1. MOTION (Kovach/Phillips) That the agenda be approved as amended. CARRIED
2. MOTION (Kovach/Chappell) That the minutes of October 15th, 1997, be approved as amended. CARRIED
Darling has sent a letter to Russ Smith, thanking him for his services as a Local Representative.
3.2 CUPE 951 Newsletter circulating
The CUPE 951 Newsletter is being circulated amongst the executive.
3.3 Constitution and By Laws Online on Web
The PEA web site now has the Constitution and By Laws on line at http://web.uvic.ca/uvicpea/constitution.html.
3.4 Staff identification badges
Darling has been asked in letter from J. A. Robson to attend a meeting on Oct. 30th about identification badges. All members of CUPE 917, some members of CUPE 951 and some A&AP staff will be given photo identification badges. Issues involve privacy, security and safety.
3.5 Letter from Kathryn Danchuk concerning the Election Review Committee.
Darling has received a letter from Kathyn Danchuk (PEA President) asking for input from our chapter as to the composition and mandate for the Provincial PEA Elections Review Committee which will result from a resolution passed at the Provincial PEA AGM. Nightingale will correlate the opinions of our executive and we will poll the entire membership for input.
3.6 Phone conversation with Alan MacLeod
MOTION (Nightingale/Kovach) to sit as a committee of the whole. CARRIED
The executive arose from the committee of the whole.
MOTION (Philips/Kovach) that the UVic chapter president write the Provincial PEA President requesting that all observers at Provincial executive meetings get a full package of all board meeting materials one week in advance of Provincial Executive meetings. CARRIED
3.7 "Constitution" General Meeting Minutes
The Minutes from the October 10th meeting at which the chapter Constitution was approved will be adopted at the upcoming "new" AGM on Nov 14th.
3.8 1996 AGM Minutes
O'Rourke and Devlin will present minutes from the 1996 AGM for approval at the upcoming "new" AGM.
Brown reported that the nominations committee had difficulty in finding people who were willing to run for the chapter executive. In future more advance work must be done in order to have more members willing to serve. The result is Glen Darling is acclaimed as President, Tom Gore is acclaimed as Vice-President and there will be an election to choose six board members from the following: Dick Chappell, Maggie Cooper-Little, Jane Kovach, Martin Milner, Rosalie Phillips, Ian Thornton and Bernice Wood.
4.2 Staff Officer Report
a. Doyle indicated that we have received a letter from Phil Reusing in Human Resources concerning our grievance over contracting out. The letter solicits our comments but has been sent out to chairs and directors. We agreed that we should demand that it be recalled and an new, corrected letter be sent in its place.
b. The draft policies concerning Intellectual Property, Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment have been sent to the lawyer retained by the PEA, Bruce Laughton, for comment. His analysis is expected shortly and we will discuss it at the next executive meeting.
4.3 Staff Equity Working Group and Discrimination and Harassment Working Group.
Darling reported that both of these Working Groups have met recently. He noted that none of the departmental equity plans cover staff. Instead they only deal with faculty hiring.
4.4 Employee and Family Assistance Program Committee (Darling)
Darling reported that the selection of a provider for the Employee and Family Assistance Program has been made. The present committee may now become the implementation committee.
4.5 A/U Committee
Nightingale reported that the A/U met on Oct. 16th. Issues raised by the PEA included the grievance over contracting out, the University's unfulfilled obligation to inform PEA members about liability coverage, the need for a benefits brochure showing coverage with Great West and ways to involve PEA members in search committees for senior staff. The University indicated that there will be a general examination of extra to load appointments with particular attention to conflict of interest and effective performance.
Kovach indicated that we have received no offers from our members to run as a Trustee of the Pension Plan. Dick Chappell has therefore agreed to run.
4.7 Provincial PEA Executive Meeting
Brown commits to attending the UVic PEA executive meeting following the Provincial PEA executive meeting. She reported that the entire scrutineer's report from the recent election will be published in the Professional. She reported on gains in PEA membership from the Mental Health sector and possible revisions to the Chapter Expense Policy which is presently under review.
4.8 Job Evaluation Committee
Doyle reported that the JE committee had met with Sanderson and Soles and recommended a letter to the membership setting out the pros and cons of proceeding with the process (for example, only internal comparisons will be carried out, no money is available to address inequities, etc.) and seeking members' input.
4.9 Continuing Specialist Instructional and Recurring Specialist Instructional Committee
Doyle reported that they had met with the UVic committee and will meet again next week. The process is near completion with salary, date of implementation and severance as outstanding issues.
Darling reported that several letters and phone calls have been received from members who oppose the proposed Intellectual Property Policy. Darling now will send the UVic PEA brief critiquing the policy to A. McCauley, Associate VP, Research Administration and chair of the Committee on Intellectual Property and Related Matters with copies to the other committee
5.2 Provincial AGM
Nightingale described the Provincial PEA AGM which was poorly attended with 35 members present, at least 7 from UVic. A good debate took place over proposed resolutions. Two passed one calling for the formation of an Election Review Committee and the other to encourage the Executive to appoint rank and file members to all executive committees except Finance and Staff Relations.
MOVED (Nightingale/Kovach) That the UVic chapter president write the Provincial PEA President, requesting that the policy on reimbursement of expenses for attending the PEA AGM be amended to include members of chapter executives. CARRIED
5.3 Pension Trustees
Gore reported on a call to John Levey, Secretary to the UVic Pension Plan Board of Trustees about the board structure and procedures for changing the structure. The pros and cons of having a designated PEA representative were discussed.
5.4 Another "Open House"?
Darling proposed another social function for the members. A "meet the new executive" get together at the Faculty Club at 4.30 on Nov. 14th was agreed upon. It was proposed to rename the UVic PEA Chapter the UVic PEA POD.
Gore reported that the Government has instituted public hearings as part of a review of the B.C. Labour Code. It was decided that we had no issues to raise.
6.2 Tuition Freeze support? Notice of motion for ACM?
Darling proposed having a student speak at our upcoming AGM about getting our support for a tuition freeze. Discussion involved other more proactive approaches to the issue
6.3 Chapter Expenses: tabled