Your Voice in Meetings – OPEIU Local 109 Training

Meetings are where a lot of the union’s real decisions get made — and where your voice does its work. Our constitution guarantees you a seat and a say.

💬 In plain terms, from Article VI (Meetings):

Regular meetings are held at least once each calendar quarter, and can be held by teleconference or other electronic means — so distance or a scattered membership isn’t a barrier to taking part.
As an active member in good standing, you have the right to attend and participate in the business of those meetings.

Here’s the part most members don’t know: you don’t have to wait for leadership to call a meeting.

📜 From Our Governing Documents

“A special meeting of this Local Union’s membership may be called by the Executive Board if it deems necessary or upon a written request submitted to the President by not less than ten percent (10%) of the members of the Local Union in good standing …”
— Local 109 Constitution, Article VI, Section 3 (Meetings)

💬 In plain terms: If enough members want the union to take something up, you can make a special meeting happen — it’s not solely up to the officers. That’s member power written directly into our rules. (Notice of special meetings goes out ahead of time, and meetings get posted on the Local’s website.)

💡 Think first: Can members force a meeting to happen, or does that only come from the officers? Decide, then click.

Members can force one. A special meeting can be called by the Executive Board or on the written request of a defined share of the members in good standing (our constitution sets that at 10%). If you thought meetings only happen when leadership decides — this is exactly the kind of power members don’t realize they have.