Hybrid Virtual Meeting Campaign
Why Virtual?
In the wake of COVID-19, a huge percentage of unions have transitioned to a "hybrid" virtual/in person meeting format for all union business. We're spearheading a campaign to implement hybrid virtual meetings so we can make union participation accessible and democratic. CUPE is organized around empowering rank and file members, as outlined in the Quebec 2023 Convention roadmap "Reclaiming worker power: Strategic Directions 2023-2025". But in order for rank and file workers to be able to control the direction of the union, we must be able to attend the meetings where decisions are made. Virtual meetings are a crucial element in this project.
Ontario paramedic unions that we have spoken with uniformly report that meetings have the same or higher turn out rate when offered in a hybrid format. This is particularly the case for 416 shift workers, where our schedules don't often align with meeting times, and our dispersion across southern Ontario makes attending in person meetings difficult if not impossible.
In discussions with the 416 executive, they cite security concerns as the largest stumbling block. However, while we believe that strong operational security policies should be implemented for any union meeting, the widespread adoption of hybrid meetings and the promotion by CUPE national of hybrid meeting formats for everything from routine GMMs to voting suggests they can be overcome. We agree that hybrid meetings, like in person meetings, should implement best operational security practices (such as identity verification) and that these are sufficiently robust to protect sensitive union information.
Like all union organizers, we are concerned that a lack of in person interaction will prevent widespread solidarity. But the reality is that union meetings are currently not being attended by 95% of our membership. We believe that providing an accessible way to be involved with the union will mean greater attendance and will help create a new grassroots base of support, solidarity and power.
Not only do we believe that hybrid meetings will lead to more membership engagement, we believe it is an accommodation that should be available for members who otherwise cannot attend. Members with important family obligations and members with disabilities are unfairly excluded from a place at the union table when the only way to participate is making an onerous hours long journey to in person meetings. We believe hybrid meetings are essential for the union to fulfill its obligations to all its members promoting "equal treatment of everyone regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, class, language, age, race, ethnicity, ancestry, colour, place of origin, creed, disability, family status, marital status or record of offences."
Our tactic to accomplish this is threefold. First, voting to make a recommendation to 416 at large via the unit exec. This was accomplished at the unit meeting on December 13 2023, and the recommendation will be forwarded by the unit exec to the 416 exec at their next board meeting. Second, by passing a motion at a GMM instituting mandatory hybrid meetings for all future union business. Hybrid meetings will be introduced as new business at the next GMM that makes quorum, where we will need a significant member turnout to successfully pass the motion. For updates on union meetings, sign up for our newsletter. Third, we are planning to work with members who have been unfairly excluded from union participation because of family obligations and disabilities. If you believe this applies to you, please contact us.
Please follow the link below for more information on the upcoming GMM for hybrid meetings.
*Upcoming GMM and Hybrid Meeting Motion*
Research and Testimonials
Cupe local 911 (Niagara paramedics)
Currently have a hybrid meeting model of voting and attending online or in person.
Highlight: 250 people attended their last contract unit meeting ONLINE.
Plat form: Zoom
Contact: Steward
CUPE Local 4911 (Peterborough paramedics)
Currently have a hybrid meeting model of voting and attending online or in person.
Highlight: Members can vote with a thumbs up or show of hands. For larger matters requiring voting we use Simply Voting as a platform and send to entire membership.
Contact: President
CUPE Local 53
Currently hybrid model (voting and attendance)
Highlight: I think going on line is necessary and yes we have gained a bit more attendance. We are working on a better quality of communication to our members and hoping that with better communication and connection we will increase the attendance.
Platform: Zoom
Contact: President
CUPE Local 503 (Ottawa Paramedics)
Currently hybrid model (vote and attend)
Highligh: it’s helped us get quorum. Prior to our hybrid meetings we would have quorum maybe 1/4 of the time, now it’s pretty rare that we don’t. I would say it’s definitely a pro and makes it easier for members who live far away or have to stay home with kids etc. I cant really think of any downsides
Platform: Zoom
Contact: Steward
OPSEU Local 207 (Halton Paramedics)
Currently hybrid model (vote and attend)
Highlight: It definitely increases attendance!It’s so much easier for members with young families and living from a distance. I would say probably doubled attendance with a hybrid option.
Platform: Zoom
Contact: President
OPSEU Local 147 (Middlesex-London paramedics)
Currently have a hybrid meeting model of voting and attending online or in person.
Highlight: Regular participation of ~200 medics, an increase of 5-10x versus in person only.
Plat form: Zoom
Contact: Steward
OPSEU Local 277 (Peel Paramedics)
Currently have a hybrid meeting model of attending online or in person.
Highlight: Recent meeting attendance of 220 medics concerned about region of Peel dissolution
Platform: Zoom
CUPE Local 905 (York Paramedics)
Currently have a hybrid meeting model of attending online or in person.
CUPE Local 4911
They do hybrid meetings.
Highlight: "We use simply voting for all votes now. It’s been working really well, and we have great turn out. We use Zoom for our membership meetings. When people do attend meetings in person, they are still required to vote using the online platform, simply voting. We haven’t had any major issues so far and it’s been well received by the membership. "
Contact: Chair VP
CUPE Local 79 (City of Toronto Inside Workers)
Meeting: Hybrid both to vote and attend
We’re about to start using a hybrid model this month for our membership meetings (January 2024).
There have been No barriers to starting! We have a pre-registration process to allow members to be verified. Votes are easily held, so no issues there. Toronto is a big city and peoples lives are busy - having a virtual option is essential these days.
We even moved our union elections online and saw voter participation shoot up.
A zoom businesses account is only 300$/year
For hybrid we bought a camera called Owl. It is a 360 camera and focuses on the person speaking - and you can patch it in through zoom.
For elections we use Simply Voting.
Contact: Tom Sandberg communications manager
CUPE Local 3903
Currently: Since March 2020 meetings were all online but since September 2023 we have been running hybrid meetings where members can join online or in-person to vote.
Highlight: It definitely makes attending meetings more accessible - sometimes we have members join while commuting or between family responsibilities, which wouldn't be possible otherwise.
Platform: Zoom
Contact: Erin McIntosh CUPE 3903's Communication Officer.