AFT Local 2121 Constitution
Preamble
We, the members of the San Francisco Community College District Federation of Teachers, believing that the Community College District of San Francisco must become a strong, flexible institution serving the varying needs of a learning society through a wide range of academic transfer programs, occupational training, remedial work, and continuing adult education, have joined together, as herein defined in this Constitution, for the purpose of exerting a collective, constructive and positive influence on the development of Community College education in San Francisco.
Article I Name
This organization shall be known as the San Francisco Community College District Federation of Teachers, Local 2121, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO.
Article II Objectives
1. To promote the welfare of students and the advancement of community college education in the public interest;
2. To promote the highest standards of professional services in education;
3. To obtain for teachers their rightful voice in shaping educational policy and in establishing the conditions under which they teach;
4. To promote the welfare of teachers by obtaining full and just compensation for professional services rendered;
5. To maintain for teachers the right to free collective bargaining as a necessary means for achieving the substantive aims and purposes of this organization.
Article III Membership
Section 1. Membership in this organization shall be open to all faculty of the San Francisco Community College District including department chairs and program supervisors but not administrators. This provision shall not be applicable to administrators who were in such positions prior to August, 1966, and who have maintained their membership in good standing in any AFT local since then, except that they may not serve in a policy-making position on the Executive Board.
Section 2. Retired members who are in good standing in Local 2121 at the time of retirement may retain membership in the organization by paying special retiree dues beginning the month following retirement. Payment of such dues entitles the retiree to remain a member in good standing of AFT 2121. Such members may cancel their membership at any time. Retirees who choose not to continue membership shall be dropped from the membership rolls of Local 2121. Retired members who are reemployed by the District to work part-time are not eligible for special retiree dues during the period of reemployment.
Section 3. Teachers and other educational workers not eligible for membership in this organization under Section I may apply for membership individually and may be accepted upon recommendation of the Executive Board, and approval at the next General Membership or Delegate Assembly meeting.
Section 4. Eligibility for membership may be extended to the teaching employees of educational agencies other than the Community College District or to other employees of the District, in instances where there exists a community of interest or function or an administrative interrelationship, upon recommendation of the Executive Board, and approval at the next General Membership or Delegate Assembly meeting.
Section 5. Associate membership in Local 2121 will be open to employees of the San Francisco Community College District who are eligible under Article III and who are also members in good standing of another AFT/CFT affiliated local. These members shall not receive insurance benefits through Local 2121, nor shall they be included in per capita payments. Otherwise, Associate Members shall have the same privileges as other members of Local 2121.
Article IV Delegate Assembly
Section 1. The Executive Board shall have authority to draw up or modify precinct membership. The precincts shall be drawn so that there is a reasonably close equivalence in size of precincts, according to Union membership, and a logical distinction in disciplines, departments, and/or locations. Faculty reassigned to non-instructional duties may participate as if retaining all rights to their last assignment. Certain released-time assignments may be identified by the Delegate Assembly as having a community of interest and faculty with those assignments may be placed in the same precinct. The faculty who hold these positions shall be placed in these precincts for the duration of their assignments. Election of delegates shall be by secret ballot.
Section 2. The reapportionment process may include an increase or decrease in the number of precincts and may be initiated by a majority vote of the Executive Board or of the Delegate Assembly, or by petition of five delegates or 20 Union members. Any revision of the apportionment must be approved by majority vote of the Delegate Assembly. Regular elections for precinct representatives must take place at least once every two years. Any appeal of the election process will be heard by the Executive Board. Any precinct representative vacancy shall be filled by a member from said precinct nominated by the president and approved by the Delegate Assembly.
Section 3. There shall be a Delegate Assembly consisting of all precinct representatives and all members of the Executive Board. The Delegate Assembly shall meet on a regular basis, and at least four times a semester. Minutes of meetings shall be sent out to all union members, and except under emergency circumstances, announcements and agendas of meetings shall be sent out to all union members. The schedule of Delegate Assembly meetings for the coming year will be set by the Executive Board and distributed to the Union membership by the second week of September of each academic year. If ten delegates or 20 Union members petition the Executive Board, a special meeting will be held. The membership shall be informed of special meetings.
Section 4. The Delegate Assembly shall set policy for the Union between meetings of the membership. Any decisions of the Delegate Assembly shall be subject to change by the membership. During collective bargaining, the Delegate Assembly shall approve the Union's initial contract proposal; vote on such resolutions as deemed appropriate by the Executive Board; and once a tentative agreement has been reached, make a recommendation on ratification.
Section 5. The President of the Union shall preside over meetings of the Delegate Assembly. In his/her absence the Executive Vice-President shall preside. Any replacements on the Executive Board shall be nominated by the President, recommended by the Executive Board, and confirmed by the Delegate Assembly.
Section 6. Any precinct representative may be recalled by a majority vote of those voting in a precinct. The manner of voting shall be in accordance with the By-Laws after receipt by the Executive Board of a recall petition signed by at least one-third of the members in good standing in a precinct.
Article V General Officers and Delegates
Section 1. General Officers
a. The general officers of this organization shall be a President, Executive Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. To be eligible to run for the offices, they must have been members in good standing for at least one year prior to their nomination.
b. All officers shall perform the customary duties and exercise the usual powers of such offices subject to direction of the Executive Board, unless otherwise specified in the Constitution or the By-Laws.
c. When the President is absent, the Executive Vice-President shall preside over meetings. In the event of the resignation or incapacity of the President to fulfill the duties of the office, the Executive Vice-President shall assume such duties until the next election. If the Executive Vice-President declines to serve or is ineligible to serve under the provisions of this Constitution, a special meeting of the Delegate Assembly shall be called to elect a Union member in good standing to serve as interim president until such time as an election by the General Membership can be held (either regular or special). Vacancies in any office, other than President, shall be filled by a member nominated by the President, recommended by the Executive Board, and confirmed by the Delegate Assembly.
d. Delegates to the San Francisco Labor Council shall be elected at large by vote of the membership, concurrently with the election of general officers. The candidate receiving the most votes shall also serve as secretary of the delegation and as a member of the Executive Board. The president shall be chairperson ex-officio of the delegation. The Executive Director (a paid employee of the Union) shall serve as an ex-officio member of the delegation.
Section 2. There shall be 6 Representatives-at-Large elected by the General Membership in the general election. Vacancies for Representatives-at-Large shall be filled by a member nominated by the President and approved by the Delegate Assembly.
Section 3. In the case that no part-timer is elected as a Representative-at-Large, the part-timer receiving the most votes shall be seated on the Executive Board as a seventh Representative-at-Large. For the 2002-2004 term only, the President shall appoint one with the approval of the Executive Board.
Section 4. All officers, Representatives-at-Large and Labor Council Delegates shall be elected biennially for a term of two years, commencing June 1. Time and method of the elections shall be stated in the By-Laws. A President of Local 2121, AFT, shall not succeed him/herself in office more than once, but will be eligible to run for President after a break of at least one term of office.
Section 5. In a recall election, any officer or other member of the Executive Board may be recalled by two-thirds of those voting. The manner of voting shall be in accordance with the By-Laws, after receipt by the Executive Board of a recall petition signed by at least one-third of the members in good standing.
Section 6. No incumbent officer may also be a paid employee of the Union. Salaried officers shall not be considered paid employees.
Article VI Executive Board
Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the following members: the four general officers; the Labor Council Delegate-Secretary; and six, or seven in accord with Article V. Section 3, Representatives-at-Large no more than three of whom may be from any one department. All positions on the Executive Board shall be elected at large by the membership at the time of the general election. Every Representative-at-Large will be expected to chair a committee as defined in the By-Laws. Department chairpersons or program supervisors in the supervisory bargaining unit shall not serve as general officers or members of the Executive Board.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall conduct the business of the Union between meetings of the general membership or the delegates and shall make recommendations regarding policy to the membership and the Delegate Assembly. During the summer recess, the Executive Board shall act for the membership and the Delegate Assembly.
Article VII Membership Meetings
Section 1. Meetings of the membership shall be held at least once a semester. In election years, the spring meeting must be held in the month of March. Additional membership meetings will be held if 25 Union members petition the Executive Board.
Article VIII Affiliation
Section 1. This Union shall maintain affiliations with and, whenever possible, shall send delegates to the following organizations:
a. The American Federation of Teachers. All delegates and alternates to the national convention of the AFT shall be elected in the same manner and at the same time as Labor Council delegates.
b. California Federation of Teachers. Delegates shall be elected at least one month before the State Convention at a regular General Membership meeting or Delegate Assembly.
c. San Francisco Labor Council. Delegates shall be elected at the regular election of officers.
d. California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. Delegates shall be elected at least one month before the convention at a regular membership meeting.
e. Community College Council/CFT. A part-timer shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board. This person shall represent the Local at meetings of the CCC Part-timers Committee and participate in the Local’s Part-timer Committee.
Section 2. Delegates to affiliated organizations shall meet the same requirements as officers of the Union. They must be members in good standing for at least one year.
Article IX Amendments
Section 1. All amendments to this Constitution must be ratified by two-thirds of those voting in a mail ballot. Constitutional amendments may be proposed at a General Membership Meeting or at a Delegate Assembly at which the proposed amendments shall be a special order of business. The amendments must have been submitted in writing to the Secretary in time to permit a copy to be forwarded to each Union member at least two weeks before the meeting at which the amendment is to be proposed. Majority approval of those voting at the General Membership Meeting or the Delegate Assembly will be required before the proposed amendments can be considered for ratification by mail ballot.
Section 2. All amendments to this Constitution must be ratified by two-thirds of those voting in a mail ballot. Constitutional amendments may be proposed at a General Membership Meeting or at a Delegate Assembly at which the proposed amendments shall be a special order of business. The amendments must have been submitted in writing to the Secretary in time to permit a copy to be forwarded to each Union member at least two weeks before the meeting at which the amendment is to be proposed. Majority approval of those voting at the General Membership Meeting or the Delegate Assembly will be required before the proposed amendments can be considered for ratification by mail ballot.
Article X Referendum
Section 1. Proposed actions, including amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws, may be submitted to a referendum vote by order of a General Membership Meeting or a Delegate Assembly, or by a petition signed by not fewer than seventy-five members in good standing, except that in no case shall a referendum be held, the beginning or termination date of which falls between May 30th and September 1.
Section 2. Mail ballots on constitutional amendments shall be conducted only at the time of an election for general officers, except that in the event that two-thirds of those voting in a General Membership meeting or a Delegate Assembly declare an emergency. Constitutional amendments may also be proposed for ratification by petition as provided for in Article X, but unless the General Membership or the Delegate Assembly declares an emergency, the vote to ratify must take place with the vote for general officers.
Article XI Adoption
Section 1. This Constitution as amended shall become effective upon ratification by the membership.
Section 2. Three copies of this Constitution and all future amendments shall be submitted to the National Office of the American Federation of Teachers.
Article XII Mail Ballot Resolutions
Section 1. This article shall apply only to resolutions concerning local, statewide, national, and international issues which do not directly involve U.S. labor unions or labor issues, or which do not directly involve educational issues, or which do not directly relate to Article II of this constitution.
Section 2. All resolutions fitting the above definition must be approved by 60% of those voting in a mail ballot. Such resolutions must have been submitted to the Secretary in time to permit a copy to be forwarded to each member with the announcement of the General Membership Meeting or the Delegate Assembly at which the resolution will be considered. In order for the mail ballot on the resolution to take place, a majority of those voting at the General Membership Meeting or the Delegate Assembly must vote in favor of sending the proposed resolution to the membership.
Section 3. The vote on the resolution shall consist of two possibilities: "yes" or "no". To pass, the resolution must receive "yes" votes from at least 60% of those voting in the mail ballot. Mail ballots on such resolutions shall be conducted only at the time of an election for general officers, except in the event that two-thirds of those voting in a General Membership Meeting declare an emergency. In the case of a declared emergency, as stated above, a mail ballot shall be conducted as quickly as possible within the next month. Should an emergency be declared for one resolution, all others waiting to be voted upon shall be sent out as well.