On December 7 and 8, the Society held its annual Delegates Council. As a democratic organization, the Delegates Council is one of our highest decision-making bodies. Council allows for Delegates and Society elected representatives to debate and vote on changes to the union’s governing documents and policies, also to learn more about matters of importance to the union and its membership, and to see presentations from the union’s leadership on the union’s activities over the past year.
The theme of this year’s Council was Leadership in Action: Building our Collective Power. Delegates received presentations on important issues affecting the work of the union, including the Society’s strategic planning process, the impacts of AI on knowledge workers, how to identify members with leadership potential, significant and emerging legal issues within our Locals, and strategies for building successful union campaigns.
We were grateful to have been joined by leaders from across the Labour Movement, including IFPTE President Matt Biggs and Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson, OFL President Laura Walton and General Secretary Rob Halpin, CLC Executive Vice-President Siobhan Vipond, and Theresa Mitchell and Shanyn Elliott from the Air Canada Component of CUPE. Each of these leaders brought important outside perspectives to the various challenges and opportunities facing workers in their fields.
There were no constitutional changes being recommended at this year’s Council, but delegates were asked to review, debate and vote on recommended changes to the Collective Agreement Renewal (CAR) Fund, the Society’s Education Scholarship Policy, an Executive Board Code of Conduct, and the Management Control Framework. Delegates were also asked to approve the Society’s Strategic Plan that will govern and measure the work of the union. The passage of these important improvements to our governance will help ensure that operates better, more efficiently, and with greater accountability to the membership.
The Society is grateful to all of the Delegates who participated in the important work of our union. To learn more about Society Council or about how to become a Delegate, please speak with your Local leadership.
