December 2005

These past months have been a very busy time for the RCEA. The Annual General Meeting was held in October. It was a great opportunity for members to provide input and to meet Institute representatives from the regional laboratories. With it now behind us, we need to look ahead and plan for the coming months.

It has been almost one year since I took office. I would now like to take the time and look at this year’s highlights. Two new collective agreements were negotiated and preparation began for the negotiation of four others. Several Institutes underwent reorganizations. In several cases this resulted in a reduction of staff. Needless to say, it was an uneasy time for some of our members. For the most part, the Workforce Adjustment Policy was able to minimize the negative impact on our members. Early in the past year also saw the conversion of a large number of term employees to continuing status at one of the technology centres. It represented one of the few times that the NRC’s Policy on the Composition of the Workforce worked in a positive manner. The arrival of Dr. Pierre Coulombe as NRC President in February also brought changes to the organization. NRC continues to proceed with its Renewal Project.

The RCEA has also gone through changes. The updated website is probably the most visible of the changes that I have tried to introduce. I believe that access to information is a key objective of the RCEA. The new website does and will contain as much information as we can possibly post. Many of you have already provided me with positive feedback on the new website and I thank you very much for your comments. I will also be looking at providing some training for RCEA representatives. One training session was already given in October on the very important subject of classification.

The regional Institute visits are always very important; unfortunately this past year I was unable to visit two of them. I will be making the visiting of as many regional and headquarters Institutes a priority for the upcoming year. A schedule of these visits will be posted on our website. This will give members the opportunity to plan ahead for these meetings.

The day-to-day business of the RCEA will always be a priority. We must maintain a good working relationship with the employer while at the same time ensuring that all members are properly and fully represented. The purpose of the union is to serve and represent its members. This is the philosophy that guides us on a daily basis.

RCEA representation in the regional Institutes is also changing. More members are showing an interest in the organization and more elections were held this year than in many previous years. I would like to welcome all the newly elected and acclaimed representatives. Many thanks also goes to the outgoing Institute representatives who have, over many years, shown great dedication and support to this organization.

I would also take this opportunity to give my thanks and appreciation for the great work that the RCEA office staff have done during this past year. They definitely made my first year a pleasant one. Many thanks also to the Management Committee who have supported me during my first year and a special thank you to Jeff Fraser for his 15 years of service to the RCEA, as First Vice-President, Institute representative and Technical Category Chair.

With the holidays just ahead it gives me great pleasure to extend to you my best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season. See you in the New Year.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Serge Croteau
President