COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA

CWA LOCAL 7800, AFL-CIO, CLC

Bellingham / Port Angeles / Seattle

Rules of Procedure

Revised October 12, 2004

CWA LOCAL 7800 RULES OF PROCEDURE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A.     The Rules of Procedure document shall be kept on computer disk for ease of updates, corrections and deletions.

B.      The Rules of Procedure, as adopted and subsequently amended, shall be made available to any member requesting a copy.  All Officers shall be provided a copy upon their election into office.  Each Committee Chair shall be provided a copy by the Local President/Designee.

C.      The Rules of Procedure shall comply with the CWA Constitution and Local 7800 By-Laws.

A.     Any CWA Member in good standing for ten (10) consecutive years shall be eligible to receive a $250 gift payable upon retirement or as a result of layoff (voluntary or involuntary). ORTT membership will be included when determining a member's eligibility for this gift.

B.      Upon notification to the office, Local 7800 will send an appropriate card to any Member in good standing upon the birth of a baby, personal sickness, death of a loved one, etc.

C.      Members must notify a steward or contact the Local office themselves to obtain the Membership Benefits in this section.

A.     The selection process for meetings/conference attendees shall be in compliance with the CWA Constitution and Local 7800 By-Laws.

B.      The ability to send additional members to meetings/conferences will be contingent upon financial resources and budget approval.

1.         The appropriate people will continue to be assigned to attend meetings/conferences prior to additional member selection.

2.         Opportunities for volunteers to attend certain functions may become available if there is a willingness to accept respon­sibility for expenses such as travel, registration fees, lodging, per diem and wages.

C.      A Candidate Review Committee shall consist of two (2) available Executive Officers and three (3) Executive Board Members.

1.         Executive Board Members will be rotated.

2.         Executive Board Members will not be eligible to submit an application for consideration for meetings/conferences if they serve on the Review Committee for the specific function they wish to attend.

D.     Candidate Review Committee responsibilities shall include:

1.         A review of submitted candidate applications to determine qualifications for meeting/conference attendance.

2.         Prioritizing candidates by qualifications.

3.         Consideration of the candidates meeting attendance and known Union values.

4.         Submitting a recommendation to the Local President/ Designee for a final selection decision.  This will also allow for alternatives.

E.      The following criteria shall be used when considering members for selection to attend meetings/conferences:

1.      Active Committee Member/Active Steward/Active Area Representative/Officer/Member

F.      The Local President/Designee during General Membership Meetings shall notify members of upcoming opportunities including a brief description of the meeting/conference.

G.      Interested members shall submit a written application within five (5) days of notification, including a statement of qualifications and reasons they should be considered for selection.

H.     Members selected to attend meetings/conferences shall submit a written report to the Membership within sixty (60) days of the function attended.

A.     No funds will be budgeted without a written budget submitted by each officer or Committee Chair.

B.      With the exception of Area Vice Presidents, all Local Officers are automatic members of the Budget Committee.

C.      The Budget Committee will present a Budget to the Executive Board for approval.  The approved Budget will be presented to the Membership for final approval. 

D.     The Executive Board will review vouchers each month.

Approved Voucher Review Procedures

1.      A minimum of four Area Vice Presidents will review vouchers.

2.      Those vouchers not approved will be investigated within forty-eight (48) hours and if the question is not resolved by telephone contact with the Area Vice Presidents, the voucher will be held for the following Executive Board meeting.

E.      All expenditures must have prior approval through action by the Executive Board, Membership or through the approved Budget.

1.         CWA Local 7800's MasterCard shall be used only for approved expenses in connection with business and travel for the Local.

2.         Anyone using CWA Local 7800's MasterCard will be held personally responsible for unauthorized or unapproved expenses that they have signed for.

F.      Budgets for the Local will be approved annually (Fiscal year October - September), with quarterly reviews.

G.      Payroll will be every other week.

A.     Lost time is defined as scheduled hours lost due to taking union time instead of working for the Company.  In this definition lost time is only for scheduled hours and not counted for other time worked outside of  your scheduled hours of work.  Examples of this are as follows:

1.      A person is scheduled to work 8 o’clock to 5 o’clock during the day and takes union time for two hours during the 8 o’clock to 5 o’clock period and then returns to work and works to 5 o’clock.  This person would be paid 2 hours union time and 6 hours by the company.

2.      A person is scheduled to work 8 o’clock to 5 o’clock during the day and takes union time for two hours during the 8 o’clock to 5 o’clock period and then returns to work and works past the 5 o’clock  time.  This person would be paid 2 hours of union time by the union and six hours of time by the company and the company would also pay for the time worked past 5 o’clock.

3.      When a person is scheduled to work 8 o’clock to 5 o’clock during the day and takes union time for two hours during the 8 o’clock period and then returns to work and works until 5 o’clock and this person is then called to go to work later that day, they would be paid two hours union time and what ever time the company paid.

4.      If a person is being paid to carry a communications devise by the company that pay would not be counted against their union paid time.

B.      Wages for time lost from regularly scheduled work hours on weekends will be paid only if the weekend is part of a normal 40-hour work schedule.  NO OVERTIME, including Sunday time and a half, will be paid.

C.      Per Diem will be paid using the current IRS meal and incidental expense guidelines.

D.     Mileage will be paid using the current IRS reimbursement guidelines.

E.      The Local will pay actual transportation costs by public conveyance not to exceed the cost of coach class air transporta­tion.

F.      An alternative method of travel must be approved by the Secretary/Treasurer prior to departure.

G.      Lost Time Wages will be paid only upon receipt of a fully completed and authorized payroll voucher.  An official employer payroll document  covering the same period of time must be attached to said voucher.

H.     Addendum A outlines the conditions of employment for Local 7800 full-time officers.

I.      Stewards Training will be one paid day and one unpaid day on a Friday/Saturday.  If someone does not attend the Saturday session then they will not be paid for Friday.  Anyone who is scheduled to work on that Saturday will be expected to either trade with a co-worker or wait for a more convenient Stewards Training.

A.     Regular Membership Meetings shall start with a flag salute.

B.      Members are expected to conduct themselves in a lawful and orderly fashion when attending Union functions.

C.      A roll call of Officers shall be included in minutes for Membership Meetings and Executive Board Meetings.

D.     Main motions must be submitted in writing to the Secre­tary/Treasurer after the motion has been made.

E.      An interpreter for the hearing-impaired will be present at regular Membership Meetings provided a request for an interpret­er is made two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.  It shall be the responsibility of the person requesting an interpreter to notify the Local President/Designee if the interpreter is not needed at the meeting as originally requested.

F.      All official meetings of the Local shall be open to any member who wishes to observe.  Exclusions to this rule are:

1.         Equity Committee meetings involving personal discrimina­tion grievance discussions.

2.         Community Services Committee meetings involving confiden­tial issues and discussions.

G.      The Local President shall provide Officers with CWA material relating to parliamentary procedure and provide for instruction on how to use Parliamentary Procedure to ensure the orderly process of business conducted at Executive Board and Membership meetings.

H.     Executive Board Meeting minutes shall be made available at the Membership Meeting immediately following the Executive Board Meeting.  Executive Board Meeting minutes will be approved at the next scheduled Executive Board Meeting.

A.      All committee appointments shall be terminated within thirty (30) days following the expiration of the term of the Local President who appointed them.

B.      A list of all Committees and Committee members shall be kept on file in the Local Office.  The Local President will update and distribute the list to  all Officers as needed.  Each Committee Chair will furnish Committee members a copy of the names of all members of the committee on which they serve.

C.      Committee members will be notified at least three (3) days in advance of the committee meeting.

D.      The Local President shall be notified in advance of committee meetings.  Where practical, the Newsletter staff will also be notified.

B.      Each committee will provide a written quarterly report to the Membership. 

C.      Any member in good standing is eligible and encouraged to participate on committees.

A.     The Local President shall authorize time off in writing, for all Local Union activities and maintain a file of time off letters in the Local office.

B.      The Local President shall manage the Local office and its employees.

C.      The Local President shall also be responsible for the hiring or firing of employees under the following conditions:

1.         Employment criteria and specific job responsibilities (including appropriate OPEIU8 wage scale) shall be established in writing prior to hiring a new employee.

2.         Discipline including suspension and/or dismissal shall be reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee consisting of President, Executive Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer and the two Vice Presidents prior to action being taken.  Information provided for review shall include “Just Cause” Standards. 

3.         CWA employee information is considered Employer/Employee Confidential and shall NOT be disclosed to anyone other than Officers who are involved in the review of circumstances leading up to a recommendation of discipline.  (This does not pertain to the right of OPEIU to obtain employee information as protected by Law.)

D.     Two authorized Officers shall sign all checks disbursed by the Local.

E.      Officers should participate in Civic and Community affairs that further the interests of the general membership.

F.      The Local shall keep a record of all grievances.

G.      It shall be the policy of the Executive Board to hear grievance appeals.  It will be the responsibility of Local Officers to keep grievances timely, Local Officers will notify the grievant in writing.

H.     Arrangements for purchases of supplies and equipment shall be coordinated through and approved by the Secretary/Treasurer.

1.         The Local shall refrain from doing business with current members regarding the purchase of equipment, printing, T-shirts, etc. due to potential conflict of interest issues.

I.      No officer, member or employee of Local 7800 shall furnish to anyone a list of members, membership addresses or membership telephone numbers.  There are two exceptions to this rule.

1.         The CPA retained by CWA Local 7800 requires the membership list to verify ballots returned during the General Election of Officers and Area Vice Presidents.

2.         National AFL-CIO COPE (Committee on Political Education) shall be furnished a local membership list only for approved activities, in compliance with the National AFL-CIO COPE regulations listed in Addendum B.

J.      A list of Stewards shall be kept in the Local office.

K.      The Local President or designee shall be the official spokes person for all Local business.

L.      ALL officers are expected to carry a pager and will be available to members 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.  Exceptions include time off for scheduled vacations, illness and personal days.  When not available, arrangements must be made for another officer to take member calls.

A.     A current list of all Area Vice Presidents and their assigned areas of responsibility shall be advertised to the Membership via the monthly newsletter and posted on union bulletin boards. 

B.      Area Vice Presidents shall

1.      Carry out all duties and responsibilities according to the CWA Constitution, Local By-Laws, Local Rules of Procedure and the policies of the Union

2.      Follow direction from Local 7800 Officers.

3.      Abide by the following established duties and responsibilities of an Area Vice President.

a.         Recruit new stewards who meet established criteria & submit their completed Steward Application Form, including the completed Interview Checklist, to the Executive Board for approval.

b.         Mentor the Stewards in your area.

c.         Schedule Stewards for training.

d.         Work with Stewards and Area Reps to prepare grievances.

e.         Work with the Officers to prepare grievances beyond the first step.

f.         Hold meetings with Stewards and Area Reps for the following:

§          Distribute pertinent information.

§          Report results of grievances.

§          Discuss grievances and possible solutions.

§          Review and discuss mobilization activity.

§          Keep a list of Stewards up to date and posted in area of responsibility.

g.         Report to the President on outcome of grievances, new Stewards and all important matters.

h.         Perform any duties assigned by the President.

i.           Get Membership Application cards and Dues Authorization cards signed in your area.

j.          Participate in mobilization activities.

h.         Prepare budgets.

i.           It is expected that all Area Vice Presidents will attend Membership and Stewards' meetings.  As persons in a leadership role, it is necessary to the organization to set examples for others.

A.     All Area Vice Presidents will endeavor to assist each other, Area Reps and Stewards.   Area Vice Presidents will inform the Local President/Designee and the other  Area Vice President when working in an area assigned to that Area Vice President.

B.      Area Vice Presidents will update   their list of all Area Representatives and stewards reporting to them and distribute the updated list to Local Officers as needed.

A.    Area Representatives and Stewards shall adhere to the “Area Representative and Steward criteria” as listed on the Steward Application.

B.            Any Member in good standing wishing to become a Steward shall:

1.         Complete a Steward Application Form to be submitted to and approved by the Local Executive Board.

2.         The completed Steward application must be submitted no later than 2 business days before the Executive Board meeting.  The interviewing AVP or Officer is responsible for meeting this requirement.

3.         Be aware that all criteria are subject to Area Vice President discre­tion.

4.         Comply with the following established Steward criteria.

a.         Applicant needs to be a Member for at least one (1) year in established bargaining units.

b.         Applicant needs to have attended at least three (3) membership meetings in the previous twelve (12) months. (It is the applicant’s responsibility to sign in at membership meetings attended – failure to do so may delay the application process.)

c.         Applicant shall be interviewed by an Area Vice President or Officer.

d.         The Area Vice President is responsible for verification of membership status before submitting application.

e.         If excluding any criteria, the Area Vice President must submit in writing to the Executive Board, the rea­sons why the criteria were excluded.

f.         Receive approval from the Executive Board to act as a Steward of the local.

A.     Elections will be held in compliance with the CWA Constitution and Local By-Laws.

B.      All campaign material to be posted on bulletin boards must be approved by the Election Committee.

1.         Each candidate shall be limited to one (1) piece of campaign material per bulletin board.

2.         Campaign material shall not exceed 8 1/2” by 5 1/2” in size, except in the case of two (2) or more candidates sharing campaign material.  When sharing, campaign material shall not exceed 8 1/2” by 11” in size.

C.      The Local shall honor all reasonable requests from a candidate to distribute campaign material to members in good standing.  ALL costs associated with such requests shall be the candidates’ responsibility.

D.     No campaign material is to be posted on the outside of glass enclosures or on walls surrounding bulletin boards.  The CWA logo shall not appear on candidates campaign material.

E.      All candidates must campaign ON THEIR OWN TIME (i.e. entitlement time, non-work time, employer excused unpaid time off).  The use of Employer paid work time, Union paid or unpaid time off for Union activities is a DIRECT VIOLATION OF DEPARTMENT OF LABOR LAWS that governs Union Officer Elections and is strictly forbidden.

A.     The Local shall not pursue outside action against any member for violations of the CWA Constitution and By-Laws until all Local, internal proceedings have been exhausted.

A.     All submissions to the newsletter staff for publication must be submitted no later than close of business on the regular Executive Board meeting day.

B.      The Local President is required to submit a report for publica­tion each month.

C.      Co