Local 644 Special Membership Meeting Proposed Bylaws /Constitution Changes presented on Jan 26,2022.
Per our Bylaws Article XI, Section 3.
Bylaws shall be adopted and amended only after 30 day notice to the local's membership and by two-thirds vote of members present and voting.
Accordingly, to adopt the changes we will schedule another membership on or about February 25,2022. At that time , each member will indicate their approval/rejection by voting with a YEA" or "NAY" .
Adoption of the changes to our Bylaws/Constitution will be determined by the majority votes and will be tallied per proposed section to be changed/amended , not all as a whole.
Constitution proposed changes:
ARTICLE VIII Executive Board and Committees
SECTION 3. Expenditures by the Executive Board in excess of $500 per month (changed from $250) must have prior approval of the local's members either as authorized by the budget approved by the local or by separate vote of the local's members. All expenditures authorized by the Executive Board will be reported in writing at the next regular meeting of the local. Upon request a copy of such report will be made available to any member in good standing of the local.
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Bylaws proposed changes:
SECTION 19. Expenditures by the Executive Board in excess of $500 per month shall have prior approval of the local's members either as authorized by the budget approved by the local or by separate vote of the local's members. All expenditures authorized by the Executive Board will be reported in writing at the next regular meeting of the local. Upon request, a copy of such report will be made available to any member of the local.
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Section 2 . (a) Regular meetings of the local shall be held once per year during the week of the annual Stewards' training at the location of that training
SECTION 2(a). Regular member meetings of the local shall be held at least quarterly.
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Section 10. In any agency that has four (4) or more Stewards (i.e. ESA, MSHA, OSHA) that agency shall have an elected Vice President for that agency, and that Vice President shall be a member of that Agency and elected by members solely of that Agency. BAT shall have an elected Vice President regardless of the number of Stewards, and that Vice President shall be a member of BAT and elected by members solely of BAT. In MSHA there will be two Vice Presidents, one for Coal and the Technical Centers and one for Metal/NonMetal*
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SECTION 10(a). Agencies that do not have 4 or more stewards, excluding MSHA and ETA, shall have one elected Multi-Agency Vice President for those agencies, and that Vice President shall be a member of one of those agencies and elected by members of those agencies. For any agency for which no member runs for Vice President during an election or during the term has no member seeking appointment as the Vice President, the Executive Board may appoint a member from another agency to serve as the Vice President.
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(NEW SECTION) APPOINTMENTS- GENERAL: All appointed members (ie: Stewards, Committee members, etc.) of this local shall comply with the Local’s Standard Constitution and these bylaws. Any person, regardless of reason can no longer perform their duties or obligations as prescribed within these bylaws shall resign without delay or be subject to removal by the Executive Board. It shall be the duty and obligation of all appointed members to work corroboratively to efficiently and effectively execute the mission of the local ; and shall advocate, follow and enforce due diligence in the performance of their duties and responsibilities as assigned within these bylaws. All appointed members are fundamentally, Stewards and shall conduct themselves pursuant to the articles of these bylaws.
ELIGIBILITY: Only members in good standing as prescribed within these bylaws are eligible. Any appointed member who becomes ineligible may no longer serve in the appointment subject to appeal as prescribed in Article 26.00 within these bylaws. Executive Board members eligibility requirements are found within these bylaws.
NOMINATIONS: The President shall nominate eligible candidates to fill vacant positions described within this article. The President shall solicit the executive board and membership for potential candidates to nominate. The President shall nominate the most qualified candidate who will effectively and efficiently execute the goals and objectives assigned by these bylaws.
APPOINTMENT: eligible nominee(s) shall be appointed by the Executive Board. Appointed members serve as volunteers and may resign anytime with or without cause. All appointed members and alternates shall efficiently and effectively execute the goals and objectives for which the committee they were appointed on was organized to accomplish; shall honor and support majority decisions; and enforce and follow all the governance within these bylaws.
SUSPENSIONS AND REMOVAL: All members are encouraged to first attempt to resolve any issue at the lowest level possible. Afford yourself and your fellow member(s) the opportunity to resolve your issues in a collaborative, meaningful way. All members shall be afforded “Due Process”. All complaints, grievances and appeals shall be submitted to the entire Executive Board for consideration and adjudication unless prohibited by Local’s Standard Constitution. The President, with majority consent of the E-Board may suspend any appointed member from their official duties for serious misconduct, including but not limited to, incompetence, negligence, or refusal to perform their validly assigned duties, that in their judgment the continuance in their position would be inimical to the best interest of the local and its members. The E-Board, by two-thirds (2/3) vote may suspend any appointed officer of the executive board for same just cause as prescribed herein. No suspension shall exceed ninety (180) days. A suspension may be extended when/if charges have been per the Local’s Standard Constitution has been formally initiated.
TERM: not greater than 3 years. Appointments may be renewed by appointment by the Eboard. E-Board Officers shall be for the term of their election.
OATH: upon appointment, shall be administered the “Oath of Appointment”. Failure to affirm the oath will deem one ineligible.
STEWARD(S): The duties, responsibilities and role of stewards shall be as prescribed in the AFGE National Stewards Handbook, as amended. The agency VP and or Chief Steward shall be responsible for their oversight as prescribed in our Bylaws.
EXECUTIVE BOARD OFFICER: Appointed officers’ duties and responsibilities are prescribed in these bylaws.
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON: shall be charged with providing leadership, structure and direction to the committee; convene, conduct and preside over the committee meetings or appoint someone in their absence; shall effectively and efficiently execute the goals and objectives for which the committee was organized to accomplish.
The Chairperson shall also be in charge of providing the EBoard with periodic status and progress reports.
COMMITTEE MEMBER: duties and responsibilities shall, at a minimum, be as follows: comply and enforce these bylaws; respect and support majority decisions made by the committee they are appointed too; attend required meetings; and efficiently and effectively execute the goals and objectives for which the committee was organized to accomplished.
LOCAL FAIR/EEO PRACTICE COORDINATOR (LFPC): duties and responsibilities shall be pursuant to, and in concurrence with Article XVIII (18) of the AFGE National Constitution; the LFPC shall conduct themselves in accordance with AFGE’s LFPC Handbook, as amended. (See W&FPC website for details)
OTHER POSITIONS: Shall be created by the Executive Board. The position(s) shall, in writing have prescribed duties and responsibilities to ensure accountability. Such documentation shall be contained within the Local’s governance