MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES – September 6, 2017
AFFILIATES PRESENT: Secretary Treasurer Ron Bobowski CUPW, Recording Secretary, Cheryl Stone UFCW 1518, Sergeant at Arms Karen Abramsen UFCW 1518, Trustee Louise Gibson MoveUP, Vice President Ian Gordon CUPE 3523, Central Delegate Helen Repole BCGEU, Northern Delegate, Wynn Hartfelder BCGEU, Vice President Carmen Belanger Kelowna HEU, Pat Bulmer UNIFOR 2000, Susan Bauhart COTA, Troy Coburn CUPW 760, Susan Bauhart COTA, Carole Gordon COTA, Ken Robinson HEU, Gray Boisvert CUPE 5523
REGRETS: President,Nikki Inouye Vernon HEU, Vice President Ronn Dunn CUPE 3523, Trustee Mike Porteous UFCW 1518, Dave Porteous, UFCW 1518

GUESTS: Linda Woods, PSAC

BC FORUM Delegates: Trustee Greg McGowan, Doug Gibson

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by acting President, Vice President Ian Gordon at 7:00 pm

ADOPTION OF AGENDA: M/S/C

GUEST SPEAKERS: Linda Woods, PSAC

ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES: M/S/C

CREDENTIALS REPORT: 16 Present with 13 Delegates, 1 Guest, and 2 BCFORUM delegates

FINANCIAL REPORT: Financial Report was given by Secretary Treasurer Ron Bobowski CUPW. M/S/C

EXECUTIVE BOARD REPORT / ACTION CORRESPONDENCE:
BC211.ca article was included in the mailed-out minutes

REPORTS OF LOCAL UNIONS – STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS – CLC REPORT a) Reports of Local Unions:
Pat Bulmer, UNIFOR 2000 Kelowna Daily Courier
Daily Courier/Penticton Herald publisher Terry Armstrong has left the company. No word on who will replace him, if anyone.
Re: our labour council Facebook group - Facebook has added a feature that now allows you to ask wannabe new members a question to see if they’re real before you approve them to join the group. So anyone who asks to join now receives an automatic question asking “What is your affiliation or connection to the labour movement?” We’ve had a few spammers sneak through in the past. They were quickly kicked out, but this is a good little addition by Facebook to help prevent that.
Ron Bobowski, CUPW 760, Ian Gordon CUPE 3523, Susan Bauhart, COTA, Troy Coburn, CUPW

CLC report
Labour Day 2017 Pharmacare:
A Plan for Everyone
Canada’s unions have fought hard to win health insurance coverage for our members. But we’re not stopping there.  
3.5 million Canadians can’t afford to fill their prescriptions. Many are splitting their pills or skipping days to stretch the prescriptions they do fill.  
Nobody should be forced to choose between paying for groceries and paying for the medication they need.
That’s why we’re working to win a universal prescription drug plan that covers all Canadians regardless of their income, age, or where they live.  
Canada is the only developed country in the world with universal health care that does not include prescription drugs.
Canada has the second highest prescription drug costs in the world next to the United States.
One in five Canadians are paying out of pocket for their medication because they either don’t have a prescription drug plan or have plans that don’t cover the cost.
The less you earn at work, the less likely you are to have prescription drug coverage.  
And Canada’s unions are saying that has to stop.
Women are less likely than men to have prescription drug coverage, in part because more women work part time.
Canada’s unions are saying that has to stop.
Younger workers are less likely to have prescription drug coverage especially because they’re more likely stuck in low-wage, precarious jobs.  
Canada’s unions are saying that has to stop.
Even Canadians with prescription drug plans at work are paying more out of pocket because of ever-increasing co-payments and deductibles.
Canada’s unions are saying that has to stop.
An annual investment of $1 billion by the federal government will mean Canadians save $7.3 billion a year on the medications they need. Today, I appeal to all of you to go see our campaign website at www.aplanforeveryone.ca

b) Standing Committee Reports:
Labour Day 2017 – The 4th annual Labour Day picnic was a huge success. A Power Point of the event is attached.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NEW BUSINESS:

• Southern Interior Labour Council Regional Conference Sept 23, 2017 Kelowna, BCGEU building times to be announced. NOLC can send up to 5 persons So far 3 have confirmed to attend. If anyone else is able to attend please contact Cheryl Stone at nolc.cstone@gmail.com
  
  
• Remembrance Day 2017: A motion was made to place an ad in the Kelowna Daily Courier and cover the cost of wreaths. MSC The delegates who will represent the Labour Council will be decided upon at the October 4 meeting which will be in Vernon.
  
  
• Kelowna West NDP funding request:
  
  
  1. (a)  A motion was made to donate funds to each of our four Constituencies - Kelowna Mission, Kelowna Lake Country, Kelowna West and Vernon Monashee. MSC
     
     
  2. (b)  A motion was made to donate funds to Kelowna West NDP Constituency for the upcoming By-Election. MSC
     
• BC NDP Convention – NOLC is entitled to send 2 delegates to the convention. A motion was made to send 2 delegates to the BC NDP Convention. MSC
  Anamendment to the first motion - A motion was made to sponsor 2 delegates to attend the BC NDP Convention, in the early bird timing. MSC
  
  
• PSAC – A motion was made to send 4 delegates to the Migrant Dreams Film showing by PSAC being held at the Capri Hotel October 21st from 10 am to 2 pm, lunch is provided. MSC
  
  
• United Way kick-off breakfast – receive and file
  
  FINAL CREDENTIALS REPORT:  16 present with 14 Delegates 0 Guest 2 BCFORUM elegates
  
  GOOD & WELFARE:
  
  ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm
  Minutes respectfully submitted by Recording Secretary Cheryl Stone UFCW 1518.
  NEXT MEETING
  Vernon, Village Green Hotel Wednesday, October 4, 2017, 7:00 pm