ANNUAL MEETING
CANADIAN COMMITTEE ON LABOUR HISTORY
HISTORYHALIFAX, 31 MAY 2003

CALL TO ORDER

    The meeting was called to order at 12:10 PM

ATTENDANCE (31)

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

Joan Sangster reported on the accomplishments of CCLH members, with especial thanks to Shirley Tillotson for overseeing the CCLH's labour history sessions on the Canadian History Association program. Members were asked to submit session ideas for next year's conference, and to publicise the Robert S. Kenny Prize in Labour & Left Studies. The annual CCLH workshop was unable to be held this year, but plans are underway for a workshop at the Congress next year in Winnipeg, with Julie Guard overseeing arrangements. Congratulations were offered to Andy Parnaby and Donica Belisle, winners of the Eugene A. Forsey Graduate Prize in Canadian Labour and Working-Class History, and the committees' citations for their theses were distributed.

    Joan Sangster submitted a report on the Forsey Prize, prepared with the prize committees and at the request of the donor. Publicity has been enhanced, with posters and letters to History chairs accompanied by requests for circulation, with a successful petition to the CHA to include the Forsey Prize winners in its prize roster and public announcement, and with further plans underway. Discussion among the CCLH President, the prize committees, and the donor regarding MA and PhD criteria resulted in a consensus favouring flexibility in the number of undergraduate and graduate prizes, with no official change to the definition of either category. The President agreed to work out a list of guidelines vis à vis the Forsey prize committee for future executives. Recommendations from the CCLH Executive and the prize committees regarding administrative details of deadlines and the transfer of administrative responsibility for the prize from Labour/Le Travail to the CCLH Executive generated discussion. Members present proposed ways to further enhance publicity, to address disparities between various levels of entries, to ensure committee continuity, and to augment the prize funds.

REPORT OF THE PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

Greg Kealey reported the acceptance, subject to revision, of one book manuscript, and encouraged other submissions. Joan Sangster resigned from the publications committee. Members of the CCLH Executive brought forward nominations for new committee members, and other nominations and volunteers were accepted from the floor. The President was charged with inviting them to serve on the committee.

REPORT OF THE TREASURER

Greg Kealey presented the financial report. Members present accepted the financial report.

REPORT OF THE EDITOR

Bryan Palmer thanked members for their subscriptions and submissions which are key to sustaining and supporting working-class studies in Canada. The journal ranks among the highest of scholarly journals in Canada, and is in excellent shape regarding submissions, current and upcoming issues, and finances.

    Several matters require ongoing attention. Further to discussion at the 2002 meeting, the editor consulted with program officials of the SSHRC Aid to Scholarly Journals Program, which has made across-the-board cuts to grant funding. The officials indicated no intention of reversing their decision. Memorial University of Newfoundland is reevaluating several publishing activities, with consequences for the journal such as the attempt to reclassify the office staff positions. Shifting departmental alignments at MUN may necessitate changes in the recruitment of interns. The infrastructure appears sound, but the editor recommends maintaining the journal's reserve funds against future contingencies.

    Initiatives have been undertaken due to support from Trent University, the Canadian Research Chairs Program, and the Frost Center in Canadian and Native Studies, which supplements support from the SSHRC and MUN. Last June, Labour/Le Travail sponsored a highly successful international conference to commemorate its 50th number, drawing scholars from the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, and the United States, and publishing a number of the papers in a special 50th issue of the journal. Discussion is under way for collaboration with two international labour history and working-class history conferences. The editor's CRC funds have enabled the journal to engage an additional full-time intern and help provide an office and technical supports.

    Ongoing work to maintain the quality and reach of the journal include promotion at Canadian and international conferences, improvement of production values, extension of online publishing efforts, expansion of the exchange/advertisement program with international journals, and maintenance of open access, discussion, and debate. Submissions to the journal continue to be encouraged from a broad range of areas. The editor thanked those responsible for producing the journal: Irene Whitfield, Josephine Thompson, Stefan Jensen, Donica Belisle, Caroline Archambault, Andy Parnaby, Todd McCallum, Michael Lonardo, Bob Sweeny, Jim Naylor, the editorial board and international advisory board, and contributing scholars.

    Discussion ensued about ways to increase subscriptions, to encourage submissions by junior scholars, to maintain a higher profile at a broader range of conferences, and to expand the journal's web presence.

CCLH LISTSERVE

Joan Sangster reported on the progress toward setting up the listserve. Following direction from the members present at the 2002 meeting, the executive examined the question of whether the listserve should be moderated. It recommended the listserve be unmoderated, along the lines of the CCWH model, for a year's trial. The sub-committee to set up the listserve disagreed with the executive's recommendation. The sub-committee prepared a list of CCLH-L Protocols and submitted it to the members present.

    Discussion ensued, with members speaking in favour of both sides of the question.

M/S/C: That CCLH accept the recommendation of the CCLH executive to continue with the "unmoderated" listserve for one year, and that the CCLH discuss the functioning of the list at the 2004 AGM, and that CCLH accept, with thanks, the recommended protocols submitted by the sub-committee which help the CCLH think through the possible issues which the listserve may face in the future.

ELECTIONS

OTHER BUSINESS

A number of conferences were announced. Franca Iacovetta, representing organizers for a feminist working-class history conference in Toronto in Fall 2005, sought links with the CCLH and L/LT. Discussion ensued about CCLH endorsement. Professor Iacovetta was urged to establish links with L/LT through contact with the editor.

M/S/C: That the CCLH endorse the International Feminist Working-Class History Conference.

    Other conference announcements included a conference on feminism and the making of Canada, planned for May 2004 in Montréal, and two other labour and working-class history conferences, one in the United States and the other in Italy, dates and venues to be announced.

    Julie Guard invited volunteers for the CCLH workshop at the 2004 CSSH in Winnipeg. Todd McCallum announced a party at Ryan Duffy's in honour of Michael Cross.

    Craig Heron suggested that members think about constitutional renewal and the possibility of a revised constitution. Discussion ensued about the role and size of the executive, and relations among the CCLH, L/LT, and the CHA. Professor Heron agreed to consult with past executives and to bring a proposal to the current executive.

M/S/C: To adopt the minutes of the last meeting as presented in Labour/Le Travail, 50 (Fall/Automne 2002), 423–426

ADJOURNMENT

Members present adjourned at 1:45 PM