Local 2226 Bylaws

LOCAL 2226, UC IRVINE

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL – AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

BYLAWS

PREAMBLE:

We, academic employees of the University of California at Irvine, and members of the University Council – American Federation of Teachers  (UC-AFT) have joined together to make common cause to achieve the following goals:

                  (a) To bargain collectively with the administration of the University of California for negotiated contracts or Memoranda of Understanding for the two units that the union represents, Librarians and Non-Senate Faculty (“Lecturers”), and any other UC employees who may be organized in the future by UC-AFT;

                  (b) To protect and improve the job security, salaries, professional opportunities, instructional and technical support, health and retirement benefits, academic freedom, and general welfare and working conditions of those represented by UC-AFT;

                  c) To promote the rights of Librarians and Non-Senate Faculty in the governance of the University and UCI, especially in regard to decisions which most affect them;

                  d) To work together with the UC-AFT statewide organization and locals at all other UC campuses, to achieve these goals;

                  e) To join with other UC employees, both those who are represented by a labor union and those who are currently unrepresented, to advance our common interests, and to increase the level of organization and activism;

                  f) To participate with the broader trade union movement, and members of both the regional and UC communities – including students, other faculty, staff, and alumni – to further the cause of labor and of the common good;  

                  g) To promote and defend the highest standards of education at the University of California, and its role as a public institution, serving the people of the entire state, and open and affordable to all those who qualify to attend;

                  h) To combat discrimination and promote full equality of opportunity for all those who make up the diverse membership of UC-AFT, the employees and student body of the University, and the population of California, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, economic status or political beliefs;

                  i) To propose and advocate for appropriate legislation that represents the interests of our members and of the labor movement, and to endorse and support the election of  those political candidates, and coordinate and work with those government officials, who most completely and actively share our goals.

ARTICLE 1:  NAME

The name of this organization shall be Local 2226, American Federation of Teachers, an affiliated local of the University Council – American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT) and of the California Federation of Teachers.

 ARTICLE 2:  MEMBERSHIP

1) Any employee of UCI carrying an academic title shall be eligible for membership. Only members in good standing may vote in Local elections, or hold office in the Local. Any member on approved leave of absence, including lecturers on contract may retain membership during such leave.

2) Retired and former employees of UCB or UCSF who were previously UC-AFT members may retain their memberships but without the right to vote on matters connected with bargaining unit contracts.

3  )No discrimination shall be shown toward individual members or applicants for membership on the basis or race, age, sex, marital status, color, physical or mental handicap, medical condition, national origin, sexual orientation, religion or political activities or beliefs.

4)  Any member who has failed to pay dues for three consecutive months shall be placed on inactive (non-voting) status.

 ARTICLE 3: AUTHORITY AND MEETINGS OF THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP

1) The regular voting members, either in General Meetings and/or by other forms of communication, shall have the final authority in all matters of the Local, in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws of UC-AFT, and the decisions of its statewide Council and Executive Board.

2) General Meetings of the Local, open to all members, will be called on a regular basis, normally 2 to 3 times during the academic year, and at other times as needed to carry out its work.

3) A General Meeting may decide policies by consensus or by a majority vote of those present, unless the issue will substantially affect the entire membership of the Local, in which case the members will be polled.  The quorum for a General Meeting will be 5 regular voting members.  Decisions made without a quorum present will be reviewed at the next General Meeting. 

 ARTICLE 4: REPRESENTATIVE COLLECTIVE

The interests of the at-larger membership shall be guided by a Representative Collective, as empowered by the regular voting members, which fulfills the requirement for an Executive Board.  The Collective will recommend policy decisions to the General Meeting members and make decisions as directed by the regular voting members. 

 1) The following positions will be elected, with no more than one position being filled by the same individual:

·      President

·      Vice-President

·      Secretary/Recorder

·      Unit  17 Representative (elected by Unit 17 members)

Those elected to the above positions will then appoint remaining positions, not limited to, but including those below --- with no more than one position being filled with the same individual.

·      Elections/Membership chair ---2 year position

·      Grievance Steward --- 2 yr. position

2) Elections will be held every two years, and those elected will take office immediately the same year.  Balloting may be by mail, email, or website, as favored by the Elections committee.

3) Any regular voting member of the Local may be elected to the above positions on the Representative Collective, and both self-nomination and the nominating of others, with their consent, is permitted.  If a vacancy occurs on the Representative Collective, it may either choose to leave the position vacant until the next election, hold a special election, or appoint another regular voting member to fill the post.

4)  Non-voting members of the Representative Collective may be appointed by it, from among the entire membership, to assist it in its work.  Representative Collective members may be recalled by a petition of 10% of the regular voting members, and a majority of those voting in a recall ballot.

5) The Representative Collective will be responsible for helping to plan, organize and guide the work of the Local, subject to approval by the General Membership.  It will meet at least once during each Fall term, to plan the activities of the Local for the current academic year, and at other times as proves useful in carrying out its work.  Meetings of the Representative Collective will be open to all members, and it will report on its work and decisions to the membership, at a General Meeting or by other means. 

6)  The President will have the general duties of overall organization and representation of the Local, especially in its relationship with the systemwide UC-AFT, other campuses, other labor unions at UC, the University Administration and the wider community.  The Vice-President shall call and chair both the General and Representative Collective Meetings, assist in overall coordination of the activities of the Local, and oversee the appointment and work of any committees.  The Secretary/Recorder will keep minutes as required or assigned by the Vice-President and otherwise memorialize decisions made and supervise their distribution at meetings or via other communication.  The above duties may be shared or delegated.

7) Members of the Representative Collective will, in addition to the other duties of their positions, be expected to attend, as their work and commuting schedules permit, all of the General Meetings of the Local.

8) The Representative Collective may choose a smaller group of its own members or appoint members from at-larger membership to act as its Coordinating Committee, which may meet more frequently to help guide its work and that of the Local in general.

ARTICLE 5: ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT

1) This Constitution, which reflects in general the current organization and practices of Local 2226, was recommended for adoption by the members of the retiring Executive Board and recommend for formal ratification by a majority of those members voting in a balloting period concluded on November 19th, 2010.

2) Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed at a General Meeting and, after notice to the membership, discussed at a subsequent meeting.  To be adopted, any such amendment must be approved by a majority of those voting in a ballot of the members.