Union News November 2020
The pandemic has resulted in untold changes with respect to how individuals connect with each other. None more so in the union’s ability to connect and engage with our membership. We have been required to use technology to conduct business that under normal times would have been done face-to-face.
A very clear example of this was ratification votes that took place during September. The Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) was able thru webinars to connect with the significant number of our members which allowed the union the opportunity to present valuable information on the proposed tentative agreement. More importantly, it gave access to the membership to exercise their right to vote on the proposed agreement. This process resulted in unprecedented numbers of members exercising that right and ultimately voting in favour of the tentative agreement.
What do we do as a union to ensure that we expand that connectivity to our members? Certainly, one way is through the UTE News, which reaches all but a small portion of our membership. We need to do more, the pandemic resulted in significant delays in producing a newsletter, this being the first one since late 2019.
One of the more significant aspects of connectivity with the membership is providing each and every one of you the right to attend local Annual General Meetings (AGM’s). These allow you to vote on finances and spending within the local, discuss changes to local bylaws and more importantly choose the elected officers you wish to represent your interests in the local office. This was all put on hold in early March 2020 as the pandemic spread across Canada and the globe.
The likelihood of holding in person meetings in the foreseeable future is uncertain and probably nonexistent. The UTE is examining ways that at the local level, there can be a degree of reconnection to the membership. We are examining a variety of software solutions that would allow members to attend virtual AGM’s and be presented the same information as would be the case had the meeting been in-person. This would include the capability for those in attendance to vote on any matters put before the membership at these meetings. It would also include the ability to conduct secret ballot voting for the positions requiring elections at any particular AGM. It is hopeful that this will be available later this year to ensure we can begin to return to the process of having regularly scheduled membership meetings where the business of the union can be undertaken.
There will be more to follow, and we all look forward to beginning the process of reconnecting with all of you, the membership.
Gary Esslinger
Chair of the Communications Committee