100 years of advocating for public education Members Guide to the BCTF

Transcription

1 100 years of advocating for public education Members Guide to the BCTF

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3 Goals of the BCTF 1. To help ensure that public schools provide for the continued intellectual, physical, social, and emotional growth and development of each individual. 2. To promote the establishment and continued development in every school of sound learning and teaching conditions, including the provision of adequate support services. 3. To work toward the integration of social and educational services that contribute to the welfare and development of students. 4. To encourage full public participation in determining the overall objectives of education at the provincial, district, and school level. 5. To create public awareness of problems in society that hinder student growth and development and to stimulate the search for solutions. 6. To strive to eliminate from the school system discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, age, handicaps, economic status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, number of dependents, or pregnancy. 7. To promote professional growth of teachers through the continuous development of preservice, internship, and in-service education. 8. To establish a code of ethics and professional conduct, criteria of qualification, and criteria and procedures for the assessment of professional competence, and to ensure that teachers are effectively subject to the judgment of their peers in these matters, with guarantee of due process. 9. To ensure, through the development of democratic processes, professional autonomy for teachers and protection from capricious or malicious action, unjust regulations, and the abuse of authority. 10. To maintain for teachers a level of status and economic standing appropriate to the responsibility of the profession. 11. To work co-operatively with other groups and agencies to transform the public schools to make them more relevant and effective in preparing students for their futures. 12. To promote a working and learning environment in the public schools of British Columbia that is free from violence. 13. To support the right of all students, regardless of age, to free basic education as defined by the current K 12 programs. 14. To promote the well-being of members through working conditions that nurture ongoing health and vitality. Policy 11.01

4 MEMBERS GUIDE TO THE BC TEACHERS FEDERATION The Guide consists of five parts: PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 PART 4 PART 5 BCTF Priorities, Services, and Organization The constitution and by-laws of the organization. A compilation of the BCTF s policies and procedures, in the form of motions passed from 1953 to June 2016 by the Annual General Meeting and by meetings of the Representative Assembly, the Executive Committee and the former (until 1965) Consultative Committee. Information about the Federation, covering such topics as the teachers pension plan and BCTF history. BCTF Simplified Rules of Order and RA and AGM Rules of Order

5 PART 3 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Table of Contents Section Page 1. Aboriginal Education Annual General Meeting Bargaining Boards of School Trustees, School Districts, and BC School Trustees Association CLC/BC Federation of Labour Canadian Teachers Federation Certification and Teachers Council Education Finance Education Policy Finance Goals of the BCTF Health and Welfare of Students Health, Welfare, and Safety of Teachers Independent Schools Induction Ceremonies, Awards International Solidarity Labour Affairs Leaves of Absence Legal Services/Contract Enforcement Membership Ministry of Children and Family Development Ministry of Education Organization of the BCTF Pensions Political Action Post-Secondary Education Privatization and Commercialization Professional Development Professional Ethics, Rights, and Standards Professional Relations Provincial Specialist Associations Public Affairs i

6 Section Page 35. Public Relations Publications of the BCTF Research Retired Teachers School Buildings, Grounds, and Facilities Sexual Harassment/Harassment General Social Justice Social Responsibility Strike/Lockouts Supervision and Reporting on Members Teacher Competence Teacher Education Teacher Exchange Teachers Teaching on Call Teacher Tenure Technology Unemployed/Underemployed Teachers Violence Prevention ii

7 PART 1 BCTF Priorities, Services, and Organization Priorities for (as set by the 2016 Annual General Meeting) That the following be the Leadership Priorities: 1. Engage and support members in the process of curriculum change, and continue to advocate for the resources and time necessary for teachers and students to implement new curriculum effectively. 2. Campaign for education funding to improve class sizes and composition, support students with special needs, and provide the range of teacher support positions required to provide a range of essential educational services to meet diverse needs. 3. Promote social justice by contributing to building a civil and inclusive society in our communities and globally, and proactively addressing systemic forms of discrimination for students, staff, and society. 4. Build the strength of the union through increased member engagement and the active support for member leadership and involvement in the union at all stages of their teaching careers including seeking an equitable representation of our membership at all levels and in all facets of our organization. 5. Continue to build the capacity of the union, both provincially and locally to be prepared for bargaining in 2019 through the provision of training, particularly with a focus to increase the participation of female members. (16 AGM Ex, pp. 3 4) Priorité pour (adoptées à l Assemblée générale annuelle de 2016) Que les priorités de leadership soient: 1. Engager et soutenir les membres dans le processus de changement des programmes d études, et continuer de plaider pour les ressources et le temps nécessaires pour qu enseignants et élèves mettent en œuvre les programmes révisés de manière efficace. 2. Faire campagne pour le financement de l'enseignement pour améliorer la taille et la composition des classes, soutenir les élèves ayant des besoins particuliers et fournir la gamme nécessaires de postes d enseignants de soutien pour fournir une gamme de services éducatifs essentiels pour répondre aux divers besoins. 3. Promouvoir la justice sociale en contribuant à la construction d'une société civile et inclusive dans nos communautés et dans le monde, et aborder de manière proactive les formes systémiques de discrimination envers les élèves, le personnel et la société. 4. Construire la force du syndicat par un engagement accru des membres et le soutien actif pour un leadership et une participation des membres au syndicat à tous les stades de leur carrière, y compris en visant à une représentation équitable de nos membres à tous les niveaux et dans toutes les facettes de notre organisation. 5. Continuer de renforcer la capacité du syndicat, à la fois provincial et local à se préparer à la négociation de 2019 grâce à la provision de formation, en mettant en particulier l'accent pour un accroissement de la participation des membres de sexe féminin. Objectifs de la FECB 1. Par son concours assurer dans les écoles publiques un milieu suscitant chez tous une croissance continue sur les plans intellectuels, physiques, sociaux et affectifs et favorisant le développement de chaque élève. 2. Encourager l implantation et le perfectionnement continu dans chaque école de conditions propices d apprentissage et d enseignement, y compris la mise en place de services de soutien adéquats. 3. Travailler à l intégration des services socio-éducatifs qui contribuent au bien-être et au développement des enfants. 4. Encourager une massive participation générale lors de la détermination des objectifs généraux d enseignement aux divers paliers : province, conseil scolaire et école. 5. Sensibiliser le public aux problèmes sociaux qui constituent un handicap à la croissance et au développement des élèves et stimuler la recherche de solutions. 6. S efforcer d éliminer du système scolaire les formes de discrimination fondées sur le sexe, la race, la religion, l âge, les handicaps, le statut économique, l état civil, l orientation sexuelle, le nombre de personnes à charge ou la grossesse. 7. Encourager la croissance professionnelle des enseignants par le perfectionnement continu de la formation préalable, de l internat d enseignement et de la formation en poste. 8. Établir un code de déontologie, ainsi que des critères en matière de qualification professionnelle et des critères et méthodes permettant d évaluer la compétence professionnelle et veiller à ce que les enseignants soient soumis au jugement de leurs collègues dans ces questions et puissent disposer de recours. 9. Garantir par l institution de procédés démocratiques l autonomie professionnelle des enseignants et leur protection contre toute action arbitraire ou malveillante, contre des règlements injustifiés ou l abus d autorité. 10. Maintenir pour les enseignants un niveau et un statut économiques conformes à la responsabilité de leur profession. 11. S efforcer, en collaboration avec d autres groupes et agences, de transformer les écoles publiques pour leur donner une pertinence accrue et les rendre plus efficaces dans la préparation des élèves pour l avenir. 12. Encourager, au sein des écoles publiques de la Colombie- Britannique, la formation d un environnement de travail et d apprentissage à l abri de toute violence. 13. Garantir à l ensemble des élèves, indépendamment de leur âge, le droit au libre accès à une formation de base, suivant la définition donnée par les programmes courants, de la maternelle jusqu à la douzième année. (see Policy for English) Code de déontologie Le code de déontologie formule, pour tous les membres de la Fédération des enseignant(e)s de la C.-B. (FECB), des règles générales destinées à maintenir des normes élevées en matière de conduite professionnelle et de service envers les élèves, les collègues et le syndicat. Les membres sont priés de communiquer avec les responsables syndicaux locaux ou avec le personnel de la FECB approprié pour obtenir des conseils sur la manière de procéder avec des questions liées au code de déontologie de la FECB. 1. Les membres s adressent aux élèves et se comportent avec eux avec respect et dignité. Ils traitent avec eux de manière judicieuse, en prenant toujours en considération leurs droits et en ménageant leurs sentiments. 2. Les membres respectent le caractère confidentiel de l information concernant les élèves et ne peuvent divulguer de renseignements qu à des personnes ou à des agences autorisées qui s occupent directement du bien-être de ces derniers. Les membres respectent les dispositions juridiques pour signaler des situations concernant la protection de l enfance. 3. Une relation privilégiée existe entre les membres et les élèves. Les membres se gardent d en tirer profit à des fins matérielles, idéologiques ou autres. 1

8 4. Les membres s engagent à réexaminer volontiers avec leurs collègues, les élèves et leurs parents/tuteurs ou tutrices, la qualité des services fournis et les pratiques employées dans l exercice de leurs fonctions. 5. Les membres s engagent à mentionner toute critique concernant la performance pédagogique et le travail qui y est associé d un ou d une collègue à cette personne en privé. Si le membre croit que la question n a pas été réglée, il peut, après avoir informé par écrit en privé son collègue de son intention de le faire, adresser ses critiques confidentiellement aux personnes compétentes qui peuvent lui donner des conseils et de l aide. * Il ne sera pas considéré comme une infraction au code de déontologie pour un membre de respecter les dispositions juridiques ou les exigences officielles du protocole lorsqu il/elle signale des situations concernant la protection de l enfance. 6. Les membres reconnaissent l autorité et les responsabilités de la FECB et de ses syndicats locaux et s acquittent des devoirs qui leur incombent en tant que membres du syndicat. 7. Les membres obéissent aux dispositions de la convention collective. 8. Les membres agissent de manière à ne pas porter détriment aux moyens de pression au travail ou à toute autre stratégie de leur syndicat. 9. Les membres s engagent à ne pas poser leur candidature à un poste qui a été déclaré en litige par la Fédération, et à ne pas accepter un tel poste. 10.Les membres, individuellement aussi bien qu en tant qu adhérent(e)s à un groupe professionnel, s engagent à ne pas faire de démarches non autorisées auprès d organismes extérieurs au nom de la Fédération ou de ses syndicats locaux. * Voir la procédure 31.B.12 du Guide des membres de la 2

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10 Governance of the BCTF The BCTF is a democratically structured organization and the governance chart identifies the groups or bodies related to governance. Members Members of the BCTF ultimately determine the decisions and directions of the BCTF in two very important ways: 1. Members through locals elect delegates to the BCTF Annual General Meeting. The AGM makes key decisions for the organization and elects the Executive Committee. 2. Members through locals elect Local Representatives which make up the Representative Assembly. The RA has key decision making responsibilities. Locals Locals have the responsibility for acting on behalf of members regarding local matters. Members in locals elect their local president and executive which guide the affairs of the local. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting is comprised of delegates and Local Representatives elected by members through locals, and the 11 members of the Executive Committee. There are approximately 670 voting delegates at an Annual General Meeting. The AGM elects the Executive Committee, determines the fee, approves any changes to the by-laws, establishes priorities for the next year and makes the significant policy decisions of the Federation. and spell out what each level of decision making is authorized to do. The by-laws of the BCTF have to be followed by all bodies of the organization, including the AGM. Only the AGM can amend the bylaws, and only then with a 75% majority of delegates voting in favour. The by-laws are found in Part 2 of this guide and spell out in more detail the role of each of the decision making bodies. Representative Assembly The Representative Assembly meets three times a year and has the specific responsibilities of approving a budget and electing the Judicial Council and Committee of Ombudspersons. The RA also makes policy and procedure decisions for the Federation. Executive Committee The Executive Committee of the BCTF is elected by the AGM and consists of 11 members. Three of them serve in a full-time capacity: the President, First Vice-President,and Second Vice-President. The EC has overall responsibility for the running of the Federation. It meets monthly with additional meetings as necessary. The EC is the employer of BCTF staff and determines what work will be done in any given year. The EC also has responsibility for the creation and appointment of any advisory committees or task forces. President The President of the Federation has responsibility for overall supervision of the affairs of the organization in between meetings of the Executive Committee. Constitution and By-laws The Constitution and By-laws establish the rules by which the organization is run. The by-laws establish the division of responsibilities among the major decision making bodies Executive Committee President Glen Hansman O: C: ghansman@bctf.ca First Vice-President Teri Mooring O: C: tmooring@bctf.ca Second Vice-President Clint Johnston O: C: cjohnston@bctf.ca Past President Jim Iker C: jiker@bctf.ca Members-at-Large Mike Ball O: C: mball@bctf.ca Rae Figursky S: C: rfigursky@bctf.ca Carole Gordon S: C: cgordon@bctf.ca Norm Sabourin S: C: n/a nsabourin@bctf.ca Robin Tosczak S: C: rtosczak@bctf.ca James Sanyshyn S: C: jsanyshyn@bctf.ca Kip Wood S: C: kwood@bctf.ca 4

11 Staff organization The Federation employs about 140 people to develop and deliver the programs and services that are determined by the decision-making bodies of the organization. There are three groups of staff: administrative, support, and excluded. Administrative staff are primarily former teachers who were active in the organization and hired to carry out major program development and service. Support staff comprise the largest component of staff and perform a wide range of tasks including support to administrative staff and officers and technical and logistical support to a number of programs and initiatives. These two groups of staff are organized into two separate unions; the administrative staff which are affiliated to Unifor Local 464 and the support staff which are members of the Teachers Federation Employees Union. There are five excluded staff who undertake management oversight and human resources functions. The staff are organized into six divisions and a legal department that are shown on the staff organization chart. Each division has a Director and a specific set of responsibilities with regard to programs and services that are carried out through the division. The staff listing by division identifies some of the major responsibilities in each division. The Executive Director by virtue of the by-laws has overall responsibility for the conduct and organization of staff and for the overall assignment of work. The Executive Director is responsible directly to the Executive Committee and on a day-to-day basis consults with the president. 5

12 BCTF Staff/ Membres du personnel de la FECB Executive Director/Directrice générale O: Moira Mackenzie; C: Executive Office Director/Directrice du secrétariat de l exécutif Donna Coulombe; dcoulombe@bctf.ca O: Director of Human Resources/Directrice des Ressources humaines Una Walsh; uwalsh@bctf.ca O: General Counsel/Avocat général Diane MacDonald; dmacdonald@bctf.ca O: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer/Trésorier et directeur des services financiers Delwin Yung; dyung@bctf.ca O: Administrative Staff Contacts/Personnel cadre Responsibilities Phone Numbers (604 Area Code) Communications and Campaigns Division Susan Croll; scroll@bctf.ca Teacher Magazine Editor/Internal Communications O: ; C: Nancy Knickerbocker; Director O: ; C: nknickerbocker@bctf.ca Jack MacDermot; jmacdermot@bctf.ca Outreach/Parents/Political Action O: ; C: Rich Overgaard; rovergaard@bctf.ca Media Relations Officer O: ; C: Field Service Division John Ehinger; jehinger@bctf.ca Susan Fonseca; sfonseca@bctf.ca Starleigh Grass; sgrass@bctf.ca Chris Harris; charris@bctf.ca Patrick Henry; phenry@bctf.ca Ritchie Kendrick; rkendrick@bctf.ca Charley King; cking@bctf.ca Debbie Morran; dmorran@bctf.ca Central Okanagan, Gold Trail, Kamloops Thompson, Nicola Valley, North Okanagan-Shuswap, Okanagan Skaha, Princeton, Revelstoke, SEPF, South Okanagan, Similkameen, Vernon Central Coast, Cowichan, Greater Victoria, Gulf Islands, Lake Cowichan, Saanich, Sooke Abbotsford, Bulkley Valley, Chilliwack, Haida Gwaii, Kitimat, Nisga a, Prince Rupert, Stikine, Terrace Delta, Fraser-Cascade, Langley, Maple Ridge, Mission, New Westminster, Surrey Burnaby, Coquitlam, North Vancouver, Richmond, Vancouver Elementary, Vancouver Secondary, West Vancouver Collective Agreement Administration/Implementation/ Negotiation Support Burns Lake, Cariboo-Chilcotin, Fort Nelson, Nechako, Peace River North, Peace River South, Prince George, Quesnel, Sea to Sky Arrow Lakes, Boundary, Cranbrook, Creston Valley, Fernie, Golden, Kimberley, Kootenay Columbia, Nelson, Windermere O: ; C: O: ; C: O: ; C: O: ; C: O: ; C: O: ; C: O: ; C: O: ; C: Kelly Shields; kshields@bctf.ca Director O: ; C: Daniel Storms; dstorms@bctf.ca Alberni, Campbell River, Comox, Mount Arrowsmith, Nanaimo, Powell River, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island North, Vancouver Island West O: ; C: Income Security Division Victor Choy; vchoy@bctf.ca Pensions and Group Benefits O: ; C: Diane Irvine; dirvine@bctf.ca WCB Advocacy/BCTF Advantage O: Michael Kimmis; mkimmis@bctf.ca Director O: ; C: Sarb Lalli; slalli@bctf.ca Salary Indemnity Plan Administrator O: Allan Lee; allanlee@bctf.ca Health and Wellness O: Mike Wisla; mwisla@bctf.ca Health and Safety Officer O:

13 Legal Services Department Gretchen Brown; Staff Lawyer O: Kerri Fisher; Staff Lawyer O: Stephanie Quelch; Staff Lawyer O: Robyn Trask; Staff Lawyer O: Professional and Social Issues Division Michelle Davies; Internal Relations Co-ordinator/Peer Support Services O: Jenny Garrels; Member Training/TTOC O: Janice Neden; Curriculum and Education Policy/Ministry Liaison/ O: PSA Council Susan Ruzic; Social Justice Co-ordinator O: Barb Ryeburn; Social Justice Co-ordinator O: Jinny Sims; PIAC/Program for Quality Teaching O: Christine Stewart; Director/Teachers Council/Deans of Education O: ; C: Gail Stromquist; Aboriginal Education O: Marie-Claude Tremblay; French Programs and Services/New Teachers/BCTF on Campus/TQS O: Research and Technology Division Larry Kuehn; Director O: ; C: Department Fax Numbers/ Numéros de télécopieur par départements Accounting/Facilities/Purchasing/Treasurer Communications/Campaigns/Graphics Executive Offices Field Service Information Services/Information Technology/Research Health and Wellness Human Resources Income Security Legal Services Member Records Production Professional and Social Issues Retired Teachers Internet services BCTF website The BCTF website ( redesigned in 2014, provides members with a wealth of information about member services, professional and social justice issues, professional development events and programs, and classroom resources. The website includes the Federation s publications, such as the Teacher Magazine, research reports, and the Social Justice Newsletter, Teaching to Diversity subsite, and specialized databases, such as the video resources database and the Global Classroom. The website features a slider and news items highlighting new content and issues, and a Twitter feed. targeted to members, including bargaining updates, and participate in online discussion forums. Members login to the portal using their BCTF member ID and a password they create. The online member portal help guide ( provides sign-up instructions and FAQs. Members needing assistance can call the portal help line, or toll free (local 2119), or portal@bctf.ca. TeachBC The BCTF s TeachBC website, teachbc.bctf.ca, enables BC teachers to submit and share resources relevant to the K 12 BC curriculum. Teachers also have the opportunity to access educational research in BC and share their own research. MYBCTF member portal MyBCTF ( is a secure web portal for BCTF members only. Within the portal members can register for BCTF events, update their personal contact information, access content 7

14 Social media The Federation is using social media Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest to communicate with members. Links are on Our social media web page includes BCTF blogs, link to member discussion forums in the portal, and BCTF s social media guidelines. See lists BCTF lists keep members and the Federation in touch with each other about a wide variety of issues and interests. Members may join or leave lists from our mailing list page ( Members, who have provided the BCTF with their addresses, receive BCTF News and eblasts from the BCTF about important issues and events. Website hosting services Locals and Provincial Specialist Associations may host their websites on the BCTF web server at no cost. Contact webmanager@bctf.ca to request an account and detailed procedures. For further information about the BCTF s Internet Services, webinfo@bctf.ca. 8

15 LOCAL FEES AND RELEASE TIME Local Members As of Sep 30, 2015 (excluding TTOCs) Local Fees Release Time Actual FTE Regular TTOC Pres Other Officers Abbotsford 1,126 1,033 $ %s vice-president 100% Alberni $ %(Sept) PD chairperson 12.5%.04%(Oct- Jun) Arrow Lakes $ % none Boundary $ % (up Deb Klockenbrink 25%;as needed to 44% of Annual Dues) Bulkley Valley % 0.64% PD Chair -10 days, PD Treasurer 10 days;,as needed Burnaby , % 0.56% first and second vice-president 100% Burns Lake $ % as needed Campbell River $ % none Cariboo-Chilcotin $ $2.00/day vice-president and PD chairperson 20% Central Coast $ % none Central Okanagan 1,283 1,217 $ % first vice-president,50% second vicepresident -60%,PD chairperson 57% and A&S Chair 20% Chilliwack $ $1.50/day vice-president 100%, PD chairperson 20% Comox % 0.70% vice-president 40%, PD chairperson up to 20% Coquitlam 1,937 1,718 $ %/day first vice-president and grievance officer 100%, second vice-president 60%, PD chairperson 40%, others as needed Cowichan $ % vice-president 50% Cranbrook % % vice-president %; as needed Creston Valley % 0.80% as needed Delta 1, $ % first vice-president 100%, PD chairperson 10% Fernie $ $500.00/ as needed prorated Fort Nelson $ $2.00/day Fraser-Cascade % 0.60% as needed Gold Trail $ % as needed Golden $ % none Gulf Islands % 0.80% as needed Haida Gwaii $ % as needed Kamloops Thompson $ $2.10/day first vice-president 100%, PD chairperson less than30% Kimberley $ % as needed Kitimat % 1.00% as needed Kootenay Columbia $ % as needed Lake Cowichan $ % as needed Langley 1,214 1, % 0.64% first vice-president 100% Maple Ridge % 0.71%/ first vice-president and bargaining chairperson 100% Mission % 0.875% as needed Mount Arrowsmith % 0.75% vice-president 40%, PD chairperson 20%, others as needed Nanaimo % 0.76% first vice-president 100%, second vicepresident 50%, Nechako % 0.65% Nelson % 0.80% New Westminster % 0.25% as needed Nicola Valley $ $ as needed Nisga a $ % as needed North Okanagan- Shuswap % 0.40% as needed 9

16 Local Members As of Sep 30, 2015 (excluding TTOCs) Local Fees Release Time Actual FTE Regular TTOC Pres Other Officers North Vancouver % 0.80% first vice-president 100%, second vicepresident 60% Okanagan Skaha % % PD chairperson 20%, others as needed $10 levy $10 levy Peace River North % 0.60% vice-president 20% Peace River South $ $3.00/day as needed Powell River $ % PD chairperson 25% Prince George $ $2.30/day first vice-president 100% Prince Rupert % $1.25/day as needed Princeton % 0.60% as needed Quesnel $ % as needed Revelstoke % 0.50% Richmond 1,335 1,205 $ % first and second vice-president 100% Saanich % 0.60% as needed Sea to Sky % 0.45% PD chairperson 20% SEPF $ $1.25/day first vice-president 60%, Sooke % 0.47% vice-president 60% South Okanagan % 0.70% as needed Similkameen Stikine $ $ none Sunshine Coast % 0.65% PD chairperson 0.143%, Surrey 4,297 3, % 0.62% first and second vice-president, two grievance officers, health and safety officer, professional issues officer 100% Terrace $ $45.00/mth as needed Vancouver Elementary 1,996 1, % 0.85% First, second and third vice-president 100%, Adult Ed president 40% Vancouver Island % as needed North Vancouver Island $ $2.14/day none West Vancouver 1,301 1, % 0.73% first and second vice-president 100% Secondary Vernon $ % PD chairperson 20% Victoria 1,155 1, % 0.81% first vice-president and bargaining chairperson 60%, PD chairperson 0.286%, second vice-president.28%, secretary treasurer. 143% West Vancouver $ % vice-president 20%, PD chairperson 12.5%, Windermere $ $400.00/ prorated as needed 10

17 PART 2 Constitution and By-laws BCTF Constitution Name The name of the society is the British Columbia Teachers' Federation, hereinafter called the Federation. Purposes The purposes of the Federation shall be: 1. To foster and promote the cause of education in British Columbia. 2. To raise the status of the teaching profession in British Columbia. 3. To promote the welfare of the teachers of British Columbia. 4. To provide for the enlargement of the scope of the purposes of the Federation by permitting an alliance or affiliation to be made between the Federation and any other organization having purposes similar to the Federation. 5. To organize and administer a Salary Indemnity Fund among its members. 6. To organize and administer a Benevolent Fund among its members. 7. To organize and administer such other services and programs as the Annual General Meeting may from time to time order. 8. To finance and administer programs to encourage the employment of teachers in numbers consistent with staffing ratios developed by the profession. 9. To finance and administer programs to foster effective teaching and appropriate learning conditions as approved by the profession. 10. To regulate relations between employers and employees through collective bargaining in British Columbia. 11. To create and charter locals of the Federation. 12. To continue to develop and offer programs of professional development for teachers. 13. To safeguard teachers pensions and act as joint trust plan member partner with respect to teacher pension funds. 14. To continue to develop programs of social justice, and to provide international assistance to educational organizations. 15. To promote the attainment of the purposes of the Federation by participation in educational, social, co-operative, electoral, political, economic, bargaining or other activity authorized pursuant to the bylaws of the Federation. Base of operation The operations of the Federation are to be carried on throughout the province of British Columbia but chiefly in its office located in Vancouver. By-laws By-law No. 1 Membership 1.1.a All teachers employed in a school district in the province of British Columbia shall be eligible to be active members of the Federation and of a local in that school district. 1.1.b Persons other than those referred to in By-law 1.1(a) may, on application, be granted active membership in the Federation in accordance with policies established by the Representative Assembly and may be granted membership in such local as is determined appropriate by the Executive Committee. 1.1.c Exclusions: Those positions that create a conflict of interest such as Members of the Legislative Assembly, officials and employees of the Ministry of Education, employees of the British Columbia Public School Employers Association, employees of the British Columbia School Trustees Association, employees of the British Columbia School Superintendents Association, employees of the Principals and Vice-Principals Association, district superintendents of schools, superintendents of schools, assistant superintendents of schools, and administrative officers shall not be eligible for active membership in the Federation. (13 AGM, p. 6) 1.1.d Active members shall be the voting members of the Federation and, subject to By-law 3.7, shall be entitled to hold office and to vote on all matters as provided by these by-laws. (10 AGM, p. 2) 1.2 Associate membership may be granted by the Executive Committee on application and on payment of a fee, pursuant to Bylaw 4, according to the scale of fees then in force. Associate membership shall be granted only to persons not eligible for active membership who hold a teaching certificate acceptable to the Executive Committee or occupy an educational or teaching position acceptable to the Executive Committee. Associate members shall not be entitled to vote or to hold office. 1.3 Honorary associate membership without fee may be granted by the Executive Committee to honour distinguished service by persons who have ceased to be active members. Honorary associate members shall not be entitled to vote or to hold office. 1.4 Honorary membership may be conferred by resolution of the Annual General Meeting or of the Representative Assembly on any person, not a teacher, whom the Federation wishes to honour. Honorary members shall not be entitled to vote or to hold office. 1.5 Honorary life membership: An Annual General Meeting may confer on any member honorary life membership in the Federation. Honorary life members shall, while holding positions as teachers in the public schools of British Columbia, be accorded equivalent status, without payment of fee, to active membership. 1.6 Affiliate membership may be granted by the Executive Committee on application and payment of a fee, pursuant to Bylaw 4. Persons appointed as administrative officers in a school district shall be eligible, upon application and payment of fees and levies in accordance with By-law 8.5, for Affiliate Administrative Membership which shall entitle the member to participate in the Salary Indemnity Plan, established pursuant to By-law 8.7, for up to one year and such other benefit plans as the Annual General Meeting may determine, provided that the application is made within 30 days of that person s first appointment as an administrative officer. Affiliate members shall not be entitled to vote or to hold office. (13 AGM, p. 6) 1.7 Members not in good standing shall be those active members who fail to pay fees or levies as prescribed in these bylaws. Members not in good standing shall not be entitled to vote or to seek or hold office, or to receive benefits of membership and shall be subject to recovery of fees pursuant to By-law An active member who is granted an unpaid leave of absence by the school district in which the member is employed is, unless employed by another school district or excluded by By-law 1.1.c, entitled to remain a member of the Federation without payment of fee for the period of such leave of absence. (13 AGM, p. 6) 1.9 Subject only to By-law 1.8 a. where no membership fees are paid to the Federation by an active member for a period of six school months, active membership in the Federation shall be deemed for all purposes to have terminated; and b. where no membership fees are paid to a local for a period of six school months by an active member who is a member of that local, active membership in that local shall be deemed for all purposes to have terminated. By-law No. 2 Voting 11

18 2.1 At all general meetings of any local of the Federation, voting rights shall be governed by the provisions of By-law 1 and Bylaw 3.7. (10 AGM, p. 2) 2.2 The election of delegates to any general meeting of the Federation, and of Local Representatives, shall be at a general meeting of the local or of the sublocal, as provided for in By-law 8.2. Notice of such meeting shall be given to every member of the local entitled to vote, in accordance with the by-laws of the local; in the absence of such provision notice shall be given to each member at his/her place of residence or business address not less than seven days before the meeting. 2.3 No local shall include in its by-laws any provision denying the right to vote at any general meeting to any member entitled under By-law 1 to vote. By-law No. 3 Locals 3.1 The Executive Committee shall have the power to create locals. Each local shall adopt a constitution and by-laws to govern its operations. No clause in the constitution and by-laws of any local shall be inconsistent with the constitution and by-laws of the Federation. Failure to observe the terms of this by-law may render a local liable to sanctions contained in By-law Locals of the Federation shall be entitled to full autonomy in the conduct of collective bargaining and negotiations with employers. 3.3 A local may make provision for the formation of sublocals. To qualify as a sublocal for the purpose of By-laws 8 and 9 (representation at general meetings) each sublocal must be approved by resolution of the Executive Committee of the Federation. For the purpose of By-law 6 (representation at the Representative Assembly), a sublocal approved by resolution of the Executive Committee of the Federation shall be considered a local. 3.4 If two or more school districts amalgamate, the locals in those districts shall be supported by the BCTF as the locals determine the governance structures that best meet the needs of their members. 3.5 No person shall be a member of a local who is not a member of the Federation. 3.6 All active members of the Federation, employed in the British Columbia public school system, shall be members of the local or, if appropriate, locals organized in the school district by which they are employed. Where more than one local exists in any school district, membership in the appropriate local or locals shall depend on the duties assigned by the employing school district. (10 AGM, p. 3) 3.7 Active members working in more than one local shall choose the local in which they shall be permitted to vote and hold office. (10 AGM, p. 3) 3.8 Only active members shall be entitled to vote or to hold office in locals. By-law No. 4 Fees and Levies 4.1 Each active, affiliate and associate member of the Federation shall pay an annual fee. The annual fee shall consist of: a. an amount set by the Annual General Meeting of the Federation, payable to the Federation; b. for those members who are members of locals, an amount set by a general meeting of each local, payable to the local. 4.2 The membership year for active members shall be from July 1 and shall end on June 30 next following. For active members, the fee is due and payable in installments at the end of each month, proportionate to the period of employment of the member during the membership year. Active members shall execute authorizations for payroll deduction of fees and levies. Active members are deemed to be in good standing upon execution of the said authorization. For associate members, the membership year shall be the 12 months following the date of application for associate membership accompanied by payment of fees at the rate currently in force, except for associate members who are uncertificated teacher replacements, in which case the membership year and method of payment of fees and levies shall be the same as for active members. 4.3 For expenses in connection with the obtaining of the objectives of the Federation, any general meeting may make a levy upon the active membership of the Federation. In the event that the Collective Bargaining Defence Fund, established by the Federation, has a balance of less than $5,000,000.00, the Representative Assembly may make a levy upon the active membership of the Federation of an amount necessary to immediately restore the balance in that fund to the sum of $5,000, Any levy made on the membership pursuant to this by-law shall be paid by each active member on or before a date to be determined by the general meeting or Executive Committee, and any member who fails to comply with this requirement shall not be in good standing until such levy is paid. Notwithstanding anything contained in these by-laws, no levy on the membership of the Federation shall be made for the purpose of financing political parties and/or election campaigns of political parties. 4.4 The membership fee established by a local includes, and shall be deemed in all cases to include, the fees and levies of the Federation. The annual fee and any levy of the Federation or any levy of a local of the Federation are debts due to the Federation or the local, as the case may be, and may be collected with costs of suit in the name of the Federation or the local, as the case may be, in any court of appropriate jurisdiction. By-law No. 5 Executive Committee 5.1.a There shall be an Executive Committee, which shall consist of a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, an Immediate Past President and seven members-at-large. They shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and shall take office on July 1 next following. Each member of the Executive Committee shall be a member in good standing entitled to vote. An Executive Committee member may be removed from office under the provisions of By-law 1.7 or By-law b Notwithstanding the foregoing, each member-at-large shall be elected for a term of two years. If for any reason a member-atlarge leaves the position after only one year, a successor shall be elected to fill the unexpired portion of the two-year term. 5.1.c In the event that a president shall be elected to an additional year of office, the Executive Committee position of immediate past-president shall be vacated and an additional member-at-large shall be elected for a one-year term. 5.1.d All members of the Executive Committee shall be eligible for re-election. 5.2 The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the president. The president shall call a meeting of the Executive Committee on demand of a majority of its members. 5.3 Subject to By-laws 6, 8, 9, and 14, the Executive Committee shall exercise all the powers of the Federation, the direction and supervision of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Federation. 5.4 a. All nominations for positions on the Executive Committee shall be in writing. The nomination shall be by resolution of a general meeting of a local, or shall bear the signatures of at least 10 active members of the Federation in good standing, and shall include the acceptance of the nominee. A person who has been nominated for a position may withdraw from nomination for that position at any time by notice in writing. b. The Representative Assembly shall appoint a Nominating Committee, whose duty it shall be to ensure that at least one nomination is received for each position on the Executive Committee that will become vacant at the next Annual General Meeting. c. All nominations shall be delivered to the chairperson of the Nominating Committee, in person or through the offices of the Federation. d. Nominations may be officially received up to January 31, or the close of proceedings of the winter Representative Assembly, whichever is later. If January 31 falls on a Sunday, nominations must be received by close of business on the next business day. No further nominations may be officially received until the opening of the Annual General Meeting. e. Information with respect to candidates, in accordance with procedures established therefore by the Representative Assembly, shall be published in respect of all persons standing in nomination as of the close of further nominations in sub-paragraph (d). Such publication shall accompany the Notice of Meeting provided for in By- 12

19 law 8.1, or the notice to members of Special Resolutions. f. At the Annual General Meeting, nominations may be delivered to the chairperson of the Nominating Committee and announced to the meeting in accordance with the Standing Rules of Order of the Annual General Meeting. At the Annual General Meeting, a withdrawal from candidacy is effective if stated by the person nominated to the assembly at any session. 5.5 If any member of the Executive Committee shall resign from office, or without reasonable excuse be absent from three consecutive meetings of the Executive Committee, or be suspended or expelled from the Federation, the Executive Committee shall declare the office vacated. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the Executive Committee, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the Representative Assembly until June 30 next following the next Annual General Meeting. If the term of office of the member creating the vacancy would expire on June 30 following and the vacancy arises after the Annual General Meeting has adjourned, no appointment shall be made to fill the unexpired term of office. 5.6 The Executive Committee may appoint advisory committees and create sections or departments to carry on the activities necessary for the attainment of the objects of the Federation. The powers and duties of advisory committees, sections or departments shall be such as may from time to time be prescribed or approved by the Executive Committee. No action shall be taken by any advisory committee, section or department without the authorization of the Executive Committee. 5.7 The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint, fix the remuneration of, and dismiss the executive director. The executive director shall be responsible to, and take direction from, the Executive Committee. In consultation with the president, the executive director shall carry out the duties assigned to him/her; and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the executive director shall assign the duties and direct the activities of all employees of the Federation; shall have charge of the archives of the Federation; shall designate as confidential and preserve the confidentiality of files containing information about individual members; shall cause to have prepared and preserved a record of all meetings of the Federation, the Executive Committee, and the Representative Assembly. 5.8 The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint, dismiss, and subject to the terms of any applicable contract or collective agreement, set the remuneration and working conditions of all employees engaged to perform the duties of the Federation including employees within administrative, support, and excluded staff of the Federation. (15 AGM, p. 3) For purposes of this by-law, the Executive Committee may determine by resolution whether any employee is within the administrative staff, support staff, or excluded staff of the Federation. The Executive Committee may, by resolution, delegate to the Executive Director the power to appoint, dismiss, and subject to the terms of any applicable contract or collective agreement, set the remuneration and working conditions of employees engaged to perform the duties of the support staff of the Federation, or specified classes thereof, provided always that the exercise of such delegated power by the Executive Director shall be reviewed by the Executive Committee. (15 AGM, pp. 3 4) The Executive Committee may, by resolution, delegate to the executive director the power to appoint, dismiss and, subject to the terms of any applicable contract or collective agreement, fix the remuneration and working conditions of employees engaged to perform the duties of the support staff of the Federation, or specified classes thereof, provided always that the exercise of such delegated power by the executive director shall be reviewed by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is empowered to enter into contracts in respect of remuneration and conditions of employment with excluded staff, as well as with groups representing employees of the Federation, and for this purpose is empowered to enter into individual collective agreements with trade unions duly certified to represent such employees pursuant to provincial labour statute. (AGM 15, p. 4) 5.9 The Executive Committee shall nominate one or more Canadian chartered banks, or any branch or branches thereof, and/or a credit union incorporated under the Credit Union Act to be the bankers of the Federation, and shall from time to time by resolution designate signing officers for banking purposes, who shall include the treasurer or, in his/her absence, a person designated by the Executive Committee and at least one of: the president and vicepresidents The Executive Committee may appoint external investment managers to invest and re-invest any monies of the Federation The treasurer, or, in his/her absence, a person designated by the Executive Committee, and at least one of the president and vice-presidents jointly are authorized and empowered on behalf of the Federation to invest and re-invest any monies of the Federation not invested in accordance with By-law 5.10, except that the treasurer alone, or, in his/her absence, a person designated by the Executive Committee, is empowered to invest and re-invest any surplus operating funds of the Federation All investments shall be in accordance with policies and investment objectives approved by the Executive Committee. Investments shall be in securities in which trustees are authorized by law to invest. (12 AGM p. 10) 5.14.a. Provincial Specialist Associations: The Executive Committee may give approval at any time to the organization, within the Federation, of provincial associations of persons with special educational interest, provided that no clause of the constitution and by-laws of any such specialist association conflicts with the constitution and by-laws of the Federation and provided that membership in any such specialist association be voluntary and open to any member of the Federation b. Except as expressly provided in By-law 5.14(c), a Provincial Specialist Association shall not operate or maintain a bank account nor invest funds in any form of investments whatsoever. All funds received by a Provincial Specialist Association, except those received as a result of a conference sponsored by the Provincial Specialist Association, shall be placed on deposit with the Federation c. The president of a Provincial Specialist Association approved by the Federation in accordance with By-law 5.14(a) may nominate and appoint a branch of a Canadian chartered bank or a branch of a credit union, incorporated under the Credit Union Act of British Columbia, to be the banker of the Provincial Specialist Association for the sole purpose of operating a conference bank account. Such a conference bank account shall be operated in accordance with the policies and procedures approved by the Executive Committee of the Federation The Executive Committee shall have prepared and shall adopt annually for the W.R. Long Memorial International Solidarity Fund a statement of anticipated revenues, expenditures and fund balance for the forthcoming year. Expenditures in excess of the budget so adopted shall only be made by a resolution assented to by a majority of at least two-thirds of the Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall have prepared and shall adopt annually for the Salary Indemnity Fund a statement of anticipated revenues and expenditures, and a statement of proposed capital expenditure. No expenditures in excess of the budget so adopted shall be made except in accordance with By-law 5.17 except for those expenditures made with respect to member claims against the fund When a budget has been established in accordance with By-law 6.10, the Executive Committee may authorize expenditure in excess of the program or capital budget only by a resolution assented to by a majority of at least two-thirds of the Executive Committee Borrowing Powers: The Executive Committee shall have power to borrow from any person or persons any sum or sums of money and for that purpose shall be entitled to charge the assets of the Federation by way of mortgage, lien, debenture, or otherwise, provided that such power shall not be exercised except if it be assented to by at least two-thirds of the Executive Committee. (15 AGM, p. 4) (16 AGM, p. 4) 5.19 The Executive Committee shall be empowered to grant legal aid to any member. The Executive Committee may by policy delegate to General Counsel or a specified member of the administrative staff the power, subject to review by the Executive 13