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MINUTES OF THE
TNG-CWA Human Rights and Equity Committee
May 9, 2009
Minutes of
the TNG-CWA Human Rights and Equity Committee
Saturday, May 9, 2009
PRESENT: Michael D'Souza, Chair; Yoko Kuramoto-Eidsmoe; Ka Yan Ng;
Matthew Olson; Natalie Hill; Carl Younger; Randye Gilliam.
Melissa
Nelson, TNG-CWA Director of Collective Bargaining; Marian Needham,
Sheila Lindsay, Chair SEC HRE Committee; Carol Rothman,
Secretary-Treasurer, TNG-CWA; Arnold Amber, Director CWA/SCA
Canada.
ABSENT:
Vernon Clark; Vincent Proteau.
MINUTES
PREPARED BY MICHAEL D'SOUZA
Checked by Yoko Kuramoto-Eidsmoe
Sector
Conference:
The committee agreed
to a plan of action for the TNG Sector Conference in Washington.
This plan includes a workshop and a face-to-face committee meeting
on Friday, June 19, with TNG members attending the Sector
Conference being welcomed and encouraged to attend; a panel
discussion at the Plenary Session on Saturday, June 20.
Workshop:
The committee will
use accumulated research materials on addressing issues about
human rights and equity and the fundamental principle of seniority
and diversifying the union itself. This research includes:
1) A survey of clauses on Human Rights and Equity
currently in Collective Agreements.
2) The
Community Talent Development clause in the new CA between the CMG
and the CBC.
3) A legal
opinion from the TNG lawyer on including special language in
Collective Agreements.
4)
Material from other unions on progressive language addressing
Human Rights and Equity Issues.
5) A
review of hiring policies within the TNG and CWA to ensure a more
diversified staff.
Committee Meeting:
This session will
discuss the general business of the committee. Other union members
attending the sector conference are encouraged to attend. This
will give them a better understanding of the workings of this
committee. It will also prepare members who may be nominated by
their sectors and regions to become members of the committee.
Those choices are traditionally made on the Saturday morning.
Plenary
Session:
The committee has asked for a morning slot on Saturday for a Panel
discussion on human rights, equity and diversity in the union. The
panel discussion will run for one hour.
Other
matters:
Michael D’Souza
reported on the economic severance at the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation. The CBC is trimming staff by about 800 positions and
about half of those fall within the jurisdiction of the CMG. He
also reported that a posting for a job as a Staff Rep for Human
Rights and Equity attracted 155 applicants of which 97 were well
qualified for the job. The position is a joint posting by the CMG
and CWA/SCA Canada. Applicants came from a wide range of
equity-seeking groups and included journalists, community
activists, political activists, lawyers, and union activists and
staff. The committee is coming close to making a final
recommendation for the position.
Ka Yan Ng
reported that the CMG and Reuters in Canada have reached a new
collective agreement.
Sheila
Lindsay reported that her local was in day 85 without a Collective
Agreement. She said the employer says there’s no money for any
improvements and has refused to extend the current CA for one
year. The two sides are working with a mediator.
Adjournment:
The committee adjourned at 13:28
eastern and agreed to meet again, in telephone conference on
Saturday, May 23, at 13:00 Eastern (10:00 Pacific). The committee
also agreed to hold a face-to-face session at 4 p.m. Thursday,
June 18, in Washington, D.C., at the TNG Sector Conference.
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