FAIRBANKS
NORTH STAR BOROUGH
EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION LOCAL 6125
APEA/AFT
AFL/CIO
BYLAWS
Passed
November 7, 1985, by unanimous vote
Revised
October 27, 1988, by unanimous vote
Revised
January 31, 1992, by Chapter vote
Revised
July 25, 1994, by Chapter vote
Revised
July 1, 1996, by Chapter vote
Revised
August 9, 1999, by Chapter vote
Table of Contents
Preamble
.
...3
Article I
Organization
.
...3
Article II Officer
Election
...3
Article III Officer
Duties
..
..4
Article IV Employee
Representatives
....5
Article V Attendance
Responsibilities and Removal Procedures
..6
Article VI Members Rights
and Responsibilities
..7
Article VII
Voting
8
Article VIII
Committees
.9
Article IX
Meetings
9
Article X Handling of
Funds
..
.10
Article XI Bylaw
Amendments
...10
Article XII Contract
Negotiations
...11
Appendix A Board of
Directors
..13
Appendix B APEA/AFT
Biennial Caucus
.13
Appendix C AFT
Convention
.14
PREAMBLE
This organization shall be
known as the Fairbanks North Star Borough Employees Association Local 6125 /
Alaska Public Employees Association / American Federation of Teachers (AFL-CIO).
ARTICLE I ORGANIZATION
Organization: The FNSBEA
Local 6125, hereafter referred to as the Local or APEA, shall elect a
President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. These four (4) officers
plus the Employee Representatives shall constitute the Locals Executive
Committee. The Executive Committee shall be the governing body of the Local.
The Executive Committee shall establish and administer an annual budget,
establish goals and priorities, formulate policy, and make necessary recommendations
of legislative objectives for submission to the Locals APEA/AFT Statewide
Board of Directors.
At least annually, the FNSB
Mayor shall receive a list of names of the Executive Committee members with
their titles. The Mayor also shall be notified when changes occur in the
Executive Committee.
Fiscal Year: The business of the Local shall commence on
July 1 and end on June 30 of the following year.
ARTICLE II OFFICER ELECTION
Election: Local Officers shall be elected biennially in
even numbered years no later than May 31, the same years as the Northern Region
Political Subdivision Board of Directors election is conducted. The APEA
Business Manager shall be notified of the results of the elections.
During years of negotiator
elections, see Article X11-C.
Qualifications: Local Officers shall be members in good
standing of the Local.
ARTICLE III OFFICER DUTIES
A. President
The President shall preside
at all meetings of the Local, appoint all necessary committees, be present at
the APEA/AFT Biennial Caucus, and perform such duties as required or permitted
by the bylaws of APEA/AFT or the Local. The President shall act as President of
the Executive Committee. The President or their designee shall be a delegate to
the biennial caucus of the APEA/AFT.
B. Vice President
It shall be the duty of the
Vice President to perform the duties of the President in the absence of, or
upon the request of, the President. It shall further be the duty of the Vice
President to complete the term of the President should the President resign or
otherwise be unable to complete his/her term. If the Vice President cannot
complete the term of office for any reason, the Executive Committee may appoint
a replacement.
C. Secretary
The Secretary shall keep
accurate records and shall be custodian of the records (except financial) for
the Local. The Secretary shall give notice of meetings as directed by the
President and shall prepare copies of the minutes of all meetings of the Local.
Copies of the minutes shall be sent by first class mail to the local APEA/AFT
office within thirty (30) days of the meeting. Any subsequent correction or
revision to the minutes will be included with the minutes of the following
meeting. The Secretary shall be responsible for such other duties as may be
required by the President or bylaws of the APEA/AFT and the Local. A roll call attendance of all Employee Reps
and Local Officers shall be recorded by the Secretary, along with the total
number of members present and included with the report of the proceedings of
all meetings. If the Secretary cannot complete the term of office for any
reason, the Executive Committee may appoint a replacement.
D. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be
custodian of the property of the Local including the Association leave bank,
shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements, and shall make
an itemized report to the Local at each regular meeting. Local accounts shall
be open at all times to all members only. The Treasurer may be bonded at the expense
of the Local in the amount fixed by the Local. With the aid of the Local
Officers, the Treasurer shall prepare an annual Local budget for the ensuing
year to be submitted for approval to the Executive Committee and reported to
the members at the annual General Membership Meeting. Local finances shall be
subject to an audit by the APEA/AFT Finance Committee. If the Treasurer cannot
complete the term of office for any reason, the Executive Committee may appoint
a replacement.
ARTICLE IV EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES
Purpose: To serve as
coordinator between the Field Office and Management for members at the work
sites.
Selection Procedures
A. An
Employee Representative shall hold permanent status and be a member in good
standing of the Local and the APEA/AFT.
B. The
Executive Committee shall solicit recommendations for Employee Representatives
from individual work sites as specified below.
C. Employee
Representatives shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and confirmed by
the APEA Field Office Manager biennially on even numbered years in the spring
to coincide with Local Officer elections.
D. Number:
The number of Employee Representatives selected at each work site shall not
exceed what will be pro-rated based on the bargaining unit agreement. Local
work site(s) are defined as the following or as bargaining unit agreement
defines. Six (6) Employee
Representatives shall be selected by work site(s) defined as follows:
1. Borough Administrative Offices and North Star
Fire 2 Employee Representatives.
2. Noel Wien Library and North Pole Branch
Library 1 Employee Representative.
3. Big Dipper, Mary Siah Recreation Center, and
all Borough pools and parks 1 Employee Representative.
4. Animal Control, Baler, Maintenance,
Transportation 1 Employee Representative.
5.
At-large Employee Representative to be selected by the Executive Committee.
In the event that a work
site submits no recommendation, an Employee may be appointed by the Executive
Committee from the Borough wide membership to represent the work site(s). This
shall be accomplished as soon as practical.
Term of office shall be two
(2) years, so long as the Employee Representative remains at the work site
where selected.
Duties
A. Employee
Representatives shall be familiar with the terms of the bargaining unit
agreement and the APEA/AFT and Local 6125 bylaws.
B. Assist
members with job related disputes and grievances.
C. Participate
in Employee Representative training.
D. Distribute
FNSB/APEA information.
E. Orient
new employees regarding APEA.
F. Conduct
polls and surveys.
G. Organize
members for employee actions.
H. Solicit
information for negotiators.
I. Recommend
candidates for the Negotiating Committee and advisory boards.
J. Attend
the Locals meetings.
K. Work
with professional staff and provide all information obtained in the investigation of a grievance or complaint.
L. Employee
Representatives may submit to the Board of Directors a list of requested
training programs for consideration.
M. Hold a seat on the Executive Committee to
represent the interests of members from the work site.
ARTICLE V ATTENDANCE RESPONSIBILITIES AND REMOVAL
PROCEDURES
Attendance
A. An
Executive Committee member may forfeit their office if they have more than
three (3) unexcused absences form meetings schedules by the President or the
Board in a fiscal year, or
B. They
have missed more than 50% of the meetings scheduled by the President or the
Board during any six (6) month period.
C. Excused
absences shall be any absence that:
1. Has been
reported to the President in advance of the meeting, or
2. Is due to the injury or illness of the Board
member or a member of their family.
D. Any
other absence shall be considered unexcused.
Removal Procedure
A. The
President shall chair the Conduct Committee. The Conduct Committee shall be
responsible for removal procedures.
B. A
Local Officer accused of malfeasance, misconduct, dereliction of duties or
failure to carry out objectives and policies of the Association and the office
held will, upon petition by thirty (30) percent of the members empowered to
elect, be subject to a vote to remove. The narrative of the petition shall
include the charges. The petition shall include documentation of the charges.
Membership status of the petition signers must be verified within five (5)
days. A copy of the petition shall be provided to the Local Officer within five
(5) days after verification of petition.
C. The
accused Local Officer shall have fifteen (15) days to submit written rebuttal
to the Conduct Committee.
D. Twenty
(20) days after verification of the petition for election a ballot shall be
sent out. Included with the ballot shall be the written accusation and written
rebuttal by the accused, if submitted. Members voting will have fifteen (15)
days to return their ballots.
E. Retention
or removal will be decided by a simple majority of votes cast.
ARTICLE VI MEMBERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBIILITIES
Definition: A member in good standing is a FNSB employee
who is a dues paying member of the Local. Members in good standing shall be
entitled to hold office and serve on the committees.
A. Members
shall elect:
1. Local Officers
2. Negotiators
3. Directors of
the Board
4. Delegates to
the AFT Convention
B. Members
shall vote to approve or reject:
1. Negotiated
Agreements
2. Strike Vote
3. Local Dues
4. Assessments
5. State
Federation Constitution and Bylaws and Local Bylaws
6. Changes of
State or Federation affiliation
7. Letters of Agreement shall be subject to approval in
accordance with these Local Bylaws
C. Members
may remove by vote:
1. Local Officers
2. Delegates to
the AFT Convention
3. Directors of
the Board
ARTICLE VII VOTING
A. The
vote on all business regarding the Local may be taken verbally of all members
present, but when one-fifth (1/5) of the members present demand a yea or
nay vote be taken, it shall be done by a show of hands vote. Also, upon
demand of one-fifth (1/5) of all members present, a secret ballot shall be
used.
B. Election
of Officers and Contract Negotiating Committee members (and the removal of
Officers) shall be by secret ballot. Members shall have the ballot delivered or
mailed to them at least fourteen (14) days before the election. Any member with
an excused absence authorized by the President or Vice President may vote by
absentee ballot submitted to the President or Vice President prior to the
meeting.
C. Voting
by proxy will be permitted only to the extent that one (1) member may carry not
more than one (1) proxy. Proxy votes shall be registered at the beginning of
the meeting. Authorization shall be in writing.
D. Election
of Officers and Contract Negotiating Committee members shall be decided by a
plural majority of votes cast.
ARTICLE VIII COMMITTEES
The President of the Local
may appoint the following committees:
A. Standing
Committees
1. Bylaws
2. Nominations and
Elections
B. Special
Committees
1. Entertainment
2. Audit
3. Conduct If the Conduct Committee is being
appointed to investigate misbehavior on the part of the Local President, the
committee members shall be appointed by the Vice-President.
4. Other committees as needed.
ARTICLE IX MEETINGS
Regular meetings may be held
at such intervals as the Local may desire. Regular meetings of the Local shall
be held monthly, quarterly, or bi-annually as designated by the Local Executive
Committee. Advance notice of the meetings shall be posted in designated areas.
FNSBEA
will hold an Annual General Membership Meeting
1. Annual Local General Membership meetings may
be held in the month of June following the APEA/AFT Biennial Caucus and shall
include any business requested by the Board of Directors.
2. The annual Local meeting may include
installation of officers and presentation of the Local budget.
3. A directory of officers and Employee
Representatives shall be published following the annual Local meeting and
distributed to Local members, the Board of Directors, and the APEA Field
office.
B. Special
Meetings
Special meetings shall be
called by the Local President or by him/her on request of:
1. The APEA/AFT
Statewide Board of Directors, or
2. Three or more
members of the Local Executive Committee, or
3. Ten (10) Local members or 10 percent of the
Local membership; whichever is less.
C. Quorum: For purposes of the General Membership
Meeting a quorum shall consist of ten (10) members, one of which must be an
elected officer. For purposes of the Executive Committee meetings, a quorum
shall consist of four (4) members, one of which must be the President or
Vice-President.
D. Rules
of Order and Order of Business
1. Rules of order: The proceedings of all
meetings of the Local shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order Revised when
not in conflict with the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the APEA/AFT or
Local.
2. Order of business: The order of business at
Regular Meetings shall be as follows:
a. Call to order
b. Roll call of Officers and
Employee Reps
c. Reading and approval of minutes
d. Treasurers report
e. Correspondence and bills
f. Report of the Local Executive
Committee
g. Report of the Standing Committee
h. Report of Special Committees
i. Elections
j. Unfinished business
k. New business
l. Announcements
m. Good of the membership
n. Adjournment
Special meetings shall be
limited to the approved agenda.
ARTICLE X HANDLING OF FUNDS
All cash receipts shall be
promptly deposited in the Locals bank account. Funds shall be disbursed only
by check signed by the Treasurer and President or Vice President. All
expenditures above $100.00 shall be approved by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE XI BYLAW AMENDMENTS
Proposed amendments to these
bylaws must be read at a regular meeting of the Local and posted for a period
of two (2) weeks in places available to all members, after which a vote may be
taken at any time and approved by two-thirds (2/3) of all votes cast.
ARTICLE XII CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
Contract Proposals and
Negotiators: For purposes of contract
negotiations, only the APEA/AFT members of the Local will determine the content
of the Locals proposals or settlement. At least thirty (30) days prior to
commencement of negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement, a meeting
of the negotiators shall be convened. The meeting will be for the purpose of
formulating the initial contract proposal.
A. Selection
of the Contract Negotiating Committee The Contract Negotiating Committee
shall consist of four (4) primary negotiators and two (2) alternate
negotiators. It is the goal to have two (2) primary negotiators and one (1)
alternate negotiator selected from the APEA members working at the Borough
sites/facilities other than the Borough Administrative Center (BAC) and two (2)
primary negotiators and one (1) alternate negotiator selected from APEA members
working at the BAC.
Following the formula set
out above:
B. The
Executive Committee shall initiate this selection process by contacting Local
6125 members to obtain nominees for the positions. The nominees shall be
divided into two groups, one for the BAC and one for Sites/Facilities. The two candidates from each group who
receive the most votes shall be primary negotiators. The candidates from each group who receive
the third most votes shall serve as the alternate negotiators.
C. The
Contract Negotiating Committee shall be elected no later than April 30 of the
year prior to the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
D. Authority
of Negotiators Only the Contract Bargaining Committee shall have the
authority to do the following:
1. Prepare and distribute to all Local members a
survey requesting input and/or guidance for any upcoming negotiations with the
Fairbanks North Star Borough.
2. Negotiate
ground rules prior to negotiations.
3. Modify the
contract proposal during negotiations.
4. Reach tentative
agreement on a contract proposal.
5.
After ratification of a tentative agreement, to sign, along with the Business
Manager (and his/her designees), such agreement.
6. Declare impasse
and call for a strike vote authorization.
7. After a
certified vote to strike has been obtained, call a strike.
8. During
negotiations, make news releases pertaining to negotiations.
9. Communicate
with the APEA members concerning negotiations.
10. Select a staff member of APEA to act in a
capacity designated by the Contract
Bargaining Committee. This may include acting as Contract Bargaining Committee
spokesperson.
E. During
negotiations, the Contract Bargaining Committee shall inform the Local
Executive Committee, on a regular basis, of the progress and development of the
negotiations.
F. When
a tentative agreement on the entire contract is reached, the Negotiating
Committee shall:
1. Within fifteen (15) working days prepare a
synopsis of the tentative agreement and conduct a meeting with all Local
members to answer questions about the tentative agreement.
2.
Conduct a ratification vote of Local members. Ratification ballots may be included
with the written synopsis.
G. If
an impasse occurs during negotiations, the Negotiating Committee, with the
concurrence of the Executive Committee, shall poll all the bargaining unit
members by a meeting and/or by mail as to whether a strike vote should be
taken. The question shall be decided by the majority of votes cast. The
Negotiating Committee members shall make a statement of their individual
opinion, either written or verbal or both, to the Local membership before the
vote is taken.
H. In
the event that a negotiator resigns, submits an intention to do so, or leaves
the bargaining unit for which he/she negotiates, the Executive Committee shall
immediately notify the alternate negotiator and bargaining unit members that
the alternate is to be the negotiator. In the event that both a negotiator and
the alternate resign, the Executive Committee shall appoint replacements.
I. A
motion to remove a member of the Negotiating Committee can come only from
another member of the Negotiating Committee or the Executive Committee. A
member of the Negotiating Committee may only be removed by majority vote of the
Local employees in the part of the Borough he/she represents.
J. Letters of
Agreement After the contract has been ratified, letters of agreement
modifying the contract may be negotiated between Administration and the
Negotiating Committee. Such agreements shall require signatures of the
Negotiating Committee. Any contract modifications which affect wages and
benefits of the membership, shall be put before the membership for a vote.
APPENDIX A BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The APEA/AFT Statewide Board
of Directors is composed of sixteen (16) voting and one (1) non-voting members
(and alternates). Each Director shall be elected by the membership of the areas
represented, voting by mailed ballot. The FNSB Local is represented by the
person elected as the Northern Region Political Subdivision Board of Director
and this election occurs in even numbered years. The Board of Directors are
elected to manage the affairs, activities and properties of the State
Federation. They are the Vice-Presidents of APEA/AFT.
APPENDIX B APEA/AFT BIENNIAL CAUCUS
Definition: The APEA/AFT Biennial Caucus is a statewide
meeting of delegates and/or alternates.
Locals shall send
delegate(s) to a Caucus to address regional and statewide concerns, and provide
input to the APEA/AFT Statewide Board of Directors. The Locals Bylaws shall
provide for the selection of delegate(s), provided they are consistent with the
requirements of the AFT Constitution.
Allocation of Biennial
Caucus Delegates The APEA/AFT Biennial Caucus is a statewide meeting of
delegates and/or alternates held in even numbered years.
A. Locals
that are chartered as AFT Locals, which have membership of twenty-five (25) or
less, shall receive one (1) delegate. For each 100 members or agency fee
payers, or major fraction thereof, they shall be entitled to one additional
delegate.
B. The
Locals shall notify APEA/AFT, not less than thirty (30) days prior to the start
of Caucus, with the names of their delegates to the Caucus.
C. Delegates
to the APEA/AFT Biennial Caucus are selected by the Executive Committee of the
Local.
D. Voting: Voting by proxy will be permitted only to the
extent that the member in good standing of APEA/AFT may take the place of the
delegate in their absence. The proxy may specify the specific motion or
resolution covered by the proxy and may specify how the issue, motion,
resolution will be voted on his/her behalf. A proxy must be verified by the
President and placed into the record at the time it is presented at caucus
prior to any vote(s) to be conducted.
APPENDIX C AFT CONVENTION
Selection of delegates: All
Locals shall have provisions in their constitutions or bylaws, which provide
for the selection of delegates in accordance with the AFT Constitution. The
delegates to the AFT Convention will be selected in even numbered years in the
event the FNSBEA votes to send a delegate.