Breakout sessions at the annual meeting of the membership

[uthoria]

My union is having its annual meeting at the end of Jan 2020. According to the constitution, members can propose bylaw changes 14 days before the annual meeting. Nine proposals were submitted, and the deadline has passed. However, the union leadership doesn’t really care for the amendments and are planning to have breakout sessions during the annual meeting to make changes to the member proposed bylaw amendments before they are officially voted on latter. Keep in mind that this is an annual meeting of the membership not a convention with elected delegates. Would the changes these breakout sessions make to member proposed bylaw amendments be in order?

[Josh Martin]

1 hour ago, uthoria said:

My union is having its annual meeting at the end of Jan 2020. According to the constitution, members can propose bylaw changes 14 days before the annual meeting. Nine proposals were submitted, and the deadline has passed. However, the union leadership doesn’t really care for the amendments and are planning to have breakout sessions during the annual meeting to make changes to the member proposed bylaw amendments before they are officially voted on latter. Keep in mind that this is an annual meeting of the membership not a convention with elected delegates. Would the changes these breakout sessions make to member proposed bylaw amendments be in order?

No, a “breakout session” certainly cannot make changes to the proposed amendments.

The assembly itself would be able to adopt the proposed changes if they are within the scope of the notice.

[Richard Brown]

17 hours ago, Josh Martin said:

 

The assembly itself would be able to adopt the proposed changes if they are within the scope of the notice.

@uthoria, I urge you to pay particular attention to the bolded portion of the comment by Mr. Martin. Not just any changes can be proposed. They must be within the scope of notice of the original proposed amendments.