Preparations are already underway for NWAS UNISON's 'online' AGM in 2011

NWAS UNISON is beginning preparations to hold its first ever ‘online’ Annual General Meeting next year, after members voted for an online dimension to the annual event last February in order to widen participation and increase accountability.

The Annual General Meeting is usually held in February, in the form of three meetings – one in each area of the service. Members are able to propose, discuss and vote on union policy for the following year, discuss ongoing work issues and scrutinise the branch’s accounts and activities.

Next year, branch members will be able to register on an online AGM ‘minisite’ where they will be able to submit, discuss and debate motions and agenda items before the meeting, and vote as they would if they attended the event in person. Registered members will then be able to watch the traditional ‘offline’ AGMs live via video stream, and vote on and debate issues as they arise using an online chat room. The online submissions will then be fed into the room at the face-to-face meeting.

James Bull, the branch’s communications officer, said: “This addition to our branch’s democratic structures is a first in the trade union movement. In a branch where the majority of our members work long shifts spread over a large geographical area, it will allow those previously disenfranchised from branch democracy to have a real voice in the decision making process.

“The idea of an ‘online AGM’ is not to replace the real life meetings themselves, but to introduce a whole new dimension to how members can interact with their branch, influence policy and hold their elected representatives to account.”

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