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AFT-RANDOLPH COUNTY

Local #6296

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

AFL-CIO

Article I---NAME

The name of this organization shall be AFT-Randolph County Local #6296 of the American Federation of Teachers.

Article II---OBJECTIVES OF THIS ORGANIZATION

1.  To promote democracy with full and equal         

                educational opportunities for all.

2.  To promote improvement in the standards of the teaching      profession.

3.      To secure legislation that will provide adequate financial

support for the public school system and that will improve the quality of education and working conditions.

4.      To secure the active participation of teachers and other

educational employees in the formulation and administration of educational policies.

5.      To protect the rights of teachers and other educational

employees and to represent them in matters affecting

them and the public schools.

6.      To advance and advocate the economic security and

professional interests of teachers and other educational

employees and to secure bargaining rights for all public employees. 

7.      To secure and maintain cooperation and understanding

among teacher, school, labor, and community. 

ARTICLE III---AFFILIATION

This organization shall be affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFT-WV, WV AFL-CIO, and AFL-CIO, or their successors.

ARTICLE IV---MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1---Membership in this organization shall be open to all Randolph County School employees who qualify under the constitutional requirements of the American Federation of Teachers and who:

a.      subscribe to the objectives of this organization

b.     do not hold administrative positions for which a certificate is required (principal shall include vice-principal, assistant principal, etc.)

c.      do not hold supervisory positions; and

d.     do not have effective rating authority.

SECTION 2---Members who become full-time employees of the AFT-Randolph County or its affiliated bodies shall be eligible to retain full membership.

SECTION 3---Applicants for membership in this organization whose employment is not clearly defined under the provisions of this constitution may be recommended for membership by the Executive Board and voted on by 2/3 majority of membership present at the meeting. 

SECTION 4---Any school employee who has been a member of this organization for one (1) year or more may retain membership upon retirement, providing dues are paid according to ARTICLE X, Section 2-D.  He/she shall have full membership status, rights and privileges, except he/she shall not vote on issues relating to terms and conditions of employment affecting all regular members.

SECTION 5---Members who are regular employees of the Randolph County Schools and have been interrupted due to layoffs resulting from a reduction in the number of teaching or other positions, and who are not working in a full-time capacity shall have the option to continue their membership status with no payment of dues required.  Such members shall be entitled to benefits provided at the local level for a period not to exceed three (3) years.  Membership under this provision shall be automatically terminated if an offer of reemployment in the Randolph County Schools is declined or if employment is accepted in another school system.

SECTION 6---A member on unpaid leave of absence from Randolph County Schools may maintain active membership, providing dues are paid according to ARTICLE X, Section 2-D.  However, he/she shall be free to suspend annual membership immediately upon commencement of unpaid leave of absence or at the termination of his/her current annual membership period.

SECTION 7---No person shall be refused membership because of nationality, race, color, sex, or religious beliefs.

SECTION 8---Loss of membership under ARTICLE VII, Section 1, shall automatically and immediately discontinue the right to any and all benefits and privileges of membership.

ARTICLE V---ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DELEGATES

SECTION 1---Any full-time employee who has been a member in good standing with the union shall be eligible for election as an officer.

SECTION 2---No person may hold more than one (1) Executive Board position.  No person shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, or Parliamentarian and also hold the position of Executive Board. 

SECTION 3---The election of officers shall be conducted every two (2) years during the month of April.  Nominations shall be taken in writing prior to the March meeting.  The Chair of the Nominations/Elections Committee and the members of the committee shall be in charge of taking nominations from the floor.  The Nominations/Elections Committee shall prepare a ballot from the names of those nominated.  A nominating form shall be prepared and distributed by the Nominations/Elections Committee.  Before a name can be placed on the ballot, the Nominations/Elections Committee must have the consent form signed by the nominee.  Incumbents are eligible for re-election.

SECTION 4---All members shall be notified of the nominations and elections of officers prior to the March and April meetings.

SECTION 5---Nominations for all positions shall be made at the regular membership meeting in March.  The election shall be by secret ballot of all members present at that general membership meeting.  The officers shall be nominated one at a time, beginning with the President, followed by the Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and five (5) Executive Board Members to consist of a minimum of one from the Elementary, one Middle, and one High School member. 

SECTION 6---The direction, the actual conducting of the election, and the counting of the ballots shall be supervised and handled entirely by the Nominations/Elections Committee and/or its appointees and will be consistent with the appropriate provisions of the Constitution of this organization, with the Constitution and By-laws of the American Federation of Teachers, as well as with laws and/or regulations governing such elections enacted or promulgated by the Government of the United States and the State of West Virginia. 

SECTION 7---The candidate receiving a plurality of the valid ballots cast for each office shall be declared elected.  Write-in votes will not be permitted.

SECTION 8---All members shall be notified as quickly as possible by appropriate publication of the results of all elections.

SECTION 9---At the general membership meeting in May, the new officers will be sworn in by the Chairperson of the Nominations/Elections Committee and assume their duties.

SECTION 10---In case a vacancy occurs among the elected officers other than the president, the Executive Board shall appoint from within to fill the vacancy.

SECTION 11---Delegates and alternates to conventions and to affiliated organizations shall be elected during regular membership meetings at appropriate times.  Results shall be published and records (including ballots) kept for one year.  The President and Secretary shall certify the election of all elected delegates and alternates to the National Conventions and forward their credentials as soon as possible, but not later than ten (10) days before the convening of the Convention.

SECTION 12---Exceptions to the election dates and deadlines that are established in the Constitution of this organization may be permitted in emergency situations, subject to the approval of the Executive Board.

SECTION 13---Loss of membership under ARTICLE VII, SECTION 1, shall automatically terminate the right of all offices, positions—such as Executive Board members, committee members, building representatives, convention delegates, delegates to affiliated organizations, etc.—and candidacies for any of the offices or positions. 

ARTICLE VI---DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD

SECTION 1---The elected officers of this organization shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and five (5) Executive Board members-at-large composed of at least one from the Elementary level, one Middle School level, and one High School level.  The Executive Board will consist of a total of nine (9) members.

SECTION 2---The duties of the officers shall be as follows:

A.      The President shall:

1.  act as chairperson for all regular membership, special

     membership, and Executive Board meetings;

2.     appoint, with the approval of the Executive Board,

provisional chairpersons for all standing and special

committees;

3.     be a member, ex-officio of all standing and special

committees, except Audit and Elections Committees;

4.     make reports to membership on the status of the    

union;

5.     represent the viewpoint of this organization to

legislative and other groups, the public, and news

media;

6.     be co-signer on legally or financially binding

documents of this organization, including checking

and savings accounts;

7.     serve on any negotiation committee, and

8.     dismiss, with the approval of the Executive Board, any

employee of this organization;

9.     keep a copy of  the AFT-Randolph County   

Constitution, the AFT-WV Constitution, the

Constitution and by-laws of the AFT, as well as laws and/or regulations governing elections enacted or promulgated by the Government of the US and the State of WV;

10.shall submit copies of this Constitution to any

     member upon request

B.      The Vice-President shall:

1.     assist the President in the execution of his/her duties;

2.     act as a chairperson in the absence of the President;

3.     assume the duties of the President in case the President resigns or is incapable of performing his/her duties;

4.     act as Chair of the membership committee;

5.     act as Chair of the Annual Building Representative Training Meeting;

6.     act as Liaison with AFT-WV to ensure the membership list is accurate and current with the Treasurer’s membership list;

7.     assist Building Representatives during the year;

8.     assist any member with benefits that become available to them during the year;

9.     act as a liaison to the Continuing Ed. Council;

10.coordinate the activities and represent the            

     consensus of the members;

11.attend Randolph County Board of Education

     meetings;

12.be an available co-signer

C.      The Secretary shall:

1.     record and report the minutes of all membership and

Executive Board meetings;

2.     keep all non-financial records of the organization;

3.     issue all notices and handle correspondence of this organization at the direction of the President;

4.     issue notice of meetings of this organization to members;

5.     shall be custodian of the seal, charter, and mailbox of the Union;

6.     keep accurate records of all negotiations;

7.     prepare meeting agenda;

8.     attend the Randolph County Board of Education meetings periodically, and;

9.     shall submit three (3) copies of this Constitution and

all future amendments to both the AFT-National Office and the AFT-WV office;

10.will ensure amendments to this Constitution are

     proposed by a majority of the Executive Committee

     or by a petition;       

                   11.be an available co-signer

D.      The Treasurer shall;

1.     collect and be responsible for all dues and other funds of this organization;

2.     maintain and periodically report the financial records;

3.     prepare an annual operating budget and an annual financial report;

4.     make all payments for authorized obligations of this organization as provided for in the adopted budget;

5.     submit a financial statement of assets and liabilities and a statement of income and expenses to the AFT Secretary/Treasurer within five (5) months of the end of the fiscal year for the local;

6.     keep all membership records, verifying lists with the Vice-President;

7.     be chairperson of the Budget Committee;

8.     be co-signer of all financially binding documents of this organization, including checking and savings accounts; and

9.     attend the Randolph County Board of Education meetings periodically

E.       The Executive Board shall:

1.     consist of  four (4) elected officers plus five (5) elected members of which one from the high school level, one from the middle school level, and one from the elementary level (if one of the positions is not filled the Executive Board will appoint to fill the position);

2.     administer the affairs of this organization under the Constitution and subject to the will of the membership; All actions of the Executive Board shall be reported to and subject to review by the membership;

3.     make recommendations to the membership on policy and on actions to be taken by this organization;

4.     have emergency power to act when policy cannot be set by the membership;

5.     authorize and approve all major purchases of equipment, contracts, and/or leases to be entered into by this organization;

6.     attend all Executive Board meetings.  Absence without reason from (3) consecutive meetings, or consistent absence shall be cause for removal from the Executive Board

ARTICLE VII---SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION OF MEMBERS AND OFFICERS

SECTION 1

A.      This Union shall have the right to suspend or expel any

officer or member who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of the Constitution of this Union or any of its affiliates, or who engages in any activity or course of conduct which is contrary to the best interests of or is detrimental to the welfare of the Union

B.      No member shall be suspended or expelled until he/she

has been given an impartial hearing and the charges that have been proffered against him/her have been upheld

SECTION 2

The following procedure shall be applied in conducting hearings for suspending or expelling a member or an officer;

A.      Charges against a member or officer must be submitted to

the Executive Board in writing, the original to the Secretary, and a copy to the President.

1.      Should charges be proffered against either of these

officers, then the original or the copy shall be sent to the Vice-President

2.      Members proffering charges will be required to

appear at the hearing and confront the accused member

(In the remainder of this Article, President shall mean the President or his/her replacement and Secretary shall mean the Secretary or his/her replacement)

          B. 

                   1.  The President and Secretary shall set a date for the

                        hearing not earlier than two (2) weeks nor later than

                        four (4) weeks from the date of notification of the

                        accused member.

2.     The Secretary shall notify the accused member, in

writing, of the charges brought against him/her shall advise the accused of his/her right to counsel, and shall advise him/her of the date of the hearing

3.    A copy of the charges as proffered, and of

notification to the accused member shall be furnished to each member of the Executive Board

          C.

                   1.  The President shall conduct the hearing

                   2.  The Executive Board, including the President, shall

                       act as jury, except that neither the accused nor

                       accuser may participate as a member of that jury

3.      The jury shall hear all evidence and render

judgment.  A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the jury is required to uphold the charges.

4.      A member against whom charges have been upheld

may be suspended or expelled by the Executive Board

          D.

                   1.  If the accused is willing to accept the decision of the

                       jury and/or the Executive Board, he/she may request

                       that the jury’s decision be submitted to the next

                       general membership meeting of the Union

2.     For any action to be taken on this issue, there must

be a quorum present

3.     The decision may be changed by a two-thirds (2/3)

vote of members present and voting at such meeting

          E.

                   Appeals of the decision rendered at the membership

                   meeting may be taken to arbitration under the

                   procedures established in the Constitution and By-laws

                   of the American Federation of Teachers.

SECTION 3

A.      A suspended member may not run for office for a period

of two (2) years from the date of reinstatement

B.      An expelled member may not reapply for membership

C.      Officers removed from office for cause shall not be eligible to run for office for three (3) years following removal