ARTICLE 1: NAME
The organization shall be known as the Union of Judicial Professional Employees
AFT/AFT-CT, AFL-CIO.
ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES
I. To unite and organize all Professional Judicial Employees into a
relationship of mutual assistance and cooperation.
-
To secure for them all rights and guarantees of due process to which they are
entitled.
-
To raise the standards of working conditions essential to producing the best
professional service.
-
To promote the welfare of the people of the state of Connecticut by providing
progressively better Judicial Branch standards for all regardless of race,
national origin, sex, sexual preference, age, creed, place of residence, and
social, political, or economic beliefs or affiliations.
-
To strongly support principles of solidarity with other members of the union
movement in the protection and upgrading of jobs and working conditions.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Active membership shall be available to all
professional employees of the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch. An active
member shall be a current professional bargaining unit employee who has signed
and filed a membership application with the Union. Only active members shall
serve in elective or appointive Union office.
Section 2. No discrimination shall ever be shown toward
individual members or applicants for membership because of race, national
origin, sex, sexual preference, age, creed, social, political, or economic
belief or affiliation.
Section 3. Retired professional employees of the Judicial Branch
may be members of the Union and shall be entitled to the same benefits of
membership upon payment of minimum dues (cost of all dues to affiliated
organizations.)
Section 4. A member who fails to pay dues or to arrange
reasonable payment procedures with the Treasurer within the time limits or
procedures established by the then current contract shall be dropped from the
membership rolls and the employer shall be so notified. Also, their names shall
be removed from the records at the national and state offices. A member will be
reinstated upon payment of all dues in accordance with the procedures
established by the Treasurer.
Section 5. A member in good standing who is granted a leave of
absence (greater than two months) because of military service, or for valid
personal or professional reasons shall upon request be placed on the inactive
list and shall pay no dues for the duration of said leave. Such members shall
be restored to active membership without penalty upon termination of their
leave.
ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
Section 1. The following officers shall be elected biennially by
the membership:
-
President
-
Vice - President
-
Treasurer
-
Secretary
-
Nine Representatives:
Two (2) Adult Probation Officers One (I) Chief/ Lead Adult Probation Officer
One (1) Support Enforcement Officer One (1) Family Relations Counselor One (1)
Juvenile Probation Officer One (1) Judicial District Assistant Clerk One (1)
Family! Support Supervisor One (1) From All Other Groups
The order of succession shall be President, Vice - President, Treasurer,
Secretary. Any vacancies on the Executive Board shall be filled by appointment
by the President subject to 2/3 vote of approval by the Executive Board.
Section 2. THE EXECUTIVE STEWARD shall be elected by a majority
vote of the Executive Board. Candidates for the position shall undergo
evaluation by the President or his/her designee who shall retain sole authority
to recommend one or more candidates for consideration.
The Executive Steward shall bear statewide responsibility for maintenance of
the grievance procedure and operation of the Steward network. He/she will serve
until voluntarily relinquishing the position or being removed for cause and
after a hearing by 2/3 vote of the Executive Board.
The Executive Steward shall review all applications of members wishing to
become stewards. He/she shall recommend prospective stewards to the Executive
Board, which, by majority vote, shall retain sole appointing authority. Unless
said authority is delegated to another officer or steward, the Executive
Steward shall assume jurisdiction of all grievances at the Step III level of
the grievance procedure. He/she shall report regularly to the Executive Board
regarding all steward and grievance related matters.
The Executive Steward shall make recommendations to the Executive Board
concerning those grievances, which should proceed to arbitration. Said
recommendation shall be subject to review by the Union’s four principal
officers (President, Vice - President, Treasurer, Secretary) who shall have the
power by majority vote to overrule the recommendation of the Executive Steward.
Final decision-making authority over those grievances which proceed to
arbitration shall reside with the Executive Board. Any grievant wishing to
challenge a decision of the four principal officers may request and shall
receive a hearing before the Executive Board. Following said hearing , the
Executive Board shall render its decision by majority vote of those attending
the meeting at which the hearing is conducted. The decision of the Executive
Board is final and shall be communicated in writing to the grievant by the
Executive Steward.
Section 3. STEWARDS shall be volunteers from the active
membership. The Executive Steward shall accept for consideration by the
Executive Board a written statement of interest by any member wishing to become
a Steward. The Executive Board shall retain sole appointing authority and its
decision shall be final. Stewards shall serve until voluntarily relinquishing
their position or being removed for cause and after a hearing by majority vote
of the Executive Board.
Stewards shall be expected to handle employee inquiries and grievances through
Step
II of the grievance procedure. Stewards shall provide the Executive
Steward a copy of any grievance filed within five (5) working days of
said filing. More experienced Stewards may be authorized by the Executive
Steward to represent grievants at Step III of the grievance procedure. Whenever
possible, grievances will be processed by Stewards employed in the same agency
as the grievant.
Stewards shall encourage participation in Union activities by all active
members and shall perform other tasks as assigned by the Executive Steward or
the Executive Board.
ARTICLE V: ELECTIONS
Section 1. All elections for officers and/or delegates to the
affiliates shall be by secret ballot.
Section 2. Elections for Executive Board Officers shall be
conducted at the September meeting in odd numbered years.
Section 3. Notice for nominations to any to any office must be
given at least thirty days prior to that election. The list of candidates must
be given to the membership fifteen days prior to an election.
Section 4. Results of an election shall be announced at the
meeting at which the election takes place and published in the minutes of the
meeting.
Section 5. The Secretary shall send a list of all elected
officers and/or delegates to the national AFT office and the
AFT-CT office.
Section 6. The new officers shall be designated officers elect
and shall be formally installed at the November Executive Board meeting
following the election.
All
elected
officers
shall
automatically
become
delegates
to
the
conventions
or
annual
meetings
of
all
bodies
with
which
this
Union
is
affiliated.
ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the President,
Vice -President, Treasurer, Secretary and those Representatives chosen in
accordance with Article four, Section one of this Constitution.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall normally meet monthly or at
the call of the President and/or any three of its members. A quorum shall
consist of seven (7) of its members.
Section 3. The Executive Board shall be empowered to act for the
general good of the organization by establishing and administering those
policies, methods, means and procedures required to accomplish the goals
established by the members or specifically referenced elsewhere in this
Constitution. The Executive Board shall: appoint all committees, approve all
appointments made by the President, approve the annual budget, employ
personnel as may be determined by the needs and finances of the
organization, approve the continuation of grievances to arbitration, and
develop policies necessary to achieve the Union’s objectives.
Section 4. The PRESIDENT shall be the chief executive officer of
the Union and shall be responsible for the daily activities thereof. The
President is empowered to execute documents and obligations and bind the body
subject to limits set by this Constitution and approval of the Executive Board.
The President shall act as official spokesperson for the Union, shall serve
ex-officio on all Union committees, and shall be entitled to be a delegate to
any convention or meeting at which the Union is allotted representation.
Section 5. The VICE - PRESIDENT shall serve as acting President
during the absence or disability of the President and, in the case of a vacancy
in the office of President, shall succeed to said office until the next
election. The Vice - President shall discharge such other duties as may be
assigned by the President.
Section 6. The TREASURER shall be responsible for the fiscal
affairs of the Union and for all matters pertaining to the current budget. The
Treasurer shall be responsible for timely payment of all required dues, fees,
and obligations to labor federations or councils with which the Union is
affiliated. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of revenues
and for the authorized disbursement of Union funds. The Treasurer shall serve
as acting President during the simultaneous absence or disability of the
President and Vice - President.
Section 7. The SECRETARY shall record, compile, and maintain
minutes of all meetings and shall be responsible for the maintenance of all
official correspondence. The Secretary shall maintain the membership records
and shall be responsible for regular informational mailings to the general
membership. The Secretary shall serve as acting President during the
simultaneous absence or disability of the President, Vice - President, and
Treasurer.
ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES
Section 1. Special committees may be appointed as the President
or Executive Board deems necessary. Only Union members in good standing may
serve on committees. The chairperson of each committee shall be appointed by
the President with the consent of a majority of the Executive Board.
Section 2. Every effort shall be made to secure the broadest
possible representation on all committees.
Section 3. The Executive Board shall charge each committee with
its duties and shall receive and consider all recommendations forwarded by
committees.
ARTICLE VIII: CONVENTIONS
This organization shall whenever possible send
delegates to all organizations with which it is affiliated. All delegates shall
make reports to the Executive Board on meetings attended. Their reports shall
be made part of the minutes of the Executive Board meeting at which they are
rendered. The Union shall make every reasonable effort to pay the approved
expenses of delegates to meetings and conventions of all affiliated
organizations.
ARTICLE IX: MEETINGS
Section 1. There shall be a general membership meeting in
September of each year. Additional special meetings shall be called by the
President with majority consent of the Executive Board. Special membership
meetings will also be called by the President upon receipt of a petition signed
by at least 20 % of the active members in good standing as of the date of the
petition.
Section 2. A quorum at any membership meeting will consist of 5 %
of the organization’s total active membership unless otherwise specified in
this Constitution.
ARTICLE X: FINANCE
Section 1. Membership dues shall be set by majority vote of the
members present at the September membership meeting. Members shall be provided
with a written notice of any proposed increase in the
Local’s dues at least fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting.
Section 2.
Increases
in
the
dues
of
the
American
Federation
of
Teachers
(AFT),
The
American
Federation
of
Teachers-Connecticut
(AFT-CT)or the AFL-CIO shall be added to membership
dues as they take effect.
Section 3. The fiscal year shall be October 1 - September 30.
ARTICLE XI: RECALL PROCEDURES
Section 1. Recall procedures against any officer or delegate to
any affiliated body may be initiated by any member in good standing upon filing
of a valid petition with the Secretary who shall issue a receipt for such
petition. The Secretary will serve said petition on the officer named therein
within three working days of its receipt.
The petition must be on a form prescribed by the Secretary. Said form shall
include a statement of cause. Cause shall be defined as neglect of duty,
malfeasance in office, or misappropriation of funds. In order to be valid, the
petition must include the signatures of at least 30 % of the active membership
in good standing at the time of filing. Said petition shall also be accompanied
by photocopies of all documents and written exhibits, which the complainant
would seek to submit for consideration during the recall process.
Section 2. After verifying that recall charges have been properly
filed, the Secretary shall present the petition to the Executive Board which
shall hold a hearing into the charges at its next regularly scheduled meeting
following fifteen (15) days from the date on which the petition was served on
the charged official. Said hearing shall be conducted by the highest ranking
officer not formally charged in the petition. The Executive Board shall
consider any and all documents and/or exhibits which the complainant and
charged officer may wish to submit. Additional hearing days may be ordered at
the sole discretion of the Executive Board if such are deemed necessary for a
full and complete examination of all testimony, documents, and exhibits
submitted by both parties to the process. The Executive Board will render its
decision by 2/3 vote which shall be final and binding unless appealed to the
membership through the process contained in Article nine, Section one of this
Constitution.
Section 3. When a recall election is ordered by finding of the
Executive Board, said election shall be scheduled within sixty (60) days of
that finding on a date to be determined by the Executive Board. Said election
shall take place at a special membership meeting called for that purpose alone
and for which a quorum shall consist of 25 % of the active members in good
standing on the date on which the meeting is held. A special meeting notice
specifying the date, time, place, purpose and procedures under which the
meeting will be conducted shall be mailed to each active member not later than
fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting. An officer shall be deemed recalled
upon the secret ballot vote of 2/3 of those active members in good standing
attending the meeting at which the recall election takes place.
ARTICLE XII: AVAILABILITY OF CONSTITUTION
Section 1. Three copies of this Constitution and all future
amendments shall be submitted to the national office and state federation of
the AFT.
Section 2. Copies shall be made available to all affiliated
organizations upon request.
Section 3. Copies will be available at all times for any members
of this Union upon request to the Secretary.
ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Proposed amendments to this Constitution may be
submitted by any active member at any time prior to the June meeting of the
Executive Board. Such proposals shall be accompanied by an endorsement petition
containing the signatures of not less than twenty (20) active members.
Section 2. At its June meeting, the Executive Board shall
evaluate all proposed amendments for presentation to the September membership
meeting. Only proposed amendments receiving a majority vote of those Executive
Board members present and voting at the June meeting shall be presented to the
membership for its consideration.
Section 3. The power to amend this Constitution shall reside with
the membership exclusively. All proposed amendments shall be included in the
notice for the annual membership meeting to which they will be submitted. In
order to be adopted, a proposed amendment must receive 2/3 vote of the active
members in good standing present and voting at the annual membership meeting to
which the proposed amendment has been submitted.
ARTICLE XIV: RULES OF ORDER
Unless otherwise specified in this Constitution, all questions of procedure
shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order Revised.
ARTICLE XV: AFFILIATION / DISAFFILIATION PROCEDURES
Section 1. A vote to affiliate or disaffiliate with another labor
organization may be called by 2/3 vote of the Executive Board or after receipt
by the Secretary of a petition containing the signatures of 30 % of the active
members in good standing of this Union.
Section 2. When the threshold requirements for an affiliation or
disaffiliation vote have been met, the vote will be scheduled to take place not
less than forty-five (45) days nor more than ninety (90) days later. All
procedures pertaining to said vote will be supervised by the American
Arbitration Association or the State Board of Labor Relations.
Section 3. As soon as possible but not later than twenty (20)
days after the call for the vote , a notice will be mailed to all professional
bargaining unit members detailing the methods and the scheduling of said vote
and informing non-members that they must join this Union to be eligible to
vote.
Section 4. The Executive Board shall schedule at least one
general membership meeting and, if possible, additional regional meetings to
provide the fullest possible discussion of the respective issues. In addition,
a general mailing or newsletter containing both viewpoints on the affiliation
or disaffiliation issue will be circulated not later than twenty (20) days
prior to the election.
Section 5. The prevailing side shall have received at least one
vote more than 50 % of the total number of valid ballots cast.
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