Monday, Oct. 27, 2003

EDMONTON — The 544 delegates to AUPE’s 27th annual convention, which drew to a close Saturday afternoon, returned to their worksites invigorated and recommitted to their union, says union President Dan MacLennan.

“After an event like this, our members who serve as delegates always go back to their homes and their worksites with a renewed sense of commitment to AUPE and the union movement,” MacLennan said.

Click here to read a report of AUPE President Dan MacLennan’s message to convention.

Click here to watch the President's Message 2003 video.

“This year, when nearly a fifth of our delegates were new members of AUPE, we expect that benefit to be intensified,” he said.

The three-day convention ran from Thursday, Oct. 23, to Saturday, Oct. 25, in Edmonton. In all, more than 750 delegates, guests, observers, life members, staff and media attended the important meeting.

With Bill 27 union runoff votes in six Alberta health regions scheduled to be counted next week, MacLennan noted, AUPE faces the possibility of holding an even larger assembly next year, when delegates gather for the union’s 28th annual convention.

MacLennan observed that many of approximately 500 AUPE convention delegates who joined striking A-Channel employees on their picket line Friday afternoon had their eyes opened to what union membership is all about.

AUPE local representatives attending the three-day convention raised $16,215 for the A-Channel strikers, who are members of Local 1900 of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada.

Click here to see more photos of AUPE members on the A-Channel strikers’ picket line.

Click here to read the Edmonton Journal’s coverage of AUPE’s arrival on the picket line.

AUPE holds elections for members of the Executive Committee in alternating years at its conventions, and 2003 was an election year.

MacLennan was re-elected to his fourth two-year term as the president of the province’s largest union.

Ed Mardell was re-elected to his sixth term as AUPE’s Executive Secretary-Treasurer.

Both the president’s and the executive secretary-treasurer’s jobs are full-time positions for which the office holders take
leave from their regular jobs.

There were eight candidates for four AUPE vice-presidential positions.

Lynne Gingras of Local 001 was re-elected to her third term in the position. Kathie Milne of Local 042, Wendy Webber of Local 009 and Ron Whan of Local 071 were all elected for the first time to the position.

AUPE’s guest speaker at this year’s convention was Frank Bruseker, President of the Alberta Teacher’s Association.

Bruseker advised delegates to learn how to lobby harder to get what they want from government. “Pick up the phoneand educate them!”

Click here to read the Edmonton Journal’s report of Bruseker’s remarks to convention.

AUPE honoured its own during convention, as well as approving the next year’s budget and conducting the other important business of the union.

Seven long-time AUPE members were honoured with Life Membership Certificates at this year’s convention. The ceremony honouring Dianne Cook, Ray Domeij, Anne Crawford Johnman, Patricia Newel, Steve Nimchuk, Walter Watt and Mike Yanush took place Friday afternoon in the convention hall. Albert Cumby, who received the honour last year but was unable to attend convention, was presented with his certificate at this year's ceremony.

Short biographies can be found in the Convention Eyeopener, published each morning throughout convention.

Click here to read the 2003 Eyeopener.

In addition, 10 active AUPE members were honoured as among AUPE’s most effective stewards. The presentation marking their achievements as their co-workers front-line representatives took place Saturday morning.

This year’s honoured stewards were Connie Anderson, Local 001/041; Trish Kay, Local 001/040; Darcy Karbashewski, Local 003/012; Guy Quenneville, Local 006/014; Dave Brzak, Local 009/005; Mary Asselin, Local 020/003; Frances (Bernie) Hardy, Local 042/008; Shelley Brooker, Local 048/003; Diana Forst, Local 049/006; and Brad Strachan, Local 118/009.

In addition, Local 009 member Wes Rusnell was honoured with the Rolyn Sumlak award Thursday afternoon.

Rusnell, an employee of Michener Services in Red Deer, received the award for his dedication of time and energy to maintaining a thriving health and safety committee at his worksite. “His tireless efforts and bulldog approach have made the employer and employees more aware of potentially dangerous situations as well as (encouraging) excellent preventative measures,” said fellow committee member Penny Bates.

The award, which is dedicated to the memory of an AUPE member who was killed on the job while working for the Government of Alberta, is presented each year at the union’s convention to a member who has made a major contribution to health and safety.

During convention, members of AUPE Locals 001 to 012, representing direct employees of the provincial government, were informed of the times of a series of planned meetings at which the locals will meet members to discuss the continuing impasse in wage negotiations with the Alberta government.

Click here for a list of meetings and their times.

Click here for a copy in PDF format of a poster that can be used to inform AUPE general Service members in your region of a meeting in their area.

In addition to the $16,215 raised for striking A-Channel employees, convention delegates raised substantial funds for several other causes. Among their contributions were:

• $707 for the Red Deer Food Bank.
• $1,892 for breast cancer research.

Delegates purchased more than $16,000 worth of AUPE apparel, as well as placing another $5,000 in orders.

Click here for a link to a catalogue of AUPE apparel items.