We need YOU and your CUPE co-workers to attend the November 20th meeting to choose from the field of candidates and vote for your choice for the following positions:
Local 1505 Election Call – November 20, 2013
The positions open for election are as follows:
Acting President** 1-year term, ending November 2014
Vice-President 2-year term, ending November 2015
Financial Officer 2-year term, ending November 2015
Recording Secretary 1-year term, ending November 2014
Membership Officer 2-year term, ending November 2015
Communications Officer 1-year term, ending November 2014
Trustee 1-year term, ending November 2014
Trustee 2-year term, ending November 2015
Trustee 3-year term, ending November 2016
The roles and responsibilities for each position are detailed below
Nominations will be received in the following manner:
1. Nominations will be received at the Annual General Meeting November 20, 2013.
2. Nominations will be accepted from members in attendance. Nominations shall also be accepted from members who are absent at the Annual General Meeting but who have allowed their nomination to be filed in writing at the meeting. This nomination must be witnessed by second member.
3. Nominees must have been accepted into membership and continue to be a member in good standing.
4. A member may accept nomination for a position while holding office in any position. If successful in the election, their resignation from their current position will take effect at that time.
Notes:
• If an election is required, the Nominees shall have five (5) minutes each to address the membership. After their speeches, the Nominees shall field questions from the membership.
• The Acting President position noted above is a full time officer of the local and shall be booked off at Pay Level 21 of the RMWB Collective Agreement as per the Bylaws.**
**Acting President - Please be aware that this position may be assumed by the President, who is on leave, at any time during the tenure.
President
The President shall:
• Enforce the CUPE National Constitution, these Local Union bylaws and the Equality Statement.
• Interpret these bylaws as required.
• Lead and implement CUPE Local 1505’s Strategic Plan and act as official spokesperson.
• Preside at all membership meetings.
• Preside at Executive Board meetings in the absence of the Vice-President.
• Attend senior level meetings with the Employer(s).
• Attend all Municipal Council meetings.
• Manage the administration of Local 1505.
• Ensure that all correspondence is managed effectively.
• Ensure a record of all correspondence received and sent out is maintained.
• Prepare and distribute agendas for Executive Board meetings one (1) week prior to the meetings.
• Decide all points of order and procedure (subject always to appeal to the membership).
• Have the same right to vote as other members. In the case of a tie vote, the President may cast an additional vote or the President may refrain from casting an additional vote, in which case the motion is defeated.
• Ensure that all Officers perform their assigned duties.
• Fill committee vacancies where elections are not provided for.
• Introduce new members and conduct them through the initiation ceremony.
• Sign all cheques and ensure that the Local Union’s funds are used only as authorized or directed by the CUPE Constitution, Local Union bylaws, or vote of the membership.
• Have first preference as a delegate to the CUPE National Convention.
Vice-President
The Vice-President shall:
• If the President is absent or not eligible, perform all duties of the President.
• Hold the position of Chief Grievance Officer
• If the Chief Shop Steward is absent or not eligible, perform all duties of the Chief Shop Steward.
• Preside at membership meetings in the absence of the President.
• Preside at Executive Board meetings.
• If the office of the President falls vacant, be Acting President until a new President is elected through a by-election.
• If the office of the Chief Shop Steward falls vacant, be Acting Chief Shop Steward until a new Chief Shop Steward is elected through a by-election.
• Support the President in attending senior-level meetings with the Employer as needed.
• Render occasional assistance to any member of the Executive Board as needed or as delegated by the President.
• Be an alternate signing authority in the absence of either the President or Financial Officer.
Recording Officer
The Recording Officer shall:
• Keep full, accurate, and impartial account of the proceedings of all regular or special membership and Executive Board meetings. These records must also include a copy of the full financial report (Executive Board meetings) and the written financial report (membership meetings) presented by the Financial Officer. The record will also include Trustees’ reports.
• In conjunction with the CUPE National Representative, record all amendments and/or additions in the bylaws, and make certain that these are sent to the National President for approval prior to implementing.
• Have all records ready on reasonable notice for the Trustees or auditors.
• Preside over membership and Executive Board meetings in the absence of both the President and Vice-President.
• Performs other duties required by the Local Union, its bylaws or the National Constitution.
Financial Officer
The Financial Officer shall:
• Receive all revenue, initiation fees, dues, and assessments, keeping a record of each member’s payments, and deposit promptly all money with a bank or credit union.
• Sign all cheques and ensure that the Local Union’s funds are used only as authorized or directed by the CUPE Constitution, Local Union bylaws, or vote of the membership. In consultation with the Executive Board, designate a signing officer during prolonged absences.
• Ensure that per capita tax is paid by direct remittance, or where per capita is not paid by direct remittance, prepare all CUPE National per capita tax forms and remit payment, including two dollars ($2.00) of each initiation fee on all members admitted, no later than the last day of the following month.
• Be responsible for maintaining, organizing, safeguarding and keeping on file all supporting documents, authorizations, invoices and/or expense claims for every disbursement made, receipts for all money sent to CUPE National, as well as records and supporting documents for all income received by the Local Union.
• Record all financial transactions in a manner acceptable to the Executive Board and in accordance with good accounting practices.
• Prepare annual budgets in consultation with the Executive Board and present the recommended budget to the membership annually.
• Make a full financial report to meetings of the Local Union’s Executive Board.
• Make a written financial report to each regular membership meeting, detailing all income and expenditures for the period.
• Be bonded through the master bond held by CUPE National. Any Financial Officer who cannot qualify for the bond shall be disqualified from office.
• Make all books available for inspection by the Trustees and/or auditors on reasonable notice. Ensure that the books are audited at least once each calendar year and within a reasonable time, respond in writing to any recommendations and concerns raised by the Trustees.
• Provide the Trustees with any information the Trustees require to complete the audit, including forms provided by CUPE National.
• Where required, not later than February 28th each year, furnish each member, on the forms supplied by CUPE National, with a statement showing the net amount of tax-deductible dues paid by him during the preceding calendar year.
• When required, notify all members who are one month in arrears and report to the Executive Board all members two or more months in arrears in the payment of union dues.
Trustees
The Trustees shall:
• Act as an auditing committee on behalf of the members and audit the books and accounts of the Financial Officer, the Recording Officer, and the committees, at least once every calendar year.
• Make a written report of their findings to the first membership meeting following the completion of each audit.
• Submit in writing to the Executive Board any recommendations and/or concerns they feel should be reviewed in order to ensure that the Local Union’s funds, records, and accounts are being maintained by the Financial Officer in an organized, correct, and proper manner.
• Be responsible to ensure that monies have been paid out with proper constitutional or membership authorization.
• Ensure that proper financial reports have been given to the membership.
• Audit the record of attendance.
• Inspect at least once a year, any stocks, bonds, securities, office furniture and equipment, and titles or deeds to property that may at any time be owned by the Local Union, and report their findings to the membership.
• Send to the National Secretary-Treasurer, with a copy to the assigned Servicing Representative, the following documents:
• Completed Trustee Audit Program
• Completed Trustees’ Report
• Financial Officer’s Report to the Trustees
• Recommendations made to the Executive Board of the Local Union
• Financial Officer’s response to recommendations
• Concerns that have not been addressed by the Local Union Executive Board.
Membership Officer
The Membership Officer shall:
• Guard the inner door at membership meetings and admit no one but members in good standing or Officers and officials of CUPE, except on the order of the President and with consent of the members present.
• Maintain the record of membership attendance at meetings.
• Maintain a record of the members contact information.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Board from time to time.
• Issue and distribute Union membership cards to members.
• In the absence of the Membership Officer, the President shall appoint a member in good standing to perform the duties during membership meetings.
• Maintain a listing of the membership of all committees and advise the President of any vacancies, or when the term of office of committee members is due to expire.
Communications Officer
The Communications Officer shall:
• Provide communications support for the Strategic Plan in consultation with the Executive Board through a variety of media.
• Prepare and distribute a newsletter at least once every month except July and August or more frequently as required.
• Administer CUPE Local 1505’s portion of the CUPE Wood Buffalo website.
• Edit reports from Executive Board members and committees for inclusion in appropriate media.
• Prepare and distribute all notices to members.
• Gather information about appropriate courses, the availability of courses, and make recommendations to the Local Union on whether or not members should be attending.
• Assist delegates in the preparation of reports to the membership on seminars and conferences and maintain a reference file of these reports.
• Cooperate with the National Union Development Department and Communications Branch of CUPE, and with the regional Education Representative, in implementing both the Local Union’s and CUPE’s policies in these fields.
If you have any questions about the positions, the election protocols, or, if we still need to provide more information, please email us at cupe1505@shaw.ca.
In Solidarity,
CUPE 1505
