CUPE 3906 General Membership Meeting (GMM) Materials
Our equity statement and land acknowledgement statement are here.
Minutes of our last GMM (March 2025) are below.
The Agenda for today’s (July 2025) GMM is available here.
Executive Committee Member Reports are available here.
Reports from Delegates to conventions, conferences, etc., are available here and here.
The Local’s Policy on Delegates to Conventions and Schools is available here.
Minutes from Previous GMMs
July 3, 2025 (tentative, to be approved at next GMM)
Process and Tips for an Efficient Meeting
Glossary of Parliamentary Procedure Handbook – click here. This booklet provides some definitions and examples of commonly used GMM terms, such as ‘point of order’ and ‘adjournment.’
You can find a CUPE 3906 Rules of Order booklet here, which helps to explain – in simple and practical terms – some of the more complex aspects of meetings.
Additional Reminders
Proposed Bylaws Changes- Summer 2025
Process:
Bylaws committee has agreed on motion/proposed changes (see below)
GMM 1 (July 3) – present proposed bylaws change to membership (no debate permitted. Simply presenting language to membership for consideration at next meeting) DONE
GMM 2 (next scheduled GMM) – vote on proposed change presented at GMM 1, as written below (can vote YES or NO. No amendments are permitted). ** can refer item back to bylaws committee for additional considerations, but cannot make amendments on the spot
Send approved language (if approved) to CUPE National for approval
Motion:
Be it resolved that the membership of CUPE Local 3906 approve the addition of a Communications Officer position as an executive committee member who can run the communications committee to support the organization’s outreach, engagement, and visibility efforts.
To facilitate this, the membership will approve a proposed bylaws change/addition to article 5 of the bylaws outlined below.
Rationale:
As our union grows in scope and engagement, the demand for timely, effective, and strategic communication has also grown. This includes managing news blast, social media, internal updates, press releases, and public-facing campaigns.
At present, union’s communications responsibilities are either informally assigned or absorbed by other roles. This leads to inefficiencies, inconsistencies, and missed opportunities to amplify our work and reach our membership.
Many unions have a dedicated communications committee or officer. Establishing this committee aligns us with best practices and ensures sustainability.
Proposed Bylaws Change/Addition
**new** Article 5 (L)
5(L) The COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Shall:
i. Develop and implement a communications strategy that ensures members are informed, engaged, and empowered.
ii. Promote union meetings, campaigns, bargaining updates, job actions, and social events through accessible and inclusive communication.
iii. Chair the Communications Committee
iv. Draft and disseminate regular newsletters, bulletins, and member updates.
v. Ensure timely and accurate communication between the Executive Committee and the membership, especially during bargaining periods, strikes, or mobilization.
vi. Manage the union’s official social media accounts in alignment with union values and political positions.
vii. Create engaging and educational content that promotes worker solidarity, collective action, and awareness of workers’ rights.
viii. Monitor and report on reach, engagement, and member feedback.
ix. Design communication materials (posters, flyers, graphics, email blasts) for coordinated campaigns, organizing, mobilizing grassroots activism, political actions, and coalition events.
x. Assist all officers and committees in drafting promotional materials, communicating with members and developing, producing and commissioning external communications (e.g., media releases, advertisements, etc.
xi. Chair the Communications Committee.
xii. Collaborate with other committees (e.g., Equity, Political Action) to support campaigns that center the voices of marginalized workers.
xiii. Update the union’s website with accurate and current information, including bylaws, benefits, event details, and campaign updates.
xii. Ensure all communications meet accessibility standards (e.g., alt-text, plain language, multilingual content where applicable).
*current article 5(L) becomes 5(M), language stays the same
All executive officers are jointly responsible for the effective operation of the Executive Committee and shall perform any additional duties deemed necessary by the Executive Committee.
and current article 5(M) becomes 5(N), language stays the same
All Executive Officers are expected to make a written or verbal report on their respective portfolios at each GMM and contribute an end-of year report to the Executive Report to be presented at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) which includes a summary of their activities over the course of the year as well as recommendations for the year to come.
Upcoming General Membership Meetings **all dates and times tentative**
Our upcoming 2025 meeting are scheduled for:
Monday January 20, 2pmMonday February 10, 2 pmMonday March 17, 2pmAnnual General Membership Meeting (AGM: Monday, April 7, 2pm) **new date**Monday April 14, 2pm *cancelled*Thursday, July 3, 2025
Joint Health and Safety Committee
Ideas for health and safety improvements in your workplace? Interested in joining your Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC)? Take a look on our webpage and contact healthandsafety@cupe3906.org.
So you want to get something done at a GMM (ie/ pass a motion)?
If there is something you want to happen at a GMM, in most cases you’ll need to introduce a motion to get that thing done.
Motions are used to direct action and generally take the form of “I move that…” or “Be it resolved that….” Any member may move a motion at a meeting, as long as it directly relates to the agenda item under discussion. Motions must be seconded by another member prior to discussion commencing. Motions must pass by majority vote (50%+1), with some exceptions (see chart below).
Any member may move a substantive or procedural motion as long as it is ‘in order’ (ie/ doesn’t violate the by-laws or the rules of order). A substantive motion, or one containing a number of considerations, should ideally be prepared in writing and given to the chair, preferably in advance of the meeting.
Some motions are made more frequently than others. While every ‘actionable item’ requires a motion (and a seconder), these are some commonly made motions that can serve as a guideline.
Donation – I move that we donate $ (Insert amount) to (name of organization) in support of (the cause ie/ their on-going strike, their annual fundraiser etc.)
More information can be found in the CUPE 3906 Rules of Order booklet.