ANNUAL MEETING
CANADIAN COMMITTEE ON LABOUR HISTORY
WINNIPEG, 4 JUNE 2004

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 12:10 PM

ATTENDANCE (30)

M/S/C: To adopt the minutes of the last meeting as presented in Labour/Le Travail, 52 (Fall/Automne 2003), 383–387.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

JOAN SANGSTER noted that Cecilia Danysk, Secretary for the CCLH, was unable to attend the meeting this year. Josephine Thompson will fill in for Cecilia to take the CCLH minutes. Joan Sangster congratulated CCLH members Suzanne Morton and Craig Heron, who had books shortlisted this year for the Sir John A. MacDonald Prize. Forsey Prize Committee members - Raymond Leger, Sean Cadigan, Franca Iacovetta, Judith Fingard, David Frank and Deborah Stiles were thanked for donating their time to adjudicating the prize. Joan expressed thanks to the L/LT interns, especially Donica Belisle, for their help with the CCLH Listserv, as well as Josephine Thompson and Irene Whitfield for their assistance with CCLH matters. The Manitoba group, Jim Naylor, Nolan Reilly, Julie Guard and David Camfield were also thanked for organizing this year's CCLH workshop which will be held on June 6, 2004.

     Joan Sangster reported that the CCLH was in touch with the CHA program committee with regard to offering our support and endorsement for CCLH/LAWCHA sessions. She noted that the program committee has been very open and welcoming of labour and working-class history and thanks were expressed for their receptiveness.

     Joan Sangster reported that as a continuation of our interest in promoting the CCLH and its work, a bilingual bookmark has been created. The bookmark has been sent to every member with the Spring issue of L/LT (Volume 53). There are ample bookmarks available to members who may be interested in distributing them at academic labour conferences. Bookmarks can be obtained by contacting Joan Sangster.

     It was reported that the Executive engaged in some discussion about using the CCLH name as a sponsor for events. Joan Sangster noted that the CCLH is happy to consider such requests, but would urge people to get in touch with the President beforehand if they wish to use the CCLH name. The President can then quickly contact the executive and offer a response. She noted that the Executive also intended to discuss possible changes to our Constitution, such as altering the terms of office for the Executive. This process was begun by Craig Heron and thanks were expressed for his efforts. This issue is still in process and it was suggested that the next executive finish this discussion and bring recommendations to the next AGM.

EUGENE FORSEY PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENTS

JOAN SANGSTER announced the winners from last year's Forsey competition - Dr. Richard Charles Rennie for the Graduate Prize and Brooke Pratt for the Undergraduate Prize; citations were provided for both prize winners. She also reported that the Executive had developed new guidelines for future Forsey Prize Committees. The new guidelines are as follows:

1. Terms for committee members generally last three years, with one member who has served three years replaced each year.
2. The CCLH President will make sure that the committee has selected its own chair who will communicate the results to the President and write the citation.
3. For the undergraduate committee, members will normally have a graduate degree, and be teaching in a post-secondary institution, or a university degree and working in the labour movement in an educational capacity.
4. For the graduate committee, members must have a completed PhD and be teaching in a post-secondary institution. They should be associate or full professors, with experience of graduate teaching/assessment or have an active research profile in working-class history.
5. The executive will solicit volunteers and nominations for the Forsey committees at the annual general meeting as well as through the broader CCLH membership list and will establish committees after the general meeting.
6. If a committee members feels that he or she has a conflict of interest - usually because they have supervised a thesis or paper being considered - the executive will find a replacement for either one year or the rest of the person's term.

M/S/C: The new guidelines for future Committees was approved.

TREASURER'S REPORT

GREG KEALEY presented the financial report. The report was accepted by members present.

EDITOR'S REPORT

BRYAN PALMER expressed thanks to the Editorial Board members, readers, authors, L/LT interns, the Book Review Editors (Alvin Finkel — English) and Peter Bischoff (French), the Assistant Editor — Jim Naylor, as well as Irene Whitfield and Josephine Thompson at the Memorial office for work performed on behalf of L/LT over the past year. Thanks was also expressed to SSHRC, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Trent University (Frost Centre) and the Canada Research Chair Program.

Condolences were expressed to Veronica Strong-Boag on the passing of her daughter-in-law, Michelle Lynn Rosa.

The Editor reported that the lineup for the next two issues has been finalized and advised members present on the contents of our Fall issue (Volume 54). Bryan Palmer requested members to encourage others to submit, subscribe to L/LT. The Editor also reported that our subscription revenues continue to be healthy ensuring good financial circumstances.

Bryan Palmer reported on the situation regarding the relationship between L/LT and Memorial University. Negotiations with Memorial, which were necessitated by a restructuring at MUN, have now been finalized for a two year period. This situation is an ongoing process and an update will be provided next year. In the meantime, fiscal prudence and responsibility should prevail.

     General discussion followed with regards to the roles of both the CCLH and L/LT in this matter. Bryan Palmer advised the members that this issue was on the agenda for the L/LT AGM and would be discussed and brought back again next year. Joan Sangster expressed thanks to both Greg Kealey and Bryan Palmer for all the work they put into the negotiations with MUN.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

FRANCA IACOVETTA pointed out that acknowledgement should be given to younger scholars. Labor and Working Class History Association (LAWCHA) travel awards for the last two years went to University of Toronto graduate students for papers at North American Labor History Conference (NALHC) at Wayne State. Winners were Ruth Percy, Jenny Carson, Katrina Srigley and Dave Goutor. Professor Iacovetta encouraged other graduate students to apply and advised that H-Labor posts this type of information. She also noted that a session at the Wayne State North American Labor History conference had featured young Canadian scholars (Barrington Walker, Rhonda Hinther, Katrina Srigley).

     Professor Iacovetta also pointed out that Dan Bender of LAWCHA helped set up sessions and that co-sponsorships of sessions by the CCLH and LAWCHA did not appear on the CHA program. Apologies were noted for this; the President will attempt to alter this oversight next year.

     Joan Sangster advised that she has been in contact with Dan Bender to talk about LAWCHA at this meeting but he was unable to attend.

Professor Sangster reported on the new journal —Labor: Studies in Working Class History of the Americas of which she is the Associate Editor for Canada. She urged members to try and make sure that their universities had subscriptions, and she read from a letter she was sending to potential contributors. Although Labor is interested in expanding its boundaries beyond us history, "I would emphasize that I still see Labour/le Travail as the primary venue for publication of Canadian working-class history." However, she suggested people consider submissions, sent to her, or any of the other editors, on material of interest to an American audience:

1. contemporary labour/working-class issues in Canada that would be of interest to a wider North American audience
2. comparative pieces on Canadian and American working-class history which might fall under rubric of opinion pieces, research notes, etc.
3. ideas for review essays drawing on both Canadian and American books.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

     President: Joan Sangster (Trent) (acclaimed)

     Vice-President: Craig Heron (York) (acclaimed)

     Treasurer: Gregory S. Kealey (New Brunswick) (acclaimed)

     Secretary: Jennifer Stephen (Laurentian)

OTHER BUSINESS

JULIE GUARD distributed the program for the CCLH workshop (Workers' Winnipeg: The Left Past & Present), to be held on June 6, 2004. The program featured a bus tour of the Winnipeg General Strike, which was sponsored by the Canadian Historical Assocation; two panels - "Winnipeg's Radical Past: Women on the Left" and "From Schreyer to Doer: Does an NDP Government Make Any Difference for Workers?" The featured speaker was David Montgomery, "Workers Confront Imperialism: 1919 and 2004."

     There was discussion regarding CCLH commitment to providing funding for workshops. It was pointed out that the CCLH did make a commitment this year to aid the workshop for an amount up to $1000.00.

ADJOURNMENT

Members present adjourned at 1:20 p.m.