UAW Committee Meeting Norms
How we run committee meetings, together.
01 Facilitation
Two committee members facilitate each meeting on a rotating basis. Facilitators promote participation, ensure equity, and build trust. They aim to speak for no more than twenty percent of the meeting.
02 Agenda
The agenda is shared at least 48 hours ahead of the meeting. Members can suggest additions during the agenda-open window. The facilitator articulates the meeting objective at the start and acknowledges the impacts of that objective.
03 Stay on time
Meetings are time-boxed. Each agenda item has an allocated duration. The facilitator flags when an item is running over and asks the meeting to decide whether to continue or move on.
04 Speaking order (stack)
In online meetings, members type "stack" in the chat to join the speaking queue, and the facilitator calls on people in order. A direct response (answering a question just posed) can jump the queue, type "direct response" instead.
05 Discussion guidelines
Use and respect pronouns. Speak in "I" statements. Listen carefully. Assume good faith. Respect the agenda and people's time. Democracy is messy, and that is OK.
06 Decisions
We work by consensus where possible. When consensus cannot be reached, decisions go to a vote and dissent is recorded. Deferred decisions return on the next agenda.
07 Follow-up
Minutes are shared with every participant after the meeting. Action items are tracked in the Committee Hub with named owners and due dates. A short post-meeting check-in asks how the meeting went.