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ARTICLE I. NAME.
This organization shall be known as the Florida International University
Chapter of the United Faculty of Florida.
ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVES
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Section 1.
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To bring faculty and professional employees of the University into
a relationship of mutual assistance and cooperation in order to obtain for
them the rights and privileges to which they are entitled.
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Section 2.
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To promote the democratization of the University so it will better serve
the people of theState of Florida.
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Section 3.
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To achieve and safeguard academic freedom.
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Section 4.
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To combat racism and sexism in all their forms at Florida International
University, in theState University System, and in society.
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ARTICLE III. STRUCTURE OF GOVERNANCE.
The ultimate authority in the Chapter rests with the membership, exercised
either through a referendum or through a membership meeting. Legislative
and electoral authority to determine the basic policies of the Chapter are
vested in the Stewards' Council, between Membership meetings. Executive authority
is vested in the Executive Council. The Executive Council shall carry out
the policies determined by the Stewards' Council and Membership meetings
and shall have the power to initiate action in the period between Membership
meetings. Except for by-law revisions, majority rule by those present and
voting shall pertain for all elections and for all decisions by Chapter Councils,
Committees, and membership meetings.
ARTICLE IV. REFERENDA AND RECALL
A referendum on any issue or recall election of a Chapter officer may be
initiated: 1) by a majority vote of the Executive Council; 2) by a majority
vote of the Stewards' Council; or 3) by a petition signed by 20% of the Chapter
membership. A referendum or recall election must be held within thirty days
of one of these three actions.
ARTICLE V. MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS.
Membership meetings will be held at least once a semester or whenever summoned
by the President. Members will be given no less than two weeks notice of
the meeting. One Spring meeting shall be held in February and will elect
the Chapter officers whose terms shall begin on April 15th and continue through
April 14th of the following year. Membership meetings can make Chapter policy
on any issue whatsoever, and their decisions are binding on the Executive
Council and the Chapter as a whole.
ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
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Section 1.
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A President, Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, and a Treasurer shall be elected
sequentially at the February membership meeting by a secret ballot of those
members present. The President shall nominate to be approved by the Stewards'
Council additional members to the Executive Council to fulfill the following
functions: Affiliate Relations, Minority Affairs, and the Newsletter Editor.
No individual may hold more than one office at thesame time during any year.
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Section 2.
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Announcements of the election Membership meeting must reach the membership
at least two weeks prior to the election meeting. Nominations must be made
from the floor, but individuals who notify the Secretary by January 15 of
their intent to run for office may include a brief candidacy statement in
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Section 3.
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Vice-Presidents must be from separate campuses and will serve as the Chief
Stewards of the respective campuses. During its first meeting, the Executive
Council shall determine which of the Vice Presidents is the First and which
is the Second Vice-President.
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Section 4.
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The voting members of the Executive Council shall consist of the elected
officers, the Past President, Affiliate Relations, Minority Affairs, Newsletter
Editor, and the Chairpersons of Standing Committees.
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Section 5.
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The President shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter membership and
Executive Council. She or he shall be an ex-officio member of all committees,
sign all necessary documents and papers, and represent the Chapter both
internally and externally. The President shall report to membership meetings
the actions of the Executive Council.
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Section 6.
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The First Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President when the
President is absent or incapacitated. In the event of the recall, resignation
or incapacitation of the President, the First Vice-President shall assume
this office for the remainder of the term of office. The Executive Council
shall appoint a new First Vice-President.
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Section 7.
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The Secretary shall maintain the records of the Chapter, shall record the
minutes of all Membership and Executive Council meetings, and shall execute
and monitor all Chapter elections.
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Section 8.
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The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Chapter, shall
exercise supervision over the receipt and disbursement of all monies, properties,
securities and other evidences of financial worth of the organization, shall
prepare an annual financial statement, and shall prepare a proposed budget
for submission to the state UFF each year.
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Section 9.
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The Executive Council shall have the power to recommend to the State UFF
the employment of persons on a part-time or full-time basis. Any member of
the UFF who is employed by the UFF shall earn no more that what she or he
would earn in the State University System.
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ARTICLE VII. STEWARDS' COUNCIL
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Section 1.
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The Stewards' Council is the main legislative body of the chapter between
Membership meetings. Membership shall be by election in each school or college,
the number proportionate to its UFF membership.
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Section 2.
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Elections of Stewards shall be conducted by mail ballot each Spring for the
subsequent academic year. Procedures for nominations and voting shall be
established by the Executive Council.
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Section 3.
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The Stewards' Council meets at least once a semester or whenever summoned
by the Chairperson, or when appropriate the Chapter President, to establish
the bargaining agenda, promote the welfare of the chapter and its membership,
forward concerns and proposals to the Executive Council, membership meetings,
and relevant Committees.
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Section 4.
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The Chief Steward or when appropriate the Chapter President, shall convene
a meeting of the Stewards at least once each semester to discuss the issues
which concern members, and to forward concerns and proposals to the Executive
Council, membership meetings, and relevant Committees.
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ARTICLE VIII. COMMITTEES.
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Section 1.
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The Political Action Committee shall be a Standing Committee of the Executive
Council, its members nominated by the President and confirmed by the Executive
Council. The Standing Committees of the Stewards' Council shall be:
| A) Grievance Committee |
D) Ombudsmen |
| B) Bargaining Committee |
E) Good and Welfare Committee |
| C) Membership Committee |
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Section 2.
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The President shall nominate the Chairpersons of the Standing Committees,
to be confirmed by the Stewards' Council. Chairpersons of the Standing Committees
shall appoint the members of the Standing Committees. Members do not have
to be Stewards.
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Section 3.
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With the exception of the Political Action Committee, All committees shall
be under the direction of the President, and shall report to, the Stewards'
Council.
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Section 4.
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The Grievance Committee shall keep records of and supervise all grievances,
and insure that the Executive Council is fully informed on the progress in
maintaining and expanding the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Chairperson
of the Grievance Committee shall be the official Chapter nominee to the State
UFF Contract Enforcement Committee unless otherwise determined by the Executive
Council.
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Section 5.
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The Political Action Committee shall cooperate with the State UFF in lobbying,
endorsing candidates, raising contributions, gathering mailgram authorizations,
sending mailgrams, conducting letter-writing campaigns, attending political
functions, sponsoring events where UFF members can meet elected officials,
and working with the UFF-PAC and NEA PAC. The chairperson of the Political
Action Committee shall be the official Chapter nominee to the State UFF Political
Action-Legislative Committee unless otherwise determined by the Executive
Council.
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Section 6.
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The Membership Committee shall carry out organizing drives among faculty
and professional employees, contact all new bargaining unit employees and,
with the approval of the Executive Council, cooperate in assisting in the
organization of other colleges and universities. The chairperson of the
Membership Committee shall be the official Chapter nominee to the State UFF
Membership Committee unless otherwise determined by the Executive Council.
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Section 7.
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The Bargaining Committee shall recommend the bargaining agenda to the Stewards'
Council and advise the bargaining team as needed.
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Section 8.
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The Ombudsmen shall deal with routine problems related to working conditions
but not necessarily in violation of the contract.
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Section 9.
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The Good and Welfare Committee shall be responsible for promoting the Chapter
community, including planning social activities, organizing charitable events,
and providing appropriate chapter responses to events such as illnesses,
deaths, and retirements.
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Section 10.
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The Executive Council and Stewards' Council may create Ad-Hoc Committees,
Task Forces, or other such bodies, and determine which Chairpersons and other
key members of such Committees and Task Forces shall be nonvoting members
of their Councils.
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Section 11.
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Chairpersons of Standing and Ad-Hoc Committees may be removed by the appropriate
Council. Failure to carry out prescribed duties and actions, or to adhere
to Chapter policies, shall constitute grounds for removal.
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ARTICLE IX. STATE UFF SENATE
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Section 1.
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The Chapter President, the First Vice-President, the Chairperson of the Political
Action Committee, the Chairperson of the Membership Committee, the Chairperson
of the Grievance Committee, and the Chapter Representative to the State UFF
Bargaining team shall be Senators.
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Section 2.
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During the February membership meeting, the Chapter shall elect the remainder
of its Senators in conformity with the State UFF Constitution.
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Section 3.
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When Senatorial positions become vacant, the Executive Council shall appoint
alternates.
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ARTICLE X. RULES OF ORDER
Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern in all cases not covered by
the By-laws.
ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENTS
The By-laws may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of those present and voting
at a membership meeting if the members have been notified at least two weeks
in advance of a proposed amendment to the By-laws.
STEWARDS' COUNCIL ELECTION PROCEDURE
(adopted by Executive Council March 16, 2001)
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1.
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Stewards will be elected prior to April 15'h each year.
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2.
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Schools or colleges are eligible for one steward for each ten members (or
parts thereof).
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3.
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A nominating committee appointed by the Chief Steward will develop a slate
after soliciting nominations on the UFF listserve.
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4.
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The slate is announced on the listserve, mentioning that write-ins will be
accepted so people can have time to think about it.
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5.
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A mailed ballot will be sent to all members with instructions to vote only
for specified number of people for each member's school or college.
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6.
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Written ballots are to be returned no later than April 15th.
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7.
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The new Stewards' Council will begin meeting on a regular basis at the beginning
of summer term.
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