Constitution

And By-laws

of the

Classified School Employees CounciI

of

Las Cruces

　

　

　

June 23, 2009

　 

ARTICLE 1: NAME

This organization shall be known as the CLASSIFIED SCHOOL EMPLOYEES COUNCIL OF LAS CRUCES, hereafter referred to as CSEC-LC

ARTICLE l: AFFILIATIONS

This organization shall be affiliated with the National Education Association (NEA), National Education Association-New Mexico (NEA-NM); American Federation of Teachers (AFT), AFT-New Mexico and the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this organization shall be:

1. To promote the education, safety and other interests of the children in the Las Cruces Public School District.

2. To advance the standards of the educational institutions in the District.

3. To secure the conditions necessary to the greatest efficiency of staff and schools.

4. To promote the welfare of its members through Collective Bargaining.

5. To secure the rights of CSEC-LC members in the workplace.

6. To promote mutual assistance and cooperation with its affiliates.

7. To promote the unity and strength of the educational system.

8. To promote political action for the benefit of all working people through the American Federation of Teachers Committee on Political Education (COPE) and the National Education Association Fund for Children and Public Education.

8. To work with all members of CSEC-LC and with all representatives of the labor movement to achieve legislative and political gains on behalf of our Chapter members and all members of CSEC-LC.

　

　

　

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ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

1. Current and retired Classified Employees of the Las Cruces Public School District shall be eligible for active membership in CSEC-LC.

2. Supervisory personnel as defined by law shall not be eligible for membership.

3. In matters that affect a particular constituency of this bargaining unit, only persons who are members in good standing may vote.

4. Any member who fails to pay dues upon their expiration (plus thirty (30) day grace period) shall be dropped from the rolls and his/her name removed from the records of the national office(s), except as provided by majority action of the executive council in cases of personal emergency.

5. A member, after exhausting all available due process procedures available through CSEC-LC and its affiliates, may be expelled for acts detrimental to the organization. .

6. No discrimination shall ever be shown toward individual members or applicants for membership because of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, social, political or economic status or national origin.

7. Membership Year. The membership year shall be from September 1 through August 31.

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

The officers to be elected for two years shall be:

1. President

2. Executive Vice-President

3. Executive Secretary

4. Executive Treasurer

5. Vice-President for Custodians

6. Vice-President for Educational Assistants

7. Vice-President for Food Service

8. Vice-President for Secretaries and Clerical Workers

9. Vice-President for Maintenance

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ARTICLE VI: CHAPTERS

The Local may create local chapters upon recommendation of the Executive Council with approval by the General Membership. Chapters shall represent special jurisdictions or constituencies. Chapters shall organize themselves with due care to the standards for governance and participation not inconsistent with the requirements of the Constitution and By-laws of the Classified School Employees Council of Las Cruces.

ARTICLE VII: CSEC-LC WORK SITE REPRESENTATIVES

1. The President shall appoint all Las Cruces Public School representatives with the approval of the Executive Council.

2. CSEC-LC representatives are recognized as CSEC-LC leaders at their respective work locations. They have the rights as defined in any Negotiated Agreement with the District Employer to carry out this leadership responsibility.

2-1. In the absence of a Negotiated Agreement, the representative will attempt to work with management and employees as though a Negotiated Agreement did exist.

3. The CSEC-LC Public School representatives are the link between the employees and the CSEC-LC Executive Council for communications and protection of employee rights. They are the leaders for building CSEC-LC membership recruitment. The Executive Council shall assign them special tasks as needed. The representatives can appoint other members to assist them with their tasks.

3-1. Nothing in this article shall be interpreted as limiting the rights of members to attend meetings of the Executive Council as contained in Article IX, Section 4 of this Constitution.

ARTICLE VII: ELECTIONS

1. The President, Executive Vice-President, Executive Secretary and Executive Treasurer shall be elected by the total membership in good standing by secret ballot.

2. The constituency vice-presidents shall be elected by constituency members in good standing by secret ballot to represent constituency members on the Executive Council.

3. To be eligible to hold office a candidate, regardless of ethnic minority, must be a member in good standing of CSEC-LC and, at the time of election, must have been a member for at least one year prior to the commencement of the term of office.

4. The at-large officers (President, Executive Vice-President, Executive Secretary, Executive Treasurer) and the constituency vice-presidents shall be elected for a two (2) year term every even numbered year by secret ballot.

　

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5. Nominations for office shall be received by April 15th of the year the election is to occur. Notice shall be provided through the CSEC-LC newsletter that nominations will be in order at least fifteen (15) days prior to the close of nominations.

6. A notice of election shall be sent by US Mail at least fifteen (15) days prior to the election. The notice shall contain the names of candidates for each office. Each candidate shall also be entitled to have included in the mailing, an equal space for information about themselves.

6-1. All information about election procedures shall be included in the mailing. All procedures will be in accord with the Landrum-Griffin Act.

7. Ballots shall be, prepared and distributed to each member within five (5) days of the close of nominations. Ballots shall be returned to the Election Committee on the day of the election. The candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast shall be declared elected. If a majority is not obtained, a run-off election between the two receiving the most votes shall be held according to the above procedure. In the event only one member is nominated for an office, that member shall be declared elected.

8. Officers shall be installed in May and will assume office on June 1 following the election.

9. Vacancies occurring during the term of the office shall be filled by the Executive Council.

10. CSEC-LC delegates and alternates to National Education Association Representative Assembly, National Education Association-NM Delegate Councils, American Federation of Teachers Convention, AFT-New Mexico State Convention and the Central Labor Council and State and National Conventions of the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) shall be elected by secret ballot in the fall of each school year and in accord with the requirements of the Landrum-Griffin Act.

ARTICLE IX: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

1. The President shall:

1-1. Be the chief administrative officer and the spokesperson for the Classified School Employees Council of Las Cruces.

1-2. Be an ex-officio non-voting member of all committees

1-3. Conduct the constituency unit meetings if the constituency vice president is absent or by a vote of a majority of constituency members who are present. .

1-4. Represent CSEC-LC whenever and wherever necessary.

1-5. Make a report to the membership at least once each year summarizing the accomplishments of CSEC-LC and outlining plans for the next year.

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1-6. Supervise all activities of CSEC-LC.

1-7. Serve as a CSEC-LC delegate to the conventions of the American Federation of Teachers, AFT-New Mexico and the AFL-CIO.

1-8. Serve as a CSEC-LC delegate to the Representative Assembly of the National Educational Association and the National Education Association-NM Delegate Council.

2. The Executive Vice President shall:

2-1. Fulfill the duties of the President in his/her absence.

2-2. Perform such other duties as directed by the President.

3. The Executive Secretary shall:

3-1. Assists the President with correspondence.

3-2. Maintain accurate records of the business of the Executive Council and Membership meetings.

4. The Executive Treasurer shall:

4-1. Carry out the financial transactions of CSEC-LC.

4-2. Keep accurate records of all transactions.

4-3. Make regular reports to the Executive Council and membership meetings.

4-4. Transmit per capita payments to affiliates.

4-5. Ensure that audits are conducted.

5. The Constituency Vice-presidents shall:

5-1. Represent the needs and interest of their constituents to CSEC- LC.

5-2. Meet with all employees in their constituency in a general meeting at least 2 (two) times each work year.

5-3. Schedule a special meeting whenever petitioned by 10% of the members in their constituency.

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5-4. Provide leadership for the recruitment and training of CSEC-LC constituency building representatives.

5-5. Inform the CSEC-LC President of all constituency activities.

5-6. Submit a report of the constituency meetings to the executive council.

ARTICLE X: EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

1. The Executive Council shall consist of nine (9) elected officers. The President shall be the chairperson of the Executive Council.

2. The Executive Council shall be the governing body of CSEC-LC. The Council shall

set policy to be approved by the members at the regular membership meetings. The

Council shall have the power to act for the good of CSEC-LC and to enact and administer policy that is in compliance with the governing documents.

3. The Executive Council shall employ such persons as it shall deem necessary and determine, implement, and enforce their conditions of employment. These conditions shall include a grievance procedure.

4. Any member of CSEC-LC in good standing may appear before the Executive Council to make proposals or to voice complaints.

4-1. Any member in good standing may attend Executive Council Meetings. However the Executive Council shall close that portion of any meeting where grievances, personnel matters or collective bargaining strategies are to be discussed.

5. The Executive Council shall report its minutes at each regular membership meeting when requested. The Council shall not be required to read the minutes of any Council meeting at any membership meeting attended by non-members.

ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENTS

1. Amendments may be proposed by:

a. A majority of the Executive Council

b. A petition of twenty (20) percent of the membership.

2. Proposed constitutional amendments shall be distributed to all members of CSEC-LC at least ten (10) days before they are to be voted on.

3. The vote on a constitutional amendment shall be by secret ballot of the entire membership.

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4. This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those ballots cast.

ARTICLE XII: RATIFICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

　

1. This constitution shall initially go into effect upon ratification by two-thirds (2/3) of the members casting ballots in secret ballot referendum.

2. Election of officers during the first year after the initial ratification of the constitution shall take place within thirty (30) days following ratification of said document. Members in good standing at the time of ratification will be eligible to hold office.

ARTICLE XII: MEETINGS

1. Membership Meetings:

1-1. General membership meetings shall be held at least twice a year occurring during the fall and spring. A quorum shall consist often (10) percent of the members in good standing.

1-2. Special Membership meetings may be called by a majority of the Executive Council or by the President.

1-3. The Membership may enact resolutions that shall be binding on the Executive Council.

1-4. Any member who wishes to be heard at a membership meeting shall be placed on the agenda or heard during the Open Forum. .

2. Executive Council Meeting:

2-1. The Executive Council shall meet at least once a month at a time and place to be determined by the Council. The Membership must be notified in advance of such meetings. Emergency meetings of the Executive Council may be called by the President. The Membership need not be notified in advance of such meetings. Every reasonable effort must be made to contact all members of the Executive Council.

ARTICLE XIV: CONSTITUTION

This Constitution shall conform with the requirements of the Constitutions of the American Federation of Teachers, AFT-New Mexico, National Education Association and the National Education Association-New Mexico.

ARTICLE XV: DUES

1. Dues shall consist of all per capita obligations to the National Educational Association, National Education Association-NM, American Federation of Teachers and AFT-New Mexico and all AFL-CIO affiliates in an amount to be determined in accordance with the by-laws.

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2. Local dues are to be determined by the Executive Council and set forth in the by-laws.

3. CSEC-LC shall increase dues each year at least in an amount equal to any

increase in per capita obligations to state and national affiliates of the National

Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers and the AFL-CIO, in accord with Article IV, Section 6 of the Constitution of the American Federation of Teachers.

ARTICLE XVI: COMMITTEES

1. Committees will be formed as needed by the Executive Council.

2. Standing committees shall be appointed by the Executive Council and shall include:

2-1. Audit Committee

2-2. Budget Committee

2-3. Constitution and By-Laws Committee

2-4. Election Committee

2-5. Employee Rights Committee

2-6. Membership/Organizing Committee

2-7. Political Action Committee

2-8. Professional Development Committee

3. Chairpersons for each of the standing committees and all special committees shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Council.

ARTICLE XVII: BY-LAWS

By-Laws will be established by the Executive Council and approved by the members.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

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BY-LAWS

of

Classified School Employees Council

of Las Cruces

ARTICLE 1: DUES

1. CSEC-LC dues will be set by the CSEC-LC Executive Council.

2. Members who earn less than $12,000 per year shall pay ¼ dues.

3. Members who earn more than $12,000 per year shall pay ½ dues.

ARTICLE 2: AMENDMENTS

These by-laws may be amended by a majority of members present at any regular meeting providing the proposed change has been introduced and seconded at a previous membership meeting.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

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