A Murder in Prohibition-Era Windsor

AMAPCEO UNFINISHED BUSINESS - ENSURING TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND HIGH STANDARDS OF REPRESENTATION FOR AMAPCEO MEMBERS

2014 AMAPCEO ADC RESOLUTION

Submitted by Margaret Kipp (delegate)

September 26, 2014

TITLE:  ENSURING TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND HIGH STANDARDS OF REPRESENTATION FOR AMAPCEO MEMBERS

WHEREAS the AMAPCEO Constitution lists as it first purpose:

2.1 To represent the interests of all employees in the bargaining units for which the Association has jurisdiction in all matters affecting the terms and conditions of employment of such employees, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, negotiating and administering collective agreements and acting as the exclusive bargaining agent for employees in the existing bargaining unit and any future units (herein referred to as the “bargaining unit” or “bargaining units”) which the Association is entitled to represent;

WHEREAS the resolution of workplace disputes and the defence of the terms and conditions under which AMAPCEO members work  is a key component of the representation AMAPCEO provides to its members;

WHEREAS the ratification of the 2014 Collective Agreement has brought about significant changes to the process used by AMAPCEO and the Employer to resolve grievances brought forward by members;

WHEREAS there is a lack of clarity between the roles of AMERC members, workplace representatives and AMAPCEO staff with respect to the representation of members;

WHEREAS there has never, to date, been a review of the functioning and effectiveness of the Dispute Resolution Unit in AMAPCEO;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the ADC direct the establishment of a Committee to review the functioning and effectiveness of the resolution of AMAPCEO disputes and grievances;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a call for members will be made within one month of the approval of this resolution with members elected within two months;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the committee will consist of five members, all of whom shall be or have been workplace representatives and at least three of who are or have been, AMERC co-chairs;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the committee will consult with AMERC CO-CHAIRS, AMERC members and workplace representatives, and staff as well as any members who wish to provide input;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the committee will review and provide recommendations on standards of service and measures to ensure accountability to members of the dispute resolution function in AMAPCEO;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE COMMITTEE will provide regular updates to Provincial Council;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the committee will create a terms of reference and budget to be approved by Provincial Council  and will produce an interim report within six months of being established, and a final report  within ten months of establishment.

AN ADC MOTION TO REMOVE GARY GANNAGE AS PRESIDENT OF AMAPCEO

AMAPCEO  lost an excellent Bargaining Team chair when Joseph Dubonnet resigned.  Joseph was elected first as a chapter chair representative on the Bargaining Team and then became the Bargaining Team Chair.  

His appointment to the Team was a hopeful sign that things in AMAPCEO were changing.  His resignation is proof positive that nothing can change while Gary is on the Team.   

Because many of us no longer have confidence that Gary Gannage can lead our Association, I submitted this motion last night for consideration at the ADC.

NOTICE OF MOTION

TO THE 2013 AMAPCEO ANNUAL DELEGATES CONFERENCE FILED ON NOVEMBER 14, 2013 WITH THE SECRETARY OF AMAPCEO AND COPIED TO MICHAEL MOURITSEN, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS OF AMAPCEO

Whereas we believe that the AMAPCEO membership has lost confidence in the President, Gary Gannage; and

Whereas Section 58 of the AMAPCEO Constitution requires two weeks’ notice to the Annual Delegates Conference of a motion under Section 58, we are submitting this resolution on November 14, 2013 to the Secretary of the Association for distribution to the delegates of the 2013 AMAPCEO Annual Delegates Conference; and

Whereas section 58 of the AMAPCEO Constitution provides the authority to the Delegates to remove the President from office with a two thirds vote; 

We move the following:

That the Delegates remove Gary Gannage as President of the Association effective upon the adoption of this motion.

Respectfully submitted by:

Margaret Kipp, Chapter Chair, Municipal Affairs and Housing Chapter

Victor Khait, Chapter Chair, Community Safety and Correctional Services Chapter

November 14, 2013

FAIRNESS WORKS!

#4 FOOD FOR THOUGHT - MY VP SPEECH FROM 2011 (I LOST!)

Within the past few days, an AMAPCEO member  asked me how long I had been  concerned about the way AMAPCEO was being run.  I replied, without hesitation, "about sixteen years!". In fact, it was this concern that prompted me to run and be elected to the Board of Directors.  After  ten years of frustration and watching as the Association became less and less accessible to its members, I left the board. I have been chapter chair at Municipal Affairs and Housing for the past few years.

As a member of the Board of Directors, I was constricted by the need to make it appear that the board was unanimous on everything (board solidarity) and to vote as block at Provincial Council.  As a chapter chair at Provincial Council and ADC, I can and do represent the views of AMAPCEO members at MMAH, often expressing opposition to AMAPCEO proposals such as Job Evaluation.  For years, I have advocated the "de-linking" of JE from collective bargaining.  This has not made me popular but it is important to stand up and vote for your convictions.  Others talk about openness and transparency but when they have the opportunity to make a difference they vote with the flock.

A major concern of mine has been the lack of "arm's length" oversight of the bargaining team by the Board of Directors.  I strongly believe that the bargaining team should be separate and apart from the governance of the Association.   In other words, the head of  the bargaining team should not sit on the Board of Directors.  It is important that the governance structures of AMAPCEO should manage bargaining by setting priorities.   Questions intended to elicit information can be viewed as a personal attack. In such a circumstance, it is hard to hold the bargaining team to account. I also believe that the bargaining team members should be elected by members and not selected/

In an effort to de-link the largely undefined position of vice president from the head of the bargaining team, I ran against Bob for the position of  Vice President in 2011.  I lost.   The other day, though, I  came across a copy of my speech which I will share with you.  While I lost the election, I realize that the issues of 2011 have not been resolved.

For those of you who are new, I share this paper.  If nothing else, you will see that the problems of last year persit . 

Good afternoon, ADC Delegates:

Thank you for volunteering your time, effort and talent to represent your AMAPCEO colleagues across the Province at this critical time in the OPS.  I truly believe that volunteers like you are the heart of our organization.  You are our most valuable resource and should be treated accordingly.  

By now, you will have received a number of communications from me.

I initially sent you email:

·      To outline of my experience in the OPS and AMAPCEO,

·      To tell you about my personal style, and

·      To outline what I want to accomplish as Vice President and

 Executive Officer of the Association. 

Thank you so much for your many words of encouragement and support during the past weeks.

In addition to the electronic communication I also mailed this letter to your home.  It tells you about my OPS and AMAPCEO experience.  More importantly it expands on those issues that I believe should the key priorities for the Association over the next two years.

I have worked to earn your vote. In these two days at the ADC, I finally get the chance to speak with you in person. By working hard to earn your vote I mean to demonstrate to you just how I will conduct myself as your Vice President.

As Vice President, I have set for myself four broad goals that I believe can and must be accomplished within the next two years. These goals relate less to what we do as an Association but, rather, to how we do it. 

How will we conduct ourselves as we deal with the work at hand, whether it be organizing, negotiating, or defending our members?

The four broad goals relate to the protection of members, improved decision and policy making, greater transparency, and valuing our volunteers.

First, as Vice President, I will work diligently to ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to the protection of our members.

Second, as Vice President, I will support measures that encourage a return to the decentralized and shared decision making and policy making that served the Association well in its early years. As an OPS colleague once said, we need to share the power.

Third, as Vice President, I will support, champion and encourage measures that provide greater transparency into the activities of the Association for our members.

And fourth, and perhaps most importantly, as Vice President I will strive to ensure that our local volunteers and activists are valued and respected.

I would like to talk to you now about these changes which I believe are critical to the continued well-being of AMAPCEO.  Let me tell you how I see us making these changes that I believe are necessary to ensure the Association is on track and ready for the future.

 1.  MEMBER PROTECTION

One, as a priority, I firmly believe we must ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to the protection of our members. What do I mean by this?

First of all, the resources I am talking about include the salaried staff that we hire to resolve disputes for our members.  However, these resources also include the unpaid volunteer workplace and AMERC representatives who are on the frontlines.  In my view, when we exclude these volunteers by failing to provide them with information, excluding them from meetings or failing to seek their input, we are wasting a valuable resource. 

My vision for member protection in AMAPCEO is this – in two years I would expect to achieve a system of workplace representation where volunteer workplace representatives and AMERC co-chairs work together seamlessly with paid office staff to ensure excellent service to the members.

HR ONTARIO is broken

But no matter how prepared we are to defend our members and how organized we are, we have to recognize that never before have we witnessed such incompetence and wanton disregard for the Collective Agreeement!  As one of our members so eloquently put it, HR Ontario is broken.  I found it very difficult to deal with HR Ontario two years ago when the Corporate Division at MAH underwent the reorg from hell. Things have not improved.  Our members, particularly those who have been surplussed without a match, are very upset. And where is AMAPCEO?  Why are we not sending letters, marching etc. Why are we missing in action? Conversations that start with a member disclosing the latest hiring shocker usually finish with the words, “And what is AMAPCEO going to do about it?”

By protection of our members I refer to the assistance our members have a right to expect from us, when they have complaints or grievances under either the Collective Agreement or the Employer’s own policies.

Judging by the large number of complaints that I hear about the customer service we provide to workplace representatives, it is clear that the service levels have diminished in the past two years. This decline in service has to be reversed. 

We are in tough economic times and it will get worse before it gets better.  As more members lose their jobs, the number of disputes will undoubtedly increase.  And, for us, representation of our members is Job One.

The short term, quick and dirty response to a crisis such as the one we are facing is to throw money at it.  And I do not doubt that, over the short term, we will have to hire more staff to handle the ever increasing number of grievances associated with job loss.  However, over the longer term, we need to do our homework to make sure we are using our resources wisely.   

How will we know when we are there? How will we measure success? How will we know when sufficient resources have been allocated to the protection of our members?

As Vice President I will call for an organizational review of the dispute resolution function within AMAPCEO with participation and input from members who have used these services as well as input from AMERCs and workplace representatives.    By 2013, this process should result in the establishment of measurable service standards so we know how we are doing.  Future staffing decisions will be better informed.

2.   GOVERNANCE: SHARED AND DECENTRALIZED POLICY AND DECISION MAKING

Second, we must encourage a return to the decentralized and shared decision making and policy making that served the Association well in its early years.

Those of us who have been around since the beginning (of AMAPCEO that is) are alarmed by the concentration and centralization of decision making within AMAPCEO.  The authority of the Board and Executive Committee has increased, while the role of Provincial Council has decreased.  Where the Provincial Council was once a lively forum for the discussion of policy, it has become a sort of focus group.

My vision for shared decision and policy making in AMAPCEO is this – in two years I believe we can revitalize policy making within AMAPCEO so that each component of our governance structure (ADC, Provincial Council, the Board, the Executive Committee) has a real opportunity to play a meaningful role in the establishment of policy.  As Vice President I will support initiatives that will rebalance the policy process and decision making in AMAPCEO.

3. GREATER TRANSPARENCY INTO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ASSOCIATION

Third, we must provide greater transparency into the activities of the Association for our members. 

4. RESPECT FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS / ACTIVISTS

Finally, we must ensure that our local volunteers and activists are valued and respected. We are very good at producing studies on how to develop members and chapters, but poor at implementing them.  Our activists are volunteers who are willing to work for nothing, but who are not willing to waste their time.

Our workplace representatives are getting burned out, as they struggle with AMAPCEO almost as much as they struggle with the Employer, while trying to get justice and fair treatment for our members.   We must remember that our members are why we are here.

I would like to say a few words about our AMERC members who quietly go about the business of enforcing the Collective Agreement.  They play a critical role in defending the CA but are the most poorly resourced group of all.

As Vice President of AMAPCEO, I would advocate for support for AMERCs by arranging regular teleconferences and issue based training opportunities for all AMERC reps (on Employer time);  and by ensuring the timely sharing of information.

As Chapter Chair at Municipal Affairs and Housing, my focus has been on the governance of the Association and I participate fully in Provincial Council and have taken part in a number of important committees.  As AMERC co-chair (on and off over the past 16 years or so) my focus has been on the Collective Agreement,  ensuring that our members are able to take advantage of the protection offered by our Collective Agreement, and by the Employer’s policies. We have established a positive working relationship with the Employer within MAH.  We also work cooperatively with other bargaining agents as the need arises. Together with my colleagues who are workplace representatives, and health and safety representatives, and delegates to the ADC, our team provides members with the information they need, when they need it.  Signed off AMERC minutes for most of the 133 AMERC meetings held in MAH are available on the Ministry website.

As Vice President, I will be a member of the Executive Committee along with the President, Secretary and Treasurer.   If you elect me as Vice President, I will not waste this opportunity to get the Association back on track, moving forward!

So, tomorrow when you are marking your ballot please vote Margaret Kipp for Vice President.

Thanks for your time and your attention.

TAKE BACK AMAPCEO: WILL #AMAPCEO REALLY NEED THIS $100K POSITION WH...

TAKE BACK AMAPCEO: WILL #AMAPCEO REALLY NEED THIS $100K POSITION WH...: Executive Assistant to the President & CEO (Reporting directly to the President& CEO) Full-Time, 1 Year Contract – October 2013...

WILL #AMAPCEO REALLY NEED THIS $100K POSITION WHEN #AMAPCEO SEPARATES CAO FROM CEO?? REALLY?

Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
(Reporting directly to the President& CEO)

Full-Time, 1 Year Contract – October 2013
Classification Salary Level IV ($73,591 - $100,191)

  

This position will provide Executive-level support services to the AMAPCEO President & CEO and the corporate office.

 

Major responsibilities include:     

• Providing Executive-level staff support and organizational assistance to the President including assisting in the management of correspondence, employer disclosure material and general paper-flow; drafting correspondence
  
• Assisting in the scheduling and logistics of meetings; Attending meetings with senior officials from Employer groups, other bargaining units, and/or umbrella organizations; attending internal AMAPCEO committee/working group meetings; attending confidential meetings related to bargaining agent disclosures, taking meeting notes, organizing material and, as required, copying material to other AMAPCEO staff; monitoring required follow-up action from meetings, deadline reminders, employer compliance with commitments made, need for AMAPCEO comments on employer proposals
  
• Liaising as required with other AMAPCEO staff, rank-and-file members, Association elected officials, AMAPCEO activists, government officials/employer representatives, legal counsel, consultants and other bargaining agents
  
• Participating in policy and strategic analysis, research and special projects, negotiations, the preparation of briefing materials, providing Executive-level staff support to Association and joint AMAPCEO-Employer committees; participating in Management Team meetings
  
• Performs special projects and other related duties as requested.

 

Candidates should possess:   

• Prior experience providing administrative/executive assistance in a public sector environment/labour relations environment preferred
  
• Excellent judgement and discretion is essential; ability to work with highly confidential information and maintain confidentiality at all times
  
• Good knowledge of, or demonstrated capacity to learn, labour relations, collective bargaining and public service; strong demonstrated negotiating skills
  
• Highly developed organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize well, to manage a varied workload efficiently, to work independently and flexibly in a busy, small team environment; qualitative and quantitative analytical and research skills
  
• Excellent verbal and written presentation skills as well as excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills including ability to work cooperatively with volunteer officers, committees, members and other staff as well as prepare accurate, timely and comprehensive reports, correspondence, briefing notes and other written materials
  
• High proficiency with computer programs including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook and Internet searches
  
• Ability to work well under pressure, with minimal general day-to-day supervision, and work independently as well as in a team environment.

 

Work Location: AMAPCEO Office, 1 Dundas Street West, Suite 2310, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z3.  

Travel: Occasional travel required.

 

All interested applicants should submit a résumé in an envelope marked private / confidential by Friday, September 6th, 2013, before 4:00 p.m., to the attention of Farrah Charania, Senior Administrative Officer or send to charania@amapceo.on.ca.  A copy of the job description is available upon request.