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Constitution Bucks County Community College
Chapter of the American Federation of Teachers Local
2238Revised January 2001
ARTICLE I Name and
Affiliation
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Section 1. Name
The name of this organization shall be the Bucks County Community
College Chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, Local 2238.
Section 2. Affiliations
The Chapter shall maintain affiliation with and whenever possible send
delegates to the following organizations:
- The American Federation of Teachers
- The Pennsylvania Federation of Teachers
- The Pennsylvania State Labor Council of AFL-CIO
- The Bucks County AFL-CIO Central Labor Council
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The objectives of
this Chapter shall be:
- To promote and maintain excellence of education.
- To promote the welfare of all members of the bargaining unit.
- To guarantee the principles of academic freedom.
- To bring the faculty of the College and other interested persons and
groups into association of mutual assistance and cooperation.
- To pursue these objectives by orderly, democratic processes.
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ARTICLE
III Membership and Voting
Privileges
Section 1. Qualification for membership
Any faculty member or employee of Bucks County Community College who
qualifies as a “public employee” or as a “professional employee” as
defined by the Public Employee Law, Act #195 of Pennsylvania, 1970, or any
Act or Law which amends or supersedes it, shall be eligible for membership
in the Chapter.
Section 2. Voting Privileges
Only members in good standing as defined by the By-Laws shall have the
privilege of deliberating and voting on matters presented to the
membership of the Chapter.
Section 3. Eligibility for
OfficeOnly members in good standing as defined by the
By-Laws shall be eligible for nomination to run for any office within the
Chapter.
Section 4. Non-discriminatory
Clause No discrimination shall be shown toward
members or applicants for membership because of race, creed, color, age,
national origin, gender, marital status, disability, sexual orientation,
and political persuasion.
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Section 1. The President
- The President, who shall be elected by a majority of the vote of all
members of the Chapter in good standing, is chief executive officer of
the Chapter.
- The President shall preside over all meetings of the Chapter.
- The President shall be chair of the Executive Committee and the
Steering Committee and shall vote only to break a tie.
- The President shall be chair of the Negotiating Committee and shall
vote only to break a tie.
- The President may at his/her discretion, sit on any other committee,
sub-committee, or ad hoc committee as a non-voting member.
- The President, with the advice and consent of the Executive
Committee and Steering Committee, shall appoint members in good standing
to any and all committees, except where the Constitution provides for
elections.
- The President, with the advice and consent of the Executive
Committee and Steering Committee, may create and staff ad hoc committees
as the need arises.
Section 2. The First
Vice-President
- The First Vice-President, who shall be elected by a majority of the
vote of all members of the Chapter in good standing, is second executive
officer of the Chapter.
- The First Vice-President shall succeed to the Presidency in the
event of the President’s inability to serve and shall represent the
President whenever such representation is necessary.
- The First Vice-President shall preside over meetings of the Chapter
and of the Steering Committee in the President’s absence.
- The First Vice-President shall fulfill whatever responsibilities the
President delegates to her/him.
- In the event that no member of the executive committee is elected to
Advisory Council, the First Vice-President will be appointed as the
Chapter’s representative.
- The First Vice-President shall serve on the Negotiating
Committee.
Section 3. The Second Vice-President
- The Second Vice-President, who shall be elected by a majority of the
vote of all members of the Chapter in good standing, is third executive
officer of the Chapter.
- The Second Vice-President shall preside over meetings of the Chapter
in the absence of the President and First Vice-President and shall
succeed to the Presidency in the event of the inability of the President
and First Vice-President to serve.
- The Second Vice-President shall administer the disposition and
processing of all grievances.
- The Second Vice-President shall secure the advice and consent of the
Executive Committee before proceeding to Step 4 of the Grievance
procedure in any and all grievance cases.
- The Second Vice-President shall report to both the Executive
Committee and the Steering Committee on the current status of
grievances.
- The Second Vice-President shall serve on the Negotiating
Committee.
Section 4. The Third Vice-President
- The Third Vice-President, who shall be a part-time faculty member
elected by a majority of the vote of all members of the Chapter in good
standing, is fourth executive officer of the Chapter.
- The Third Vice-President shall report in conjunction with the
Part-Time Representative At-Large to the Executive Committee and
Steering Committee on issues pertaining to part-time faculty.
- The Third Vice-President shall serve on the Negotiating
Committee.
Section 5. The Treasurer
- The Treasurer, who shall be elected by a majority of the vote of all
members of the Chapter in good standing, is fifth executive officer of
the Chapter.
- The Treasurer shall present a financial report quarterly.
- The Treasurer shall prepare an annual budget covering the year from
July 1st through June 30th, with the advice and
consent of the Executive Committee
and Steering Committee, and shall
present this budget for adoption at the first regular meeting of the
Chapter in the fall semester.
- The Treasurer shall receive, record, and deposit in the name of the
Chapter monies from all sources and shall pay all duly authorized bills,
retaining vouchers or invoices for the same.
- The Treasurer shall present all financial records for annual,
independent audit and shall read the auditor’s report once a year.
- The Treasurer shall keep the membership roll and shall issue
receipts for dues upon request.
- The Treasurer shall keep members apprised of whatever financially
beneficial programs are available to them under the auspices of the
American Federation of
Teachers.
- The Treasurer shall forward all per capita dues and current lists to
the National Office of the American Federation of Teachers and to other
affiliated organizations to keep the Chapter in good standing at all
times.
Section 6. The Recording Secretary
- The Recording Secretary, who shall be elected by a majority of the
vote of all members of the Chapter in good standing, is sixth executive
officer of the Chapter.
- The Recording Secretary shall keep minutes of the Chapter, of the
Steering Committee, and of Meet and Discuss sessions and shall provide
for the distribution of the minutes to each member of the Chapter in a
timely fashion.
Section 7. The Corresponding
Secretary
- The Corresponding Secretary, who shall be elected by a majority of
the vote of all members of the Chapter in good standing, is seventh
executive officer of the Chapter.
- The Corresponding Secretary shall prepare and distribute to each
member of the Chapter a monthly newsletter containing information of
importance and interest to the membership.
- The Corresponding Secretary shall maintain a file of copies of all
correspondence issued on behalf of the Chapter.
Section 8. Part-Time
Representative At-Large
- The Part-Time Representative At-Large, who shall be a part-time
faculty member elected by a majority of the vote of all members of the
Chapter in good standing, is the eighth executive officer of the
Chapter.
- The Part-Time Representative At-Large shall, in conjunction with the
Third Vice-President, report to Executive Committee and Steering
Committee on issues pertaining to part-time faculty.
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ARTICLE V Academic Area
Representatives
-
Election
Academic Area Representatives shall be elected by a majority of members
in good standing, present and voting in each department or area as
follows: Departments of the Arts (2), Behavioral and Social Science (2),
Business Studies (2), Health, Physical Education & Nursing (2),
Language & Literature (2), Math, Computer & Information Science
(2), Science & Technology (2), Library and Counseling
(1).
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Responsibilities
Academic Area Representatives shall:
- Serve as members of the Steering Committee;
- Act as spokesperson for their constituency within the Steering
Committee;
- Convey to their area, for discussion by their area, all questions
under consideration by the Steering Committee
- Function as a Membership Committee of One (1) for their area;
- Orient new faculty in their area regarding the objectives and the
workings of the federation; and
- Be responsible for the distribution of any literature that is made
available for their area.
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Section 1. Time of Regular Meetings
The Chapter shall meet each month during the fall and
spring semesters to deliberate on the official business of the
Chapter.
Section 2. Order of Business
Regular meetings of the Chapter shall conform to the order
of business prescribed in the By-Laws, Article II, Section 1.
Section 3. Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Chapter may be called
by:
- The President
- The Executive Committee
- The Steering Committee
- The Negotiating Committee
- The General Membership, through petition of at least one-third of
all members.
Calls for such meetings must be given
in writing to all members of the Chapter at least two working days in
advance of the meeting time.
Section 4. Quorum
At least thirty members in good standing must be present in order to
conduct business at any regular or special meeting of the Chapter. At
least ten members in good standing must be present in order to conduct
business at any Steering Committee meeting of the Chapter. This section
applies to all business except for the election of officers or
ratification of contract, both of which must take place over a period of
four consecutive evenings and three consecutive days as announced by the
Steering Committee. Return to
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ARTICLE VII Parliamentary
Authority
Section 1. Official Rules
The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition,
shall govern in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they
are not inconsistent with this Constitution and By-Laws.
Section 2. Parliamentarian
A Parliamentarian may be appointed by the President to assist the Chair
in making rulings at any and all meetings of the Chapter. Return to
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ARTICLE VIII Amendments
to the Constitution
Section 1. Amending Procedures
This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of
all members of this Chapter in good standing and voting conducted by
secret ballot over a four day period established by the Steering
Committee, provided previous written notice of the proposed
amendments and rationale shall have been distributed to all members in
good standing at least one week prior to the voting. Only ballots marked according to ballot
instructions and deposited at the polling places designated by the
Steering Committee shall be judged valid and counted.
Section 2. Provision to Exclude
The provisions set forth in this Constitution may not be
altered or replaced, except by means established in Section 1,
above.
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Section 1. The Standing
Committees
The Standing Committees of the Chapter shall be:
- Executive Committee
- The Steering Committee
- The Negotiating Committee
- Meet and Discuss Committee
Section 2. The Executive
Committee
- Composition
The Executive Committee shall be composed of all Executive Officers of
the Chapter.
- Meetings
The Executive Committee shall meet at the request of the President or
at the request of the Second vice-president.
- Responsibilities
To advise the President on urgent matters when meetings of the Steering
Committee or of the General Membership are not feasible.
- To advise the Second Vice-President on matters relating to
grievances.
- To authorize the payment of bills.
- To join the Second Vice-President in deciding upon the moving of any
and all grievances to Step 4 of the Grievance Procedure.
- To administer all of the affairs of the Chapter and execute policies
of the Chapter.
- To work as a committee, consulting with each other before final
decisions or commitments are made on the implementation of policy as to
encourage full discussion and coordination on executive actions.
- To supervise and review all public statements which represent the
official position of the Chapter.
- To present a tentative contract to the membership for a vote of
ratification.
Section 3. The Steering Committee
- Composition
The Steering Committee
shall be composed of:
- The elected officers of the Chapter, as well as members of the
Negotiating Committee
-
The Academic Area Representatives
- Five part-time At-Large Representatives elected by a majority of
part-time members in good standing.
- Meetings
The steering committee shall meet every month during the fall and
spring semesters at least two weeks before each regular faculty meeting of
the Chapter. Special meetings may be called as needed by the President of
the Chapter; by the Executive Committee; by the Negotiating Committee,
upon a majority vote of its members; or by the General Membership, through
petition of at least ten percent of all members in good standing, at least
two working days in advance of the proposed meeting.
- Responsibilities
The Steering Committee shall have the following
responsibilities:
- Examine questions raised within the academic areas concerning
policies, procedures, and decisions falling within the purview of the
current contract and recommend appropriate action to the responsible
party or parties.
- Review the college-wide conduct of contractual policy.
- Distribute docket time among petitioners for such time and approve
the docket for each regular meeting of the Chapter.
- Advise the Chapter of the need for changes in established policies
and procedures and for the adoption of new policies and
procedures.
- Advise the President on appropriate action when time and/or
circumstance prevent his seeking direction from the general
membership.
- Prepare the slate(s) of nominees for Chapter offices and for the
Negotiating Committee.
- Hear and act upon grievance appeals, either sustaining or reversing
the decision of the Second Vice-President and/or of the Executive
Committee.
Section 4. Negotiating Committee
- Composition
The Negotiating Committee shall be composed of the President; the
President Elect; the First Vice-President Elect; the Second Vice-President
Elect; the Third Vice-President Elect; two members in good standing at
least one of whom must be a part-time faculty member, elected by a
majority of the vote of all members of the Chapter in good standing; and
one alternate member, elected by a majority of the vote of all members of
the Chapter in good standing.
- Meetings
The Negotiating
Committee shall meet when called by the President for the purpose of
fulfilling the responsibilities outlined in C below.
- Responsibilities
- Hold hearings on demands prior to formal
negotiations.
- Prepare a list of demands and an outline of the parameters of the
Committee’s bargaining position to be presented to the Chapter for
approval before formal negotiations begin.
- Negotiate a new Contract with representatives of the Board of
Trustee.
- Keep the membership regularly apprised of the progress of
negotiations to the extent allowable under the conditions agreed upon by
the negotiating parties.
- Present a tentative Contract in writing to the executive committee
for approval
- Sit with the Executive Committee in deciding matters pertaining to
grievances.
Section 5. Meet and Discuss
Committee
- Composition
The Meet and Discuss Committee shall be composed of members of the
Executive Committee joined by all remaining members of the Negotiating
Committee.
- Meetings
The Meet and Discuss Committee shall meet as necessary to fulfill the
responsibilities as outlined in Act 195 and according to the terms of the
current Federation Contract. Return to
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Section 1. Time of Elections and Term of
Office
Elections shall be held during the spring semester of every other year
(beginning 2001), as soon as possible after the awarding of individual
contracts. Elections shall be for members of both the Executive Committee
and the Negotiating Committee. The term of office shall be two
years.
Section 2. Nominations
Slates of nominees shall be prepared by the Steering Committee at least
one month in advance of all elections. Nominations from the floor shall be
honored providing that the nominators have received prior consent of the
nominees.
Section 3. Balloting
Elections shall be held over a period of four consecutive evenings and
three consecutive days as announced by the Steering Committee. Only
ballots marked according to ballot instructions and deposited at the
polling places designated by the Steering Committee shall be judged valid
and counted. Return to
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