Conventions

They are motions or proposals submitted to the convention, urging a policy or a course of action that will guide the union in the coming months or years.

Resolutions can have a significant impact on the working lives of PEA members. For example, members may submit resolutions to convention to alter the present rate of union dues deducted from your pay; to change the composition of the Association Executive to improve representation from a particular bargaining unit or chapter; or to require the Association Executive to report or disclose particular information to members.

Any PEA member may submit a resolution for consideration. Resolutions must be signed by at least two PEA members and received by the Victoria office prior to the published deadline, which is 45 days prior to convention. Chapter executives and the Association Executive may also submit resolutions to convention.

All resolutions submitted prior to the deadline are posted on the PEA website for viewing by members and delegates prior to the Convention. If you have submitted a resolution but are not a delegate to the Convention, you may wish to contact your chapter delegates to discuss your resolution.

Resolutions and amendments should be in two parts:

1. One or more “WHEREAS” clauses, explaining WHY the proposal is being made (this part of the resolution is not voted on); and
2. One or more “THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED” clauses, i.e., the proposal itself, which is what the Convention actually votes on.

Members submitting resolutions are encouraged to ensure that the wording and intent of the resolution is clear and unambiguous. Each resolution should deal with one specific topic or proposal. Rather than mixing or combining topics, members are encouraged to submit multiple resolutions.

For example, the following resolution was submitted to convention in 2009. Other resolutions may be viewed through the minutes of previous conventions posted on the PEA website.

SAMPLE RESOLUTION #1

WHEREAS the chapter members select their chapter executives through a democratic process to represent their interests in the PEA; and

WHEREAS the role of the chapter executives in addressing compensation and master agreement issues between master agreement bargaining sessions is unclear;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the PEA develop a policy which integrates chapter executives into the decision making process for any issues involving compensation and master agreement issues applicable to multiple member groups within individual chapters.

Members should be aware that resolutions may be amended prior to being presented at the convention. The Resolutions Committee reviews all resolutions for overlap, conflict and clarity. The committee, consisting of four delegates appointed by the Association Executive including the First Vice-President who chairs the committee, meets shortly after the deadline for submitting resolutions to determine whether or not they will recommend support for each resolution. The committee is empowered to modify, combine and alter resolutions as well as to make recommendations of concurrence or non-concurrence.

When determining a recommendation of concurrence or non-concurrence, the committee may evaluate the following considerations:

• What are the possible ramifications of the resolution?
• What will the impact on our current policy be?
• Is it a change to our constitution or policy?
• Is it going to cost the membership money to implement?
• Is it practical and how would the PEA deliver the change?

The Resolutions Committee’s Report, which includes all resolutions, amended resolutions, and recommendations is distributed to delegates 30 days prior to convention.

In 2009, the Resolutions Committee amended Sample Resolution #1 as follows:

SAMPLE RESOLUTION #1 (AMENDED)

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the PEA develop a policy which integrates chapter executives into the decision making process for any contemplated changes to a collective agreement during the life of the collective agreement.

The WHEREAS section does not appear in the amended resolution because delegates do not vote on that section of a resolution. The Resolutions Committee normally provides delegates with their reasons for amending resolutions. In the case of Sample Resolution #1, the committee reported that the resolution was amended to ensure its application to all chapters’ collective agreements and to changes to those collective agreements between rounds of bargaining. Unlike changes to a collective agreement negotiated during collective bargaining, changes negotiated during the life of the agreement are not subject to a ratification vote of the entire bargaining unit membership.

The Resolutions Committee in 2009 recommended concurrence with the amended Sample Resolutions #1, and convention delegates voted in favour of the recommendation of concurrence.

As a result of this resolution, the Association Executive approved a new Policy 4.2 Changes to a Collective Agreement in September 2009 which ensures that chapter executives are advised and where possible consulted about potential changes to a collective agreement; and that where appropriate, impacted bargaining unit members are also consulted.

Delegates may present a resolution from the floor of convention provided that two-thirds of delegates present and voting vote to accept the resolution for consideration. However, resolutions to amend the PEA Constitution and By-laws may not be presented from the floor and will be declared out of order. The President will call for any resolutions from the floor under the New Business item of the convention agenda.

If delegates vote to allow a resolution from the floor to be admitted, the resolution will be referred to the Resolutions Committee for review. The committee may amend the resolution and will report on a recommendation and their reasons for the recommendation. Delegates will then vote on the committee’s recommendation.