LOCAL 333 BYLAWS
Preamble
The following
bylaws are adopted by Local 333 pursuant to, and to supplement the OPSEU Constitution, and to involve as many members as possible
through the democratic sharing of duties, responsibilities and information.
Article
1 Name
The organization
shall be known as Local 333, Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). The
local is situated at 419 King Street West, Oshawa, Ontario
and is made up of members who work at Ministry of Government Services and Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care or any other
unit assigned.
Article
2 Objectives
The objectives
of the local and its member are to:
2.1 Uphold and abide by the OPSEU
Constitution and all applications and interpretations thereof.
2.2 Encourage active participation
by all members in union activities.
2.3 Provide an opportunity for all
members to influence and shape their future through free democratic trade unionism.
2.4 Encourage settlement by negotiation
and mediation of all disputes between members and the employer.
2.5 Ensure a safe workplace through
strict enforcement of Health and Safety standards.
2.6 Strive for member satisfaction
with their working life through encouragement of a productive and enriching work environment free from discrimination, harassment
and unfair employment practices.
2.7 Uphold and abide by duly accepted
OPSEU corporate policy.
Article
3 Affiliations
Local 333
will affiliate with the Oshawa and District Labour Council. Annual affiliation fees will be paid according to approved Council practice/policy.
Article
4 Constitution and Bylaws
The Constitution
of this Local shall be the Constitution of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and these bylaws shall in all respects
be subordinate to the said Constitution and all applications thereof.
Article
5 Fiscal Year
The fiscal
year of the Local shall begin at 00:01 hours January 1st and end at 24:00 hours December 31st.
Article
6 Membership
6.1 Local 333 shall be open to all
employees eligible for membership in the MOHLTC and MGCS working at 419 King
St. W., Oshawa, ON. or any other
unit assigned.
6.2 Each member in good standing
has the right to nominate and vote during all elections and at all General Membership Meetings, to attend all membership meetings
and express views, arguments and opinions on all matters of business before any meeting.
To meet and assemble freely with other members, and generally to participate in all the activities of the Local in
a responsible manner. To present and discuss factually and honestly, the issues
and personalities upon which the membership must base its decisions. These rights
shall at all times be subject to the rules of procedure governing meetings and other uniform rules and regulations contained
in the Constitution and Bylaws. (Roberts Rules of Order).
6.3 The membership shall strive to
obtain the objectives set forth in the OPSEU Constitution and these Bylaws. In
accordance with OPSEU policy, the Local and its members shall strive to maintain constructive relations with other organizations,
to do all in their power to strengthen and promote the labour movement to cooperate with Executive Board Members, OPSEU staff
and help promote organizational activities.
Article
7 Membership Rights
Every member
in good standing is entitled:
7.1 To be represented by the Local,
7.2 Subject to any qualifications
stipulated in these bylaws, to be nominated for and hold one or more offices in the Local,
7.3 To attend any meeting of the
Local Executive Committee, notwithstanding the he/she may have voice but no vote,
7.4 To attend any General Membership
Meeting and that he/she may have both voice and vote,
7.5 To receive a copy of the Bylaws
of the Local and to be advised of amendments to it and receive an up to date copy on request.
Article
8 Membership Meetings
8.1 General Membership Meetings of
all members of this Local should be convened at least twice a year. The quorum shall be 10 people.
8.2 Notice of General Membership
Meetings will be given to the membership at least two (2) weeks in advance of the meeting.
8.3 A special General Membership
Meeting will be provided to the membership at least five (5) working days prior to the meeting.
8.4 An agenda for any General Membership
Meeting will be provided to the membership at least five (5) working days prior to the meeting.
8.5 Any member disrupting any meeting
will not be allowed to remain after two (2) warnings from the Chairperson.
Article
9 Order of Proceedings
1) Call to Order
2) Statement of Respect
3) Adoption of the Agenda
4) Minutes of the Previous
Meeting
5) Business Arising
6) Treasurer Report
7) Correspondence
8) Initiation of New
Members
9) Report of Officers
10) Report of Committees
11) Nominations and Elections
12) Unfinished Business
13) New Business
14) Adjournment
The above
may be modified to meet operational requirements of the Local and will be the first order of business as noted in item 3.
Article
10 Power of Administration
10.1 The membership is the highest
authority of this Local and shall be empowered to take or direct any action not consistent with these Bylaws. This action may include initiating independent investigations into issues of importance to the members
enlisting the aid of OPSEU corporate staff and the President. An investigation
of this nature may result in whatever corrective action that OPSEU corporate and a majority of the local my deem necessary,
up to and including the removal of any member occupying any position on any committee (i.e.
LEC, standing or ad-hoc committees, etc.) in accordance with the practices as set out in the OPSEU Constitution.
10.2 Between General Membership Meetings,
the Local Executive Committee (LEC), consisting of all stewards including local officers, shall administer the affairs of
the Local in accordance with the Constitution, the Local Bylaws and the wishes of the membership.
10.3 Between LEC meetings, the Local
Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer), shall be empowered to act on behalf of the membership to the extent
that urgent business requires prompt action, subject to the approval of the LEC and the membership.
Article
11 Local Executive Committee
11.1 The officers of the Local along
with remaining stewards constitute the LEC.
11.2 The officers of the LEC shall
be the President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, Stewards and Chief Steward.
11.3 The immediate Past President
may serve as a honourary member of the LEC with voice but no vote.
11.4 A quorum of the LEC shall be
in accordance with Article 29.8.2 of the OPSEU Constitution. (21-200 members 10).
11.5 Meetings of the LEC shall be
held at least quarterly. Special LEC meetings may be called by the President
or by the majority of LEC members.
11.6 Duties of the Officers of the
Local shall be:
a) President
The
President shall enforce compliance with the Bylaws and regulations of the Union and Local;
preside at Local Meetings; be an ex-officio member of all Local Committees; generally supervise the affairs and operations
of the Local; carry out such other duties as may be prescribed by the Local Bylaws.
b) Vice President
The
Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President during any absence of the President and accept and exercise such
duties and powers as may be designated by the LEC or President. The Vice President
may also attend all functions of the Union in place of the President when the President cannot
attend.
c) Secretary
The
Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Local and keep Minutes to be posted in a timely manner, distribute notices to all
members of the Local, as required; answer and/or forward all pertinent correspondence; and forward all pertinent membership
information to the appropriate union Regional Office.
d) Treasurer
The
Treasurer shall be responsible for proper administration of the assets and operating funds of the Local.
Article
12 Shop Stewards, Unit Steward
12.1 The
government of this Local shall be based on the Shop Stewards System and the election of the officers of the LEC shall be from
among the shop stewards.
12.2 Members
of this Local shall be organized into common work areas. Stewards shall be determined
by the peers of their immediate work areas. The Stewards will be considered Stewards
at large and responsible to represent the entire Local.
12.3 Duties
of the Shop Stewards shall be to administer and monitor the Collective Agreement. To
report to the President and the LEC, those items that their members wish presented for negotiations and at all times act as
a channel of communication between the members and the LEC and to present any items of concern to the Employee/Employer Relations
committee.
Article
13 Elections
All elections
shall be by clear majority, with run-off elections if necessary.
13.1 Election
of Shop Stewards and Local Officers shall be held at the General Membership Meeting every two (2) years in even numbered years. New Steward Positions will be accommodated by midterm elections where required for
the unexpired portion of the term only.
13.2 Voting
may not be by proxy.
13.3 Written
notice of nominations and elections of Shop Stewards and Officers shall be given to the membership at least ten (10) working
days in advance.
Article
14 Oath of Office
“I
_________________, promise that I will uphold and obey the Constitution, policies of the Ontario Public Service Employees
Union and the Bylaws of my Local, work with the Officers of the Local to represent the members, and fulfill the obligations
and responsibilities of my elected position as Steward to the best of my ability.”
Article
15 Trustee
16.1 The
signing officers are any two of the following: President, Vice President, and
Treasurer/Secretary.
16.2 Donations
must be approved by the LEC.
16.3 Any
member, attending LEC approved Education Seminars or who is authorized to act on behalf of the Local at any meeting except
Local Executive, LEC, General Membership and Standing Committees; shall be compensated out of pocket expenses at a rate determined
by motion of policy passed at a General Membership Meeting. Such compensation
shall apply only when the member is not receiving wages and other out of pocket expenses from OPSEU or the employer. (per
diem)
16.4 Any
member attending LEC approved Educational Seminars, elected as a Delegate, Alternate or Observer to a duly authorized Divisional
Meeting, Regional Meeting, Convention or any other OPSEU corporate function shall have the following paid by the Local where
reasonable (where Head Office does not cover the expense as per their policy Section 10 Expense Guidelines): The signing officers shall have the authority to spend up to $250.00 per incident on behalf of the
membership with the approval of two members of the LEC. Any amounts greater than
$250.00 must be approved by a General Membership Meeting.
Items that
will be reimbursed by the local include: Meals, travel (mass transit or mileage
at OPSEU rates), accommodations at single rates where possible (OPSEU Policy provides for shared accommodation only) and own
time.
Expenses
will be covered by the Local or Head Office, not both.
16.5 Within
reason and in order to encourage participation and learning, the Local will cover the expenses of Observers to functions named
in Article 16.3 above. The LEC has the authority to set reasonable limits on the number of observers to any function.
16.6 The
Local will not pay honorariums; instead the Local will negotiate with the employer in order to purchase time off (at eh employers
or Local’s expense) for the use by the LEC to conduct union business during business hours. The distribution of any hours so negotiated will be at the discretion of the LEC.
16.7 Own
time $45.00 per day may be claimed by Stewards, Officers or any member when performance of their duties to the Local requires
personal time to be spent attending Educational, Conference, or Convention functions’, either in person or the Alternate. The validity of the time spent must be attested by at least two (2) officers who will
sign the claim form.
16.8 Donations
in the name of deceased members to a charity shall be $25.00. A donation of $50.00
in the form of a gift certificate shall be allotted for retiring members.
Article 17 Delegates
and Alternates
17.1 It
is the responsibility of all Delegates to ensure that the Local is represented on the floor of the Convention/Conference functions’
either in person or by the Alternate. The credentials must be properly handed
over to the Alternate.
17.2 It
is the responsibility of any Alternate to be available to substitute for a Delegate at all times during Convention/Conference
functions’.
17.3 Delegates,
Alternates and Observers to all Convention/Conference functions’ shall be elected by a clear majority at a General Membership
Meeting from the members at large. It is understood that the President is an
automatic Delegate to Convention and other functions using the Convention formula.
Article
18 Committees
18.1 An
Employer/Employee Relation Committee and Health and Safety Committee may function at the working location of the Local.
18.2 The
Union Health and Safety Committee shall be comprised of members of the Local appointed by the LEC. The Chairperson will be elected at the same time as Officers of the LEC.
During their term the committee members must complete their educational requirements as prescribed by OPSEU policy.
18.3 The
Employee/Employer Relations Committee (ERC) shall be comprised of members of the LEC.
18.4 Any
member wishing to attend any committee meeting should request guest status through the Chair of the committee. Guests should be accommodated whenever practical.
18.5 Unless
otherwise stated, the Chair of each committee will be elected by the members of the committee.
18.6 Special
ad-hoc committees may be formed from time to time by the President, a membership meeting or by a majority of the LEC. Members may be appointed the LEC if a General Membership Meeting is not practical.
Article
19 Amendments
19.1 The
Bylaws may be amended by presenting the amendments in writing to the LEC at least ten (10) days prior to a General Membership
Meeting. The amendments will be studied by the LEC for presentation to the next
General Membership Meeting. The agenda for that meeting must contain a notice
of all amendments to be considered.
19.2 The
Local Bylaws must be approved by two-thirds (2.3) of the members present and voting at a General Membership Meeting with quorum
to render the amendment adopted.
19.3 No
amendments to these Bylaws shall take effect until they have been approved by the President of OPSEU.
Signatures: Local President ______________________________________
Local Vice-President __________________________________
Approval
received from Head Office ________________________________
