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2020- 2022 Policy Process | Green Party of Canada
Where GPC membership collaborates to develop our policies
G21-C004 Add Staff Union Representative to Federal Council
Submitter Name
Sarah Macdonell
This proposal was discussed in the workshop during Phase 2 of the VGM. However, there was not enough time for this proposal to be voted on in plenary by the members during Phase 2. Therefore, this proposal will not be included in the ratification vote.
Proposal
To add the clause “One (1) Staff Union Representative” to Article 9 of the GPC Constitution such that it reads as follows:
9.1 Composition of Federal Council The Federal Council shall be composed of:
9.1.1 A President.
9.1.2 The Leader.
9.1.3 One (1) representative from each Province of Canada.
9.1.4 One (1) representative representing the Territories of Canada.
9.1.5 A Fund Representative.
9.1.6 The Executive Director.
9.1.7 Two (2) Youth Representatives.
9.1.8 A Vice President English.
9.1.9 A Vice President French.
9.1.10 One (1) Staff Union Representative.
AND
To add the following clause to Bylaw 2 Federal Council:
“2.1.X Staff Union Representative:
2.1.X.X The Staff Union Representative shall be selected from among the members of the Party Staff Union, in accordance with rules set out by that body, as the case may be.
2.1.X.X All those who are both Members of the Party in good standing and members of the GPC Staff Union shall be eligible to vote for this position.”
Objective
To add a representative of the GPC Staff Union to Federal Council.
Benefit
Adding such a position to Federal Council will bring a much-needed additional perspective to Federal Council deliberations, and the impact that these have on operations and human resources at the staff level. It will also serve to enrich the relationship between Federal Council and GPC staff.
Supporting Comments from Submitter
N/A
Green Value(s)
Participatory Democracy
Relation to Existing Policy
Add to current GPC policy.
Amendments (1)
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6 comments
Conversation with Laurence Hudson Montgomery
1.2.1 Makes it clear that membership in the Party is required in order to be eligible for membership in Federal Council. Conflict of interest would abound otherwise: the needs of the Union and the needs of the Party are not always aligned. Note that FC can - and indeed should - invite feedback from a Union rep. But giving the Union a vote? Relying on the Union to provide quorum? Allowing a Union member to introduce motions that are not in the GPCs best interest? No, no and no again.
Allowing non-members to select a voting member of Council is an extremely bad idea, even if the Constitution did allow it. The Federal Council is answerable to the general membership. Having group A select a person who is accountable to group B just _is not done_ in a creditable democracy. If the needs of group A and group B are
divergent, doubly so. If the relationship of group A and group B are at times adversarial, triply so.
We don't allow the NDP to select a GPC member to serve on the Council for similar reasons. Union relations aren't always as adversarial as relationship between the NDP and the GPC, but from time to time, they can get damned close!
Agree with all your points
Sorry - 2.1 not 1.2.1
I think the proposal's wording is misleading: my sense is that a Representative of Staff who is ALSO a Member of GPC and ALSO a Member of their employee union, elected by other such GPC Members who are currently paid workers of the Party. So, more a representative of that specific pool of members, rather than a Rep of the Union
" 2.1.X.X The Staff Union Representative shall be selected from among the members of the Party Staff Union, in accordance with rules set out by that body, as the case may be.
2.1.X.X All those who are both Members of the Party in good standing and members of the GPC Staff Union shall be eligible to vote for this position.” "
. However, I agree their particular needs as workers are to be dealt with by their union and ED. And, while it is true they would have great insights of Operations that are useful / crucial for FedCouncil to gather, there must be some other channel to share such reports / ideas than having a Representative on Council.
Perhaps regular brief Staff presentations at Meetings of the Whole; rotating which staff for greater mutual getting to know one another.
I support the general idea of this motion but I would make two amendments to it:
1) It should be a staff representative, not a Union staff representative; after all, our staff was not unionized before and they might not always be. And this would help to dissociate the Union's interests vs Staff's interests in carrying out the work requested.
2) The staff representative on FC should NOT have a vote... due to the conflict of interest, and even more so considering that the Executive Director does not have a vote either on Federal Council.
Last but not least, one of the reasons I am in favour of this motion is that I've noticed that some Council members tend to convey and promote staff's interests even though it is contradictory with their oversight role. Thus, I think that having a staff representative on Federal Council could reduce that tendency that creates unnecessary tensions and reduces oversight.
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