Recap of the Unifor National Council 4000 Convention in Winnipeg, November 25-26, 2016
December 23, 2016
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On November 25 and 26, 2016, National Council 4000 held its 6th triennial convention at the historic Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The purpose for these conventions is to discuss the various issues facing the membership from coast-to-coast-to-coast, and debating and voting on resolutions pertaining to amendments to the bylaws and administration of Unifor National Council 4000. Fifty delegates and more than 15 guests and observers attended this years' convention.
This years' convention was also the first shortened convention, running two days instead of the traditional two-and-a-half days. The Officer Reports Committee and the process of the committee reading the reports of both the President and Secretary Treasurer, voting on each paragraph, was eliminated. This convention, both the President and Secretary Treasurer read their reports to the convention. |
President Barry Kennedy opens the 6th Triennial Convention of Unifor National Council 4000 at the Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg |
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PHOTOS: Left - Delegates reviewing resolutions to vote on during the 6th Convention of Unifor National Council 4000 | Right - The Council 4000 Bylaws Committee going over various resolutions submitted for this year's convention |
The following members, all delegates to this years' convention, were appointed members of the Unifor National Council 4000 Bylaws Committee: Sandeep Singh (Local 4001); Dan Bydak (Local 4002); Jaci Carson (Local 4003); Gordon Cox (Local 4004); and Kevin Lyons (Local 4005). Council 4000 Regional Representatives Andrew Stephen and Mark Robinson served as Facilitators of this committee. The Bylaws Committee is tasked with the responsibilities of reviewing the various resolutions that were submitted and determining a recommendation of either concurrence (acceptance) or non-concurrence (rejection) of the proposals tabled before the conventions' delegates. They may also recommend adoption of resolutions, but with amendments.
There was only one amendment made to the Unifor National Council 4000 Bylaws, this to Article 4, Section 3 (National Council 4000 Executive Meetings). Delegates voted in favour of amending the resolution submitted by Local 4003 to increase the number of meetings of Council 4000. The amended resolution was to add two staff meetings that includes the Council President, Secretary Treasurer and the 7 Regional Representatives of the Council, in addition to the two Council 4000 Executive Board meetings held every calendar year.
Local 4004 submitted a resolution to add a second Regional Representative for their Local. After considerable discussion and debate, delegates voted in favour of an amended resolution to refer the matter and its implementation to the first meeting of the Executive Board of National Council 4000 in 2017.
Two other resolutions that were submitted by Local 4002, the Bylaws Committee recommended 'non-concurrence' of which convention delegates voted in favour of these recomendations, but with additional directives to refer both matters back for further discussion at the first meeting of the Council Executive Board in 2017. These were:
There was only one amendment made to the Unifor National Council 4000 Bylaws, this to Article 4, Section 3 (National Council 4000 Executive Meetings). Delegates voted in favour of amending the resolution submitted by Local 4003 to increase the number of meetings of Council 4000. The amended resolution was to add two staff meetings that includes the Council President, Secretary Treasurer and the 7 Regional Representatives of the Council, in addition to the two Council 4000 Executive Board meetings held every calendar year.
Local 4004 submitted a resolution to add a second Regional Representative for their Local. After considerable discussion and debate, delegates voted in favour of an amended resolution to refer the matter and its implementation to the first meeting of the Executive Board of National Council 4000 in 2017.
Two other resolutions that were submitted by Local 4002, the Bylaws Committee recommended 'non-concurrence' of which convention delegates voted in favour of these recomendations, but with additional directives to refer both matters back for further discussion at the first meeting of the Council Executive Board in 2017. These were:
- Hiring the full-time Regional Representatives of the Council. The Executive will review the various complexities of the proposal and discuss further the merits of appointing these positions vis–à–vis electing them.
- The establishment of a designated Skilled Trades Representative to oversee Skilled Trades and be compensated with an honourarium by the Council. The Executive will review this proposal further with the goal of establishing Skilled Trades Representatives from each of the five Regional Local Unions of the Council to work in conjunction with the Skilled Trades Coordinator of Council 4000, Dave Kissack, who was preaviously appointed by Council 4000 President Barry Kennedy in early 2016.
Unifor Council 4000 Convention delegates attend Local 4002's 25th Annual Smoker Social at the St-Louis Centre in Winnipeg on the evening of November 24, 2016. |
The Bylaws Committee arrived in Winnipeg on Wednesday afternoon to meet all day on Thursday, November 24th to review the resolutions submitted for the convention.
Delegates and guests began arriving on Thursday afternoon and following registration for the convention, they were chauffeured in vans across the Red River to St. Boniface and the St-Louis Centre to attend a social event – the 2016 Smoker – put on by the Executive of Unifor Local 4002. This is the 25th year of this event, which was held in conjunction of the Council 4000 Convention. A huge raffle with numerous prizes donated by Local 4002, Council 4000, Unifor National and employers of Local 4002 members was held. Proceeds from the raffle went to Willow Place, an emergency shelter in Winnipeg for women and their children leaving family violence situations. Willow Place was given a significant donation during the Council 4000 Convention dinner and dance at the Fort Garry that wrapped up the convention on Saturday evening, November 26th. |
Nominations for National Council 4000 President and Secretary Treasurer
Nominations were held at the onset of the convention on Friday morning, November 25th, for the positions of National Council 4000 President and Secretary Treasurer.
Council President Barry Kennedy accepted his nomination for another three-year term as the President of the Council and was re-elected by acclamation. Present Secretary Treasurer Danny Andru also accepted nomination as Secretary Treasurer, along with the Secretary Treasurer of Local 4002 Joey Broda, who was also nominated and accepted his nomination. Consequently, an election will be held for the Secretary Treasurer's position of Council 4000.
New National Election Committee Elected for Unifor National Council 4000
In addition to the nominations of National Council 4000 President and Secretary Treasurer, a new National Election Committee (NEC) for Council 4000 was elected by Regional Local Caucuses. The NEC member for Local 4001 will be Sandy Barwell; Local 4002 will be Brigette Lane; Local 4003 Jaci Carson; Local 4004 Mario Nascimento; and Local 4005 will be Nancy Risser. Amongst these five newly elected NEC members, they chose Mario Nascimento to serve as the Chairperson of the NEC. The NEC is a standing committee for the next three years, and supervises all elections of Unifor National Council 4000.
Guest speakers at this years' convention were Assistant to the Unifor National Secretary Treasurer Jenny Ahn; Unifor National Rail Director Brian Stevens; National Representative and former Council 4000 President and Regional Representative Bob Fitzgerald; and Council 4000 Regional Representative and Skilled Trades Coordinator Dave Kissack, who spoke on the Council's Skilled Trades membership and future plans in participating in the Unifor Skilled Trades Council.
The 2016 Unifor National Council 4000 Convention wrapped up on Saturday evening at the Fort Garry Hotel with a wonderful dinner and dance. Live music was provided from the Winnipeg-based band The Tune Raiders, who performed a collage of music from the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's, with different outfits and looks for each era and music. They were very entertaining and marked the end of a very successful convention.
Nominations were held at the onset of the convention on Friday morning, November 25th, for the positions of National Council 4000 President and Secretary Treasurer.
Council President Barry Kennedy accepted his nomination for another three-year term as the President of the Council and was re-elected by acclamation. Present Secretary Treasurer Danny Andru also accepted nomination as Secretary Treasurer, along with the Secretary Treasurer of Local 4002 Joey Broda, who was also nominated and accepted his nomination. Consequently, an election will be held for the Secretary Treasurer's position of Council 4000.
New National Election Committee Elected for Unifor National Council 4000
In addition to the nominations of National Council 4000 President and Secretary Treasurer, a new National Election Committee (NEC) for Council 4000 was elected by Regional Local Caucuses. The NEC member for Local 4001 will be Sandy Barwell; Local 4002 will be Brigette Lane; Local 4003 Jaci Carson; Local 4004 Mario Nascimento; and Local 4005 will be Nancy Risser. Amongst these five newly elected NEC members, they chose Mario Nascimento to serve as the Chairperson of the NEC. The NEC is a standing committee for the next three years, and supervises all elections of Unifor National Council 4000.
Guest speakers at this years' convention were Assistant to the Unifor National Secretary Treasurer Jenny Ahn; Unifor National Rail Director Brian Stevens; National Representative and former Council 4000 President and Regional Representative Bob Fitzgerald; and Council 4000 Regional Representative and Skilled Trades Coordinator Dave Kissack, who spoke on the Council's Skilled Trades membership and future plans in participating in the Unifor Skilled Trades Council.
The 2016 Unifor National Council 4000 Convention wrapped up on Saturday evening at the Fort Garry Hotel with a wonderful dinner and dance. Live music was provided from the Winnipeg-based band The Tune Raiders, who performed a collage of music from the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's, with different outfits and looks for each era and music. They were very entertaining and marked the end of a very successful convention.
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Sylvie Bruneau to retire from Unifor National Council 4000
Danny Andru and Barry Kennedy made a presentation to long time Secretary of Council 4000, Sylvie Bruneau, who has announced that she will be retiring after 19-years of dedicated service. Sylvie has been an important part of Council 4000 and we will all miss her dedication, experience and knowledge that she provides us. She is responsible for all the administrative planning and work that goes into our triennial conventions. She plans to retire after the upcoming elections for Secretary Treasurer, which will be in early 2017. We will have more on Sister Bruneau’s retirement in the New Year. The next Unifor National Council 4000 Convention The next convention will be held in three years’ time, in October or November of 2019, in a city that has yet to be determined. We thank those members that served on the Bylaws Committees, and all the delegates, guests and observers who attended and participated in this year’s convention. |
Unifor Council 4000 President Barry Kennedy and Secretary Treasurer Danny Andru present the Council's long-time Administrative Assistant Sylvie Bruneau with a gift on behalf of the Council 4000 membership for her 19-years of service |
Related:
December 29, 2016 Barry Kennedy re-elected President of Unifor National Council 4000
December 29, 2016 Photos and videos from the Unifor Council 4000 Convention
December 29, 2016 Unifor Local 4002 and Council 4000 delegates/guests donate to Winnipeg charity
November 19, 2016 Unifor Council 4000 prepares for its 6th Convention to be held in Winnipeg
December 29, 2016 Barry Kennedy re-elected President of Unifor National Council 4000
December 29, 2016 Photos and videos from the Unifor Council 4000 Convention
December 29, 2016 Unifor Local 4002 and Council 4000 delegates/guests donate to Winnipeg charity
November 19, 2016 Unifor Council 4000 prepares for its 6th Convention to be held in Winnipeg
