The Provincial Executive meeting was held on Thursday and Friday, September 26 and 27, 2002 with President MacLennan in the Chair.

Policy in relation to compensation re attendance at Union functions and discussed.

Much discussion ensued with respect to the a Motion from the Executive Committee: To recommend to the Provincial Executive of the Union that a motion be tabled declaring that the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees only reimburses members for wages that are actually lost for time spent on Union business, and will be further dealt with by the Finance Committee.

Recommendations by the trustee for Local 2424 were also forwarded for discussion and adoption in which asking Locals' Finance Committees to put into place a review on a regular basis the expenditures or cheques issued. Some questions arose as to whether this would be on a monthly basis as Finance Committees usually only meet before each Council meeting.

It was strongly recommended that this be written up as a Policy with a recommendation that the Finance Committee review the Constitution to see how many meetings required, may also wish to include Policy for Area Councils.

The amount paid to the Parkland Institute was increased to the same as other larger unions at $10,000. Other Unions have doubled the amounts they pay. Parkland publishes books and publications, provides educational seminars, and provides public commentary on numerous issues that relate to public services.

A motion "That AUPE work with the Locals to set up and maintain imprest accounts for funds in excess of $50,000 per Local and over $50,000 to be held in a reserve account" contained within the Executive Committee with respect to imprest accounts being set up by AUPE in consultation with the Locals was also discussed. This was not specific motion by the Executive with a recommendation to PE, just that AUPE work with the Locals.

The Auditor from Gardiner, Karbani, and Audy was welcomed to the meeting and reviewed the Audited Financial Statements with the Provincial Executive and answered questions. The present level of fine is not being appealed. However the dues suspension case remains ongoing at the Labour Relations Board office.

Representatives from the Greater Edmonton Alliance made a presentation which proposes to build a broad based, deeply representative organization to form relationships to develop a strong voice with faith institutions, unions, schools, civic organizations, etc. at tables where strategic decisions are made. So far, this pilot is only for the City of Edmonton, as the first city in Canada, with hopes to branch out to Calgary and elsewhere. They are looking for a three year commitment through pledges. Some concern was noted that this only encompassed the City of Edmonton at this time. A proposal of $30,000 per year for 3 years was made and everyone was to think about this and resume with this topic in the morning.

Vice-President Hoffman, former NUGPE Board member, provided an update and current status with respect to the National Executive and Canadian Labour Congress for the new members in attendance. As a result of AUPE's organizing action in March 2001, the National Executive Board suspended AUPE from NUPGE. As a result of that suspension, AUPE was subsequently suspended from the CLC and labour councils. AUPE has maintained that members have a right to choose which Union they belong to and refused to give NUPGE a guarantee that this would not happen in the future. It was hoped that some changes would result at the CLC Convention. The Provincial Executive had made a motion to revisit this issue after the CLC Convention in June and thus this matter was before the PE for discussion.

Numerous comments and discussion ensued. Some felt it would be beneficial to be back in House of Labour, others felt could not return until some changes were made by the National Union, at the CLC level.
Life Memberships will be awarded to 10 people at the 2002 Convention.
Resolutions were forwarded to Convention by the Ad Hoc Committee on Youth Mobilization and WCB/LTDI Committee.

The Ad Hoc Committee requested to be dissolved as there is a continual overlap with issues from the Occupational Health and Safety Committee, with a recommendation to ensure WCB/LTD member issues are addressed in the future through a 2 to 3 member sub-committee of the AUPE Occupational Health and Safety Committee to be struck and that these members be initially selected from the existing Ad Hoc WCB/LTDI Committee. The implementation would be at the President's discretion following Convention 2002.

A number of Policies as follows were amended:
Index
Policy 1-3 Grievance Review Board Terms of Reference and Procedures
Policy 3-2 Policy on Secondments
Policy3-3 Policy on Grievance Handling for Union Stewards, Union Representatives and Membership Services Officers (MSOs)
Policy 3-5 Policy on Outside Approved Labour Courses
Policy 3-7 Recruitment of Union Stewards
Policy 3-8 Grant Notley Scholarship
Policy 3-9 Policy on AUPE Education Sponsored
Courses/Schools/Conferences
Policy 3-10 Policy on Union Steward Training and Expectations
Policy 5-3 Area Council Rebates
Policy 5-15 Reimbursement of Salary
Policy 5-20 Reimbursement for Child Care Expenses
Policy 5-27 Seminars for Component Officers
Policy 10-2 Policy for Presentation of 10 & 20 year Long Service Pins
Policy 10-3 Policy for Presentation of 30 year Long Service Pins & Plaques
Policy 10-4 Policy for Presentation of 40 year Long Service Pins
Policy 10-8 Group Insurance
Policy 16-2 Policy re: Editorial Board for Direct Impact and Stewards’ Notes
Policy 16-4 Union Discounts
Policy 18-3 Policy Statement on Pay Equity
Policy 19-1 Policy Paper on Deinstitutionalization and Privatization of Services to Dependent or Mentally Challenged Children and Adults
Some Policies were removed as follows:
Policy 10-5 AUPE Position of Social Services Client Abuse Policy
Policy 10-9 Long Service Pins (expenses for recipients at Convention)
Policy 18-2 Policy Statement on Total Equality for Women Now
Policy 18-4 Policy on Childcare

A number of new Policies were adopted:
Policy 2-34 Voting Procedure
Policy 7-5 Revocation of Life Membership
Policy 17-2 Merging Criteria
Policy 18-5 Policy Statement on Gender Based Violence
The next meeting will be held on October 23 prior to Convention and will not adjourn until the closing of Convention 2002.