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.