PSAC Local 20150

INAC — Vancouver

By-laws

UNION OF NATIONAL EMPLOYEES
AANDC LOCAL 20150 BY-LAWS

(Approved March 13, 2013)

Download PDF of these by-laws.

 

BY-LAW 1 – NAME

 

This organization shall be known as Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada Local 20150 of the Union of National Employees, Public Service Alliance of Canada.

 

BY-LAW 2 – AIMS AND OBJECTS

 

By-Law 2, Section 1

It shall be the objective of this Local to protect, maintain and advance the interests of the employees of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada coming under its jurisdiction.

 

By-Law 2, Section 2

This Local shall unconditionally subscribe to and accept as its governing documents the Constitution of the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the By-Laws of the Union of National Employees.

 

By-Law 2, Section 3

This Local shall fully support the Public Service Alliance of Canada in the furthering of its constitutional responsibility for the improvement and protection of wages, salaries and other terms and conditions of employment of all members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

 

BY-LAW 3 – MEMBERSHIP

 

Those eligible for membership shall be employees of the department who fall under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians in the province of British Columbia and who are eligible for membership in the Union of National Employees component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. The jurisdiction of the Local may be as assigned from time to time by the Union of National Employees. In situations where disputes arise regarding jurisdiction, the National Executive will make the final decision.

 

BY-LAW 4 - MEMBERSHIP DUES

 

By-Law 4, Section 1

The amount of dues payable to PSAC and the Union of National Employees will be in accordance with the provisions of the PSAC Constitution and the bylaws of the Union of National Employees, as determined by each group’s respective conventions.

 

By-Law 4, Section 2

In addition, local dues will be set as a flat rate of $2.00 per member, per month. The local will inform the Union of National Employees of any changes to its dues, with supporting minutes as evidence. (Members may obtain information regarding their local dues on the Union of National Employees website.)

 

By-Law 4, Section 3

The amount of the Local membership dues for the Regular Members shall be established by a majority vote of members present at the Annual General Meeting or a meeting called for the purpose of establishing dues.

 

BY-LAW 5 - LOCAL EXECUTIVE

 

By-Law 5, Section 1

The term of office for the local executive will be two years.

 

By-Law 5, Section 2

The local executive will consist of, but not be limited to, those listed in Union of National Employees Bylaw 3, Section 5. The local executive shall consist of the following:

 

  • President (nominated and elected in even years)
  • Vice-President (nominated and elected in odd years)
  • Secretary (nominated and elected in even years)
  • Treasurer (nominated and elected in odd years)
  • Health and Safety Representative (nominated and elected in even years)
  • Human Rights Representative (nominated and elected in odd years)
  • Youth Coordinator (nominated and elected in even years)

 

The Executive Committee shall appoint Local Representatives for Committees including, but not limited to:

 

  • Metro Vancouver Area Council
  • Vancouver Regional Women's Committee
  • Union / Management Consultation Committee
  • Stewards Circle

 

N.B.  In the cycle for National Convention, the Local President will be an automatic delegate to National Convention.  In the event that Local President does not use his/her delegate entitlement, the Local Vice-President will be an automatic delegate to National Convention.

 

The remaining delegates and alternatives which the Local is entitled to send to National Convention shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting called for that specific purpose.

 

By-Law 5, Section 3

Vacancies on the local executive that last for less than six months will be filled on an interim basis by the local executive’s remaining members. Vacancies that will last for more than six months will be filled by election at a special or general meeting of the local. This meeting can be held no later than 45 days from the date at which the local executive became aware of the vacancy.

 

By-Law 5, Section 4

For the role of the position of local president, see UNE Policy LOC 8, Section 1.

 

By-Law 5, Section 5

For the role of the position of local vice-president, see UNE Policy LOC 8, Section 2

 

By-Law 5, Section 6

For the role of the positions of local secretary and local treasurer, see UNE Policy LOC 8, Section 3.

 

By-Law 5, Section 7

For the role of the position of local health and safety representative, see UNE Policy LOC 8, Section 5.

 

By-Law 5, Section 8

For the role of the position of local human rights representative, see UNE Policy LOC 8, Section 6.

 

By-Law 5, Section 9

The Youth Coordinator shall

  • Be a member in good standing under the age of 35;
  • Specifically represent on issues related to young employees;
  • Serve as liaison and communication contact for youth in member departments and with the wider PSAC youth initiatives;
  • Be responsible for certain portfolios or duties as assigned by the president or the executive.

                                                         

By-Law 5, Section 10

A member of the Executive who fails to attend three consecutive meetings without reason acceptable to the Executive shall be considered to have abandoned the post.

 

BY-LAW 6 – FINANCES

 

By-Law 6, Section 1

No officers of this local may enter into any financial contractual understanding of agreement without prior approval by the national executive, or incur any expenses on behalf of the local in excess of $50 (fifty dollars) without the prior approval of a majority of the members present at a regular monthly or special meeting.

 

By-Law 6, Section 2

For audited annual statements, see Bylaw 5, Section 9.

 

By-Law 6, Section 3

Locals will approve at least three and no more than five signing officers—one of whom is normally the local’s treasurer—may hold signing authority for the local’s bank withdrawals. Each cheque issued by the local will carry signatures from two of these officers to be valid. Amendments to these administrative arrangements should be made with the local’s bank or credit union after new officers are elected.

 

By-Law 6, Section 4

The fiscal year of the Local shall be January I to December 3I.

 

By-Law 6, Section 5

No officer(s) will incur expenses on behalf of the Local in excess of $50.00 without the prior approval of a majority of the Executive members present at a regular monthly meeting, or of a General Meeting. Approval may be granted outside of a meeting provided a majority of the Executive concur,  assuming quorum has been achieved In emergency situations, votes by e-mail, fax and/or telephone call may replace a physical meeting to decide on an urgent financial matter. A record must be kept of the vote.

 

By-Law 6, Section 6

Each member who completes any PSAC weekend course shall receive from the Local a $25 per diem, upon presentation of completion certificate or record of attendance such as an attendance list certified by PSAC Staff or written verification of attendance from PSAC staff for documentation purposes.

 

By-Law 6, Section 7

All financial records of this Local shall be retained for the legal period prescribed by the Income Tax Act.

 

 

BY-LAW 7 – MEETINGS

 

By-Law 7, Section 1

Executive Meetings

 

The local’s elected officers will hold at least ten regularly scheduled executive meetings each year. These meetings will be held to ensure the local properly conducts its business on matters such as collective bargaining, labour-management relations, human rights and health and safety promotion, and consideration and maintenance of membership lists.

 

Members can attend the Executive Committee meetings at the invitation of the Executive Council as observers with voice but no vote.

 

A quorum for the Executive Committee meetings shall be a simple majority of elected officers and must include the President or Vice-President for business to be conducted.

 

The time and place of the regular Executive Committee meetings shall be determined from time to time by the Executive Committee. In the event that such meetings are held during a meal time and where that meal is not provided by the Local, each attending member shall be given a meal allowance in an amount to be determined at the initial meeting following the Annual General Meeting.

 

By-Law 7, Section 2

The local’s membership meetings will be held once per year prior to March 31 of the following year, and the agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall be presented by the Executive Committee and shall include, but not limited to, the following;

 

  • Call to Order by the Chairperson
  • Roll Call of Officers
  • Minutes of the Previous Annual General Meeting
  • Report of the President
  • Report of the Treasurer
  • Amendments to By-laws (if applicable)
  • Presentation and Approval of New Year Budget
  • Nomination and Election of Officers
  • Adjournment

 

By-Law 7, Section 3

Following a 30-day notice of meeting, the quorum for a general membership meeting will be at least five (5) members in good standing.

 

By-Law 7, Section 4

The local’s president, a majority of its executive officers or a petition of at least 25% of the membership or 30 members (whichever is less) in good standing may call a special meeting of the local. Reasonable notice of this meeting will be provided. It shall be held within thirty (30) calendar days of the request.

 

By-Law 7, Section 5

An annual membership meeting will be held in accordance with the Union of National Employees bylaws for the purpose of receiving annual reports, electing officers and considering other business.

 

By-Law 7, Section 6

Elections will be conducted by secret ballot and will proceed in the order of:

President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Health And Safety Officer, Human Rights Representative, Youth Coordinator.

 

By-Law 7, Section 7

A Special Membership Meeting shall deal only with matters for which it was called unless the members present agree with a majority to consider other matters of an urgent or necessary nature.

 

 

BYLAW 8: AMENDING LOCAL BYLAWS

 

By-Law 8, Section 1

A local’s bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at an annual membership meeting, provided 30 days’ notice of the meeting has been issued and posted.

 

By-Law 8, Section 2

All amendments and corresponding annual general meeting minutes must be forwarded to the Coordinator of Administration, Union of National Employees.

 

 

Appendix “A”

UNE Policy LOC 8

 

http://www.une-sen.org/documents_and_tools/bylaws_policies_guidelines/UNE%20Policies.pdf

pages 27-30, excerpted below.

 

Policy LOC 8 (former Policy LOC 7, Local Bylaw 8)

Duties of local officers

 

Policy LOC 8 Section 1

Local presidents

Local Presidents will:

  1. Act as the chief officer of the local and coordinate the affairs of the local through the other officers and local committees;
  2. Be responsible for the efficient and proper conduct of the local;
  3. Preside at all membership meetings and executive meetings of their respective locals and is an ex-officio member of all committees of the local;
  4. Apply the PSAC Rules of Order to any questions of procedure; and
  5. Be the chief spokesperson of the local in its dealings with the employer.

 

Policy LOC 8 Section 2

Local vice-presidents

Local Vice-Presidents will:

  1. Perform the duties of the local president when the president asks, when the president is absent or if the president resigns;
  2. Conduct meetings on behalf of the president or assumes the chair when the president vacates it for any reason during a meeting; and
  3. Be responsible for certain portfolios or duties as assigned by the president or the executive.

 

Policy LOC 8 Section 3

Secretaries and treasurers

Secretaries

Local Secretaries will:

  1. Be responsible for the administrative duties of the local;
  2. Keep accurate records of all meetings of their local;
  3. Be responsible for keeping proper files of all documents;
  4. Be responsible for maintaining a record of all correspondence relating to their local; and
  5. Be responsible for certain portfolios or duties as assigned by the president or the executive

Treasurers

Local Treasurers will:

  1. Keep proper files of the financial records of their local;
  2. Be accountable for all receivables and payables;
  3. Act as one of the local’s signing officers;
  4. Prepare and submit financial reports at each executive or general meeting;
  5. Collect and deposit local funds;
  6. Be familiar with and responsible for Component financial policies (e.g. FIN 1);
  7. Identify Rand members (dues paying members who have not signed a union card) so that they may be signed up.
  8. Be responsible for certain portfolios or duties as assigned by the president or the executive.

Local secretary-treasurers will perform the duties and responsibilities described for secretaries and treasurers, above.

 

Policy LOC 8 Section 4

Chief stewards

Local Chief Stewards will:

  1. Coordinate the work of stewards in their locals and ensure that their members receive advice and assistance on grievances, staffing complaints
  1. and related issues;
  2. Recruit stewards and where possible organize and chair the steward’s committee/network;
  3. Work closely with all stewards, executive officers, committees and liaise with component staff; and
  4. Be responsible for certain portfolios or duties as assigned by the president or the executive.

 

Policy LOC 8 Section 5

Local executive health and safety representative

Local executives will name a member of their executive to hold responsibility for health and safety. Ideally, this position will be distinct from other executive positions.

 

The local executive health and safety representative will:

 

  1. Act as the local representative on health and safety issues;
  2. Develop knowledge and expertise on such issues as health and safety legislation, and employers’ health and safety plans;
  3. Keep current on health and safety matters by subscribing to publications and accessing other resources;
  4. Maintain files of materials on health and safety;
  5. Keep abreast of information and resources to advance the interests of health and safety for members;
  6. Act as the local’s liaison with the employer’s health and safety coordinator;
  7. Advocate for members on health and safety matters by presenting these matters to the employer and the union;
  8. Provide health and safety-related input into the local executive’s decision making processes;
  9. Develop and promote initiatives that encourage members’ participation on health and safety matters;
  10. Participate as one of the union’s representatives on the joint union management health and safety committee;
  11. Advocate for the development and delivery of a comprehensive health and safety education program in the local and at the workplace;
  12. Organize education sessions and sensitization training for local members in conjunction with other local representatives;
  13. Promote the National Day of Mourning;
  14. Encourage members’ attendance and participation at health and safety conferences, courses and events;
  15. Report to the local executive on his or her activities;
  16. Communicate actively with regional leadership and representatives on the PSAC Health and Safety Committee; and
  17. Notify regional leadership—and the Union of National Employees — immediately in the event of an incident related to health and safety in the workplace.

 

Policy LOC 8 Section 6

Local Human Rights representative

The local Human Rights representative will:

 

  1. act as the local representative on human rights issues;
  2. develop knowledge and expertise on such issues as human rights, and employers’ human rights plans;
  3. keep current on human rights matters by subscribing to publications and accessing other resources;
  4. maintain files of materials on human rights;
  5. keep abreast of information and resources to advance the interests of human rights for members;
  6. Review employer’s equity plan on a regular basis;
  7. advocate for members on human rights matters by presenting these matters to the employer and the union;
  8. provide human rights-related input into the local executive’s decision making processes;
  9. develop and promote initiatives that encourage members’ participation on human rights matters;
  10. advocate for the development and delivery of a comprehensive human rights education program in the local and at the workplace;
  11. organize education sessions and sensitization training for local members in conjunction with other local representatives;
  12. encourage members’ attendance and participation at human rights conferences, courses and events;
  13. report to the local executive on his or her activities;
  14. communicate actively with regional leadership and representatives on the PSAC human rights Committee; and
  15. notify regional leadership—and the Union of National Employees — immediately in the event of an incident related to human rights in the workplace.

 

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