MNU Local 97 Annual General Meeting

Winnipeg Home Care Local 97 Annual General Meeting
February 26, 2008
Norwood Hotel

1. Call to order - meeting was called to order by Dawn Thompson at 1902
2. Additions to Agenda - agenda was accepted as circulated.
3. Approval of Agenda - agenda was approved as circulated.
4. Introduction of the Head Table per Dawn Thompson: Deb Stewart, Maureen Hancharyk, Madeleine Graham, Marilyn Kenny, Bluma Levine, Bill Crawford, Leanne Newman
5. Provincial President's Report - Maureen Hancharyk
Maureen indicates that MNU did not walk away from the negotiating table and states "We do not have a mandate so we are going to adjourn" Maureen indicates the media states the nurses were offered a generous settlement of 9.6 over three years and this offer would make us fourth in Canada. The Government is not telling the truth as MNU wages are currently 6th in the country with many other provinces at the negotiating table. The Government and MNU indicated there are 844 vacancies in the City of Winnipeg. The vacancy rate for Dauphin Health is 30 alone and the North vacancy rate is through the roof. When the employer looked at their vacancy rate for Winnipeg it was 864 as compared to the 600 vacancies last spring so the situation is getting worse. Maureen indicates that 1/3 of all nurses are eligible to retire. 3400 nurses are eligible to retire and work is getting done based on nurses picking up extra available shifts and Overtime. Maureen indicates that MNU is philosophically opposed to the governments offer as we need recruitment, benefits and pension. Nurses wish they could opt out of their current benefits as they are not getting a good value for they benefits. MNU wants better pension and an extra week of vacation for nurses in there last few years. Maureen indicates the government asked for a lower percentage of wage increases for the LPNs. MNU takes pride that Manitoba's LPN's are number two in the country. The government wants extra steps in the wage scale. Maureen indicates that on Feb 12 the WRHA offered 4.75 in the first year and 4.75 in the second year, with a two year contract and a letter of understanding that we would be 4th in the country and they would keep us that way. MNU thought the government was sincere. Maureen indicates when we got back to the bargaining table the government had changed the rules. The letter of understanding discriminated against LPN and other levels of nurses. Maureen indicates we would have be 4th for five minutes until April 1 when Saskatchewan settles their contract. Currently as it stands many of the rural and northern nurses want to go to Saskatchewan. Maureen indicates are premier of Manitoba indicates our nurses are 4th and we want them to stay 4th. Maureen indicates based on governments offer we would be fourth until April 1, 2008 and then drop down to 6th or 7th or 8th. Maureen asks the nurses for a positive strike vote and indicates this is a short term pain for long term gain. Maureen asks nurses to refuse Overtime and Extra Available shifts which would cripple the system. How can a nurse not have a decreased pay check for a couple of weeks for a competitive wage? As it stands Maureen indicates we have facilities that would have to close if nurses didn't pick up extra available shift and Overtime. Maureen indicates employers have been crying that we have a nursing shortage and indicated they would support us when we got to the table. They are not supporting us. Maureen indicates MNU needs our support on March 10 for a positive strike vote. 6. Dawn Thompson indicates prior to regionalization 142 nurses took no Overtime and Extra Available shifts in home care. This caused the system to be crippled. The employer went back to the bargaining table after two weeks. Dawn asks nurses to please support MNU.
7. Nominations - Darlene Leier.
Executive
President: Marcya Williamson - wins by acclamation
Vice President: Alison Leviana - wins by acclamation
Secretary: Todd Hamin, Val Alderson - there will be an election nurses are to vote.
Treasurer: Yvonne Maguet - wins by acclamation
St James Assiniboine - vacant
Respite Representative - vacant
River East/Transcona - Alison Lievana - wins by acclamation
Clinic Representative - Darcy Spikula - wins by acclamation
Downtown/Point Douglas - Chris Wensel - wins by acclamation
St Boniface/St Vital - Yvonne Maguet - wins by acclamation
Inkster/Seven Oaks - Teresa Sosa - wins by acclamation
River Heights - Andrea Zaluski - wins by acclamation
Fort Garry - vacant
Workplace Safety and Health
St James Assiniboine - Darlene Leier - wins by acclamation
Respite Representative - vacant
River East/Transcona - vacant
Clinic Representative - Tanya Girouard-Stringer - wins by acclamation
Downtown/Point Douglas - Leanne Newman - wins by acclamation
St Boniface/St Vital - vacant
Inkster/Seven Oaks - vacant
River Heights- Andrea Zaluski - wins by acclamation
Fort Garry -vacant
Nursing Advisory Committee
Automatic inclusion of the President and Vice President
Leanne Newman - wins by acclamation
Chris Wensel - wins by acclamation Union Management
Automatic inclusion of the President and Vice President
Nominated: Todd Hamin, Yvonne Maguet and Teresa Sosa - there will be an election nurses are to vote.
Darlene Leier reports that everyone received ballots and nurses are to mark their choices.
Ballots are collected and counting begins.

8. Treasurers Budget - Dawn Thompson indicates Local 97 is in good financial position. 1000 was used to send a Long Term Care Nurse to Labour School. Question was asked regarding technical support. Dawn indicates technical support refers to fax machines, computers and cell phones for presidential usage.
Dawn discusses .4 presidential EFT.
Deb Stewart - Labour Relations Officer discusses that current President had 21 provincially funded days and 23 locally funded days which is less than one day a week. Returns to work meetings are not paid by the employer and the President attends about three to six a week. NAC, UM, WPSH are employer paid. A .4 EFT President would possibly allow the employer to schedule RTW meetings on specific President days. Deb reports that HSC has a Full time President and part time Vice President. Other locals our size have a half time President. Deb notes that Home Care nurses have an increased amount of MPI injuries and WCB claims. Question was raised regarding pension and benefits for a .4 President. Dawn indicates that the pension and benefits would have to be negotiated with the employer. The .4 EFT President on Salary Continuance of approximately 250 dollars per day would include taxes and burdens.
9. Auditors Report - Dawn Thompson
10. Members present all voted in favor of the budget - the budget passed.
11. Members present all voted in favor of the Auditors report. - the auditors report passed.
12. Members present all voted in favor of the .4 EFT for the President - the .4 EFT President passed
13.Presidents Report - Dawn Thompson - indicates she was been spending much time putting out fires, policing the collective agreement, working with NAC on Overtime protocols and After Hour Concerns. Dawn indicates there will be working alone focus groups and encouraged members to join. Dawn encourages members to use the website at www.mnulocal97.ca as it contains lots of important educational information. Dawn discusses Local 97 has implemented our Policy and Procedure Manual. Dawn advises nurse to fill out Workload Staffing Reports.
14.Darlene - election results
Val Alderson - Secretary
Union Management - Todd Hamin and Teresa Sosa
Ballots to be destroyed.
15.Dawn's farewell - speech by Leanne Newman
16.Adjournment at 2030