Wednesday, December 08, 2021
Last week, AMAPCEO Delegates, staff, speakers, and guests gathered virtually for the union’s Annual Delegates’ Conference.
Delegates accomplished a great deal over the course of two busy days, including reviewing and approving the union’s 2022 annual budget and passing amendments to several by-laws:
- By-laws #4, #9, and #10 were amended to update the AMAPCEO Activist Code of Conduct and the process for resolving conflict between members and violations to the Code of Conduct to place a greater focus on equity, inclusion, and solidarity.
- Amendments were made to By-law #7 covering leaves affecting AMAPCEO officials to ensure strong, consistent representation for members at the Board level.
- Delegates also approved an updated constitutional review process (By-law #12) to ensure a healthy union democracy.
In addition to the by-law amendments, Delegates approved improvements to the Activist Committee’s terms of reference to make the committee more representative of AMAPCEO stakeholders.
This year’s conference also featured two rousing, illuminating talks from keynote speakers Andria Babbington and Jesse Wente. In discussing the current labour climate in Ontario, Babbington, President of the Toronto & York Region Labour Council, encouraged AMAPCEO members to “be bold”: “there are thousands willing to take on the fight with you,” she said. “There is solidarity.”
Later in the conference, broadcaster and author Wente provided an insightful look into how to truly live reconciliation by speaking out within our own circles, urging all of us to go “beyond allyship” and be “co-conspirators.”
President Dave Bulmer and Vice-President Cynthia Watt took this opportunity to introduce Delegates to the bargaining teams for the seven units which will be bargaining in 2022, and to outline the bargaining process and broad priorities.
Finally, Delegates also discussed a series of policy and procedure resolutions, some of which will go to the appropriate bargaining teams.