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Western
Oregon University Federation of Teachers |
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NEW CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS ADOPTED
In 2003 the WOUFT Executive Council began the process of revising the Constitution and Bylaws to update the name of the organization, clarify a number of things, and
provide more detail in many areas. After a long process of revision, and in consultation with our friends at AFT-Oregon, we designed a new Constitution and new Bylaws. They were approved, with one amendment, on February 2, 2005 at a membership meeting.
Our new Constitution and Bylaws: Constitution
& Bylaws
CHANGES MADE IN THE NEW CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
The new constitution and bylaws are much more specific and detailed, in many areas, than the old ones. They are also much better organized.
Below are the highlights of the revisions.
- Change of the name of the union reflecting change of the name of the University from WOSC to WOU
- Clarification of the duties of union officers
- Specific periods of term of officers, and specification of the month and year when terms are to begin.
- Clarification of rules governing meetings
- Clarification of rules governing voting, including method of voting and explicit rules in the case votes on strike authorization or contract ratification
- Clarification of the position of Chair of the Bargaining Committee, and inclusion of that person on the WOUFT Executive Council
- Specific remedy to the possibility of a tie vote on an Executive Council, now with six members
Thanks go to all of the WOUFT officers, past and present, who have worked so hard for more than a year drafting the proposed new constitution and bylaws. Those who were especially active are Molly Mayhead, Roy Bennett, Gavin Keulks, Bryan Dutton, Dean Braa, Peter Callero, and Mark Perlman.
With these proposals, we have a much improved, though no doubt still imperfect, set of governing rules to take us into the future.
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Bylaws revisions proposed in Spring 2005 general
meeting, and passed in September 2005
Additions in bold
BYLAWS
Article III. Meetings
Section 1. Regular Meetings
ORIGINAL LANGUAGE [as of April 2005]
WOUFT will hold regular membership meetings at least three times during the academic year (September through June). A quorum shall consist of ten percent of the total membership, including at least two officers. The President or Executive Council may call additional regular membership meetings, including meetings during the period of July through August.
REVISED LANGUAGE:
WOUFT will hold
regular membership meetings at least three times during the academic year (September
through June). to take place in
Fall Term during the week preceding the beginning of classes, and in Winter and
Spring terms on the first Thursday of the term at 3:30pm. The Executive Council
may, by unanimous vote, change the dates of these regular meetings so long as
notice is given to the membership at least thirty (30) days in advance of the
rescheduled meeting.
[this change was passed 20-0-1 at the
Spring 2005 meeting, but the rules require that it be officially voted on at
the next regular meeting, so it was ratified at the Sept. 2005 general membership
meeting]
A quorum for
regular membership meetings shall consist of ten percent (10%) of
the total membership, including at least two officers. For strike
authorization votes, strike votes, and changes to the Constitution and Bylaws,
a quorum shall consist of twenty percent (20%) of the total membership,
including at least two officers.
[this change was passed 19-1-1 at the
Spring 2005 meeting, but the rules require that it be officially voted on at
the next regular meeting, so it was ratified at the Sept. 2005 general
membership meeting]
The President or
Executive Council may call additional regular membership meetings, including
meetings during the period of July through August.
================================
ARTICLE
VI - STRIKES
Section 2. Strike Authorization Vote
The membership, at the request of the Executive Council, may authorize
the union to call a strike. Strike authorization shall be granted by a majority
vote of those members present at a meeting called for such a purpose. In the
even of a tie vote, the authorization shall fail.
Bylaws
revisions proposed in Spring 2005 general meeting and passed in September 2005.
(Additions in bold)
The membership, at the request of
the Executive Council, may authorize the union to call a strike. Strike authorization
shall be granted by a majority vote of those members present at a meeting
called for such a purpose. The votes shall be cast by secret paper ballots
deposited into a closed container. The counting of the ballots shall occur
during that same meeting, and be performed by the WOUFT Secretary or (if the
Secretary is unavailable) by some member of the Executive Council, in the
presence of at least two other members of the WOUFT Executive Council. The
results shall be immediately announced to the members, during that same
meeting. In the even of a tie vote,
the authorization shall fail.