Local 1790 Constitution

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Constitution for Basic Rights Oregon Local 1790

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be Oregon non-profits Local Number 1790 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.

Article II: Affiliations

This local union shall be affiliated with Oregon AFSCME Council 75 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; the Oregon AFL-CIO; and the Northwest Oregon Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Article III: Objectives

The objectives of this LOCAL shall be to carry out, on a LOCAL basis, the objectives of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees as follows:

  1. To promote the organization of workers in general and private non-profit sector employees in particular.
  2. To promote the welfare of the membership and to provide a voice in the determination of the terms and conditions of employment. We are committed to the process of collective bargaining as the most desirable, democratic and effective method to achieve this. Both as UNION members and as citizens, we will employ available legislative and political action.
  3. To promote civil service legislation and career service in non-profit.
  4. To provide research and educational organization services and activities designed to assist members and affiliates.
  5. To foster cooperation among affiliates.
  6. Work together to create an environment in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Article IV: Membership and Dues

Section 1.     All non-supervisory employees of non-profit organizations represented by local 1790 are eligible for membership in this local union and subject to the requirements of the constitution of the International Union.

Section 2.     Application for membership shall be made on a standard application form. Unless such form includes a valid authorization for payroll deduction of dues, the application shall be accompanied by the current month's dues.

Section 3.     The monthly membership dues of the local shall be 1.27% of base wages as defined in the Council 75 Constitution, subject to the minimum and maximum amounts as provided in the Council 75 Constitution.

Section 4.     Membership dues shall be payable monthly in advance to the local secretary- treasurer and in any event shall be paid not later than the 15th day of the month in which they become due. Any member who fails to pay dues by the 15th day of the month in which they become due shall be considered delinquent, and upon failure to pay dues for two successive months shall stand suspended. Provided, however, that any person who is paying dues through a system of regular payroll deduction shall for so long as such person continues to pay through such deduction method, be considered in good standing.

Section 5.     A member suspended under the above section may be reinstated to membership in the local by signing of a membership card or resuming of dues contributions.

Article V: Meetings

Section 1.     Regular meetings of this local shall be held on odd numbered months, at a time and place to be fixed by the membership or the local executive board.

Section 2.     Special meetings may be called by the local president, the local executive board, or by petition filed with the president and signed by 10% of the members of the local. Special meetings may also be called by the International President or by an authorized representative of the International President.

Section 3.     The quorum for meetings of this local shall be 10% of the membership in good standing.

Article VI: Officers, Nominations, and Elections

Section 1.     The officers of this local shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary- treasurer, and a chapter representative from each chapter, and these people shall constitute the local union executive board. In addition, there shall be elected three members who shall serve as trustees. The trustees shall be elected to three-year terms of office, except that in the initial election, one shall be elected for a one-year term, one for a two-year term, and one for a three-year term. All other officers shall be elected for a term of two years.

Section 2.     Nominations shall be made at a regular or special meeting of the local. At least fifteen days' advance notice shall be given the membership prior to the nomination meeting. A nominating committee may be appointed or elected to make nominations, but whether or not such nominating committee is used, nominations shall be permitted from the floor at the nomination meeting. All regular elections shall be held in the month of March.

Section 3.     To be eligible for office, a member must be in good standing for six months immediately preceding the election, except in the initial election held in this local; provided, however, that no retired member shall be a candidate for office. For a member who is transferred or promoted into this local from another AFSCME local, this requirement shall be satisfied if such member's combined membership in good standing in both locals is one year at the time of election.

Section 4.     Officers shall be elected by secret ballot vote, and the balloting shall be so conducted as to afford to all members a reasonable opportunity to vote. At least fifteen days' advance notice shall be given the membership prior to the holding of the election.

Section 5.     All matters concerning nominations and elections in this local union shall be subject to the provisions of Appendix D, entitled Elections Code, of the International Union Constitution.

Section 6.     Vacancies in office shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by vote of the executive board.

Section 7.     Every officer shall, upon assuming office, subscribe to the Obligation of an Officer contained in Appendix B of the International Union Constitution.

Article VII: Duties of Officers and Executive Board

Section 1.     The president shall:

  1. preside at all meetings of the local union and of the executive board.
  2. be a member of all committees except election committees.
  3. countersign all checks drawn against the funds of the local.
  4. appoint all standing committees and all special committees of the local, subject to the approval of the executive board.
  5. report periodically to the membership regarding the progress and standing of the local and regarding the president's official acts.

Section 2.     The vice-president shall:

  1. assist the president in the work of the president's office.
  2. in the absence of the president or in the president's inability to serve, preside at all meetings and perform all duties otherwise performed by the president.
  3. upon approval by the local executive board, be authorized to act as co-signer of checks drawn on the local funds in place of either the president or the secretary-treasurer.

Section 3.     The secretary-treasurer shall:

  1. keep a record of the proceedings of all membership meetings and of all executive board meetings.
  2. carry on the official correspondence of the local, except as the executive board may direct otherwise.
  3. perform such other duties as the executive board may require.
  4. receive and receipt for all monies of the local union.
  5. deposit all money so received in the name of the local union in a bank or banks selected by the executive board, and money so deposited shall be withdrawn only by check signed by the president and the secretary-treasurer.
  6. prepare and sign checks for such purposes as are required by the constitution or are authorized by the membership or the executive board.
  7. prepare and submit the monthly membership report to the International Union office and see that a check is drawn in payment of the local's per capita tax each month and sent to the international Secretary-Treasurer.
  8. keep an accurate record of receipts and disbursements and shall, once each month, submit to the membership a monthly operating statement of the financial transactions of the local for the previous month.
  9. act as custodian of all properties of the local union.
  10. give a surety bond for an amount to be fixed by the executive board of the local union, at the expense of the local union and through the International Union.
  11. see that any financial reports required by the International Union Constitution to be submitted to the International Union are submitted in accordance with the International Union Constitution.

Section 4.     The trustees shall make or cause to be made at least semi-annually an audit of the finances of the local, including the finances concerning any health and welfare, pension, insurance or other benefit programs covering members of such local, and shall report to the membership on the results of such audit.

Section 5.     The executive board shall be the governing body of the local union except when meetings of the local union are in session. All matters affecting the policies, aims and means of accomplishing the purposes of the local not specifically provided for in this constitution or by action of the membership at a regular or special meeting shall be decided by the executive board. The board shall meet at the call of the president or of a majority of the members of the board. A report on all actions taken by the executive board shall be made to the membership at the next following meeting. A majority of the members of the executive board shall be required for a quorum.

Article VIII: Chapters

Section 1.     Each bargaining unit within this LOCAL shall be defined as a CHAPTER. Each member of this LOCAL shall be a member of a Chapter.

Section 2.     Officers of each Chapter shall be the Chapter President, and Chapter Vice President elected in accordance with the provisions of this constitution. At the discretion of a Chapter, a Recording Secretary may be elected or the Chapter President may appoint a Recording Secretary but this is not a required position.

  1. The Chapter President shall:
    1. Preside at all Chapter meetings.
    2. Act in supporting roles to the LOCAL President.
    3. Represent their respective Chapters to the LOCAL in any official matters.
    4. Appoint all Chapter committees.
    5. Be a member of all Chapter committees.
    6. Report periodically to the Chapter membership regarding the progress and standing of the Chapter and regarding the Chapter President's official acts.
  2. The Chapter Vice President(s) shall:
    1. Assist the Chapter President in the work of the Chapter President's office.
    2. In the absence of the Chapter President or the Chapter President's inability to serve, preside at all meetings and perform all duties otherwise performed by the Chapter President.

Section 3.     These officers shall be elected to two-year terms during the month of December. Chapters with even numbers shall elect officers in even number years, and Chapters with odd numbers shall elect officers in odd number years.

Section 4.     Vacancies in Chapter office shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by majority vote of the Chapter.

Section 5.     Regular Chapter meetings shall be held at a time and place fixed by the Chapter membership. Adequate notice shall be given to Chapter members prior to each meeting.

Section 6.     Special Chapter meetings shall be held at the call of the Chapter President, LOCAL President or by petition filed with the Chapter President or LOCAL President and signed by 25% of the Chapter members. Special meetings may also be called by the International President or by an authorized representative of the International President.

Section 7.     Only those members of each Chapter shall vote on matters concerning only the representative Chapters. Each Chapter shall have the sole right to determine the acceptability of bargaining agreements, grievances or any other matter not affecting another Chapter of this LOCAL.

Article IX: Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 1.     This local union shall at all times be subject to the provisions of the constitution of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Section 2.     Except to the extent specified in this constitution, no officer of the local union shall have the power to act as agent for or otherwise bind the local union in any way whatsoever. No member or group of members or other person or persons shall have the power to act on behalf of or otherwise bind the local union except to the extent specifically authorized in writing by the president of the local union or by the executive board of the local union.

Section 3.     The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern this local union in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution and special rules of this local union or of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Article X: Amendments

This constitution may be amended, revised, or otherwise changed by a majority vote of the members voting on such proposed change and such change shall take effect only upon written approval of the International President. Proposed amendments to this constitution must be read at a regular or special meeting of the local union and read and voted on at a subsequent meeting of the local union, adequate and proper notice having been given to the membership prior to the date on which the vote is taken. A written copy of the proposed amendment shall be furnished to every eligible voter at the meeting at which the vote is taken.