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Parliamentary procedure for union meetings, scaled to the room and not to a national convention
Not legal advice. Confirm your local rules.
Many locals adopt Robert's Rules by reference in their bylaws; some use a simplified standing order. Read your bylaws and any national constitution rules before you chair a general membership meeting.
Officer Learning module
Use Module 4 when you want to practise the next step with a scenario and a checklist you can bring to a meeting.
Democratic GovernanceTakeaway
When in doubt, recognize the member who rose first, then enforce one speaker at a time.
Small
Often more than half of members in good standing
Mid-size
Bylaw % of registered membership
Large
Fixed floor or % — confirm your bylaws
Quorum is not optional
A motion passed without quorum can be challenged later, even if everyone in the room agreed.
Many Ontario unions, including OPSEU / SEFPO, open with a land acknowledgement before the statement of respect and all other business. Research whose territory you are on. The guide below explains federation practice without offering a script to copy.
"I move that we donate $500 to the food bank."
"I second the motion." (If there is no seconder, the motion is not considered.)
The Chair asks for debate. The mover gets to speak first.
The Chair puts the question to a vote. "All in favour? All opposed?"
The Chair declares the motion passed or defeated.
Adjourn
End the meeting now (if no higher motion is pending).
Recess
A short break. Members stay in the room or return at a set time.
Lay on the table
Set the pending motion aside briefly to deal with something urgent. It cannot be debated. To put a motion off to a later meeting, use Postpone instead.
Previous question (call the question)
Stop debate and vote immediately. This needs two-thirds.
Limit or extend debate
Cap speakers or extend time. Specify the minutes in the motion.
Postpone to a certain time
Put the main motion off to a later time or meeting. It can be debated.
Refer to committee
Send the main motion to a committee with instructions and a report-back date.
Amend
Change wording on the main motion before the final vote.
Main motion
The underlying proposal. It is debated and voted on last.
Takeaway
When someone calls “point of order,” stop and rule before you take the next subsidiary motion.
The Chair recognizes Member A under new business.
Member A: "I move that Local ___ donate $500 to the campus food bank this month." Member B seconds.
Chair: "It is moved and seconded that… Is there debate?" Member A speaks in favour; Member C speaks against.
Member D: "I move to amend by striking '$500' and inserting '$300'." Member E seconds. Debate turns to the amendment first.
The amendment passes. The main motion is now $300, and debate can continue on the revised wording.
Chair: “All in favour of the motion as amended? All opposed?” The motion passes. The secretary records the decision and the follow-up task for the treasurer.
Takeaway
Open the Rules of Order cheat sheet on your phone when amendments and points of order start stacking up.
External resources cited in this guide. National and government URLs often move; if a link 404s, search from that organization’s home page. OPSEU / SEFPO pages on opseu.org may block automated checks — open those links in a browser before you share them in a workshop.
Public CUPE steward handbook — grievance basics, human rights, and accommodation. Useful comparative education for any local; confirm against your own CA and national.
National CLC steward and leadership courses (Level 1/2 grievance handling). Cite for multi-union education; confirm live offerings with your labour council.
Provincial labour federation — solidarity and movement education; cite, do not mirror.
National labour congress — solidarity links on local sites; cite, do not mirror.