Community College of Allegheny County American Federation of Teachers Local Jones Hall 808 Ridge Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Transcription

1 Community College of Allegheny County American Federation of Teachers Local Jones Hall 808 Ridge Avenue Pittsburgh, PA

2 AFT LOCAL 2067 CONSTITUTION ARTICLE I. ARTICLE II. ARTICLE III. NAME This organization shall be known as the Community College of Allegheny County Federation of Teachers, Local Number 2067, American Federation of Teachers. OBJECTIVES To advance the professional and economic interests of community college educators and other employees who are eligible for membership in the organization. To improve instruction in the community college and to advance educational effectiveness throughout the community. To bring members of the Community College of Allegheny County bargaining unit(s) into relationships of mutual assistance and cooperation. MEMBERSHIP All full-time faculty members, counselors, librarians, and instructional and laboratory aides, specialists, and/or technicians are eligible for membership. No discrimination shall ever be shown toward individual members or applicants for membership because of age, race, creed, religion, color, sex, handicap/disability, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, or political activities or beliefs. Associate membership without the right to vote or hold office shall be open to those eligible for membership under ARTICLE III, Section 3 of the CONSTITUTION, who have retired or withdrawn from the profession, unless they are ineligible for membership under ARTICLE III, Section 3 of the CONSTITUTION. Such associate membership shall also be open to the professional categories designated by ARTICLE III, Section 1 of the CONSTITUTION, for people in public or private institutions outside the jurisdiction of the Local, and where there is no American Federation of Teachers Local within their jurisdiction. All regular part-time Employees who are members of the bargaining unit shall be eligible for membership in the Federation. 2

3 Associate membership without the right to vote or hold office shall be open to those eligible for membership under ARTICLE III of the CONSTITUTION, who have retired or withdrawn from the profession. All full-time teaching faculty (including temporary appointments of one (1) academic year s duration), counselors, librarians, athletic coaches, lecturers with one (1) year contracts, audio-visual specialists, division faculty advisors, division chairmen, department heads, laboratory technicians, audio-visual technicians and library technicians, and excluding personnel with the rank of Administrator or above are eligible for membership. Members who assume the rank of Director or above shall lose their membership automatically on the effective date of their appointment. Adjunct faculty, as covered in Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board Certificate #PERA-R W (PERA-R-95-@), and any amendments or revisions to it, are eligible for membership in the federation. Applicants for membership in this Federation whose employment status is not clearly defined under the provisions of the CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS may be elected to membership by a majority of the votes cast by the members of this Federation. A member in good standing is one who is currently paying dues. All regular part-time Employees who are members of the union shall be entitled to one (1) vote in contract ratification and in election for Federation Officers. Any member whose dues are in arrears more than four (4) months may, by decision of the Executive Committee, be dropped from the rolls and their names from the records of the National Office. ARTICLE IV. Section 2 ANNUAL DUES Effective May 1, 1983, the dues of this local shall be one (1%) percent of the base pay of members of the bargaining unit. All members should meet this obligation by signing a dues check-off card. For members not enrolled in the dues check-off plan, the annual 3

4 dues are due and payable in full upon application for membership, or, in the case of continuing members, by the end of the first month of his/her annual membership. In terms of a year commencing with the opening of the school s fall term, payment should be made by the end of September. Members not enrolled in the dues check-off plan who cannot make annual payment as stipulated in Section 3 of this ARTICLE shall make an initial payment of at least $15.00 upon application for membership or within the first month of each annual membership. The balance of the annual dues shall be paid within five (5) months of the initial payment or such schedule as may be arranged with the Federation Treasurer through the member s Campus Vice- President. ARTICLE V. Special problems which render an individual member unable to meet the payment schedules specified herein may be appealed to the Executive Committee, which body shall have the power to arrange variations in the payment schedule. In all such appeals, the first recourse will always be dues check-off. OFFICERS The following officers shall be elected every two (2) years by the Federation membership: (1) President, elected by the full membership (2) Full-Time Campus Vice-Presidents: Two (2) on each campus, elected by the full-time membership on each campus. They are to have staggered two (2) year terms, so that one will be elected each year on each campus. (3) Adjunct Campus Vice-Presidents. One (1) on each campus, elected by the adjunct membership on each campus. To establish a staggered election process, two (2) of these positions will be elected to one year terms in the 2016 election, with election to two (2) year terms to follow in all subsequent elections. The other two (2) positions will be elected to two (2) year positions in the 2016 and all subsequent elections. (4) One Grievance Vice President, elected by the full membership, whose primary responsibility is grievances. (5) Treasurer. At the conclusion of the Secretary s term, this position will be renamed Secretary/Treasurer. This position is elected by the full membership. ((6) Secretary. At the conclusion of the term, this position will be dissolved into the Secretary/Treasurer position. 4

5 Membership in good standing is required to hold office. Only fulltime members are eligible to hold the positions of President, Full- Time Campus Vice President, Grievance Vice President, and Treasurer/Secretary. Only adjunct members are eligible to hold the position of Adjunct Campus Vice President. Nominations for office shall be made at the regular Fall General Meeting. Notice of elections shall be provided to each member fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting at which nominations are to be received. Nominations shall be accompanied by petitions containing at least ten (10) signatures of members in good standing. Ballots shall be prepared by the Election Committee and sent via U.S. Mail to the current address on file of each member. It shall be the responsibility of each member to alert the Federation Office of any change of address. The Federation Office shall not be held responsible for any ballots returned due to incorrect address. Ballots sent to members shall be postmarked within fifteen (15) days following the nomination meeting. Completed ballots returned by U.S. Mail must be postmarked within fifteen (15) days of the original postmark. Ballots will be counted by the last day of the Fall semester. The candidate for each office receiving a plurality of the votes for that office shall be declared elected. In the case of a tie, one (1) run-off election shall be held. In the case of a second tie, the results will be determined by lot. No election will be held for an office where the candidate is running unopposed. Section 5. DUTIES OF OFFICERS a) The duties of the President shall be: (1) Preside at all meetings of the Federation and of the Executive Committee, (2) He/she shall be an ex officio member of all committees, except the Audit Committee, (3) Sign all necessary papers and documents, (4) Represent the Federation when and where necessary, (5) To make a report to the membership at least once a year of the accomplishments of the Federation and outline the plans for the future. b) The duties of the Campus Vice-President(s) shall be: (1) Coordinate all activities of the Federation on their Campus or Work Site, (2) Bring matters of concern from their Campuses or 5

6 Work Sites to the attention of the Executive Committee, (3) Assist the President in the execution of his/her duties on their Campuses or Work Sites. c) The duties of the Secretary shall be: (1) Issue all notices, (2) Answer correspondence at the direction of the President, (3) Report outside correspondence to the President and the Executive Committee, (4) Record the Minutes of the Executive Committee and of the membership meetings, (5) To keep Minutes of the meetings available to membership upon request, (6) To help prepare the AFT Newsletter in cooperation with the AFT Administrative Assistant, (7) To be the custodian of the seal and the charter of the Federation. At the conclusion of the Secretary s term, this position will be eliminated and the duties combined into the Secretary/Treasurer. d) The duties of the Treasurer shall be: (1) To receive, record, and deposit in the name of the Federation monies from dues and other sources. (2) To keep the membership roll, and issue receipts and delinquent notices. (3) To forward all per capita dues and current membership lists to the National Office of the American Federation of Teachers and to other affiliated organizations in order to keep this Federation in good standing. (4) To be the chairperson of the Budget Committee. (5) To present a budget to the Executive Committee for approval. (6) To present a written report at each membership meeting. (7) To keep adequate records available at all times for the Executive Committee and the Audit Committee. (8) To make all payments for obligations of the Local and to maintain proper records thereof. At the conclusion of the Secretary s term, the following duties will be added to the Secretary/Treasurer s position: (9) To record the Minutes of the Executive Committee and membership meetings. (10) To be the custodian of the seal and the charter of the Federation. e) The duties of the Grievance Vice President shall be: (1) Coordinate and participate in system grievances with the Campus Vice Presidents, (2) Coordinate and participate in Step IV. Grievances with the College, (3) Coordinate and participate in Arbitration and other litigation matters, (4) Assist the Federation President and inform him/her of grievances and grievance related matters. f) A duty of all officers is to attend all meetings of the Executive Board and General Membership meetings unless excused by the President. Every effort shall be made to hold meetings at a time convenient to Committee members, and Committee members should make a reciprocal effort to arrange work schedules for such meetings. 6

7 g) Any AFT officer, or member of the AFT Negotiations Committee/Team who applies for an Administrative Position with the College shall temporarily recuse herself/himself from serving on the AFT Executive Committee, or AFT Negotiations Committee/Team until the search is completed. Section 6. COMPENSATION a) The President shall receive, in lieu of accepting no more than one (1) overage per calendar year, each month a stipend in the amount equal to one-twelfth (1/12) of the equivalent of five (5) three-credit overages. b) The Secretary shall receive a monthly stipend payment equivalent to one-twelfth (1/12) of a three (3) credit overage per year. This position will be eliminated at the end of the term. c) The Treasurer or Secretary/Treasurer shall receive a monthly stipend payment equivalent to one-twelfth (1/12) of a six (6) credit overage per year. Additionally, the Treasurer shall receive an hourly compensation according to the per diem rate for required audit work d) The Grievance Vice President shall receive a monthly stipend payment equivalent to one-twelfth (1/12) of a three (3) credit overage per year. Federation Officers shall receive compensation for work performed from June through August on an hourly based per-diem for official union work, to the equivalent of one (1) credit exclusive of Executive Board meetings. ARTICLE VI. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The Executive Committee of this Federation shall consist of all elected officers. The Executive Committee shall administer the policy of this Federation as set by the membership at general and special meetings. It shall have the power to act for the good of the Federation in emergency situations when the policy cannot be set by the membership. The President of the Federation shall be the Chairperson of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall meet regularly during the academic year or upon the request of the President. The Executive Committee 7

8 Section 5. Section 6. Section 7. Section 8. Section 9. Section 10. Section 11. shall be notified seven days in advance of meetings. A written agenda shall be distributed before each meeting. The Executive Committee shall have the power to employ all personnel, including an Administrative Assistant, clerical help, and other persons on a full- or part time basis as may be determined by the needs and finances of the Federation. The Executive Committee shall have the power to make contract(s) and incur liabilities which may be appropriate to enable it to accomplish any or all of its purposes; to borrow money for Federation purposes at such rates of interest and on such terms and conditions as they (the Committee) may determine appropriate; to issue bonds, notes and other obligations; to secure any of its obligations by mortgages, pledges, or deeds of trust on all or any of its property and/or income. The Executive Committee shall report its activities at each membership meeting. The Executive Committee shall prepare agenda for all membership meetings. The Executive Committee shall establish such additional committees as may from time to time be deemed necessary to carry on the business of this Federation. Duties of such committees shall be specified by the Executive Committee at the time the other committees are established. The Executive Committee shall assume such other responsibilities as may be specified in the By-Laws. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for filling vacancies which occur during the terms of elected officers, delegates and/or representatives, as follows: (1) If less than twelve (12) months prior to the end of the term, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment of the Executive Committee. (2) If twelve (12) months or more remain prior to the end of the term, the vacancy shall be filled by a special election conducted on the appropriate campus or campuses by the Election Committee. Any Federation Officer who takes an administrative position within the college must resign his/her office immediately. ARTICLE VII. SPECIAL COMMITTEES The following standing committees shall be formed as needed: (1) Membership Committee; (2) Publicity Committee; (3) Education Committee; (4) Negotiation Committee; (5) Grievance Committee; (6) Committee on Political Education (COPE). 8

9 Section 5. Members of each committee will serve in equal numbers from each campus in the CCAC system if possible and be elected by the membership on each campus. The chairperson(s) for each of the standing and special committees shall be appointed by the President with the consent of a majority of the elected officers. Committees may not represent the local or access Federation funds without prior approval from the Executive Committee. DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEES All committees shall be responsible for advising the Executive Committee of their progress and also as to ways of strengthening and improving the role and activities of the Federation in their respective areas of responsibilities. a) The Publicity Committee shall prepare and distribute a news bulletin. Every effort shall be made by this committee to make use of other sources of publicity, i.e. newspapers, radio and television. b) The Education Committee shall study and make recommendations for improvements in curricula, class size, instructional equipment, and other professional matters. c) The Committee on Political Education (COPE) shall consider recommendations to these organizations. It shall keep informed of legislation which may affect the Federation and education. It shall initiate recommendations for political activity to the Executive Committee. Each member of the bargaining unit may voluntarily contribute via check off two ($2.00) dollars per month from his/her monthly dues deduction to be used for COPE activities. Said voluntary deduction shall not reflect an increase in dues, but rather an allotment from the current deduction and shall be effective the date the member signs the authorization card for COPE deduction. d) The Budget Committee shall be responsible for implementation of the budget procedures. e) The Audit Committee shall be responsible for implementation of audit procedures. f) The Election Committee will supervise and oversee every aspect of the election of Officers, Delegates and Representatives as outlined in Articles IV and VII. 9

10 g) The Social Committee shall arrange such programs and entertainment as the Executive Committee may authorize. ARTICLE VIII. REMOVAL OF OFFICERS AND DELEGATES Provided the intention to conduct such a vote appears on the agenda, an Officer or Delegate of this Federation may be impeached by a secret ballot conducted at a membership meeting, if the number of votes for impeachment is equal to at least (2/3) of the number of members present at that meeting. Within four (4) weeks of an impeachment vote, the party so impeached shall be accorded a full and impartial hearing by the Executive Committee. From the date of an impeachment, the Officer, Delegate or Representative shall cease to serve in any capacity for the Federation until the issue had been decided. Charges against the impeached person shall be presented to him/her and to the Executive Committee at least five (5) days before the hearing, and such charges shall be in writing. At the Executive Committee s hearing, the person or persons making charges may appear and present any witnesses they deem essential to their position. The impeached person likewise may present and may testify him/herself, may question those bringing the charges against him/her and their witnesses and may present witnesses of his/her own. The Executive Committee shall, upon the conclusion of the hearing, vote by secret ballot to determine their recommendation to the membership as to sustaining or overturning the impeachment. Such recommendation shall be by a majority of the Executive Committee members eligible to vote on this issue. The Executive Committee s recommendation plus a summary of the arguments presented at the hearing shall be prepared and mailed with a ballot to all members in good standing. This secret mail ballot shall be conducted by the Election Committee, and the ballot shall be mailed to the members within ten (10) days of the completion of the Executive Committee s hearing, and the ballots shall be returned within ten (10) days of the mailing. If more than one-half (1/2) of the total membership votes for removal, the officer or delegate shall be removed. The Executive Committee shall be empowered, after careful review, to remove an officer of the Federation after that officer has two unexcused absences from Committee meetings within an academic year. 10

11 ARTICLE IX. CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, RATIFICATION, AND STRIKE AUTHORIZATION THE NEGOTIATION COMMITTEE Individual names for the Negotiation Committee will be submitted at the Spring General Membership Meeting. Each campus will elect not more than three (3) members to serve on the Negotiations Committee, before the end of the Spring Semester. (1) The chairperson of the Negotiation Committee will be elected by a majority of the Committee. (2) The President of the Federation shall be an ex officio member of the Negotiation Committee. (3) All Committee decisions shall be by majority vote. THE NEGOTIATION TEAM The Negotiation Team shall be selected by the Executive Committee from among the members of the Negotiation Committee and its members approved by the membership at the Fall Membership meeting preceding the beginning of negotiations. a) The chairperson of the Negotiation Team shall be selected by the Negotiation Team. b) The President of the Federation shall be an ex officio member of the Negotiation Team. c) All Team decisions shall be by majority vote. d) The Negotiation Team shall keep the Executive Committee and the membership informed of the progress of negotiations on a timely basis. e) No proposal shall be recommended to the membership which fails to have the support of the Executive Committee. f) If circumstances require, the members of the Negotiation Team may be replaced by the Executive Committee. g) The members of the Negotiating Team shall receive up to $495 each month of scheduled meetings, to a cap of $2,475. The amount of $100 will be deducted for each unexcused absence at a scheduled meeting. h) If members miss two (2) meetings, they may be removed from the negotiation team and a replacement shall be designated by the president. 11

12 CONTRACT RATIFICATION AND STRIKE AUTHORIZATION a) Provisions of any proposed contract which is being negotiated with the College shall be submitted to the membership in writing for their ratification or rejection no fewer than 48 hours prior to the vote. Such proposed provisions shall be accompanied by written recommendations of the Executive Committee and the Negotiating Team. b) The voting by the membership on contract proposals shall be by secret ballot, either at a membership meeting or through the mail, and the decision shall be rendered by the majority of the votes cast. c) The questions of authorizing and concluding strikes shall be decided by the membership through a secret balloting at a membership meeting, and the decision shall be rendered by the majority of votes cast. d) Supervision of the voting and counting of ballots for both contract proposals and strikes shall be the responsibility of a committee appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee. Such committee shall consist of six (6) people, with at least one half (1/2) of the committee being people who are neither on the Executive Committee or the Negotiation Committee. ARTICLE X. AFFILIATIONS This Federation shall maintain affiliation with and whenever possible send delegates to the following organizations: a) THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS: All delegates and alternates to the National Convention of the AFT shall be elected by the majority of votes cast by the members at the Spring General Membership meeting. Notice of the election shall be mailed to each member at least fifteen (15) days prior to the election. The President and the Secretary shall certify the election and forward the credentials of all elected delegates and alternates to the National Office as soon as possible but not later than ten (10) days before the convening of the National Convention. b) THE PENNSYLVANIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS: Delegates shall be elected by the majority of the votes cast by the members at the Spring General Membership meeting. c) THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY LABOR COUNCIL: 12

13 Delegates shall be elected by the majority of the votes cast by the members at the Spring General Membership meeting. Section 5. d) THE AFL-CIO: Delegates shall be elected by the majority of votes cast by the members at the membership meeting which is held at least one month prior to the state convention. All delegates shall make reports to the Executive Committee as to their attendance at applicable meetings and the substance and importance of the proceedings. Every reasonable effort shall be made by the Federation to pay the legitimate expenses of delegates to meetings and conventions of affiliated organizations. The Federation shall be active in the affairs of affiliated organizations to be the best of its ability. All delegates and representatives of the Federation shall be members in good standing. ARTICLE XI. EXPENSE When Officers, Delegates and Representative of this Federation are on authorized business for the organization, they shall be compensated for legitimate and directly related expenses. Expenses shall be paid as follows: a. Transportation at the rate allowed for deductions on the Federal income tax by the United States Bureau of Internal Revenue, plus necessary parking fees and tolls; b. Telephone charges directly related to Federation business; c. Lodging and food expenses which are incurred while engaged in Federation business. Such expenses shall be paid in amounts actually incurred. Lodging expenses will be compensated at a fair market rate, subject to the preapproval of the Executive Committee. Food expenses will be compensated at a rate equivalent to the per diem rate used by the College. d. Other legitimate and necessary expenses directly related to the performance of authorized business for the Federation. a) Expense requests shall be submitted as soon as possible after they are incurred and in all cases should be submitted within 13

14 thirty (30) days of the date incurred. b) All expense requests should be submitted on the authorized EXPENSE SHEET. Receipts should be attached for all requested expenses when the Expense Sheet is presented for payment. c) Expense requests in amounts less than $50.00 shall be approved by a Campus Vice President before submittal to the Federation Treasurer, while Expense requests of $50.00 or more shall be approved by the Executive Committee before submitted to the Federation Treasurer. d) Should expenses of a nature not clearly defined in this Article, or more expensive than the rates stipulated in this Article, or of an unusual or uncertain nature be incurred in the direct performance of authorized business of this Federation, such expenses shall be fully documented, explained, and submitted to the Executive Committee for review. e) When such expenses can be foreseen, the Executive Committee should be informed of the situation in advance of incurring such expenses, in addition to securing their authorization prior to payment. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to approve such requests. The President shall receive, in lieu of accepting no more than one (1) overage per calendar year, each month a stipend in the amount equal to one-twelfth (1/12) of the equivalent of five (5) three-credit overages The Secretary shall receive a monthly stipend payment equivalent to one-twelfth (1/12) of a three (3) credit overage per year. The Treasurer shall receive a monthly stipend payment equivalent to one-twelfth (1/12) of a six (6) credit overage payment per year. Additionally, the Treasurer shall receive an hourly compensation according to the per diem rate for required audit work The Grievance Vice President shall receive a monthly stipend payment equivalent to one-twelfth (1/12) of a three (3) credit overage per year. Federation Officers shall receive compensation for work performed from June through August on an hourly based per-diem for official union work, to the equivalent of one (1) credit exclusive of Executive Board meetings. Section 5. 14

15 The members of the Negotiating Committee shall receive up to $ each month of scheduled meetings to a cap of $1,000. The amount of $50 will be deducted for each scheduled meeting missed. Section 6. The members of the Negotiating Team shall receive up to $495 each month of scheduled meetings, to a cap of $2475. The amount of $100 will be deducted for each scheduled meeting missed. ARTICLE XII. FINANCE The dues of this Federation shall be established in the by-laws. Additional finances may be obtained by various fund-raising activities. BUDGET PROCEDURES a) As chairperson of the Budget Committee, the Treasurer shall present a budget to the Executive Committee for approval by the end of July of each year. Such a budget shall be for the twelve (12) month period from July 1 through June 30. b) The Treasurer shall report to the Executive Committee monthly as to the Federation s expenditures against budgetary projections, both in total and by budgetary categories. c) In the event individual budgetary categories and/or the budgetary total are shown by expenditure reports to be in substantial error, the Executive Committee shall direct the Treasurer to reconvene the Budget Committee for the purpose of preparing budget revisions. Such revisions shall be submitted to the Executive Committee by the Treasurer for approval. Any such revisions should be completed within thirty (30) days of the date of the Executive Committee s direction. AUDIT PROCEDURES a) The Audit Committee shall conduct an annual audit of the Federation s fiscal activities and records. b) The Audit Committee s report shall be submitted to the Executive Committee by the end of May, each year. c) After review and acceptance of the Audit report, the Executive Committee shall make the report available to the membership. 15

16 ARTICLE XIII. RULES OF ORDER Robert s Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern in all cases not covered by this Constitution and By-Laws.. ARTICLE XIV. Section 3 MEETINGS There shall be at least two (2) meetings of the General Membership during the academic year, one in the fall and one in the spring. A special General Membership meeting may be called by the President or by a request of ten (10%) percent of the membership. Ten (10%) percent of the membership shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the General Membership. By action of a simple majority of the members in attendance, non-members may be invited to attend and speak at general and special membership meetings. Section 5. Agenda for all membership meetings shall be prepared by the Executive Committee and shall be made available to the membership prior to the meeting. ARTICLE XV. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by the membership or by the Executive Committee. Such proposals from the membership must be submitted to the Executive Committee in written form and must be signed by ten (10%) percent of the membership. Such proposals from the Executive Committee must be signed by ten (10%) percent of the membership. The proposed amendment(s) shall be included in the notice for the membership meeting following its presentation to the Executive Committee. Notice and wording of the proposed amendment(s) shall be distributed to the membership at least fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting. Two-thirds (2/3) of the vote cast at the membership meeting shall be required for adoption. 16

17 ARTICLE XVI. AVAILABILITY OF THE CONSTITUTION Three (3) copies of this Constitution and all future amendments shall be submitted to the National Office of the American Federation of Teachers. Copies of this Constitution shall be made available to other affiliated organizations upon request. Copies of this Constitution and future amendments shall be available to all Federation members. 17