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Positive response to online branch meetings


Survey shows virtual branches have been a success, but many miss the pub get-together aſterwards


T


he move to holding branch meetings online in response to the pandemic has largely been a success,


atracting increased participation and a more diverse group of people atending, a survey of branches has found. Te survey, carried out this October and based on 54 responses, revealed that most branches found it easy to switch to online, the virtual meetings were cheaper, led to an increase in


91% of branches have held online meetings.


findings •


Key


More than two-thirds (67%) said it had increased atendance.


71% would continue online meetings


• •


42% said it had increased the diversity of those atending


•


women and younger members joining in and were useful for branches with a large geographical area – they allowed speakers from elsewhere to address the meeting and branches to hold joint meetings with others. However, the social side to


branches was much missed and, while 71 per cent of branches said they would continue with online meetings, when possible they would prefer to hold a mixture of virtual and face-to-face meetings. As one respondent said: “Te


advantages are that members living further away are more likely now to take part, that our members can more easily participate in other branches, we can atract speakers more easily and we are all, out of necessity, becoming more online tech- savvy. Te disadvantage is that you lose the personal contact, the sense of belonging to a union branch. I do feel that us journalists are innately social beings who like crowds and busy places, gossip and hanging out together. Te branch and the union as a whole have responded


magnificently to the Covid-19 crisis and learnt a lot. We will never go back to how it was before, but we do need – as soon as it’s safe and


possible – to return to a degree of real social contact.” Te survey revealed that more


work might be needed to investigate accessibility issues for disabled members, and occasional technical glitches/broadband connections have also caused problems. Tere was a mixed response to the


question of whether the technology had improved the branch discussions and debates. A number of those responding said it had led to shorter, more focused meetings, others said while Zoom meetings had widened participation, “the limitations of online meetings mean discussions are more limited”. Tere were pros and cons, said one


respondent: “It’s easier to arrange a meeting without having to book a room and we can include people wherever they are. But online meeting fatigue can set in, especially if members have spent all day on their laptops.”


SURVEY


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