Working groups are autonomous organisations and collectives, made up of students and community members, who undertake action and research into issues at the core of QPIRG McGill’s mandate. They organize throughout the year around a plethora of issues, including migrant justice, Indigenous solidarity, worker’s rights, local mutual aid, and many more.
Working Groups
What are Working Groups?
Our working groups organize autonomously around a variety of issues, with support (both financial and administrative) from QPIRG-McGill. All working groups are allocated a budget (for projects/events they wish to pursue throughout the year) in September and will have access to the following:
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- QPIRG’s office resources (phone, photocopier, fax machine);
- A radical resource library;
- Computers with internet access;
- Meeting space at the QPIRG office at 3647 University, 3rd floor (we regret that this space is not wheelchair accessible).
- The help of QPIRG staff and board members for such things as project support, training, visioning, outreach, etc.
- Promotional support from QPIRG, including write ups in QPIRG’s promotional material, and a presence on the QPIRG website
- In addition, working groups are encouraged to co-organize events with QPIRG-McGill over the course of the year. All QPIRG working groups are initiated by volunteers, and must be approved by the Board of Directors in September of every year.
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Lastly, QPIRG strives to support working groups that are committed to an on and off campus presence. As a campus-based, student-run organization, we strive to reach beyond the gates of McGill to support and take part in broader social justice struggles. We encourage applications for working groups that have a scope that is broader than the student milieu.
How Are Groups Selected?
All working groups—returning and new—must apply at the beginning of each year.
The QPIRG-McGill board will only consider applications that meet QPIRG-McGill’s mandate and will make selections based on the following priorities, each priority point being understood as equal in importance to another:
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- Groups who work by consensus/non-hierarchically;
- Groups who organize around issues of social and environmental justice, particularly on issues that are under-represented at QPIRG-McGill or McGill University;
- Groups who are engaged in local grassroots struggles;
- Groups whose power is based on collective action;
- Groups who are committed to developing ongoing anti-oppression practices;
- Groups who are engaged in solidarity organizing that takes leadership and direction from the communities with which they work and/or groups who are organized by people who are directly implicated in the group’s mandate;
- Groups who would otherwise have difficulty finding financial support and resources;
- Groups who will actively create campus-community links and engage McGill University students;
- Groups who will contribute to building QPIRG McGill’s presence both on and off campus;
- Groups who will encourage and support new membership, especially McGill University students
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Additionally, if the number of working group applications exceeds QPIRG-McGill’s capacity to support working groups, we prioritize working groups that do not have working group status at another PIRG. For example, if a working group already has status at, and receives funding from, QPIRG Concordia, we are less likely to choose them as a working group. Working groups that are already a working group at another PIRG will be asked to specify why they also want to be a working group at QPIRG-McGill. An example of an important reason for wanting Working Group status at both QPIRG Concordia and QPIRG-McGill would be because the membership base is equally important on both campuses.
Solidarity Group Status
The Board can decide to accept a Working Group application as a Solidarity Group instead of as a full Working Group (if they feel that the group warrants a relationship with QPIRG, but are unable to support the group with a budget for the year). Please indicate in your application if your group does not require a budget from QPIRG, but would like to have Solidarity Group status. This would still allow you to benefit from other non-financial resources, such as space booking, photocopies, trainings, etc.
How to Apply
Applications can either be submitted via web form, e-mail or by dropping them off at our office with a staff member. If submitting application via email please write in the subject line “ WORKING GROUP APPLICATION (New or Returning)”. When applying, please answer the questions completely (especially the budget) and concisely. We have a budgeting webpage to help new and returning working groups plan their budgets for the upcoming year. You are welcome to submit your answers in the web form or in a word or PDF document to our email.
If your group is selected to become a working group, a representative MUST COMMIT to attend at least ONE ORIENTATION meeting in September at which your budget will be finalized and general QPIRG organizational information will be distributed. It is also mandatory that at least one member attend our Annual General Meeting in April. If you have any questions about the working group application process, or need assistance in drafting a budget, please feel free to contact us.