Adopted February 25, 1975
Amended April 10, 1975
Amended July 1, 1975
Amended January 28, 1976
Amended January 25, 1977
Amended October 4, 1977
Amended January 24, 1980
Amended July 28, 1982
Amended July 21, 1983
Amended October 27, 1983
Amended October 3, 1984
Amended October 19, 1985
Amended July 30, 1986
Amended January 28, 1987
Amended July 14, 1988
Amended October 26, 1989
Amended June 27, 1996
Amended April 25, 1997
Amended November 29, 2000
Table of Contents
ARTICLE I - NAME
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS, NOMINATIONS, AND
ELECTIONS
ARTICLE V - DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE
BOARD
ARTICLE VI - STANDING COMMITTEES
ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS
ARTICLE VIII - QUORUM
ARTICLE IX - TRIALS AND APPEALS
ARTICLE X - AFFILIATION
ARTICLE XI - PETITIONS
ARTICLE XII - DISSOLUTION
ARTICLE XIII - AMENDMENTS
ARTICLE XIV - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of the organization shall be Clerical-Technical
Union of Michigan State University, hereinafter referred to
as either CT Union or Union.
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of Contents
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
The purpose of the Clerical-Technical Union is to represent
its members in all conditions of their employment and to
provide a democratic process by which this purpose can be
accomplished. Additionally, the purpose of the Union is to
give assistance and encouragement to other employees in
organizing for the purpose of collective bargaining and to
engage in such activities as may be necessary to strengthen
the labor movement by chartering affiliated organizations
and/or other appropriate means.
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of Contents
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP AND
DUES
Membership and Rights
Section 1. Any person shall be eligible to become a
member of the Clerical-Technical Union of Michigan State
University upon compliance with the requirements of this
Constitution and the rulings of the Executive Board. Persons
eligible for membership in the Union shall include all
regular clerical and technical employees of Michigan State
University whether salaried or hourly paid who are included
in the collective bargaining agreement between the Union and
the University as well as any employees in any bargaining
unit of which the Union is the certified or recognized
bargaining agent.
Application
Section 2. To become a member, an eligible person must sign
a standard dues deduction card authorizing the withholding
of dues from her/his paycheck or such other application form
as the Executive Board shall require in circumstances in
which dues deduction does not apply.
Membership Card
Section 3. Upon receipt by the Union of a signed dues
deduction card, or such other application form as the
Executive Board has required, the Union will issue a
membership card to the applicant for membership. The card
will authorize entry into meetings of the Union and receipt
of ballots for elections and other referendums in which only
members of the Union are eligible to participate.
Dues
Section 4. The monthly membership dues shall be based on a
proportion of the yearly income which approximates .00096 of
salary, .00072 of which will be added to the general
operating budget and .00024 of which will be placed in a
contingency fund. The contingency fund, and such interest
derived therefrom, shall be used only upon a vote of the
membership. (.00096 x 2080 hours = approximately two hours
per month for full-time employees.)
Changes
Section 5. The formula for determining dues shall only be
amended according to Article XIII of the Constitution,
provided each schedule of dues shall be in effect for a
minimum of 12 months.
Payment of Dues
Section 6. Dues shall be paid by payroll deduction or by
annual cash payment for members for whom payroll deduction
is unavailable.
Rights of Members
Section 7. Members shall at all times enjoy the rights
conferred by this Constitution and be subject to the
requirements of applicable laws. Only members who have
satisfied the dues requirements of this Article are eligible
to hold office and to vote in elections or other referendums
conducted by the Union.
Reinstatement
Section 8. Membership is contingent upon payment of dues. A
member shall be suspended for nonpayment of dues and may be
reinstated to membership in the CT Union upon payment of all
arrearages.
Inactive Membership Status
Section 9. Members who are not employed in a bargaining unit
represented by the Union shall be deemed to be on inactive
status and shall not be entitled to hold office or vote in
elections or other referendums conducted by the Union. The
foregoing notwithstanding, members who are on released time
or who are on leaves of absence from positions in the
bargaining unit to hold office in the Union or to
participate in business or other activities of the Union or
who are on leaves of absence from active employment shall
maintain full membership rights, provided they make direct
and continuous payment of their regular dues.
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ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS, NOMINATIONS, AND
ELECTIONS
Titles and Terms of Office
Section l. The Officers of this Union shall be a President,
a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and seven
Directors, and these eleven shall constitute the CT Union
Executive Board. All officers shall be elected for a term of
two years. The President, Treasurer and three Directors
shall be elected at the October meeting in odd- numbered
years. The Vice President, Secretary, and four Directors
shall be elected in the even-numbered years.
Nominations & Elections
Section 2. Nominations shall begin and end during the month
of September. Elections shall be held during the month of
October. In the event formal negotiations between Michigan
State University and the CT Union are still unresolved,
nominations and elections may, at the discretion of the
Executive Board, be delayed for as long as, but not to
exceed, a period of 30 days after formal negotiations are
completed. A Nominating Committee may be appointed or
elected to make nominations. If there are separate meetings
for elections and nominations, at least 10 days notice shall
be given to the membership prior to each meeting. In the
event that a separate nominations meeting is held, the list
of those persons nominated shall be sent out with the notice
of the election meeting. When the meetings coincide,
notification of the meeting will include the recommendations
of the Nominating Committee. Nominations shall be permitted
from the floor whether or not such a Nominating Committee is
used.
Order & Process of Nominations
Section 3. The order of nominations shall be the order as
indicated in Section 1. No member may be nominated for more
than one position, and a nominee is required to indicate at
the conclusion of nominations for the specific position
whether she/he accepts or declines the nomination. A signed
and dated letter accepting a specific nomination shall be
accepted if presented to the Secretary prior to nominations.
An Executive Board member whose term has not expired may
accept a nomination and, if not elected, shall retain her/
his current position. If elected, her/his previous position
shall be filled by appointment on an interim basis by the
Executive Board until the next regular or special meeting.
Eligibility
Section 4. To be eligible for office, a member must be in
good standing and have completed the probationary period.
Members who have been charged and convicted pursuant to
Article IX, Section 3, when the penalty imposed includes
ineligibility for union office, shall not be eligible to run
for or hold office. The President, Vice President, and
Treasurer must be bondable. If the bond is rejected, the
position will be declared vacant until a successor is
elected.
Election
Section 5. Officers shall be elected by secret ballot vote
conducted so as to afford maximum secrecy and shall be
conducted by the Elections Committee selected by the
President and confirmed by the Executive Board.
Elections Committee and Duties
Section 6. The Elections Committee shall conduct and
supervise all elections; it shall pass on the rights of
members presenting themselves to vote if such right is
challenged, and shall keep records of the members voting.
The Committee shall canvass the vote in the presence of all
candidates or their designee desiring to be present at such
canvass, and shall keep proper tallies of the count. The
votes cast for candidates shall be counted immediately after
the close of the polls and shall be reported to the
membership if still in session or to the Executive Board who
shall be required to meet within 48 hours to certify the
vote. No member of the Elections Committee may be a
candidate for office.
General Election Provisions
Section 7.
a. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted.
b. No nominating speech may exceed two minutes.
c. Prior to the election, any announced candidate shall have
the right to mail campaign literature, one time only,
through the Union Office but at private expense.
d. All election records, including ballots, shall be
retained by the CT Union for at least one year after the
election.
e. Any protest concerning the election must be filed in
writing with the Chairperson of the Elections Committee
within 10 days following the election. Such protest shall be
decided by the Elections Committee within 30 days after
filing of the protest.
Election by Majority
Section 8.
a. Upon completion of the voting, the ballots shall be
tabulated and the candidate for each office receiving the
highest number of the votes cast for that office shall be
declared elected.
b. Write-in candidates shall not be allowed. Voting for
fewer than the number of vacancies in the position shall be
allowed. To be valid, a ballot must show no more votes
for each office than there are vacancies.
Single Nominee
Section 9. When there is only one nominee for an office, it
is required that an alternate choice through the process of
a no vote be afforded members voting. Should the no
vote receive the highest number of votes cast, the elected
Executive Board shall fill the position until a special
election could be called. The previous nominee would not be
eligible for appointment.
Installation of Officers
Section 10. Those elected shall be installed in office
immediately upon the Election Committee's report of the
election and upon signing and affirming the following:
I do hereby sincerely pledge and
promise that I will perform faithfully and with honor the
duties of my office as prescribed by the Constitution of
the Clerical-Technical Union of Michigan State University
and that I will deliver to my successor in office all
books and papers and other property of this Union which
are in my possession at the close of my official term.
Vacancies
Section 11. Vacancies in office shall be filled by
appointment on an interim basis by the Executive Board until
the next regular or special meeting at which there is a
quorum.
Full-time Released
Positions
Section 12. A person elected or appointed to a
full-time released position (i.e., CTU President) shall have
up to 30 days from election or appointment to fully assume
the duties of her/his office.
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ARTICLE V - DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Executive Board
Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of four
officers and seven directors who shall serve as the
governing body of the Union except when meetings of the
Union are in session. Board members are expected to attend
all meetings and work sessions of the Board and the
membership. All matters affecting the policies, aims and
means of accomplishing the purposes of the CT Union not
specifically provided for in the Constitution or by action
of the membership at the regular or special meeting shall be
decided by the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall
establish and maintain a procedure that will ensure proper
representation for the membership through the appointment or
selection of Union Representatives. The Board, from among
its members, shall select the following standing committees:
Negotiating Committee; Finance Committee; Grievance, Appeal
and Trial Committee and such other special committees as may
be necessary to carry out the work of the Executive Board.
The Executive Board shall be authorized to hire counsel,
agents and employees as are necessary to assist in the
mission of the CT Union. A report on all actions taken by
the Executive Board shall be made to the membership at each
regular membership meeting.
President
Section 2. The duties of the President are to preside at all
membership meetings of the CT Union, to preserve order
during deliberations, to be Chairperson of the Executive
Board, to be Chairperson of the Negotiating Committee, to be
ex officio member of all committees except where
prohibited by the Constitution, to countersign all checks
drawn against funds of the CT Union, to execute the policies
of the CT Union, to transact such business as may of right
pertain to the office of President, to be the official
spokesperson for the CT Union in all its external relations
and may authorize counsel or other agents of the CT Union to
speak for the Union in her/his place or stead. The President
shall submit to each regular meeting of the membership and
of the Executive Board a report of her/his official acts and
doings between meetings. Must apply for bonding within 30
days of election.
Vice President
Section 3. The duties of the Vice President are to assist
the President in the work of her/his office. In the absence
of the President, the Vice President shall preside at all
meetings. The Vice President, with written authority of the
President or by Executive Board action upon the inability of
the President to fulfill her/his office, may be authorized
to perform all the duties otherwise performed by the
President. In case of resignation or death of the President,
the Vice President shall perform all the duties otherwise
performed by the President until the vacancy is filled as
provided for in this Constitution. The Vice President shall
be the Chairperson of the Grievance, Appeal and Trial
Committee and will serve as Executive Board liaison with
Union Representatives. In specific instances and with the
authority of the Executive Board, the Vice President is
authorized to countersign checks drawn against the funds of
the CT Union. Must apply for bonding within 30 days of
election.
Secretary
Section 4. The Secretary shall act under the direction of
the President and the Executive Board and shall make or
cause to be made a correct record of proceedings of all
membership meetings and of all Executive Board meetings;
shall be responsible for the preparation, publication and
distribution of Executive Board minutes at the meeting
subsequent to their taking; the Secretary shall serve in
that same capacity on the Negotiating Team; and shall be
responsible for maintaining a current membership list. The
Secretary shall have the responsibility of maintaining safe
all contracts, books, records and other property of the CT
Union not delegated by this Constitution.
Treasurer
Section 5. The Treasurer shall act under the direction of
the President and the Executive Board and shall receive and
receipt all monies of the Union. The Treasurer shall deposit
all money so received in the name of the Union in a bank or
institutions authorized by the Executive Board and money so
deposited shall be withdrawn only by check. The Treasurer
shall sign only such checks as are required by the
Constitution, or are authorized by the membership or the
Executive Board. The Treasurer shall make monthly reports to
the Executive Board and shall submit all books and papers to
the Certified Public Accountant upon direction of the
Executive Board. The Treasurer, at the expense of the Union,
shall secure surety bonds for the President, Vice President,
Treasurer and others in the amounts determined by the
Executive Board. The Treasurer shall notify the Executive
Board when anyone becomes delinquent for a period of 30 days
in payment of dues or service fees to the Union and shall
seek payment from the delinquent employee, and, if
unsuccessful, notify the employee of the delinquency and
request compliance with the Union Security clause of the
labor agreement. The Treasurer shall cause to be prepared
and submitted any financial reports required by law. The
Treasurer shall be the Chairperson of the Finance Committee.
Must apply for bonding within 30 days of election.
Expense Per Diem
Section 6. Expense Per Diem of Executive Board members shall
be paid monthly and Per Diem determined by multiplying the
appropriate index factor by 10 times the minimum hourly
salary of the lowest CT Union grade level (e.g., Director:
10 x 1.0 x $6.07= $60.70/mo.) Such per diem shall be
adjusted with each general increase.
President - 3.5
Vice President - 1.5
Secretary - 1.5
Treasurer - 1.5
Directors - 1.0
ARTICLE VI - STANDING COMMITTEES
Committees of the
Whole
Section 1. Each standing committee of the CTU shall act only
as a committee of the whole; no individual member may act on
behalf of the committee without the committee’s
authorization, except as specified elsewhere in the
Constitution.
Audit Committee
Section 2. The Audit Committee
a. The Audit Committee shall consist of three members. They
shall be elected for staggered three-year terms with said
election held at the same time and under the same rules as
apply to the Executive Board. Members of the Audit Committee
may not be members of the Executive Board.
b. The Audit Committee shall make or cause to be made at
least a yearly audit of the Union’s finances and shall
report to the membership the result of such audit.
c. The Audit Committee shall monitor normal operating
expenses and shall serve as an independent communications
channel between the members of the Union and the custodians
of the Contingency Fund for verification of withdrawals from
that fund.
Finance Committee
Section 3. The Finance Committee shall consist of five
members, shall meet at the call of its Chairperson and shall
have as a continuing responsibility the continued review of
the financial operation of the Union. The Committee shall
make a report of its findings at each regular Union meeting
and make recommendations to the Executive Board, including a
budget for each succeeding year's operation.
Grievance Appeal and Trial Committee
Section 4. The Grievance, Appeal and Trial Committee (GAT)
shall consist of five members, shall meet at the call of its
Chairperson, and shall perform two functions for the Union.
Members of this Committee having prior involvement with or
prejudice on any matter brought before it shall be excused,
and the Chairperson shall appoint an alternate.
a. The GAT shall decide on the necessity of arbitration for
all grievances for individual CTs. The decision of the
Committee on membership grievances to be referred to
arbitration shall be carried out and complied with and shall
not be subject to appeal or review.
b. The GAT shall rule on all appeals from members and shall
act as the trials board of the Union. All decisions subject
to appeal shall be appealed within 10 days of the decision
to the Executive Board, detailing in writing why the
decision should not be upheld. Any member feeling aggrieved
by the decision shall have the right to appeal to the next
regular meeting of the Union, provided that notice of such
appeal is filed within 30 days after the rendering of the
decision.
Negotiating Committee
Section 5. The Negotiating Committee shall be comprised of
the Executive Board; shall meet at the call of the
Chairperson; and, after consultation with members, shall
develop and submit contract proposals to the employer. The
Committee shall have the responsibility and authority to
negotiate the collective bargaining contract with the
employer but shall not have the power to bind the Union to a
collective bargaining agreement without presenting the terms
to the membership for approval.
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ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS
General Membership Meetings
Section 1. General membership meetings of the CT Union shall
be held during the months of January, April, July, and
October of each year, at a time and place to be determined
by the Executive Board. Notice of membership meetings shall
be sent to members at least 10 days prior to the meeting.
Special Meetings
Section 2. Special meetings of the CT Union may be called by
the Executive Board and must be called upon the written
request of 10% of the membership on a valid petition. Notice
of these special meetings shall be sent to members prior to
the meeting and specifically state the purpose, time, and
place.
Executive Board
Section 3. The Executive Board shall hold a regularly
scheduled meeting at least once a month. Special meetings of
the Executive Board shall be held at the request of the
President or majority of the Executive Board.
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ARTICLE VIII - QUORUM
General
Meetings
Section 1. At meetings of the CT Union, a quorum shall
consist of 50 members. In the absence of a quorum, the
Executive Board shall be authorized to transact necessary
business. If the lack of a quorum prevents an election from
taking place, the incumbent, whether by appointment or
election, may choose to continue in office until the next
regular or special meeting. If the incumbent declines to do
so, the resulting vacancy shall be filled as provided for in
Article IV, Section 11.
Executive Board Meetings
Section 2. At meetings of the Executive Board, a quorum
shall consist of a simple majority (6) of the total
membership (11) of that body.
Strike Vote
Section 3. At a meeting of the CT Union where a question of
strike is proposed, a quorum shall consist of 500 members. A
question of strike must be voted upon as a separate entity
and may not be attached to any other question.
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ARTICLE IX - TRIALS AND APPEALS
Persons Subject to Trial
Section 1. Members of the Union, including Executive Board
members, shall be tried for any and no other offenses
provided in Article 9, Section 2.
Specifications
Section 2.
a. Willfully violating the Constitution of the Union.
b. Disobeying or willfully failing to comply with any lawful
decision or order of the Union.
c. Misappropriation, embezzlement or improper or illegal use
of Union funds.
d. Acting in collusion with management to the detriment of
the welfare of the Union or its membership.
e. Instigating or knowingly participating in an unauthorized
strike or slowdown.
f. Any activity which assists or is intended to assist a
competing organization within the jurisdiction of this
Union.
g. Willful violation of the legally negotiated and approved
collective bargaining agreement.
h. Using the name of the Union in any unauthorized manner or
for any unauthorized purpose.
i. The solicitation or acceptance of a bribe or the
acceptance of any gift of more than nominal value from any
employer, member, group of members or employee of the Union,
or from any person or firm which has or is seeking to
establish a business relationship with this Union.
j. Conviction of a crime, the nature of which is such as to
bring the Union as an organization into disrepute.
k. Knowingly proffering false charges against any other
member of the Union.
l. Taking court action against the Union without first
exhausting all remedies provided in this Constitution for
appeal.
Charges and Procedures
Section 3.
a. Charges shall be in writing, signed and sworn to by the
accuser, and filed with the Secretary. If the Secretary is a
directly interested party, charges shall be filed with the
presiding officer of the trial board.
b. Charges must be submitted within 60 days of the time the
accuser becomes aware of the alleged offense.
c. Charges shall contain an allegation of the facts
constituting the offense with which the accused is charged
and where a violation of a constitutional provision is
alleged, the specific section shall be cited, along with the
specific act or failure to act which constitutes the alleged
violation.
d. Charges shall be specific citing in detail the nature,
the date, and the circumstances of the alleged offense.
e. Charges shall immediately be served upon the accused by
the receiver of such charges. The receiver, at the same
time, shall notify the accused of the time and place of
trial or hearing, which shall be between five (5) and thirty
(30) days after receipt of such charges.
f. The charging party shall first present evidence of the
charging violation, and upon completion of such evidence,
the accused shall have the right to produce witnesses and
present documentary evidence and to be heard on her/his own
behalf. The accused shall have the opportunity to
cross-examine witnesses.
g. If the accused shall fail to appear at the time and place
designated for the trial without presenting a good and
sufficient reason for her/his absence, the trial board shall
proceed to take evidence in the same manner as if the
accused were present.
h. Both the accused and the accuser shall have the right to
be represented by any other member of the Union. Only
members of the Union may be present at trial board
proceedings, subject to reasonable limitations as voted in
open proceedings by the trial board.
i. All witnesses shall testify under oath.
j. Notice of the decision and penalty, if any, shall be
given the person charged within 5 days after the close of
the trial.
k. A faithful record of the proceedings shall be made.
l. The trial board shall have the authority to impose any
penalty allowable by law.
m. Such penalty may be appealed to the next regular meeting
of the Union, where 2/3 vote of those members present and
voting shall be necessary to veto the trial board's action.
n. In any case, there shall be no resort to a court of law
until all relief within the Union under the Constitution has
been exhausted.
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ARTICLE X - AFFILIATION
The affiliation of the
Union with any national or international labor organization
may be accomplished only by complying with the following
procedures:
1. If two-thirds of the
members of the Executive Board, at two regularly scheduled
successive meetings, vote to affiliate and/or at least 30%
of the members in good standing have indicated in writing
their desire to affiliate, the question of affiliation shall
be submitted to the members in good standing in a mail
referendum vote.
2. The mail referendum
vote shall take place no sooner than two (2) weeks and no
later than six (6) weeks after the Executive Board votes to
affiliate or the 30% showing of membership interest in
affiliation has been submitted to the Executive Board
(whichever has occurred first).
3. The mail referendum
vote shall be conducted with reasonable precautions for
ballot integrity and secrecy.
4. Any referendum to
affiliate shall include a proposed disposition of the
Union's assets, including the contingency fund.
5. The results of any
referendum to affiliate shall be certified by the Union's
secretary no later than fourteen (14) days following the
deadline established for the mailing of ballots, and shall
be effective upon the issuance of such certification.
6. A referendum to
affiliate shall pass if a majority of the votes cast are in
favor of affiliation.
7. Disaffiliation may
only be accomplished in accordance with the foregoing
procedures.
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ARTICLE
XI - PETITIONS
Validity
Section 1. To be considered valid, a petition must meet the
conditions of this Article.
Format
Section 2. Any page on which signatures are collected must
have the substance of the petition, including any action
called for, typed at the top of it so that a person signing
it may be completely certain of what s/he is signing.
Signatures
Section 3. Only original signatures will be considered
valid; photocopies or facsimiles of signatures will not be
accepted.
Legibility
Section 4. Both written and printed names of all those
signing must be given and must be legible. An illegible
individual signature and name will be considered invalid.
Date of Signature
Section 5. The date on which each person signed the petition
must be listed next to the person’s name.
Vote of Membership
Section 6. When a petition calls for action that includes a
vote by the CTU membership, the Executive Board will cause
that vote to occur in a manner that is both timely and
permits sufficient opportunity for membership information
and discussion. No action called for can be in contradiction
to the CTU Contract, Constitution, or valid labor law.
Review of Proposed Petition
Section 7. In order to prevent possible disqualification of
a petition, it is recommended that proposed petition
language and format be submitted to the Executive Board for
review of compliance with this Article prior to circulation
for signatures.
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The
dissolution of the Union may be accomplished only by
complying with the following procedures:
A. Automatic Dissolution
1. The union shall be automatically dissolved effective
eighteen (18) months after the date on which MERC
conclusively certifies that the Union no longer is the
exclusive bargaining agent for the bargaining unit at
Michigan State University following a decertification or
representative election.
2. Automatic dissolution
under this Article shall not occur should, within eighteen
(18) months following MERC's conclusive certification that
the Union no longer is the exclusive bargaining agent for
the bargaining unit at Michigan State University, the Union
regains status as exclusive bargaining agent for the
bargaining unit via a MERC election or otherwise.
3. The eighteen (18)
month period shall be suspended during any appeals to the
appellate courts.
B. Dissolution by Referendum
1. If a majority of the Executive Board votes or at least
50% of the members in good standing indicate in writing
their desire to dissolve the Union, the question of
dissolution shall be submitted to the membership for a mail
referendum vote.
2. The mail referendum
vote shall take place no sooner than two (2) weeks and no
later than six (6) weeks after the Executive Board votes to
dissolve or the 50% showing of interest in dissolution is
submitted to the Executive Board (whichever has occurred
first).
3. The mail referendum
shall be conducted with reasonable precautions to maintain
ballot integrity and secrecy.
4. The results of any
referendum to dissolve shall be certified by the Union's
secretary no later than fourteen (14) days after the
deadline established for the mailing of ballots.
5. A referendum to
dissolve shall pass if a majority of the votes cast are in
favor of dissolution.
6. A referendum in favor
of dissolution of the Union shall not be effective until
eighteen (18) months after the certification of the
referendum results by the Union's secretary.
7. At any time during
this eighteen (18) month period, the Executive Board may
vote to submit to the membership (i.e., members in good
standing as of the date of the initial dissolution vote) a
mail referendum to reconsider the issue of dissolution,
subject to the same procedures outlined in paragraphs 2-4 of
Section B of this Article. A vote to reconsider shall be
effective upon the certification of the results of the mail
referendum on reconsideration by the Union's secretary.
C. General Conditions of Dissolution
During the eighteen (18) month period prior to the effective
date of dissolution, whether automatic or by referendum:
1. The Executive Board
shall continue to exercise its general authority and powers
under Article V, Section 1, of this Constitution.
2. All funds and assets
of the Union, except the contingency fund, shall remain
under the control of the Executive Board. Non-contingency
fund assets and funds may be used at the discretion of the
Executive Board for such purposes as the Board shall decide
are in the best interest of the membership. The contingency
fund shall also remain under the control of the Executive
Board, but shall be held in trust for subsequent disposition
under subsections 3 through 4 of this section.
3. At the end of the
eighteen (18) month period, the Executive Board shall
convene a meeting of the membership for the purpose of
determining the disposition of all remaining assets and
funds of the Union, including the contingency fund.
Eligibility to vote on the disposition of funds and assets
shall be limited to members who were members in good
standing as of the date on which the dissolution
ratification vote was certified or the date on which MERC
conclusively certified that the Union no longer is the
exclusive bargaining agent for the bargaining unit.
4. If, at the end of
twenty-four (24) months following the certification of the
referendum on dissolution or the conclusive certification by
MERC that the union no longer is the exclusive bargaining
agent for the bargaining unit, any assets of the Union,
including the contingency fund, have not been disposed of,
they shall be distributed prorata to the members in good
standing as of the date on which the dissolution referendum
vote was certified or the date on which MERC certified that
the Union no longer is the exclusive bargaining agenda for
the bargaining unit.
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Amendments
This Constitution may be amended, revised or otherwise
changed only by a vote of 2/3 of the membership present
voting on such proposed change. Proposed amendments to this
Constitution shall be submitted in writing on a valid
petition and signed by no fewer than 51 members and
submitted to the CT Union Executive Board at least 20 days
prior to a regular or special meeting of the Union at which
a vote is to be taken; or the Executive Board on its own
motion may make recommendations for Constitutional changes.
Proposed amendments shall be included in the written notice
of the meeting. Amendments to the proposed amendments may be
accepted from the floor.
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Rules of Order
Robert's Rules of Order, latest edition, shall be the
authority governing proceedings in meetings of the Union, so
far as such rules are not in conflict with the provisions
thereof and special rules of order of the Union hereafter
adopted. A Parliamentarian shall be appointed by the
President for every regular or special meeting of the Union.
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