COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA  

Proposed Changes ---

Article VII Governing Authority

A.         Local Executive Board

The Local Executive board shall consist of the following in order of their position:

(Add) 4.                  Two Vice Presidents

5.                  One Executive Board Member for each Bargaining Unit of the following units ranked according to bargaining  unit size, largest to smallest. 

a)                  Telecom

b)                  Premise Sales

c)                  PPMW

d)                 Cable

e)                  Retail Sales

f)                   Spokesman-Review (per merger agreement)

 

 

C.           Officers

The offices of the Local shall be

(Add) 4. Two Local Vice Presidents

 

ARTICLE XII – DUTIES OF LOCAL OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE BOARD, STEWARDS AND CHAIRPERSONS

B.                 Duties of the Executive Vice President

(Add)11.  Assign responsibilities to the Vice-Presidents

(Add)D.

1.                  Work under the direction of the Executive Vice President and shall perform duties as assigned by the Executive Vice President and the Executive Board or the membership.

2.                  Assign responsibilities to  stewards

3.                  Must attend the Executive Board meetings and the General Membership meetings to receive his/her allowance unless excused by the President

 

Current By-Laws:

AFL – CIO – CLC

SPOKANE LOCAL 7818

LOCAL BYLAWS

 

 

I.                    ARTICLE I – NAME

This Local shall be known as Local 7818, Communications Workers of America.

 

II.                 ARTICLE II – JURISDICTION

Jurisdiction of this Local shall be the jurisdiction assigned by the Union and appearing on the face of the Local Charter.

 

III.               ARTICLE III – OBJECTIVES

The Objectives of the Local shall be:

A.                 To unite the workers within the jurisdiction in a single cohesive labor union for the purpose of collective bargaining;

B.                 To improve the conditions of the workers in respect to wages, hours, working conditions, and other conditions of employment

C.                 To disseminate information among the workers respecting economic, social political and other matters affecting their lives and welfare.

D.                 To advance the interest of the workers by advocating the enactment of laws beneficial to them and the defeat of laws detrimental to them.

E.                  To do all things which may be necessary or proper to secure for the workers the enjoyment of their natural rights according to the Bylaws and the Rules of the Local and Constitution policies of the Union .

 

IV.              ARTICLE IV – LOCAL STRUCTURE

The structure of the Local shall consist of the following:

A.                 Membership

B.                 The Executive Board

C.                 The Office rs

D.                 Committees

E.                  Chief Stewards

F.                  Stewards

 

V.                 ARTICLE V – MEMBERSHIP

A.                 Eligibility

Any person eligible for membership in the Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO, CLC, as defined in Article V, of its Constitution, shall be eligible for membership in this Local.

 

 

B.                 Application

Membership in the Local shall be obtained after payment of the Local initiation fee of $1.00 and upon approval of the Membership. The Membership Committee is authorized to accept or reject membership in behalf of the Local, subject to the right of the Local to overrule the decision of the Membership Committee.  P.P.M.W. Sector members initiation fee shall be $5.00 for the Local and $1.00 for the International Union.

C.                 Transfers

The transfer of membership from this Local to the jurisdiction of another Local and from another Local to the jurisdiction of this Local shall be made in accordance with Article V of the Union Constitution and Article XI of Printing, Publishing and Media Workers Sector Bylaws for P.P.M.W. Sector members.

D.                 Discharge from employment

A member who is discharged from employment will remain a member until their grievance is resolved so long as they maintain their dues to the International Union. The Local’s portion of their dues will be waived until their grievance is resolved.

 

VI.              ARTICLE VI – LOCAL MEMBERSHIP DUES,

ASSESSMENTS AND FINES

A.                 Local Membership Dues

Each member of this Local shall pay membership dues in the amount established by the Constitution or by Convention action.

B.                 P.P.M.W. Sector – Local Dues

The P.P.M.W. Sector member will pay in addition to the above, other amounts as required by the P.P.M.W. Sector bylaws as outlined in Appendix “A”.

C.                 Local Special Assessments

The membership of this Local may levy a Special Assessment only by a majority of those voting on the question by secret ballot by referendum or my majority secret ballot vote in a meeting where a quorum is present, if the question has been advertised by notice mailed postage prepaid, to each member at least seven (7) days in advance of the meeting. However, any special assessments levied shall be in compliance with article VI of the Union Constitution.

D.                 Local Fines

Fines may be levied as provided under Article XIX of the Constitution.

 

VII.            ARTICLE VII – GOVERNING AUTHORITY

A.                 Membership

The affairs of this Local shall be governed by its membership in accordance with the Constitution and policies of the Union in the following manner:

1.                  Through action taken in membership meetings or by a referendum of the membership.

2.                  Through actions and decisions of the Local Executive Board between membership meetings.

3.                  Through actions and decisions of the Local Office rs between membership meetings or meetings of the Local Executive Board.

4.                  The actions and decisions of the Local Executive Board and Office rs of the Local between meetings may be overruled by the membership in a Local meeting or by referendum.

B.                 Local Executive Board

The Local Executive board shall consist of the following in order of their position:

1.                  The Local President

2.                  The Local Executive Vice President

3.                  The Local Secretary-Treasurer

4.                  Once Executive Board Member for each Bargaining Unit ranked according to Bargaining Unit size, largest to smallest. 

C.                 Office rs

The offices of the Local shall be:

1.                  President

2.                  Executive Vice President

3.                  Secretary-Treasurer

 

VIII.         ARTICLE VIII – LOCAL MEETINGS

A.                 Regular meetings of the Local shall be held on the first Thursday of each month even numbered month (i.e. February, April, ECT ). If a change in the date of the meeting is necessary special notice is to be posted on all bulletin boards, at least one (1) week prior to the meeting, informing members of the Local of the change of the meeting. Special meetings may be called by a majority vote of the Local Office rs, or by petition signed by 10% of the membership. Upon request of a proper petition, the Local Office rs shall call a special meeting to be held within ten (10) days.

B.                 Expenses involved in holding meetings shall be paid by the Local provided prior approval has been given by the Local Executive Board or the Local President.

 

IX.              ARTICLE IX – LOCAL DELEGATES TO THE UNION CONVENTION

A.                 The Ballot of the office of the President, Executive Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer shall indicate: “The nomination of a person or a vote cast for the aforementioned offices shall also constitute the nomination or vote for the same person as a delegate or alternate to all CWA Conventions held during the term of office for which the election is conducted.” Delegates and alternates shall attend the convention in order of their respective office based on the number of delegates authorized by the Executive Board and/or the general membership.

B.                 The Local President shall serve as Chairperson of the delegates. Convention votes shall be divided evenly between the delegates attending the Convention with the President carrying the remaining votes.

C.                 Alternates and additional certified delegates shall be elected by secret ballot not less than thirty (30) days in advance of the Convention, at a regular or special meeting of the membership. At least fifteen (15) days notice must be mailed to each member at his/her last known address.

D.                 Certification of delegates shall be the duty of the Secretary-Treasurer of the Local.

E.                  Any member nominating a member for Alternate or additional certified delegate(s) must have the member’s written permission, or said member must be present at the meeting when nominated.

 

X.                 ARTICLE X – LOCAL COMMITTEES

A.                 The Local shall have the following regular Committees:

1.                  Organizing Committee

2.                  Education Committee

3.                  Legislative-Political Committee

4.                  Membership Committee

5.                  Election committee

6.                  Community Services Committee

7.                  Finance Committee

8.                  Safety Committee

9.                  Committee on Equity

10.              Newsletter

11.              Scale Committee<P.P.M.W. Sector>

12.              Joint Standing Committee<P.P.M.W. Sector>

13.              Apprentice Committee <P.P.M.W. Sector>

14.              Mobilization

15.              Other Committees

B.                 Chairpersons and members of all Committees shall be appointed by and are responsible to the President subject to the approval of the Executive Board and the right of the Local Membership to overrule such appointments.

C.                 Vacancies on Committees shall be filled in the same manner as originally filled.

D.                 A member of any Local Committee may be removed by a majority vote of the Local Executive Board, subject to the right of the membership to overrule such decisions. A Committee member may also be removed by action of the Local membership in a meeting.

E.                  Duties of Committees

1.                  Organizing Committee

The Organizing Committee shall assist the Office rs and Stewards in organizing all non-union employees within the Local’s jurisdiction as well as unorganized workers in external units.

2.                  Education Committee

The Education committee shall assist in developing the Local’s educational program and with the Local Office rs be responsible for achieving the Union’s and the Local’s educational programs.

3.                  Legislative-Political Committee

The Legislative-Political Committee shall assist in developing and pursuing the programs of the Union and the Local in the Legislative-Political field.

4.                  Membership Committee

The membership Committee shall accept or reject membership applications in accordance with the Bylaws and Rules of the Local and Article V of the Constitution and policies of the Union .

 

5.                  Election Committee

The Election Committee shall conduct all nominations, elections and referenda of the Local. The Committee will write its own rules following Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) and Communications Workers of America guidelines and submit those to the Local Executive Board prior to each election.

6.                  Community Services Committee

The Community Services Committee shall assist in developing all Community Services programs of the Union and the Local.

7.                  Finance Committee

a)         The Committee shall meet with the Local Secretary-Treasurer,

and Local Chairpersons and draw up an annual budget. The Secretary-Treasurer and Finance Committee Chairperson or the chairperson’s designee shall present same to the Local Executive Board and to the Local membership for approval.

b)      The Committee shall review Local investments as necessary. Recommendations regarding the Local investments shall be presented to the Local Executive Board and the General Membership for approval.

c)      Conduct annual audit of the local’s finances

8.                  Safety Committee

The Safety Committee shall advise the Office rs and membership on all safety practices and develop and implement educational programs for the members.

9.                  Committee On Equity

The Committee on Equity shall study and report to the Local on the ways and means of eliminating discrimination on the basis of sex, race or any other basis.

10.              Newsletter

The Local Newsletter shall publish information to promote the policies, programs and goals of the Local and the Union .

11.              Scale Committee

The Scale Committee shall have the responsibility of negotiating local contracts in the P.P.M.W. sector. It shall be the duty of this committee to collect and preserve such data as may be used in scale negotiations, to familiarize themselves with CWA, Federal and State laws governing union activities in collective bargaining and the drawing up of work agreements.

12.              Joint Standing Committee

The members of the Joint Standing Committee shall attempt to settle disputes referred to them by the Union as provided by newspaper or job contract.

13.              Apprentice Committee

The Apprentice Committee shall examine and perform such other duties as may be necessary to properly carry out the provisions and intent of the contract and the Local and International laws relating to apprentices.

 

14.              Mobilization Committee

The Mobilization committee shall develop an active internal membership program.

15.              Other Committees

The Local Executive board may appoint other committees that may be necessary to develop and achieve the policies of the Local and the Union .

 

XI.              ARTICLE XI – ORDER OF BUSINESS

A.                 The order of business at a Local meeting shall be as follows:

1.                  Call to order.

2.                  Reading and actions on minutes of previous meeting.

3.                  Reading and actions on finance report.

4.                  Communications.

5.                  Report of Office rs.

6.                  Report of Committees.

7.                  Unfinished business.

8.                  New business.

9.                  Good and welfare.

10.              Adjournment.

B.                 The order of business may be suspended by a two-thirds vote of the members present.

 

XII.            ARTICLE XII – DUTIES OF LOCAL OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE BOARD, STEWARDS AND CHAIRPERSONS

A.                 Duties of the President

Shall preside at the General Membership meetings and the Executive Board meetings and shall be responsible for the conduct of all business of the Local including but not limited to:

1.                  Be the Bargaining Agent for all Collective Bargaining Agreements held by the Local.

2.                  Be the official spokesperson for the Local.

3.                  Be a member of the Executive Board

4.                  Be the administrator of the annual budget established by the membership.

5.                  Approve all bills to be paid and countersign all checks drawn on the Local Treasury.

6.                  Be bonded.

7.                  Be ex-officio member of all Local committees except the Election Committee and the Finance Committee and will vote only in case of a tie.

8.                  Shall be a delegate to the CWA International Convention and be the Chairperson of the delegation.

9.                  Shall be a delegate to the Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO Convention and be the Chairperson of the delegation.

10.              Have the authority to execute the policies and programs of the Local as established by the membership, the Executive Board or the Union .

11.              Is responsible for whatever additional duties as may be assigned by the membership or required by these Bylaws and the Constitution of the Union and the Rules of the Local.

12.              Must attend the Executive Board meetings and the General Membership meetings to receive his/her allowance unless excused by the Executive Board.

B.                 Duties of the Executive Vice President

1.                  Work under the direction of the President and shall perform duties as assigned by the President and the Executive Board or the membership.

2.                  Shall act as a Bargaining Agent at the direction of the President.

3.                  Prosecute grievances and appeal them to higher levels of the Union when not satisfactorily settled. Maintain the Local’s Steward organization and keep appropriate files.

4.                  Shall have the responsibility to coordinate with the Executive Board the training needs of the Local.

5.                  Shall conduct Stewards meetings.

6.                  Shall be a member of the Executive Board.

7.                  In the absence of the President, the Executive Vice President shall assume the duties of the President.

8.                  In the absence of the President or the Secretary-Treasurer, countersign all checks drawn on the Local Treasury.

9.                  Be bonded.

10.              Must attend the Executive Board meetings and the General Membership meetings to receive his/her allowance unless excused by the President.

C.                 Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer

1.                  Work under the direction of the President and shall perform such other duties as assigned by the President and the Executive Board or the membership.

2.                  Shall be a member of the Executive Board