Regular Meetings to be More Efficient, Accessible

The CUPE 1615 Executive Board has decided to make changes as to how meetings are conducted.

These changes originate from feedback and requests by members. The changes are as follows.

  1. Regular Meeting Dates Set and Accessible
  2. Move Towards Hybrid Meetings
  3. Discontinuation of Oral Reading of the Minutes

Read below for more details.

Regular Meeting Dates Set, Available for 2 Year Term

In compliance with article 4.1 of the CUPE 1615 By-laws, the Executive Board has decided to set the date for all Regular Meetings from now until the end of 2025. Advance notice will be given if a meeting date will be changed.

It was decided that these dates set are to be available on the CUPE 1615 Calendar on the CUPE 1615 Website. Those dates are now available and can be synced to your calendar if you so choose.

CUPE 1615 Regular Meetings of membership are set for the current two year term and publicly available on a digital calendar to which members can subscribe.
CUPE 1615 Regular Meetings of membership are set for the current two year term and publicly available on a digital calendar to which members can subscribe. (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Move Towards Hybrid Meetings

Upon review of the CUPE 1615 By-laws and CUPE National Constitution and consultation with CUPE 1615’s CUPE National Representative as well as outside by-laws experts, the union local President along with the Executive Board have deemed that hybrid meetings are in order with the following important distinctions.

  1. In Person meetings with the requirement for paper ballots will remain for the following.
    • Ratification Meetings (of a new Collective Agreement)
    • Election of Officers
    • Meetings that Involve other types of Secret Ballot Votes (until such time as the union local is able to ensure that votes are able to be “conducted electronically provided secrecy can be maintained, where mandated”)
  2. Votes that don’t require paper ballot occurring at a Hybrid meeting, will be conducted by way of a show of hands. Those opting to cast a vote who are remote/virtual will be required to ensure their camera is engaged and raise their hand. (In the case where more than one person are in the same remote location all raised hands need to be visible.)

Given that CUPE 1615 Committees shall be elected at the next regular monthly meeting following the Biennial General Meeting, and the need for time to prepare for a proper method for Hybrid meetings, the February Regular Meeting of members will be In Person ONLY with link-up amongst campuses and satellites.

Further updates on commencement of hybrid meetings will be provided to members when available.

Dispensing with Meeting Minutes

The Executive Board has decided to adopt a modernized method of dealing with Meeting Minutes consistent with Parliamentary procedure as well as the CUPE 1615 By-laws, CUPE National Constitution as follows.

  1. Advance copy of Meeting Minutes from previous meeting(s) will be provided as securely as possible digitally, and by paper copy upon request, and are to be kept confidential to members of CUPE 1615 ONLY.
  2. Upon commencement of the required rubric Agenda item of Reading of the Minutes, with the provision that the meeting minutes were provided in advance, the Meeting Minutes shall be deemed read, meaning the minutes will not be read orally at meetings.
  3. Members, by way of motion, shall be empowered to amend and adopt the official version of the Meeting Minutes.