National Convention - Quebec City
Oct 16-Oct 21-2004
Chemical Energy & and; Paperworkers
Union
Unions are the people that brought you week
ends!... Ken Georgetti
Brothers and
Sisters:
I would like to thank the Members of local 848 for sending me to this
national convention in Quebec City along with the other members of the
executive committee (Mark Mathewson, Dan Hennaert and Steve Rumbold).
There were more than 1500 delegates representing 439 locals along with
hundreds of observers from politicians to other union
representatives.
The convention saw literally dozens of resolutions for our national
constitution come to the floor to debate. Along with these we also elected
our Nation Board. The following list is the CEP National Executive
board for 2004-2006 as elected or acclaimed:
Brian
Payne
President
Acclaimed
Andre
Foucault
Sec.
Treasurer
Acclaimed
Peter
Murdoch VP
Media
Acclaimed
Clement L'Heurex Executive VP,
Quebec
Acclaimed
Michel
Ouiment VP,
Quebec Acclaimed
Joe
Gargiso
Admin. VP,
Quebec Acclaimed
Max
Michaud VP,
Atlantic Acclaimed
Ervan
Cronk
Admin. VP,
Atlantic
8172 votes
Cec
Makowski
VP,
Ontario Acclaimed
Bob
Huget
Admin. VP,
Ontario Acclaimed
John
Edwards
Admin. VP,
Ontario 30750 votes
Dave
Coles
VP, Western
region
Acclaimed
Don
MacNeil
Admin. VP, Western region
Acclaimed
Wendy
Sol
Admin. VP, Western region
Acclaimed
There were also many Rank & File members
elected and I apologize for not being able to get all their
names.
Resolutions: Out of all the
resolutions passed the biggest ones pertained to:
Mentoring people for the
positions soon to be vacated by retirements.
Having an
alternate for the aboriginal and peoples of colour
representative.
The
biggest of all and the most likely to get people's attention is the one
passed to make the National Union our kind of union. In the words of Brian
Payne:
"In order to continue our
fights at the bargaining tables, make new inroads like Pharmacare and
continue CEP's activism the National union needs more
resources."
He explained to delegates that a loss of membership
and increased costs has resulted in a deficit for the union. That is why a
resolution was before the delegates for a modest per capita increase to
the CEP the necessary resources to continue the good fight. Doing nothing
is not an option for our union.
This
resolution brought out a very long period of debate. So long it was
finally brought to question. After lengthy debate even involving the
discussion of "Taxing" O/T the delegates decided to increase dues rather
than rely on unreliable income. Especially since the National doesn?t
support O/T but instead would rather see more members hired. In the end it
passed not unanimously but darn close. So the news here is our dues are
going up.
CEP Humanitarian Fund: "'The CEP Humanitarian fund equals solidarity-Not
charity."
With these words Quebec administrative VP Joe
Gargiso announced that our national union would fund a program to help
relieve the suffering of workers in Africa afflicted with HIV/AIDS. We
heard that 6,000 people a day are dying in Africa. The hope and solidarity
program announced will raise $500,000 over the next 2
years.
On the home front the fund
allocates 15% of its money to projects in Canada. This year they supported
the Canadian Council for refugees with a re-settlement and education
program for woman coming to Canada who have been trafficked as slaves, and
the Good Food box project of Food share. There was also a substantial
donation to relieve flooding impact in Badger,
Newfoundland.
Through
out the week there were many guest speakers speaking on many issues
effecting the world and all our locals.
On this note I would like to
finish with once again thanking the people who made this possible and say
that a lot was learned and the experience was extremely
valuable.
Thanks
Pete vanWijnen
