MLSA 4928 - Constitution

CONSTITUTION October 22, 2000

ARTICLE I NAME

This organization shall be known as the Massachusetts Library Staff Association, Local 4928, AFT Massachusetts, AFT, AFL-CIO.

Section 1. To bring all library employees into relationship of mutual assistance and cooperation.

Section 2. To obtain for all library employees the rights to which they are entitled.

Section 3. To raise the standards of the library profession by securing the conditions essential to the best professional service.

Section 4. To promote the welfare of those patrons who come within the sphere of activity of this organization by providing the best service possible.

Section 5. To promote and respect the civil rights of all citizens.

Section 6. To eliminate racism in all its forms.

Section 1. Membership may include all professional, paraprofessional, secretarial personnel, custodians and other library related personnel.

Section 2. No discrimination shall be shown toward members or applicants for membership because of race, color, creed, political belief, national origin, age, sex or sexual preference.

Section 3. Any member who fails to pay his dues shall be notified by letter by the Treasurer. After a short grace period, his name shall be removed from the records of the national office. The member may be reinstated upon the payment of back dues.

Section 4. A member may be expelled for acts detrimental to the Association upon the presentation of written charges signed by at least one-fourth of the total membership of the Association and approved by at least three-fourths, of the Executive Board. The entire membership shall be notified by letter of the impending action at least seven days prior to the action. The member shall have the right to appeal the decision to the membership at the following membership meeting and shall be reinstated with full rights by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting.

Section 5. Employees in public or private institutions outside the jurisdiction of this local may be admitted to membership until such time as a local is chartered in their jurisdiction.

Section 1. The following officers will be elected biennially by the Association:

a. President

2. Vice- President
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer

Section 2.

Membership in good standing in the Association for at least three months is required to hold office.

Section 3. Officers shall be elected by mail ballot prior the regular annual membership meeting. Persons receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected.

Section &. Officers shall be installed at the regular annual membership meeting or at a special meeting or banquet held for this purpose.

Section 5. Nominations for office shall be accepted thirty (30) days prior to the regular annual membership meeting. Notice shall be provided to each member at least sixty (60) days prior to the meeting that nominations will be in order.

Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Executive Board. He or she shall be ex-officio member of all committees. He or she shall represent the Association when and where necessary and shall sign all necessary papers and documents. He or she shall make a report at least once a year at the annual meeting to the Association.

Section 2. The Vice-President shall perform all the duties

of the President in the absence of that officer.

Section 3. The duties of the Treasurer shall be:

a. To receive, record, and deposit in the name of the Association money from dues and all other sources.

b. To keep the membership rolls~/ and issue membership cards, receipts, and delinquent notices.

c. To forward all per capita dues and current membership lists to the national office of the American Federation of Teachers and to other affiliated organizations to keep this Association in good standing at all times. Special care should be taken to insure that per capita tax through June 30 be sent to the national office no later than fifteen days prior to the opening date of the national convention to make sure that the delegates from this Association may be seated.

d. To be chairperson of the Budget Committee.

e. He or she shall present a written report to the Executive Board at its meetings and to all members at the annual meeting.

f. To keep adequate records available at all times for the Executive Board and the Budget Committee.

g. To pay all bills, retaining vouchers or invoices for the same.

Section 5. The Secretary shall issue all notices, shall answer all correspondence at the direction of the President and Executive Board, and shall report all correspondence to the President and the Executive Board. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the seal and charter of the Association. The Secretary shall record the minutes of the Executive Board and of the general membership meetings and shall notify members of meetings and special meetings.

Section 1. The following committees shall be active in this Association:

a. Membership

b. Budget

c. Grievance

d. Nominations-Election

e. Collective-Bargaining at each Chapter

f. Social

g. Scholarship

h. Committee on Political Education (COPE)

Section 2. The chairperson and members of each of the committees shall be appointed by the President.

Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Membership Committee to investigate all applications for membership and to present them, with recommendations, at any meeting of the Local. The Membership Committee shall plan and execute a dynamic program to insure the growth and vitality of the Association.

Section 2. It shall be the duty of the Budget Committee to prepare a budget for adoption by the membership prior to June 30, to audit the books of the Association and the Treasurer's annual report. The Budget Committee shall present their yearly report to the membership in writing.

Section 3. It shall be the duty of the Grievance Committee to receive all written grievances before the final step in the grievance procedure and to take appropriate action.

Section 4. It shall be the duty of the Nominations/Elections Committee to present a slate of officers to the membership at least thirty days before prior to the election. Members may nominate from the floor for any office or representative capacity. The slate with all additions shall be distributed to all members at least fifteen days before the election. This Committee shall be responsible for the conducting of elections as appropriate consistent with the provisions of Article X.

Section 5. It shall be the duty of the Collective Bargaining Committees at each Chapter individual library to prepare and substantiate all collective bargaining proposals for their respective collective bargaining agreements.

Section 6. It shall be the duty of the Social committee to arrange such programs and perform such duties as the Association may direct.

Section 7. The Scholarship Committee shall work to raise funds in support of the scholarship(s) offered by the Massachusetts Library Staff Association, Local 4928, AFT Massachusetts, AFT, AFL-CIO.

Section 8. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Political Education (COPE) to raise funds for, and to oversee the political education activities of the Association.

Section 1. The Executive Board of this Association shall consist of the following:

a. All elected officers

b. Chairmen of the Standing Committees

c. Chief delegate to the local labor council

d. The Chapter Chair from each unit

Section 2. The Executive Board shall administer the policy of the Association set by the membership at regular membership meetings. The Executive Board shall have the power to act for the good of the Association through a five (5) member Executive Administrative Committee elected from within the membership of the Executive Board, in the event action must be taken between its regularly scheduled meetings and in emergency situations where policy cannot be set by the membership.

Section 3. The chairperson of the Executive Board shall be the President of the Association.

Section 4. The time and place of the Executive Board meetings shall be set by the Executive Board and shall be announced at the previous membership meetings.

Section 5. The Executive Board shall have the power to employ all personnel including officers, clerical help and other persons as may be determined by the needs and finances of the Association.

Section 6. The Executive Board shall report its activities at each regular membership meeting.

Section 7. Twenty-five per cent (25%) of the membership of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.

Section 1. This Association shall maintain affiliation with and whenever possible send delegates to the following organizations:

1. The American Federation of Teachers.
2. All delegates and alternates to the national convention of the American Federation of Teachers and The Massachusetts Federation of Teachers shall be elected by a majority vote at the annual membership meeting. The President and Secretary shall certify the election and forward the credentials of all elected delegates and alternates to the national office as soon as possible but no later than fifteen days prior to the opening date of the convention. The Association must send the list of certified delegates by registered or certified mail. The delegates shall confer with the Treasurer to make sure that the per capita dues for June have been sent to the national office at least fifteen days before the convening of the national convention. The election of delegates and alternates to the national and State convention shall be conducted according to Article X of this Constitution.

C. The Massachusetts State Labor Council. Delegates shall be elected according to Article X of this Constitution.

D. The Norfolk Central Labor Council. Delegates shall be elected according to Article X of this Constitution.

Section 2. All delegates shall make written reports to the Executive Board on all meetings attended.

Section 3. The Association to the best of its ability shall be active in affairs of affiliated organizations.

Section 4. Delegates to affiliated organizations shall meet the same requirements as those set for officers of this Association.

Section 5. Every reasonable effort shall be made by this Association to pay legitimate expenses of delegates to meetings and conventions of affiliated organizations.

ARTICLE X ELECTIONS

Section 1. The election of all Association officers shall be by mail ballot.

Section 2. Nominations for office shall be made biennially thirty (30) days prior to the annual fall membership meeting.

Section 3. The election of all Association officers shall be conducted biennially during the Annual fall meeting.

Section 4. All Association officers shall be installed at the Annual or at a special banquet held for.

Section 5. All vacancies in elective office, other than that of President, shall be filled by members appointed by the Executive Board subject to the approval of the regular membership at the following regular membership meeting. Any member or officer who fails to carry out the duties of office or who is not present for three consecutive meetings without notifying the President may be removed.

Section 6. All elections within the Association must adhere to the following regulations:

a. Members of the Association must be given an opportunity to nominate candidates.

b. Each member must receive notification of the election at least fifteen (15) days prior to the election.

3. The election must be conducted by mail ballot.

d. All members in good standing may run for office and cast a ballot.

e. The results of the election must be published and the ballots kept for one year.

f. The Nominations-Elections Committee shall have the duty of conducting elections and at all times shall consider the convenience of the members.

Section 1. Regular membership meetings shall be held at a time and place to be determined annually by the Executive Board.

Section 2. The regular meeting held in the Fall shall be the annual meeting.

Section 3. The Executive Board shall meet prior to each regular meeting.

Section 4. A special meeting may be called by the President with the approval of the Executive Board. A special meeting shall be called by the President upon receipt of a written request for such a meeting signed by fifteen members of the Association. All members shall be given written notice at least two days prior to any special meeting.

Section 5. A quorum shall consist of 4% of the membership. The President shall announce at the Annual fall meeting, the total membership and the number needed to constitute the quorum for that year.

Section 6. If there is no elective presiding officer

present, the membership may elect a chairperson.

Section 1. The dues of the Association shall not exceed the sum of the per capita dues paid to the AFT Massachusetts, AFT, Mass State Labor Council, Norfolk Central Labor Council and AFT insurance plus:

a. .15% of Step III of Library I Category City of Cambridge

Section 2. A sum of money is to be set aside annually to be used as a militancy and defense fund. The Executive Board shall exercise control over the militancy and defense fund.

Section 3. No other expenditures shall be made, nor agreements entered into involving the funds of this Association, unless by vote of the membership; except that in case of emergency, the President with the approval of the Executive Board may direct the expenditure of such sums as necessary for the good of the membership provided that such sum does not exceed five hundred dollars.

Section 4. Bills presented to the Treasurer for payment must bear the signature of the member incurring the expense and must be countersigned by the President.

Section 5. This Association shall annually set aside a sum of money to be awarded as a scholarship to be called the "George Hallisey Memorial Scholarship" The amount of the award and the conditions of the scholarship shall be decided by the Scholarship Committee.

ARTICLE XIII RULES OF ORDER

Section 1. Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern all cases not covered by this constitution or the bylaws of the Association.

Section 1. This Constitution and the by-laws thereof may be changed or amended at any regular meeting of the Association by a two-thirds vote of the members present, provided that the proposed amendment has been read to the members at the regular meeting immediately preceding, or provided that a copy of the proposed amendment has been presented to all members at least fifteen (15) days before the vote on the amendment is taken.

Section 1. Three copies of this Constitution and all future amendments shall be submitted to the national office of the American Federation of Teachers and the Massachusetts Federation of Teachers.

Section 2. Copies of this Constitution shall be made available to affiliated organizations upon request.

Section 3. Copies of this Constitution shall be available for any member upon request to the Secretary.

Section 4. Each Chapter Chairperson shall be given a copy of this Constitution.

Section 1. The vote on the ratification of a proposed contract shall be taken by the members of the Bargaining Unit covered by the proposed agreement at a

meeting called foe the purpose of voting on ratification.

a. Five days notice shall be provided those who will be eligible to vote on ratification as to the time and the place of the meeting.

b. Written summaries of the terms and conditions of any tentative agreement shall be available at such ratification meeting.

Section 2. A report shall be made to the membership concerning the aforementioned contract provisions and/or changes, etc. at the next regular membership meeting.

a. Call to Order

2. Minutes of Previous Meeting
3. President's Report
4. Treasurer's Report
5. Reports of Committee Chairmen
6. Reports of Labor Delegates
7. Communications
8. Unfinished Business
9. New Business
10. Program
11. Good and Welfare of Members
12. Adjournment