Constitution and Bylaws for The

Constitution and Bylaws for the

University of South Florida Chapter of

United Faculty of Florida

Effective 8/27/99

Constitution

Preamble

In accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the United Faculty of Florida, we, the members of the of United Faculty of Florida (UFF) at the University of South Florida, organize a chapter in order to achieve the objectives and protect the rights of the faculty and professional employees.

Article I. Name.

This organization shall be known as the University of South Florida Chapter of the United Faculty of Florida (UFF/USF).

Article II. Objectives.

Section 1. To bring faculty and professional employees of the University of South Florida into a relationship of mutual assistance and cooperation in order to obtain and maintain for them the rights and privileges to which they are entitled. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to, achieving and safeguarding due process and academic freedom; and combating all forms of discrimination including those based on age, disability, gender, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, or sexual orientation in the University and the State University System.

Section 2. To promote a democratization of the University that will enable members of the university community to better serve the faculty, staff, students, and people of the State of Florida.

Section 3. To achieve and safeguard due process and academic freedom.

Section 4. To combat all forms of discrimination including those based on age, disability, gender, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, or sexual orientation in the University, and the State University System.

Section 5 2. To act as a local extension of the state collective bargaining agent, i.e., United Faculty of Florida. UFF/USF negotiates and enforces the collective bargaining agreement. Article III. Membership.

Section 1. All faculty and professional employees holding regular, visiting, provisional, research, affiliate, or joint appointments in the position classifications listed in Appendix A of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Board of Regents Governors, as delegated to the USF Board of Trustees, and the United Faculty of Florida shall be eligible for membership. Membership shall also be open to retired faculty and other s that have withdrawn from the profession who wish to maintain affiliation.

Section 2. Upon approval of the Chapter councilExecutive Committee, non-voting membership shall be open to any person who is interested in advancing the cause of education but is not eligible for active membership.

Article IV. Officers and Chapter CouncilExecutive Committee.

Section 1. The membership shall annually elect by secret ballot a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, plus the appropriate number of Senators, and Alternate Senators as determined by the United Faculty Florida state Bylaws. The membership shall also annually elect delegates and alternate delegates to the FEA Assembly in accordance with FEA bylaws.

Section 2. The officers and Senators shall be elected annually on or before March 21, and shall take office on the following April 1.

Section 3. The Chapter Council shall be composed of the elected officers, Senators, Alternate Senators and the appointed chairs of the standing committees. The Chairpersons of the standing committees shall be ex-officio nonvoting members of the Chapter Council. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, Vice- President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Chief Bargaining Negotiator.

Section 4. The President with the consent of a majority of the Chapter CouncilExecutive Committee shall fill vacancies in the office of an elected chapter officer or, UFF Senator, or FEA Delegate within thirty days of the occurrence.

Article V. Referenda, Recall, and Due Process.

A referendum on any issue or recall of a Chapter officer may be initiated by 1) a majority vote of the Chapter CouncilExecutive Committee, or 2) an on-line petition of 20% of the Chapter membership. A referendum or recall election must be held within thirty days of one of these two actions. During this period of time the Chapter CouncilExecutive Committee shall guarantee ample opportunity for the pro and con arguments to be communicated to the membership. The membership shall resolve the issue through a fair and secret vote.

Article VI. Amendment.

This constitution may be amended as follows: A proposed amendment shall be distributed to all members at least thirty days prior to a vote. A constitutional amendment shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote of all those present at the time of the vote. The Executive Committee, 10% of the chapter membership (by petition), or a majority of the attending members at any membership meeting may propose an amendment to the constitution, whose proposed changes shall then be sent to the membership for thirty days before a paper-ballot or electronic vote. Ratification requires approval of two-thirds of those voting. Bylaws

Article I. Rules of Order

Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern in all cases not governed by the Constitution or Bylaws.

Article II. Committees.

Section 1. Standing Committees shall be:

1. Bargaining Committee 2. Grievance Committee 3. Membership Services Committee 4. Publications Communications Committee 5. Political Action Committee 6. Stewards Committee

Section 2. The President with the consent of the Chapter Council Executive Committee will appoint chairpersons of each standing committee.

Section 3. The membership of each standing committee shall be appointed by the committee chairperson.

Section 4. The President may appoint special committees when needed.

Article III. Duties of Officers and Chapter Council.

Section 1. The president shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter chapter and of the Chapter CouncilExecutive Committee. He or she shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, shall sign all necessary documents and papers, and represent the organization. The President shall make an annual report at the last chapter meeting held during the academic year.

Section 2. The Vice-President shall represent the President, when the President cannot be present and shall perform those duties that are prescribed by the President or the Chapter CouncilExecutive Committee. In the event of any vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice-President shall serve as President for the period remaining in the existing term.

Section 3. The Secretary shall maintain records for the chapter proceedings and perform other functions as specified by the Chapter CouncilExecutive Committee. Section 4. 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 evidence of financial worth of this organization. The Treasurer shall prepare an annual budget and make regular financial reports to the Chapter CouncilExecutive Committee.

Section 5. The Senators shall represent the Chapter at the Statewide statewide UFF meetings and the annual Representative Assembly of the Florida Teaching Profession. The President shall assign an Alternate Senator to represent the Chapter chapter at one of these meetings when a senator Senator is unable to attend. Senators and Alternate Senators may exercise other duties as prescribed by the Chapter CouncilExecutive Committee. The Delegates shall represent that chapter at the statewide FEA Assembly meetings. The President shall assign an Alternate Delegate to represent the chapter at one of these meetings when a Delegate is unable to attend. Delegates and Alternate Delegates may exercise other duties as prescribed by the Executive Committee.

Section 6. The Chapter Council Executive Committee shall adopt an annual budget and administer the policies of the Cchapter as set by the membership. It shall have the power to act for the good of the Cchapter in emergency situations where policy cannot be set by the membership. The Chapter Council Executive Committee shall regularly notify the membership of its actions.

Section 7. The Chapter Council shall have the power to employ persons on a part-time basis.

Section 8. Non-attendance at three or more consecutive meetings of the of the Chapter Council by members of the Council may result in their replacement by vote of the council.

Section 9. The Chapter officers shall also function as the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have the right to take any action in the absence of a quorum of a meeting of the council. Such action taken shall have the same effect as though taken at a meeting of the Council if it is ratified by a majority of the Council in writing (which includes e-mail). Minutes shall be taken and distributed to the Council at any and all Executive Committee meetings.

Article IV. Duties of the Standing Committees.

Section 1. All committees shall be under the direction of and report to the President and the Chapter CouncilExecutive Committee. A representative of each committee shall regularly report to the chapter on its activities.

Section 2. The Bargaining Committee shall communicate the opinions, concerns, and needs of the USF bargaining unit to the UFF Bargaining Team and shall communicate bargaining issues and problems from the UFF Bargaining team to the Chapter Council and membership serve as the Bargaining Team under the direction of the Chief Negotiator, who serves as chair.

Section 3. The Grievance Committee shall keep records of and supervise all grievances, and insure that the President and Chapter Council Executive Committee are fully informed on the progress in maintaining and expanding the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Section 4. The Membership Services Committee shall carry out organizing drives among the faculty and professional employees, contact all new bargaining unit employees and, with the approval of the Chapter CouncilExecutive Committee, cooperate in assisting in the organization of other colleges and universities. The committee will aid members in utilizing the full benefits of their union membership.

Section 5. The Publications Communications Committee shall publish a regular newsletter and such other publications dictated byin consultation with the President and/or the Chapter CouncilExecutive Committee. The Publications Committee shall establish and maintain a Chapter Website. in order to communicate important news and other materials from the State UFF, other SUS Chapters, and the USF Chapter.

Section 6. The Political Action Committee shall cooperate, when the Chapter Membership concursupon the approval of the chapter at a chapter meeting, with the State UFF in lobbying, endorsing candidates, and raising contributions. The Chairperson of the Political Action Committee shall be the official nominee to the State UFF Political Action-Legislative Committee and Central Labor Council unless otherwise determined by the President and./or Chapter Council Executive Committee.

Section 7. The Stewards Committee shall be the first line of communication with the rank-and-file. They will be responsible for making sure that all Chapter members receive all appropriate correspondence from the Chapter, State UFF, and FTP-NEA. The Stewards will aid members in utilizing the full benefits of their union membership by directing them to appropriate Chapter Officers and/or Committees when they need a problem solved. The Steward Committee Chairperson (Chief Steward) will report to the President and Chapter Council on issues concerning the Steward Committee. He or she will also be an ex-officio member of the Grievance Committee.

Article V. Meetings.

Section 1. All meetings and discussion of of the Cchapter, Tthe Chapter CouncilExecutive Committee, and committees are open top the membership, except when personnel matters and or grievances are being discussed.

Section 2. The time and place of regular chapter membership meetings shall be fixed by the Chapter Council, which shall meet at the same time and shall coincide with the regular chapter meetings. In general, the chapter and council meetings will take place on payday Fridays during the regular academic year and will be scheduled for the summer terms by the President and the Chapter Council Executive Committee and announced to the chapter in a timely fashion.

Section 3. The Executive Committee shall hold a regular monthly meeting with time and place to be determined in concert between the President and the Executive Council. The President or a majority of the Chapter Council may call special meetings.

Section 4. With the exceptions of meetings on personnel matters and grievances noted above, all meetings of the chapter membership, Executive Council, Chapter Council and committees are open to the membership. No member’s right to be recognized shall be abridged or denied.

Article VI. Elections

Before the end of the fall semester of each academic year, the chapter shall elect an Elections Committee (which is not a standing committee) of union members to design an election process, subject to the advice and consent of the chapter; solicit nominations for office and representative positions; conduct the election; and report the results. Members of the Election Committee shall be barred from running for executive office, and all candidates for executive offices in contested races shall be barred from canvassing or counting ballots.

Article VII. Amendments.

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 may amend the Bylaws.The Chapter Executive Committee, 10% of the chapter membership (by petition), or a majority of the attending members at any membership meeting may propose amendments to the by-laws, whose proposed changes shall then be sent to the membership thirty days before a paper- ballot or electronic vote. Ratification of the proposed change(s) requires approval of a majority of those voting.