HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 36^th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

DAY 1, TUESDAY MAY, 3, 2011 

CREDENTIALS REPORT

• Voting delegates 251
• Non-voting delegates 110
• Guests 19
• Staff 27

REPORTS

The following reports were passed as presented:

• Director of Operations Report
• Education Committee Report
• Nominations Committee Report
• Constitution Committee Report
• Discipline Committee Report

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Article 10 - The voting process of the union was amended by inserting a new clause that would grant a board member whose term expires on April 30th of that year, voting delegate status, if that year's annual general meeting occurs after April 30th.

Article 11 was amended to provide direction on how to fill a vacancy when an executive position is vacated mid-term.

VICE PRESIDENT CANDIDATES

Vice President candidates Val Wotton and Donna McKenzie made their speeches today. Voting will take place at noon on Wednesday and result will be available following the lunch break.

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

Before a packed room, MNU President Sandi Mowat announced that the provincial government has agreed to amend the Health and Safety Act, providing much needed protection to health care workers.

"We called upon the government to strengthen regulations, which did not give adequate support to health care workers," Mowat said. "We urged the government to change regulations, to mandate a violence prevention policy."

Based on recommendations from the Manitoba Nurses Union, in addition to the prominent placement of violence and abuse free signage in all health care facilities across the province, the policy requires:

• all health care facilities to develop a violence prevention policy and strategy;
• a procedure for summoning immediate assistance
• procedure for flagging potentionally violent individuals;and
• a system for reporting and reviewing incidents.
  

Final recommendations are expected by the end of June 2011, with changes to the regulations being implemented by the end of August 2011.

MNU President Sandi Mowat announces improvements to the Health and Safety Act.