Canadian Committee on Labour History Annual General Meeting 5 June 2019 University of British Columbia, Musqueam Territory

The meeting was called to order at 12:15 pm with cclh President Kirk Niergarth in the Chair.

Attendees:

Kirk Niergarth (President), Julia Smith, Ben Isitt (Secretary), Rhonda Hinther, Christo Aivalis, James Naylor, Charles Smith, Mikhail Bjorge, Kassandra Luciuk, Edward Dunsworth, Peter Graham

1. approval of agenda

It was moved by Kirk Niergarth, seconded by Charles Smith, that the agenda be adopted as presented.

Carried unanimously.

2. approval of minutes of 2018 agm

It was moved by Edward Dunsworth, seconded by James Naylor, that the minutes of the 2018 agm of the cclh be adopted.

Carried unanimously.

3. treasurer's report

The President delivered a written version of the Treasurer's Report on behalf of Greg Kealey, who was unable to attend the meeting in person. The report indicated that the cclh had had a good financial year and that the relationship with Athabasca University Press remained strong. The treasurer expressed the appreciation of the cclh to Linda Kadis for her contributions to cclh during her years of service with AU Press.

It was moved by Ben Isitt, seconded by Charles Smith, that the Treasurer's Report be adopted.

Carried unanimously

4. social media report

Christo Aivalis reported on the progress of the cclh social media platforms, inviting submissions to the cclh website.

Following discussion among cclh members it was moved by Ben Isitt, seconded by Kirk Niergarth, that:

The cclh executive be requested to investigate the expansion of bilingual content on the cclh website.

Carried unanimously.

It was moved by Kirk Niergarth, seconded by Edward Dunsworth, that the Social Media Report be adopted.

Carried unanimously.

5. labour/le travail report

Labour/Le Travail Co-Editor Charles Smith reported on the journal, sending regrets from Co-Editor Joan Sangster.

He said that the journal is in good financial shape, including the renewal of sshrc funding.

Submissions to the journal are healthy, including bilingual submissions. There is an interest in including content relating to contemporary labour and working-class issues, including shorter contributions for publication online.

The journal's print run has been consistent, with a slight drop in subscriptions, relating to several factors including the ongoing trend of institutional subscribers toward digital subscriptions.

Following discussion among cclh members, it was moved by Charles Smith, seconded by Mikhail Bjorge, that the Editors' Report be adopted.

Carried unanimously.

6. president's report

Kirk Niergarth reported that the cclh had had a very successful year, including the Saskatoon conference on labour and working-class history in October 2018 and various commemorative events in the spring of 2019 relating to the centenary of the Winnipeg General Strike, including the highly successful conference in Winnipeg.

He expressed appreciation to Charles Smith, Joan Sangster, Andrea Samoil, and Christo Aivalis for their efforts in organizing the Saskatoon conference, and appreciation to Andrea Samoil and John-Henry Harter for their efforts organizing the cclh walking tour and workshop in conjunction with Congress 2019 in Vancouver.

The President expressed the view that the cclh should continue to expand its profile and activities beyond Congress, while continuing to promote working-class and labour history perspectives at cha and Congress.

It was moved by Charles Smith, seconded by Rhonda Hinther, that the President's Report be adopted.

Carried unanimously.

6. small grants program

The President raised a matter of old business relating to a proposed cclh grant program to support small-scale projects in labour and working-class history.

It was moved by Kirk Niergarth, seconded by Jim Naylor, that:

The Executive be empowered to initiate a pilot program to support small scale projects with grants totalling $1000 per year, with the pilot program running for a five-year duration, and a review by the executive and membership at the end of this five-year term.

Following discussion by cclh members, the motion carried unanimously.

7. motion arising: congress fees for executive members

Building on the discussion from the previous agenda item, with reference to the established practice of the Canadian Committee on Women's and Gender History, it was moved by Rhonda Hinther, seconded by Kassanda Luciuk...