GENERAL ASSEMBLY AGENDA / MAJOR BODIES AGENDAS

Special General Assembly Agenda

Wednesday, November 21st, 2018 at UB
Room A569
 Lunch will be served

  1. Approval of Agenda
  2. Approval of Minutes: October 3rd, 2018
  3. Business Arising
  4. Reports & Announcements
  5. New Business:
    1. Law favouring Religious Neutrality
    2. Negotiation 2020
    3. Notice of motion regarding changes to VCTA by-laws
  6. Varia
  7. Adjournment

A REMINDER:  PLEASE CALL 7053 TO RESERVE A MEAL

* The following is the recommendation that will be presented to the FNEEQ Conseil Fédéral in December, 2018:

  1. Considering past positions of the FNEEQ;
  2. Considering the importance of the pedagogical perspective in taking these stances;
  3. Considering the legal challenge to the ACT TO FOSTER ADHERENCE TO STATE RELIGIOUS NEUTRALITY AND, IN PARTICULAR, TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS ON RELIGIOUS GROUNDS IN CERTAIN BODIES;
  4. Considering the debate on the secular nature of the state that has left its mark on the public space in Quebec since about ten years;
  5. Considering the intentions expressed by the Caquist government;

It is proposed:
That, in the context of the debate on some future law on the secular nature of the State, FNEEQ supports the following positions within the CSN and on a stand-alone basis:

  1. The elimination of institutional religious privileges (fiscal, legislative, symbolic), including the removal of the crucifix from state institutions;
  2. Opposition to the unilateral modification of collective agreements by passing a bill without prior negotiation;
  3. A ban on religious proselytism for employees of the State in the exercise of their functions;
  4. The freedom to wear religious symbols for teachers and for other State public employees;
  5. Specific rules concerning the wearing of particular religious symbols must be based solely on an evaluation of real barriers to the services provided.

i  Whereas the elimination of institutional religious privileges could have a negative impact on non-profit organizations and the public good;
Whereas the definition of proselytism is subject to interpretation;

That Association Council recommend that the VCTA General Assembly adopt only points 2, 4, and 5 of the proposed FNEEQ position regarding the law on religious neutrality (see above) and that the General Assembly mandate its delegates to the FNEEQ Conseil Fédéral in December, 2018 to support the VCTA General Assembly’s proposed amendments to the FNEEQ position.

ii  Whereas the local unions of FNEEQ will have been given less than a month to consult their members before the conseil federal,

That Association Council recommend that the General Assembly mandate its delegates at the conseil federal to postpone (laisser sur table) any motion regarding religious neutrality to a conseil extraordinaire.

NOTICE OF MOTION:  Proposed amendments to VCTA Bylaws regarding elections.

i.That Association Council recommend that the General Assembly amend article 17.3 of the VCTA Bylaws and that it be reformulated as follows:
17.3    Any member of Association Council absent for three (3) meetings without a reasonable excuse may be dismissed from Office by a majority vote of the members of Association Council. If this occurs, the Executive selects and proposes a new candidate to Association Council as soon as possible. If no objection is raised at the next Association Council meeting, the candidate is appointed and holds the position until the end of the original mandate.  If an objection is raised, Association Council may, by majority vote, refuse the candidate. This vote must be held within five (5) working days of the objection being raised.

 ii.That Association Council recommend that the General Assembly amend article 22 d) of the VCTA Bylaws and that it be reformulated as follows:
22 d) In the event that any member of the Executive has resigned, is incapacitated, or is removed from office, the remaining members of the Executive select and present a new candidate as soon as possible to a meeting of Association Council. If no objection is raised at the next Association Council meeting, the candidate is appointed and holds the position until the end of the original mandate.  If an objection is raised, Association Council may, by majority vote, refuse the candidate. This vote must be held within five (5) working days of the objection being raised.
However, if two (2) or more members of the Executive resign or are incapacitated, Association Council has the following options:

  1. Name replacements to fill the vacant positions on a temporary basis;
  2. Association Council names replacements to complete the original mandate, but must have the appointments ratified at a special General Assembly, no later than ten (10) working days after Association Council appoints the members;
  3. Call a full general election of all positions on the Executive – whether filled or not. The mandate of the newly elected Executive shall expire at the end of the original mandate.

iii.That Association Council recommend that the General Assembly amend article 38 b) of the VCTA Bylaws and that it be reformulated as follows:
b) To initiate the procedure for recall of an Executive Officer, a petition outlining the grounds for recall and signed by at least twenty-five (25) VCTA. members must be submitted to a meeting of the Association Council.

iv.That Association Council recommend that the General Assembly amend article 38 g) of the VCTA Bylaws and that it be reformulated as follows:
38 g) When a recall motion passes, the member is immediately removed from office. The Executive selects and proposes a new candidate to Association Council as soon as possible. If no objection is raised at the next Association Council meeting, the candidate is appointed and holds the position until the end of the original mandate.  If an objection is raised, Association Council may, by majority vote, refuse the candidate. This vote must be held within five (5) working days of the objection being raised.

 v.That Association Council recommend that the General Assembly amend articles 39 d), 39 e), and 39 f) of the VCTA Bylaws and that they be reformulated as follows:
39 d) If the recall vote passes, the member is immediately removed from office.  If this occurs, the Executive selects and proposes a new candidate to Association Council as soon as possible. If no objection is raised at the next Association Council meeting, the candidate is appointed and holds the position until the end of the original mandate.  If an objection is raised, Association Council may, by majority vote, refuse the candidate. This vote must be held within five (5) working days of the objection being raised.

 vi.That Association Council recommend that the General Assembly amend article 40 b) of the VCTA Bylaws and that it be reformulated as follows:
40 b) The Executive selects and proposes a new candidate to Association Council as soon as possible. If no objection is raised at the next Association Council meeting, the candidate is appointed and holds the position until the end of the original mandate.  If an objection is raised, Association Council may, by majority vote, refuse the candidate. This vote must be held within five (5) working days of the objection being raised.