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News - July 2008
The headlines for news items published during this month are listed below.
Click on the headline of your choice to see the entire text of the article.
• NCR Regional Conference builds anticipation
for August’s NHU Convention
• PSAC dues rate changed as of this month
• NHU Convention Update: Meet your Host Committee
• First Manitoba Regional LMCC at PHAC a success
• Local 00009 Executive Vice-President recognized
for exceptional contribution
NCR Regional Conference builds anticipation for August’s NHU Convention
Posted July 30, 2008
It was the turn of the National Capital Region to hold its Regional Conference last weekend. The photo below shows delegates to the Conference, held the weekend of July 19-20
.
There event was marked by an air of eager anticipation for next month’s First Triennial Convention of our newly-reformed National Health Union. Those who had been selected Convention delegates were looking forward to meeting their colleagues from across Canada in St. John’s.
Debate was focused and cordial. Art McKenzie, the NHU's Regional Vice-President for our Narional Capital Region members, was very pleased with the oiutcome. "Our delegates felt very comfortable with both the state of our union and the direction in which it's heading. All of us are very much aware of the importance of the upcoming National Convention."
As with other Regional Conferences, National President Tony Tilley was on hand at the July 19-20 event to field questions and assist with a review of Convention procedures and resolutions. Given that a number of these Convention delegates are ‘first-timers’, this training was particularly welcome.
"The number of first-time delegates is at the same time both a challenge and a source of great satisfaction," said Tilley. "These new activists, along with our exsting seasoned leadership, are together a strong force to represent our membership going forward."
PSAC dues rate changed as of this month
Posted July 18, 2008
You may have noticed that your overall union dues have changed this month. That’s because, as of July 1, the dues levied by our bargaining agent, the Public Service Alliance of Canada, have decreased a bit.
Here’s why…
At its 2006 Convention the PSAC adopted a $5-dollar per member per month strike fund recovery amount, with a subsequent reduction to $2.75 for members earning more than $30,000.00 per year and $2.00 per month for those earning less than $30,000.00 per year. This was in addition to the flat rate of 0.35 cents per month for strike issues that has existed for many years.
On July 1, 2008, the $2.75 and $2.00 reduced amounts ended. However, at the same time, the 0.35 cents amount was increased to one dollar.
As an example, a CR-05 would have paid $35.83 in PSAC dues before July 1, 2008. This was calculated by taking the first level of the salary grid ($43,826.00) at the PSAC rate of 0.8963, divided by 12 months, for a total of $32.73 per month. Adding the $2.75 and 0.35 cents produced a grand total of $35.83.
After July 1, PSAC dues for this same CR-05 total $33.73, for a savings of $2.10 per month.
As soon as we have the first membership list with the new calculations we will be adjusting our ‘Dues Checker’ on the NHU Web site.
NHU Convention Update: Meet your Host Committee
Posted July 17, 2008
National President Tony Tilley is alerting ‘mainland’ delegates to next month’s NHU Triennial National Convention in St. John’s that they should prepare themselves to be ‘screeched in’!
This long-standing island tradition is one of several being prepared by the Convention Host Committee, drawn from the following members of Local 90001: Jeremy Wickens; Donna Croke; and Patricia Kemuksigak. We are all grateful for the efforts they are putting into making our first convention as the National Health Union a memorable one.
Tilley, himself a Newfoundlander, hastens to add that the ‘screeching in’ ceremony creates no lasting effect – as long as you don’t mind kissing a cod!
This ‘true taste of Newfoundland’ (excuse the bad pun…) is only one of a number interesting events already organized by the Host Committee, including a whale watching expedition and local entertainment following the Convention banquet.
We are also pleased to note that Jeannie Baldwin, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for the Atlantic Region, will be conducting the elections for the NHU National Council (comprising the positions of President, National Vice-President and Regional Vice-Presidents).
First Manitoba Regional LMCC at PHAC a success
Posted July 17, 2008
If the first meeting is any indication, a solid groundwork is being laid for regional labour-management consultation with the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Thanks to the efforts of the NHU National President Tony Tilley, Manitoba Regional Vice-President Pat Todd and our PHAC members, last month saw the first Manitoba RUMCC held since the Agency’s founding.
The inaugural meeting approved terms of reference, discussed future areas of discussion and set dates for the next three quarterly RUMCCs.
Todd says all the participants were pleased with their first encounter and that she is “very optimistic that the future meetings will be productive and worthwhile.”
Local 00009 Executive Vice-President recognized for exceptional contribution
Posted July 4, 2008
Congratulations to Sarah Caribou! The Executive Vice-President of Local 00009 in Toronto has received a Regional Director General's (RDG) Award of Excellence to recognize the accomplishments and outstanding achievements of Health Canada employees for the Program and Service Delivery category.
To quote the Department, the recognition is given to an “individual or team of two or more people who have demonstrated a substantial contribution in the design and/or delivery of a program or service”. In this case, Sarah pitched in with extra time and effort to ensure that the Ontario Region’s clients did not suffer during a protracted time of staffing shortage.
The photo above shows Sarah receiving congratulations from Antony Sangster, Regional Director General for Ontario.
Way to go, Sarah. All of us are proud of the way you gave a real meaning to the ‘public’ in public service worker!
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