Convention

PEA Convention will be held May 3 & 4, 2019 in Victoria, BC at the Inn at Laurel Point. Convention is the place where members set the direction of their union.

Interested in Attending Convention?

Convention Expression of Interest

How are delegates to Convention selected?

Deadline to express interest in attending is January 9, 2019 at 4:30 p.m.

Each chapter is entitled to a specific number of delegates to attend Convention. Each chapter’s delegate entitlement is determined by the PEA’s constitution.

Delegates are confirmed in accordance with each chapter’s constitution, policy and by-laws.

Members will be informed if they are selected to attend in February 2019. A list of alternates will be developed.

Convention Committee Details

Convention Committees: Can you help out?

Chapters will confirm their delegates in February. Committees are important in assisting with the work of the convention.

Credentials Committee

The Credentials Committee will seek the convention’s approval to sit the convention delegates. Committee members, and may assist with the registration of all delegates. The time commitment is up to two hours onsite on May 4, 2019.

Four members are appointed to the Credentials Committee: the Association Executive’s Second Vice-President (chair), one Executive member, and two convention delegates.

Resolutions Committee

The Resolutions Committee meets for a two-hour teleconference prior to Convention to consider each resolution submitted. The teleconference will be between March 4 and 8, 2019. The Committee may also be required to meet onsite at the convention.

The Resolutions Committee will have four members appointed by the Association Executive: the Association’s First Vice-President, one Executive member, and two convention delegates.

Sergeant-at-Arms Committee

The Sergeant-at-Arms Committee will ensure that only delegates are allowed on the convention floor, assist in the distribution of any documents during Convention, and assist when requested by the convention chair when counting any votes.

There is a 30-minute orientation onsite at 12:15 p.m. on May 4, 2019. Other work is onsite during the proceedings.

The Association Executive will appoint four convention delegates to the Sergeant-at-Arms Committee, at least one of whom is a member of the Association Executive.

Ways and Means Committee

The Ways and Means Committee will meet for a two-hour teleconference prior to Convention to consider all resolutions that concern PEA financial policy and to review the Secretary-Treasurer’s report and audited statements. The teleconference is between March 11 and 15, 2019. The Committee will make recommendations on the reports, financially-related resolutions and the audited statements.

Four members are appointed to the Ways and Means Committee: the Association’s Secretary-Treasurer, one Executive member, and two convention delegates.

Resolutions and Past Conventions

The Resolution Deadline for Convention 2019 is March 1, 2019

Resolutions Guide for Conventions

Resolutions can have a direct impact on how the PEA operates. Members may submit resolutions to convention which, if adopted, may result in changes to the Constitution & Bylaws or guide the actions of the Association Executive.

What are resolutions?

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.

Who may submit a resolution?

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.

What’s the proper format for resolutions?

Resolutions and amendments should be in two parts:

One or more “WHEREAS” clauses, explaining WHY the proposal is being made (this part of the resolution is not voted on); and
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.

What happens to resolutions after they have been submitted?

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.

What if I miss the deadline for submitting resolutions?

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.

Conference 2018

Please accept our sincere thanks for attending the 2018 PEA Education Conference in Victoria, BC.

We put together a short highlight video (BELOW) that we would encourage you to view and share with your co-workers.

Past Conventions

Minutes from previous Conventions (as approved by delegates from the following Convention):

2015 Minutes
2013 Minutes
2011 Minutes
2009 Minutes
2007 Minutes
2005 Minutes
2004 Minutes
2003 Minutes
2002 Minutes
2001 Minutes
2000 Minutes

Table Officer Elections

The election of table officers (President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer) will be held at Convention. Please see the links below for information from the Table Officers Nominating Committee, Position Descriptions, and Nomination Form for candidates.

The deadline for nominations is March 1, 2019, for information to be included in the convention material.

Candidates for Table Officer positions may be nominated at any time prior to Convention or from the floor during the proceedings. Nominations received past March 1, 2019, will not be included in the convention package.

Find the nomination form below.

Table Officer Nomination Form

Download

In this section

The PEA was formed in 1974, by a group of professionals working in the public sector. The story goes that the founders of the union mortgaged their houses to fund negotiations of the union’s first collective agreement.

Now, the PEA is BC’s union for professionals. We represent a wide range of professionals including lawyers, foresters, engineers, agrologists, teachers, veterinarians, fundraisers, physiotherapists, pharmacists, psychologists program managers, librarians and more.

Our union is led by the PEA Executive. They represent members from across the chapters of the PEA and set the overall vision and direction for our union.

Resources for our members

Navigating a union can sometime be a challenging process. Under this section of the website you will find resources to help you navigate the PEA. In the members section you'll find expense claim reimbursements, information on the PEA's scholarship and bursary program and our grants and donations program.

Collective bargaining and job action resources explain the process of collective bargaining and what to do in the unlikely event of job action.

Local reps can also find resources to help them complete their job more effectively. This includes ways to welcome new members, how to take notes in investigation disciplinary meetings and more.

The heart of our union

The PEA is made up of nine chapters, or groups of members who either work for the same employer or are in the same field of work. Each chapter has an elected executive tasked with running the affairs of the chapter. Each chapter is entitled to representation at the PEA Executive, the governing body of the union.

Our members work for a range of employers: the Province of BC, the University of Victoria, St. Margaret's School, the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program, the Oil and Gas Commission, the Law Society of BC, Legal Services Society, the Okangan Regional Library and health authorities across BC.

Professionals need unions now more then ever

Since the 1970’s, when the PEA was formed, our mission has been to ensure our members can work in safe, productive environments and receive fair and reasonable wages and benefits for the valuable work they do. We help individuals and groups of professional workers to understand the challenges they face in their workplaces and some of the solutions available to them.

We work with potential members to become certified as a union and achieve the wages, benefits and respect they deserve.

The Professional | Volume 45 Issue 1

The Professional is the PEA's award-winning, quarterly magazine for members.

The January/February 2019 issue includes a profile of SMS member Bev Waterfield

Read the January/February 2019 issue