Constitution

CONSTITUTION

FOR

ST. PAUL SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of this local shall be St. Paul School Employees, Local Number 844 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

ARTICLE II

AFFILIATIONS

This local shall be affiliated with the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Area District Council #14 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; the Minnesota AFL-CIO; and the St. Paul AFL-CIO Trades and Labor Assembly

ARTICLE III

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this local union shall be 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 1. All employees of the Independent School District #625 St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, except professional and supervisory employees are eligible for membership in this local union subject to the requirements of the Constitution of the International Union

Section 2. Application for membership shall be made on a standard application form. Unless such a form includes a valid authorization for payroll deduction of dues, the application shall be accompanied by the current month’s dues.

Section 3. The monthly membership dues of this local shall be $26.05 per member. Effective January 1, 1982, and each January thereafter the monthly membership dues shall be increased by a percentage equal to the average percentage wage increase received by employees within the jurisdiction of the local during the preceding calendar year provided that this increase meets the minimum dues requirements of the International Constitution.

Section 4. Membership dues shall also be payable monthly, in advance, to the local secretary-treasurer, and in any event, shall be paid not 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 2 consecutive months shall stand suspended. Provided, however, that any person who is paying his/her dues through a system of regular payroll deduction shall for as long as he/she continues to pay through such deduction method, be considered in good standing.

Section 5. A member suspended under the above section may be reinstated to membership upon payment of all arrearages.

ARTICLE V

MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular meetings of this local shall be held once each month, at a time and place to be fixed by the membership or the executive board.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the local president, the executive board, or by petition filed with the president and signed by 10% of the members of the local. Special meetings may also be called by the International President or by an authorized representative of the International President.

Section 3. The quorum for meetings of this local union shall be ten (10) members in good standing.

ARTICLE VI

OFFICERS, NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. The officers of this local shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary-treasurer, a recording secretary, and four executive board members and these eight shall constitute the local union executive board. At least one of the four executive board members shall be an employee of the Technical Bargaining Unit. 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 on two years in the odd numbered years.

Section 2. 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 March.

Section 3. 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. Officers 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. 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 in office shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by vote of the executive board.

Section 7. Every officer shall, upon assuming office, subscribe to the Obligation of an Officer contained in Appendix B of the International Union Constitution.

Section 8. Unexcused absence of an officer from three (3) consecutive executive board and/or membership meetings shall automatically cause removal from office.

ARTICLE VII

DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. The president shall reside at all meetings of the local and of the executive board. He/she shall be a member of all committees except election committees. He/she shall countersign all checks drawn against the funds of the local. He/she shall appoint all standing committees and all special committees of the local, subject to the approval of the executive board. He/she shall report periodically to the membership regarding the progress and standing of the local and regarding his/her official acts.

Section 2. The vice president shall assist the president in the work of his/her office. In the absence of the president or in his/her inability to serve, the vice president shall preside at all meetings and perform all duties otherwise performed by the president. He/she may, with the approval of the executive board, be authorized to act as co-signer of checks drawn on the local funds in place of either the president or the secretary treasurer.

Section 3. The recording secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of all membership and of all executive board meetings. HE/she shall carry on the official correspondence of the local, except as the executive board may direct otherwise. He/she shall perform such other duties as the executive board may require.

Section 4. The secretary-treasurer shall receive and receipt for all monies of the local. He/she shall 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 secretary-treasurer. He/she shall prepare and sign checks for such purposes as are required by the constitution or are authorized by the membership or the executive board. He/she shall prepare and submit monthly membership report to the International Union office and see that a check is drawn in payment of the local’s per capita tax each month and sent to the International Secretary-Treasurer. He/she shall keep an accurate record of receipts and disbursements and shall, once each month, submit to the membership a monthly operating statement of the financial transactions of the local for the previous month. He/she shall act as the custodian of all properties of the local union. He/she shall, at the expense of the local union and through the international Union, give a surety bond for an amount to be fixed by the executive board of the local union. He/she shall see that any financial reports required by the International Union Constitution to be submitted to the International Union are submitted in accordance with the International Union Constitution.

Section 5. The trustees shall make or cause to be made at least semi-annually 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 6. 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.

The executive board shall have the authority to spend up to $250.00 per month for miscellaneous, non-recurring purposes. The executive board may also authorize payment of grievance arbitration expenses. All such authorizations must be entered in the minutes of the executive board and must include the specific purpose of the expenditure. All expenditures must be subsequently presented to the membership for approval.

Section 7. The number of stewards will be limited to ten (10). The steward shall process grievances, attend meetings, enroll members and communicate union business back to the rank and file. Unexcused absence of a steward from three (3) consecutive membership meetings shall automatically cause removal from office.

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 1. This 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 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 union or the executive board of the 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 the constitution and special rules of this local union or of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

This constitution maybe 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 at a regular or special meeting of the local union and 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 which the vote is taken.

APPROVED BY:

_______________________

GERALD W. MCENTEE

INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

________________________

DATE – July 7, 1999