The last Executive Board Meeting was held January 20th & 21st and included the following:
- The deficit as of November 30, 2009 is $1,246,312. It is expected that the deficit by the end of December will be $2,918,726
- Our Contingency Fund was budgeted in 2009 at $597,670; however, the approvals to date are $1,180,327
- NAPE (Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees) has repaid the balance of the loan that OPSEU / NUPGE provided to them in a previous strike
-83% of OPSEU’s Membership has signed a union card. To increase this percentage has been an on-going struggle for the union, like many large, multi-sector unions. The 1st VP/Treasurer’s office was tasked to look into this issue. A report was provided with recommended options to improve the 83% figure. The Board endorsed the recommended actions provided in this report. They include using existing union programs (i.e. Building Local Capacity program), developing specific resources (i.e. having a range of new and already developed materials such as toolkits and provide them regularly to LECs), making structural changes (possibly move to formal or informal changes to the LEC structure), promote regular LEC actions (such as a fall membership building period) and finally, staff members encouraging the card signing with the LEC.
-The Executive Board endorsed policy resolutions and constitutional amendments in order to increase all elected positions from 2 years in length to 3 years in length. These policy resolutions and constitutional amendments will be brought to Convention in order for delegates to debate and vote upon. This would impact not only the length of office for elected officials, but also the timing of Division and Sector meetings as they would be every 3 years instead of 2. There will be benefits and concerns that Members have with regards to this change, however the Executive Board felt as though the positives were significant enough to recommend.
-A motion was passed that a course be developed focusing on cultural awareness and developing cultural competency. This course will be available at Regional Educationals.
-A motion was passed that would offer temporary staff positions to qualified OPSEU members. There will be a process in place that would allow Members to send in a resume and have Staff Relations keep that on file for 2 years. This is not something that will be able to begin over-night. Specific and clear details of this motion will be sent out to the Membership at a later date.