NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEETING
Ottawa Marriott Hotel, OTTAWA
Meeting Room – Cartier 1
April 29 to May 1, 2025
| Chair | June Winger | National President |
| Members | Paul Jones | EVP |
| Steve Warren | VP (NL/NB) | |
| Johanne Rouillard | DVP (QC) | |
| Marcelo Lazaro | VP (BC) | |
| Danielle Poissant | VP (ABN) | |
| Craig Smith | VP (NS) | |
| Cathy O’Kane | VP (NPF) | |
| Mona Simcoe | VP (MS) | |
| Shawn King | VP (NCR) | |
| Tin Tang | VP (CSE) | |
| Sandra Griffith-Bonaparte | Human Rights Advisor | |
| Recording Secretary | Sandra Mombourquette | |
| Absent | Gérald Grenon | VP (QC) |
OPENING REMARKS
The National President welcomed the National Officers to the Spring National Executive Meeting in Ottawa. Harassment Statement read by National Human Rights Advisor Sandra Griffith-Bonaparte.
Hours of session: m-s Warren/Jones
Tuesday April 29, 2025 9am to 11:30am – 1:00pm to 5pm
Wednesday April 30, 2025 9am to 11:30pm – 1:00pm to 5pm
Thursday May 1, 2025 9am to 11:30pm – 1:00pm to 5pm
Adoption of agenda m-s O’Kane/Lazaro CARRIED
Previous Minutes m-s Poissant/Potts CARRIED
Honour Roll – Moment of silence
| Wilfred Avery, Local 80407 |
| Shelley Finnen, Local 50705 |
| Mike Glockzin, Local 21016 |
| Kevin Brown, Local 70654 |
| Darren Armes, Local 50704 |
| Gaston Boucher, Local 10526 |
| Karin Nesbitt-Hillman, Local 50705 |
| Emil-Dan Jurca, Local 10530 |
| Brent Woods, Local 21008 |
| Michael Kelly, Local 00629 |
| Keneth Remsay, Local 21016 |
| Brenda Rus, Local 70607 |
STATE OF THE UNION UPDATE FROM NATIONAL PRESIDENT
National UMCC: Challenges scheduling meeting due to Deputy Ministers schedule demands. DND was not given new target to find savings related to the Refocus of Government Spending and were given an extension to 2034 to meet the phase 1 907M target. New ADM Fin advised he will develop tools to assist in decision making on whether to have work performed in house or via contract. Tools to be shared with National President who will then share them with the National Officers.
UMCC HR Sub-Committee: Discussion about contracting out of member services. UNDE and DND Staffing will review contracting at health services. Elanor and DVP Rouillard will represent UNDE on this committee. VPs asked to consult Locals and send personal, impact stories to Johanne and Elanor.
The National President requested a Standing Workforce Adjustment Committee be struck to ensure UNDE is well prepared to address any WFAs, although none are anticipated in the foreseeable future. Andrew Beck, UNDE LRO has been assigned to this committee.
Remote Work – Issues when there is a statutory holiday during the week, some employees are asked to make up the day for the 3-day in office work required, mostly problematic in NCR. HR admitted a GBA+ lens was not applied as such the National President has provided case studies.
Harassment Complaints – Harassed members are not advised what, if any discipline or corrective measure was implemented against the assailant. HR cites privacy concerns prevents them from sharing this information. To gain a better understanding of the challenge, the National President has asked to be provided with the specific references, rooted in legislation or policy, which requires this privacy. The National President wants to explore this more, to provide closure for the victims.
Supervisory Differential Pay – This was an exercise required by TBS that DND review all positions below L7 which are receiving supervisory differential. The exercise began in the fall of 2024, without consulting the union. The exercise is now complete. Those who were deemed to be ineligible for the differential will continue to receive the monies without performing supervisory duties until they vacant that position, new persons will not be entitled to the differential.
MemberLink: Now broadening access for the members. The National President will be sending out comms, asking for feedback on who should have access to what and will send email to each VP. Locals to manage their grievances in electronic format through MemberLink, this will help UNDE LROs manage those files instead of chasing Locals. This National Executive needs to make a nation-wide uniform decision as to who gets access to what, as the system does not allow for differing levels of access throughout the component.
STRATEGIC PLAN
Regional Progress Report Updates m-s Jones/Warren
UNDE Special Projects Officer Elanor Sherlock presented update on the Strategic Plan following meetings in workplaces in the regions. VPs are asked to provide coordinates to the Locals so they can get in touch with Elanor to send her which locations are having issues and she will track them; VP of the region will be copied to keep them aware. An example of a business case will be shared with the group. The National Officers each presented their after-action events reports from their region. RV_1 – CARRIED
STANDING ITEMS / COMMITTEE REPORTS
Air Division RCAF L2 m-s Simcoe/Potts
Report outlined discussions on SWE allocation for contracts as well as vacancy reports.
Air Division RCAF L1 m-s Simcoe/Potts
Report outlined FTE staffing vacancies and SWE overview.
Maritimes Forces Atlantic m-s Smith/Lazaro
Maritime Forces Pacific m-s Lazaro/Poissant
Royal Canadian Navy No Report
PRESENTATION: UNDE Financial Statements
Presenters: Amanda Agnew, UNDE Comptroller and Daniel Quesnel-Roussel, UNDE Accounts Clerk
STANDING ITEMS / COMMITTEE REPORTS
Finance Report m-s Warren/Tang
MOTION – Auditors m-s Warren/Tang
WHEREAS the Auditors have recommended that UNDE’s National Executive make a motion each year to appoint or reappoint Auditors.
BE IT RESOLVED that UNDE reappoint McCay, Duff & Company, LLP as Auditors for fiscal year 2025.
MOTION – Audited Report m-s Warren/Tang
CDSG 2nd Air Division m-s Rouillard/Poissant
CDSG 3rd Air Division m-s Simcoe/Poissant
Young Workers m-s Warren/Potts
New date for conference, now October 3-4.
COMTRA/Human Rights to work on survey for members to identify 35 and under.
PRESENTATION: Conflict Solutions and Services – Roles and Responsibilities
Presenters: Geneviève Lord, Director General, Conflict Solutions and Services, DND
Outlined conflict solutions and services provided by the department to foster strong teams, enhance operational effectiveness and contribute to culture evolution.
STANDING ITEMS / COMMITTEE REPORT
CDSG 4th Air Division m-s Potts/Poissant
CDSG 5th Air Division m-s Warren/Smith
Canadian Army m-s Rouillard/Poissant
RPOS Atlantic m-s Warren/Smith
RPOPS North m-s Warren/Poissant
RPOPS Québec m-s Rouillard/Potts
RPOPS Ontario m-s Potts/Poissant
RPOPS West m-s Simcoe/Poissant
RPOPS Pacific m-s Lazaro/Warren
ADM-IE m-s Simcoe/Lazaro
Military Personnel Command m-s King/Potts
Materiel – ADM Mat/CMSG LMCC m-s Potts/Poissant
CMSG m-s Potts/Poissant
Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) m-s Rouillard/Lazaro
Establish network with Special Projects Officer. RV 25- CARRIED
Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA) m-s Warren/Potts
DRDC m-s Poissant/Lazaro
ADM Digital Service m-s King/Potts
NEW BUSINESS
Regional Strike Reports/Discipline
National Officers voted on Ontario’s report for Local 00623 and 00637, for furtherance to the PSAC. Strike reports will continue to be updated and brought back for review at each NE Meeting until complete. Once reports are approved by PSAC, scabs will be sent a letter saying membership suspended and can appeal, UNDE LROs will decide when they need representation.
MOTION m-s Potts/Poissant
To accept the updated Ontario Region’s Strike Discipline report as presented and discipline all scabs as per the UNDE Bylaws, PSAC Constitution and Regulations. RV 29- CARRIED
STANDING ITEMS / COMMITTEE REPORTS
Health & Safety m-s Potts/Poissant
Firefighters m-s Jones/Poissant
Employee Assistance Program m-s King/Lazaro
Apprenticeship No Report
COMTRA m-s Jones/O’Kane
Report outlined recommendation to keep the annual Local Presidents Conference in February, March or April. Human Rights module will be ready and provided at next NE meeting.
Canadian Defence Academy (CDA) m-s Jones/Poissant
Honours & Awards m-s O’Kane/Smith
Report highlighted the four scholarship recipients.
MOTION – Lifetime member application – Brenda Ebear m-s O’Kane/King Secret Ballot – CARRIED
Bylaws Report m-s Potts/Lazaro
Human Rights Advisor m-s Poissant/O’Kane
REGIONAL REPORTS
Newfoundland-Labrador/New Brunswick m-s Warren/Rouillard
Nova Scotia m-s Smith/Tang
Quebec m-s Rouillard/O’Kane
Ontario m-s Potts/Warren
National Capital Region m-s King/Lazaro
Communications Security Establishment m-s Tang/Smith
Non-Public Funds m-s O’Kane/King
Manitoba/Saskatchewan m-s Simcoe/Rouillard
Alberta and the North m-s Poissant/Lazaro RV 46 – CARRIED
British Columbia m-s Lazaro/Potts
NATIONAL OFFICE
Executive Vice-President m-s Jones/Lazaro
NEW BUSINESS
Union Leave for VPs – Committee met to discuss different options. More analysis is needed, status quo for now.
PSAC/TBS Bargaining Conference – Discussion on how delegates are chosen to attend the UNDE and PSAC Bargaining Conferences. Discussed adopting a new process of electing delegates.
Motion to adjourn Motioned by-VP Poissant
Adjournment.