The Union for the Information Age
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The Union for the Information Age |
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COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICACWA LOCAL 7800, AFL-CIO, CLC Bellingham / Port Angeles / SeattleRevised 9/13/05
CWA
LOCAL 7800 By Laws TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
This Local shall be known as Local 7800, Communications Workers of America. ARTICLE II
JURISDICTION Jurisdiction of the Local shall be the jurisdiction assigned by the Union and appearing on the face of the Local Charter. ARTICLE
III
OBJECT The object of Local 7800 shall be to represent and serve the workers within its jurisdiction in accordance with the By-Laws, Rules of the Local and the Constitution and policies of the Union.
ARTICLE IV The structure of the Local shall consist of the
following: 1. The Membership 2. The Executive Board: A. President B. Executive Vice President C. Secretary/Treasurer D. 1 Vice President E. 1 Area Vice President from Bellingham or Port Angeles 1 Seattle Area Vice-President for each 350 members and agency fee payers. [Number of members and Agency fee payers to be determined by the Secretary-Treasurer during the month of September which precedes the October nominations for Officers]. 3. Committees 4. Area Representatives 5. Stewards ARTICLE V
MEMBERSHIP Section 1
ELIGIBILITY. Any person eligible to membership in the Communications Workers of America, as defined in Article V of its Constitution, shall be eligible for membership in this Local if performing work within the Local's assigned jurisdiction, or if employed on a part-time or full-time basis by the Union. Section 2
APPLICATION. Membership in the Local shall be obtained after payment of the Local initiation fee of $2.00 and upon approval of the Membership Committee authorized to accept or reject membership on behalf of the Local, subject to the right to overrule the decision of the Membership Committee by the membership. Section 3
TRANSFERS. The transfer of membership from this Local to the jurisdiction of another Local, and from another Local to the jurisdiction of this Local shall be made in accordance with Article V of the Union Constitution. ARTICLE VI
FINANCES Section 1
LOCAL MEMBERSHIP DUES. Each member of the Local shall pay monthly minimum membership dues to the Union in an amount established by the Union Convention. Membership dues may be changed only by a majority of those [Article
VI, Continued from Page 3] voting on the question by secret U.S. Mail ballot referendum. Ballots shall be counted by the Election Committee. Observers may be present. Section 2
LOCAL SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS. The membership of this Local may levy a special assessment only in the same manner as provided for changing local dues. However, any special assessments levied shall not exceed one (1) dollar per fiscal year per member. Section 3
FINANCES FOR THE OPERATION OF THIS LOCAL SHALL BE OBTAINED AS
FOLLOWS: A. Local dues. B. By contribution from a contingency fund established by the Local and financed in such a manner as the membership of the Local may determine. Section 4
OBLIGATIONS. No obligation over $25.00 shall be incurred, with the exception of fixed expense without the approval of the majority of the Executive Board. Section 5
RESERVE FUND. The Secretary/Treasurer shall retain not less than five (5%) percent of the income of the Local in a reserve fund. No expenditures may be made from the reserve fund without the approval of three-fourths (3/4) of the full membership of the Executive Board. Section 6
LOST WAGE & EXPENSE. A. Members shall be reimbursed for lost (work) time at a rate comparable to top pay of Wage Scale 1 in the U S West Bargaining Unit. Those members whose rate of pay is greater than U S West Wage Scale 1 shall be reimbursed for their actual lost time wages. B. The Local shall pay no overtime rate for members on lost time. C. Members shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred and approved while acting on Local Union business. D. All vouchers shall be approved in a manner established by the Local Executive Board. Section 7
SALARIES/ALLOWANCES/BENEFITS. A. FULL-TIME OFFICERS: An agreement approved by the membership shall be drawn up by the Local's attorney for the President, Executive Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer and any other full-time officer positions established by the membership. This agreement will set the salary, vacation and benefits that will be continued through the term of office, based on the following provisions: 1. The President's salary shall be computed at top pay of Wage Scale 1 in the U S West Bargaining Unit, plus $700 per month. 2. The Executive Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer's salary shall be computed at top pay of Wage Scale 1 in the U S West Bargaining Unit, plus $600 per month. 3. The salary for a member holding a full-time position, whose Bargaining Unit wage rate is greater than top pay of Wage Scale 1 in the U S West Bargaining Unit, shall be computed at the higher rate of pay, plus $700 (President) per month or $600 (Executive Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer) per month. 4. If the full-time officer IS NOT REQUIRED to initiate a Union Leave of Absence, Local 7800 shall pay the difference between gross wages paid by the Bargaining Unit Employer and the established salary level for the full-time position, including vacation, personal paid time, holidays and sick time. 5. If the full-time officer IS REQUIRED to initiate a Union Leave of Absence, vacation and benefits shall be equal to those of the Bargaining Unit from which the officer is on leave. [Article
VI, Section 7, Continued from Page 4] 6. The agreement shall be signed by newly elected full-time officers immediately after being sworn into office, or after the creation of a full-time position by the membership. The agreement may be amended by MUTUAL CONSENT of the full-time officers and membership. B. PART-TIME OFFICERS/AREA REPRESENTATIVES/STEWARDS. Part-Time Officers, Area Representatives and Stewards shall be paid a monthly allowance based on the following provisions: 1. Vice Presidents shall receive a $300 allowance. 2. Area Vice-Presidents shall receive a $200 allowance. 3. Vice Presidents and Area Vice-Presidents shall be paid their allowances only if they attend Executive Board and Membership meetings, unless excused by the President in advance. 4. Vice Presidents or Area Vice-Presidents who are absent from Executive Board and Membership meetings in excess of two (2) consecutive months shall not receive an allowance unless approval is obtained through a vote taken at a Membership meeting. The Vice President or Area Vice- President must state their reasons for being absent from required meetings. 5. Area Representatives shall receive a $50 allowance if they attend scheduled Area and Membership meetings. 6. Stewards shall receive a $25 allowance if they attend scheduled Stewards’ and Membership meetings. 7. Area Representatives and Stewards shall receive a $15 allowance if attending only scheduled Area meetings or Stewards’ meetings and not Membership meetings. ARTICLE
VII
GOVERNING AUTHORITY Section 1
MEMBERSHIP. The affairs of the Local shall be governed by its membership in accordance with the Constitution and policies of the Union in the following manner: A. By the CWA Constitution, action of the membership at CWA Conventions and the National Executive Board. B. Through action taken in Membership meetings and by referendum of the membership. C. By actions and decisions of the Executive Board between Membership meetings. D. By actions and decisions of the Local President between Executive Board and Membership meetings, such action to be in compliance with the Union Constitution and policies, these By-Laws, and rules and decisions of the Union, Local and/or its Executive Board. E. The actions and decisions of the Executive Board, Officers, and President of the Local between Local meetings may be overruled by the membership in a Local meeting or by referendum. ARTICLE
VIII
LOCAL MEETINGS A. Regular meetings of this Local shall be held on the second Tuesday of each month. The Local Executive Board may, by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote, change the date of a regular meeting, providing that such change is advertised to the membership seven (7) days or more in advance of the new meeting date; or, in the event the changed meeting date follows the regular meeting, then such change shall be advertised to the membership at least seven (7) days in advance of the regular meeting date. Special meetings may be called by the Local President, by a majority vote of the Local Officers or by a [Article
VIII, Continued from Page 5] petition, signed by twenty (20%) percent of its members. Upon receipt of a proper petition, the Local Officers shall call a special meeting to be held within ten (10) days. B. Expenses involved in holding meetings described in (A) above shall be paid by the Local provided prior approval has been given by the Local President or Local Executive Board. C. Notice of any special meeting shall be posted on Union bulletin boards at least five (5) days in advance of the meeting and notice of such special meeting shall be forwarded to each member of the Local by U.S. Mail at least five (5) days prior to such meeting, except this rule may be waived under special circumstances when such posting may be considered inadvisable by a three-fourths (3/4) majority of the Executive Board. In lieu of such posting, verbal notice shall be served on all members as early and completely as possible. The notice shall contain a statement of the purpose of the special meeting. D. Each member shall have advance notice of the nature of all new business to be presented at the regular monthly meeting, when such business affects the entire membership of this Local: 1. Notification shall be by U.S. Mail, postmarked not later than five (5) days preceding the next meeting. 2. The provisions of this section shall not pertain to business conducted at special meetings. ARTICLE
IX Section 1
CWA CONVENTION DELEGATES. A. The Local membership shall, in accordance with the Union Constitution, determine the number of delegates to represent the Local. B. The ballot for the election of President, Executive Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President and Area Vice-Presidents shall specify the vote cast shall be for the specific office and for the same person to be a delegate to any general or special CWA Convention held during the term of office. C. If the Local membership decides to send less than the authorized number of delegates, they shall be sent in the following order of priority: 1. President 2. Executive Vice President 3. Secretary/Treasurer 4. Vice President (Rotational) 5. Area Vice-Presidents (Rotational) D. The Local President shall be the chairperson of the delegation. E. Officers who are CWA Convention Delegates shall submit a report to the membership within sixty (60) days of the end of the Convention. F. In the event a vacancy is filled with an appointment approved by the membership, the appointee shall carry the Officer title only. Only elected delegates are eligible to attend the CWA National Convention. Section 2
COUNCIL DELEGATES. A. The Local shall be represented at all AFL-CIO and CWA Labor Councils required by the CWA Constitution or approved by the Local membership. The Local President and authorized delegates as provided for in the By-Laws or Constitution of those labor bodies shall represent the Local. Unless provided for in the By-Laws or Constitution of the labor bodies, delegates other than the Local President shall be elected for two (2) years. [Article
IX, Continued from Page 6] B. Council delegates, other than the Local President, shall be nominated and elected in the following manner: If the Local is to be represented by more than one (1) delegate, the candidates will be nominated and elected at large at a Membership meeting. Section 3
ASSIGNING VOTES AND CERTIFYING DELEGATES. A. The Secretary/Treasurer of the Local shall assign an equal number of votes to each council, or convention delegate with the odd votes being assigned to the Local President. B. It shall be the duty of the Local Secretary/Treasurer to certify Local delegates to Union Conventions and Councils to the Secretary/Treasurer of the Union and/or appropriate Officer of the Council within time limits specified in the Union Constitution or Council rules.
ARTICLE
X Section 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS. A. The Local shall have the following regular committees: 1. Membership 2. Legislative 3. Organizing 4. Election 5. Education 6. Budget 7. Community Services 8. Building 9. Equity 10. Safety B. Members of all Committees shall be appointed by the Local President subject to the approval of the Executive Board and subject to the right of the Local membership to overrule such appointments. C. Vacancies on Committees shall be filled in the same manner as originally filled. D. A member of any Local Committee may be removed by a majority vote of the Local Executive Board, subject to the right of the membership to overrule the action of the Executive Board. A Committee member may also be removed by action of the Local in a Membership meeting. Section 2 - DUTIES OF COMMITTEES A. The Membership Committee shall accept or reject membership applications in accordance with By-Laws, Rules of this Local, Article V of the CWA Constitution and policies of the Union. B. The Legislative Committee shall assist in developing and pursuing the program of the Union and the Local in the legislative field. It shall be responsible for the Locals program to register each qualified voter. C. The Organizing Committee shall assist the Local Officers and Stewards in organizing all non-union employees within the Local's jurisdiction. D. The Election Committee shall conduct all nominations and elections and referenda of this Local. E. The Education Committee shall assist in developing the Local's education program and with the Local Officers, be responsible for effectuating the Union's and Local's educational program. F. The Budget Committee shall: [Article X,
Section 2, Continued from Page 7] 1. Prepare a budget. 2. Review the yearly audit. 3. Meet quarterly to implement the budget. G. The Community Services Committee shall assist in developing all community services programs. H. The Building Committee shall be composed of the Local Executive Officers. The Building Committee shall manage and control any and all real estate, which the Local may acquire for use as a Local Headquarters or for the furtherance of any legitimate object of the Local. No real estate or financial obligations regarding Local Headquarters and objects of the Local shall be modified or made by the Building Committee without the approval of the Executive Board and Membership. I. The Committee on Equity shall receive and investigate all complaints of inequitable treatment or discrimination within Local 7800 or within a company that is represented by Local 7800. J. The Safety Committee shall assist in developing active programs and policies concerning the occupational safety and health of the members. ARTICLE XI The order of business at a Local meeting shall be as follows: 1. Call to Order 2. Reading and Action on Minutes of Previous Meetings 3. Report of Officers 4. Report of Committees 5. Unfinished Business 6. New Business 7. Adjournment Meetings of this Local shall be adjourned not later than 10:00PM. The order of business may be suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present.
ARTICLE
XII Section 1
LOCAL OFFICERS. A. President B. Executive Vice President C. Secretary/Treasurer D. 1 Vice President E. Area Vice-Presidents Section 2
DUTIES OF THE LOCAL PRESIDENT. A. Preside at all Local meetings, preserve order, and enforce the rules thereof. B. Authorize all time off, in writing, for approved Local Union activities. C. Call special meetings of the Local, including Membership, Executive Board, Officers, Area Representatives, Stewards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
