Florida SouthWestern State
College Faculty Federation Constitution
ARTICLE
I
Name
This organization shall
be known as the Florida SouthWestern State College Faculty Federation (FSWSCFF),
Local No. 3513.
ARTICLE
II
Objectives
The
purposes of this organization shall be:
Section
1. To bring
associations of educators into relations of mutual assistance and cooperation.
Section
2. To obtain for them
the rights to which they are entitled.
Section
3. To raise the
standards of the teaching profession by securing the conditions essential to
the best professional service.
Section
4. To promote a
democratization of Florida SouthWestern State College that will enable members
to better serve the community.
Section
5. To promote the
welfare of the citizens of the nation by providing progressively better
educational opportunity for all.
Section
6. To eliminate all
forms of discrimination based on age, national origin, race, religion,
political belief, or sex in education.
Article
III-Membership
Section
1. All non-administrative
employees of Florida SouthWestern State College shall be eligible for
membership. Supervisory personnel with the rank of department head or above
shall not obtain membership. Members who are hired for positions with the rank
of associate dean or above automatically are removed from membership on the
effective date of change of positions.
Section
2. Membership shall
be open upon the approval of the Executive Council to retired employees and
others eligible for membership who withdraw from the profession and who wish to
maintain affiliation.
Section
3. Teachers in public
or private institutions outside the jurisdiction of this local may be admitted
to membership until such time as a local is chartered in their jurisdiction.
Section
4. No discrimination
shall ever be shown toward individual members or applicants for membership
because of age, national origin, race, religion, political belief, sex, or
sexual preference.
Section
5. A member may be
expelled for acts detrimental to this Federation upon presentation of written
charges signed by at least 25% of the total membership and approved by at least
75% of the Executive Council. The member shall have the right to appeal the
decision to the membership at the following regular membership meeting and
shall be reinstated with full rights if a majority of the members present vote
to reinstate.
Section
6. Any members who
fail to pay dues upon their expiration shall be dropped from the rolls and
their names removed from the records at the National Office.
Article
IV-Officer Elections and Dues Deductions
Section
1. The following
officers shall be elected annually by this Federation:
President. The President shall be the chief
executive officer of this Federation and shall serve as its official
spokesperson. The President may appoint ad hoc committees, persons to chair all
committees, and persons to perform special duties as needed subject to the
approval of the Executive Council. The President shall be a delegate to all
affiliated organizations and shall serve as chairperson of this Federation’s
delegation. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees,
except the Audit Committee.
Vice
President. The Vice
President shall perform all duties of the President in the absence of that
officer. The Vice President shall perform duties as designated by the President
and/or the Executive Council.
Secretary. The Secretary shall record and keep
on file minutes of all meetings of this Federation’s membership and Executive
Council. The Secretary shall perform duties as designated by the President and
Executive Council.
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be the chief
financial officer and will be responsible for keeping an accurate set of
financial records subject to an annual internal audit. The Treasurer will
receive, record, and deposit in the name of the Federation all monies from dues
and all other sources. The Treasurer will keep the membership roll. The
Treasurer will forward all per capita dues and current membership lists to the
National Office of the American Federation of Teachers and to other affiliated
organizations to keep this Federation in good standing at all times. Special
care shall be taken to see that per capita tax through June 30 is sent to the
National Office no later than 15 days prior to the opening date of the National
convention to make sure delegates from this Federation may be seated. The
Treasurer shall pay all bills authorized by the adopted budget, retaining
voucher or invoice for same. Expenses not authorized in the budget must be
presented to the Executive Council for authorization.
Section
2. Membership in good
standing for at least one year is required to hold office.
Section
3. Nominations for
office shall be made at the regular March membership meeting. Notice shall be
provided to each member prior to the regular March membership meeting.
Section
4. Ballots shall be
prepared and distributed to each member in good standing and in attendance at
the regular April membership meeting. The Secretary shall collect and supervise
the counting of the ballots. The candidate receiving a majority of the ballots
cast shall be declared elected. If a majority is not obtained, a run-off
election of the two candidates receiving the most votes shall be held according
to the above procedure.
Section
5. Officers shall be
installed at the regular membership meeting in April or at a special meeting or
social event held for this purpose.
Section
6. Vacancies in any
office shall be filled by the Executive Council.
Article
V-Committees
Section
1. The following
standing committees shall be active in this Federation:
Membership. The Membership Committee shall
consist of the stewards, who shall be elected by the members represented within
their respective areas. The Membership Committee shall plan and execute a
dynamic program to insure growth and vitality of the Federation.
Bargaining. The Bargaining Teams shall prepare
and substantiate contract proposals including salary. It/they shall present
these proposals for approval to the membership and then shall negotiate these proposals
with the employer. The Bargaining Teams have the full authority to represent
this Federation in all contract negotiations.
Grievance
and Arbitration. The
Grievance and Arbitration Committee shall act on all grievances submitted in
writing to the Federation. It shall present a procedure for handling each
individual grievance to the Executive Council, who shall make final
determination of the disposition of the grievance.
Committee
on Political Education (COPE).
The COPE shall consider recommendations of the American Federation of Teachers,
Florida Education Association/United, Southwest Florida Central Labor Council,
and this Federation pertaining to all levels of government. It shall study
proposed legislation which may affect the Federation and the College. It may
initiate recommendations. It may present the record of government officials.
With the approval of the Executive Council, COPE may initiate fundraising
activities to defray expenses incurred.
Publications. The Publications Committee shall prepare
and distribute a monthly newsletter for the Fall and Spring sessions. The
newsletter editor shall chair the committee. Every effort shall be made by this
committee to make use of flyers, affiliate publications, etc.
Social. The Social Committee shall arrange
such programs and entertainment and perform such duties as the Federation may
direct.
Section
2. The following
special committees shall be appointed as needed:
The
Budget Committee, chaired by the Treasurer, shall prepare a budget for
adoption by the Executive Council annually each September for the following
year.
The
Audit Committee shall audit the Treasurer’s books.
The
Elections Committee, chaired by the Secretary, shall conduct all
elections.
Section
3. Chairpersons and
members of all committees shall be appointed by the President with the consent
of a majority of the officers and stewards.
Article
VI-Executive Council
Section
1. The Executive
Council of this Federation shall consist of the following:
a.
All elected officers
b.
Chairpersons of standing committees
c.
Stewards
Section
2. The Executive
Council shall meet prior to each regular meeting and at other times when deemed
necessary.
Section
3. The Executive
Council shall administer the policy of this Federation as set by the membership
at regular membership meetings. It shall have the power to act for the good of
this Federation in emergency situations where the policy cannot be set by the
membership.
Section
4. The chairperson of
the Executive Council shall be the President of the Federation.
Article
VII-Affiliations
This
Federation shall maintain affiliation with and whenever possible send delegates
to the following organizations:
a.
The National Education Association. All delegates (except the President, who is
automatically a delegate) and alternates to the National Convention of the AFT
shall be elected by majority secret ballot vote at the April membership
meeting. Notice of election shall be made at the previous membership meeting
and written notice shall be sent to each member prior to the election. The
President and the Secretary shall certify the election and forward the
credentials of all delegates and alternates to the National Office as soon as
possible but not later than ten days before the convening of the National
convention. The delegates shall confer with the Treasurer to make sure the AFT
per capita through June has been sent to the National Office at least 15 days
before the convening of the National Convention.
b.
The Florida Education Association/United Faculty of Florida. All
delegates (except the President, who is automatically a delegate) and
alternates shall be elected at least one month before the FEA/United convention
at a regular membership meeting. Written notice shall be sent to each member
prior to the election.
c.
The Florida AFL-CIO. All delegates (except the President, who is
automatically a delegate) and alternates shall be elected at least one month
before the Florida AFL-CIO Convention at a regular membership meeting. Written
notice shall be sent to each member prior to the election.
d.
The Southwest Florida Central Labor Council. All delegates (except the
President, who is automatically a delegate) and alternates shall be elected at
the regular annual election of officers.
ARTICLE
VIII
Finance
Section
1. Regular dues shall
be fixed by majority vote of members present at any regular meeting providing
notice of the contemplated change being announced at a previous meeting.
Section
2. Additional
finances may be obtained by various fundraising activities.
Section
3. A checking account
will be maintained at a bank chosen by the Executive Council. Signature cards
will be signed by the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Checks will require two (2) signatures, and any two (2) of these four (4) officers
may sign a check.
Article
IX-Rules of Order
Roberts
Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern in all cases not covered by this
Constitution or the By-laws of this Federation.
Article
X-Amendments
This
Constitution may be amended by submitting in writing any proposed amendments to
the Executive Council, or the Executive Council may initiate amendments. The
Secretary will distribute notices to all members at least two (2) weeks prior
to the regular membership meeting at which the amendment is to be considered,
and the notice will contain the proposed amendment. A majority vote of those
present at the designated regular membership meeting shall be sufficient to
adopt the amendment.
Article
X-Availability of Constitution
Section
1. Three copies of
this Constitution and all future amendments shall be submitted to the National
Office of the American Federation of Teachers.
Section
2. Copies shall be
made available to other affiliated organizations upon request.
Section
3. The appropriate
number of copies shall be submitted to the Public Employees Relations
Commission in Tallahassee.
Section
4. Copies shall be
available for any members of this Federation upon request to the Secretary.