ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of this organization shall be the University of Rhode Island Professional/Technical Administrative Association, Local Number 2877 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.
ARTICLE II – AFFILIATIONS
This local union shall be affiliated with Council Number 94 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.
ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this association are:
to promote the organization of University of Rhode Island employees for the purpose of collective bargaining;
to promote the welfare of the membership and to provide a voice in the determination of the terms and conditions of employment;
to foster cooperation among affiliates at the University and among affiliates under the jurisdiction of the Rhode Island Board of Regents; and
to carry out on a local basis the objectives of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Section l.
Eligibility. All non-classified employees employed by the University of Rhode Island/Board of Trustees are eligible for membership in this local union/subject to the requirements of the Constitution of the International Union.
Section 2.
Application. Application for membership shall be made on a standard application form. Such form shall “include a valid authorization” for payroll deduction of dues.
Section 3.
Amount of Dues. The monthly membership dues of the local shall be $43.69 per month.
Section 4.
Payment of Dues. Membership dues shall be payable monthly in advance to the local treasurer and in any event shall be paid no 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 payroll deduction method continues, be considered in good standing.
Section 5.
Reinstatement Fee. A member suspended under the above section may be reinstated to membership in the local on payment of all arrearages or upon payment of a reinstatement fee of $25.00 plus the current month’s dues.
ARTICLE V – MEETINGS
Section 1.
Time and Place. Regular meetings of this local shall be held once each month, at a time and place to be fixed by the membership or the local executive board. A quorum shall consist of 15 percent of the membership.
Section 2.
Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the local president, the local executive board, or by petition filed with the president and signed by 25% of the members of the local. Special meetings may also be called by the International President or said officer’s authorized representatives.
ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS, NOMINATIONS, AND ELECTIONS
Section 1.
Titles and Terms of Office. The officers of this local shall be a president, a vice-president, a recording secretary, a corresponding secretary, a treasurer, a chief steward and three executive board members, and these nine 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 in the even-numbered years.
Section 2.
Nominations. 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 April. Officers shall be installed immediately upon acceptance of the Election Committee Report.
Section 3.
Eligibility. To be eligible for office, a member must be in good standing for one year 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.
Section 4.
Conduct of Election. Officer 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.
Elections Code. 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. Vacancies in office shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by vote of the executive board.
Section 7.
Obligation of Officers. 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 duties of the President shall be:
to preside at all meetings of the local union and of the executive board;
to be a member of all committees except election committees;
to countersign all checks drawn against the funds of the local;
to appoint all standing committees and all special committees of the local, subject to the approval of the executive board;
to report periodically to the membership regarding the progress and standing of the local and regardÂing official acts of said office; and
to perform such duties as’the executive board and general membership may require.
Section 2.
The duties of the Vice-President shall be:
to assist the president in the work of that office;
to preside at all meetings and perform all duties otherwise performed by the president, in the absence of the president or in said officer’s inability to serve; and,
to act as co-signer of checks drawn on the local funds in place of either the president or the treasurer with the approval of the executive board.
Section 3.
The duties of the Recording Secretary shall be:
to keep a record of the proceedings and attendance of all membership meetings and of all executive board meetings;
to maintain a file of the official records (reports, correspondence, papers, etc.) of the local union;
to prepare with the president the agenda for meetings;
to verify the necessary requirements for quorum, and,
to perform such other duties as the executive board may require.
Section 4.
The duties of the Corresponding Secretary shall be:
to carry on the official correspondence of the local, except as the executive board may direct otherwise;
to issue notices of meetings;
to read all official papers and communications to the members;
to issue the local monthly newsletter; and,
to perform such duties as the executive board may require.
Section 5.
The duties of the Treasurer shall be:
to receive and receipt for all monies of the local union;
to 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 treasurer;
to prepare and sign checks for such purposes as are required by the constitution or are authorized by the membership or the executive board;
to keep an accurate record of receipts and disbursements and to submit to the membership at regular membership meetings a monthly operating statement of the financial transactions of the local for the previous time period;
to act as custodian of all properties of the local union;
to give, at the expense of the local union and through the International Union, a surety bond for an amount to be fixed by the executive board of the local union; and,
to see that any financial reports required by the International Union are submitted in accordance with the International Union Constitution.
Section 7.
The trustees shall make or cause to be made at least semiannually 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 8.
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 – 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.
Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall be the guide 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 IX – 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 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.
Gergald W. McEntee International President
Date
10/19/84