passed the budget with a strong showing of support.
Next, the Constitution and Bylaws Committee presented its report. Three resolutions were debated and voted on:
CS 2 – The National Vice-President for Human Rights
CS 1 – Statement of Duties – National Vice-President for Occupational Health and Safety
CS 3 – Abolishment of Term Limits in 2026
Resolutions CS 2 and CS 1 passed, while CS 3 was defeated.
Following lunch, Larry Rousseau, CLC Executive Vice-President, gave the Convention a passionate speech that energized the delegates and left them singing in the hall.
The General Resolutions Committee were next up and dealt with three resolutions in the afternoon:
Composite GEN 7A – PSAC – Strike Pay
GEN 3 – UNE National Youth Conference – Each Cycle
GEN 12 – PSAC and any Canadian Labour Congress Sanctioned Education Event
All three resolutions were passed by the Convention Floor.
We hope all the delegates had a great time in the evening at the Royal Ontario Museum!
With Convention just a few days away, we hope you have your travel booked, your suitcase dug out of the attic and your devices charged and ready to go. Hopefully you have time to cut the lawn one more time too.
In preparation for next week, we highly recommend you go through the documents so you are ready to go from the outset.
Convention Information
This section includes important information on subjects such as the Convention agenda, UNE’s Attendance Policy, Environmental Sensitivities Policy, Statement on Harassment and some nice light reading on the Acronyms used by our Union. We also have a policy about bringing in outside food. Some members life threatening allergic reactions to scents and some foods, so please read this section carefully.
Convention Procedures
Documents that outline the rules and procedures for Convention, such as the PSAC Rules of Order, Tiling Guidelines and the PSAC Constitution are also available on the website. We encourage you to read them in advance. Be sure to join us on Sunday for Delegate training for a “Convention 101” presentation where you will have the opportunity to find answers to your questions.
Reports and Accompanying Documents
During Convention business, delegates will be presented with resolutions from the reports of the three Convention Committees. The reports are available on the website for you to look at in advance.
We can’t wait to see you in Toronto! If you have any last minute questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at events@une-sen.org.
All Convention documentation will be available and updated electronically on the UNE website. As such, you should bring your laptop and/or tablet to follow along when discussing resolutions and Convention business. Should you require an electronic device be provided to you, please contact us at your earliest convenience. Members who require a paper copy of Convention documents may make a request to be accommodated.
TRAVEL
You should plan to arrive at the Sheraton Center Hotel, in Toronto by the evening of Saturday August 19, 2023.
Delegates travelling by air are required to make their arrangements with WE Travel for all air travel bookings. The toll-free number for WE travel Ottawa is 1-888-676-7747 and WE Travel Vancouver is 1-800-663-4703. They have been instructed to have you travel to Toronto on Saturday, August 19, 2023. Your return flight should have you depart Toronto after 6 p.m. on Friday, August 25, 2023. Should you be unable to arrive home before 10 p.m. that evening, you can choose to stay overnight at the hotel and depart Saturday morning. Should there be any requirement to modify air travel arrangements from the proposed schedule, such arrangements must be approved in advance by the UNE office. Please contact Suzanne Boucher at Suzanne.boucher@une-sen.org or at 613-560-4359 to coordinate your travel requirements.
If you are not traveling by air, in order to be reimbursed, delegates must keep all receipts for transportation such as taxis, buses, and parking.
**Delegates in the GTA using their personal automobile will be reimbursed for mileage and parking at the hotel.
ACCOMMODATION
Reservations will be made for you to arrive at the Sheraton Center Hotel, in Toronto on the evening of August 19, 2023 and depart the evening of August 25, 2023.
FAMILY CARE
The Union of National Employees reimburses family care expenses in an effort to encourage full participation in union activities by members whom, in light of their family responsibilities, may otherwise be unable to do so. When you send your expense claim, please provide a receipt signed by the person providing the service. The receipt must clearly indicate the hours and dates of service. Please see the Family Care Forms for further information. In addition, on-site childcare will be provided during Convention activities. Please indicate whether you require on-site childcare when you register online or send the attached Family Care Form. Last-minute registrations may not be accommodated.
FINANCIAL ALLOWANCES
Delegates will be reimbursed travel costs in accordance with regular UNE Policy. With respect to accommodation, delegate accommodation will be prepaid by the component (room and tax only). Incidental expenses are the delegate’s responsibility. During registration, you will receive an expense claim to be completed for all expenses and loss of salary. Please submit your claim for reimbursement to the UNE convention office at the hotel or mail the claim to the UNE office in Ottawa, following the convention.
USE OF YOUR PERSONAL CONTACT INFORMATION
As a delegate, you have the right and responsibility to make informed decisions on issues which will be presented to you, including the election of your UNE Officers. Similarly, members who run for elected office within the UNE (candidates) have the right and responsibility to communicate with convention delegates. As a result, upon request, candidates are entitled to receive your personal contact information from the UNE. Personal contact information includes your name, address, phone number and email address. Your personal contact information will be shared on a need-to-know basis only. Therefore, candidates may only obtain personal contact information from members who are entitled to vote on the position for which they are seeking elected office (e.g. candidates who run for National positions, or candidates who run for Regional Vice-President in your region only). Candidates may only use this information to communicate with you about their candidacy. They are also required to safeguard your personal contact information in accordance with UNE Privacy policies (Refer to Policy CE1).
Should you have any further questions, please contact Suzanne Boucher at 613-560-4359 or by email at events@une-sen.org.
Due to the current climate facing our Union, we understand many of our members are either on strike or working hard to achieve Local Conformance. As a result, UNE has extended the deadline for Convention Registration and submission of Resolutions.
The new deadline is Monday, May 15, 2023 at midnight EST.
This is a reminder to all UNE members that we are less than three weeks away from the deadline to submit resolutions. The Convention Committees, where resolutions will be discussed, are scheduled to take place in Ottawa June 12-15.
How Can You Get Your Resolutions To Us?
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.
The 2021 UNE Triennial Convention has been rescheduled to September 13-17, 2021.
We are accepting late delegate registrations until August 13, 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.
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 virtuallySeptember 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:
Four to 100 members = one delegate;
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:
Credential forms, including meeting minutes showing election of delegates and alternates;
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.
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.
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:
Four to 100 members = one delegate;
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:
Credential forms, including meeting minutes showing election of delegates and alternates;
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
Please find below an important Executive Office communique from the PSAC National President regarding Suspension of Timelines, COVID-19 Protocol and Election of Delegates and Alternates.
