Annual General Meeting, Canadian Committee on Labour History: Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, May 28, 2014

Members present:

• Alvin Finkel (President),

• Janis Thiesen (Vice-President),

• Greg Kealey (Treasurer),

• Ben Isitt (Secretary),

• Joan Sangster,

• Bryan Palmer,

• Jeremy Milloy,

• David Frank,

• Peter Campbell,

• Sean Cadigan,

• Jim Naylor,

• Craig Heron,

• Jason Russell,

• Kathy Killoh,

• Linda Kadis,

• Rob Kristofferson,

• Jeff Taylor.

1. call to order

Alvin Finkel called the meeting to order at 12:03pm.

2. approval of the agenda

It was moved by Greg Kealey, seconded by Sean Cadigan, that the agenda be approved as presented. Joan Sangster proposed the addition of an item under New Business.

3. approval of minutes of 2012 annual meeting

It was moved by Jim Naylor, seconded by Bryan Palmer, that the Minutes of the 2013 Annual General Meeting be approved. Carried unanimously.

4. business arising from previous minutes

The President, Alvin Finkel, provided an update on materials on labour history commissioned by the Canadian Labour Congress for the Year 2000. The CLC advised that the materials were prepared in an older technological format, complicating possibilities for public dissemination.

5. president’s report

The President, Alvin Finkel, thanked Tami Friedman and Larry Savage for their work organizing this year’s annual labour history workshop, which was organized jointly with the Canadian Association for Work and Labour Studies, Brock University Centre for Labour Studies, and Brock University Department of History, with additional support from the Brock University Jobs and Justice Research Unit. The event featured excellent speakers and events. But in light of the moderate attendance, particularly among labour historians, the President raised the issue of the ongoing viability of holding the workshops annually.

The President announced the winners of the Forsey Prize in Labour History:

Graduate Prize: Bruno-Pierre Guillette, “‘Le Jour du Seigneur vendu à l’encan’: regard sur la Commission d’enquête sur l’observance du dimanche dans les industries de pâtes et papiers du Québec (1964-1966),” ma thesis, Université du Québec à Montréal, 2012.

Undergraduate Prize: Rick Duthie, “What Struck in ‘58: A Drama Representing the Culture of Mine Mill Local 598, Sudbury, Ontario, 1942-1962,” Undergraduate thesis, Mount Royal University, 2013.

The President reported on cclh Books, including a healthy reserve fund which allowed the cclh to pursue ongoing opportunities for new publications in labour and working-class history.

The President also reported on the redesign of the cclh Website, thanking the secretary for overseeing the redesign. The Secretary acknowledged the work of Julia Smith coordinating the addition of content on contemporary labour issues and labour history to the “Newswire.” The Secretary invited all cclh members to add content to the stories, including articles and multimedia content.

It was moved by Bryan Palmer, seconded by Joan Sangster, that the president’s report be received. Carried unanimously.

6. editor’s report

The outgoing editor of Labour/Le Travail, Bryan Palmer, provided a report on the status of the journal, including the number of submissions and subscriptions. The journal is in good financial shape, owing to strong electronic subscriptions and royalty payments. Print subscriptions have declined, a trend common to many scholarly journals.

Dr. Palmer announced the appointment of a new editor for the journal, Sean Cadigan.

Dr. Cadigan discussed his history with the journal, beginning with his work as an undergraduate student in the 1980s and continuing to the present.

Greg Kealey thanked Dr. Palmer for his work and thanked Dr. Cadigan for agreeing to assume the role of Editor.

Ben Isitt moved, seconded by Janis Thiessen, that the cclh thank Bryan Palmer for his work as Editor of Labour/Le Travail. Carried unanimously

7. treasurer’s report

The treasurer, Greg Kealey, provided his report, announcing that there was a surplus of revenue over expenditures in 2013.

Subscription revenue is declining as the number of subscribers declines. Dr. Kealey indicated that the current revenues from print subscriptions do not cover the cost of printing and postage, suggesting that some revision to print subscription rates may have to be considered for the first time in several years if publication of the print version is to continue.

On the positive side, electronic subscription revenues as well as...