Online Version Table of Contents

ARTICLE I	- Name
ARTICLE II	- Objectives and Principles
ARTICLE III	- Membership
ARTICLE IV	- Officers
ARTICLE V	- Representative Assembly (RA)
ARTICLE VI	- Elections
ARTICLE VII	- Convention
ARTICLE VIII	- Fiscal Operations
ARTICLE IX	- Steward Council
ARTICLE X	- Recall
ARTICLE XI	- Committees
ARTICLE XII	- Affiliation/Disaffiliation Procedure
ARTICLE XIII	- Concerted Activities

This Union shall be named the "Administrative and Residual Employees Union," hereinafter referred to as the Union, or as A&R.

This Union is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, with the Federation of Public Employees, with the Connecticut Professional Employees Federation (AFT Local 4200, hereinafter referred to as CPEF), with the AFT CT, and with the AFL-CIO.

 

The objectives and principles of this Union are:

1. to aid bargaining unit employees in obtaining fair and improved wages, hours and working conditions;
2. to support and cooperate with state employee labor organizations and other workers in obtaining mutual goals and benefits, while encouraging AFL-CIO affiliation for all;
3. to promote, protect and advance the principles of collective bargaining;
4. to encourage all bargaining unit employees without discrimination against any person or group, to join and participate in all activities of this labor union;
5. to secure legislation and administrative action which will safeguard and promote the goals of state employees and the security, strength and vitality of state employment and collective bargaining;
6. to protect and strengthen our democratic institutions, the labor movement in general and the aims and goals of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations;
7. to safeguard the democratic character of the labor movement and to protect the autonomy of this Union;
8. to encourage and support the purchase of Union goods and services.

The methods of obtaining the objectives of the Union shall be:

1. the collective bargaining process:
2. legislative action and reform;
3. advocacy and public relations;
4. concerted activities;
5. political action and education;
6. coordinated activities by and between affiliated Unions of the AFL-CIO.

The powers of the Union shall include:

1. all those regulatory, executive and judicial powers provided or permissible under state and federal labor legislation or general statute;
2. the power to decide or adjudicate all questions arising under this Constitution relating to the rights, privileges and obligations of committees and other subordinate bodies;
3. the power to decide all questions arising under this Constitution relating to membership and member status;
4. all powers necessary and proper to maintain and preserve the status of the Union as recognized and certified bargaining agent, where applicable;
5. the power to affiliate with or disaffiliate from any organization, federation or coalition as deemed necessary;
6. the power to raise other revenue in any fashion consistent with the laws of the State of Connecticut and any other federal or state labor laws;
7. the power to invest its revenues, levy and adjust dues and assessments, and take ownership or title in real or personal property;
8. the power to employ and retain such professional and administrative staff as is deemed necessary;
9. the power to create and execute contracts for the benefit of the membership;
10. the power to amend the Constitution;
11. the power to litigate, arbitrate and otherwise represent the membership in matters of labor relations and general contract administration;
12. the power to institute activities and programs consistent with, and pursuant to, the methods specified in Section Two of this Article.

(a) Active membership shall be available to all employees of the State of Connecticut whose job titles fall within the Administrative and Residual (P-5) bargaining unit.

(b) An active member shall be a current P-5 bargaining unit employee who has signed and filed with the Union a membership application.

Associate membership shall be available to any person who has attained permanent status in a job classification falling within the A&R bargaining unit and has since left the bargaining unit.

Retiree membership shall be available to all persons who have legally retired from state service on or after July 1, 1981, having served in a job classification falling within the A&R bargaining unit not withstanding the above, upon application and approval by the executive board of the Retiree Council other former employees who are retired or left the state service with vested rights.

(a) Only active members or members laid-off within one year prior to the election date, shall have the right to vote on union matters including, but not limited to, contract ratification.

(b) Only active members shall serve as an officer, Member Representative or any other elective or appointive Union position including committees of the Union except as provided in Article XI, Section One (g) of this Constitution.

(c) Members serving as Officer or Member Representatives who are laid off or dismissed may continue so serving for no more than one year from the date of layoff or dismissal.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section One.

The Officers of the Union shall be

1. A President, to be elected biennially by a mail ballot
2. A First Vice President, to be elected biennially by a mail ballot
3. A Second Vice President, to be elected biennially by a mail ballot
4. A Secretary, to be elected biennially by a mail ballot
5. A Treasurer, to be elected biennially by a mail ballot
6. A Chief Negotiator, to be nominated by the President subject to approval by the Representative Assembly, for a term beginning one year prior to the expiration date of the current collective bargaining contract and ending one year prior to the expiration date of the successor contract.
7. A Chief Steward, to be nominated by the President within 30 days after his or her election in each odd-numbered year, subject to approval by the Representative Assembly, such approval to be acted on no sooner than 30 days and no later than 60 days following such nomination.

Section Two.

No person shall simultaneously hold more than one of the foregoing offices.

Section Three.

Officers shall be entitled to be delegates to any convention at which the Union is allotted representation. The officers shall implement the policies established by the Annual Convention and the Representative Assembly.

Section Four.

The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Union and shall be responsible for the daily activities and operation thereof. The President is empowered to execute documents and obligations and bind the body, subject to the limitations set by this Constitution and the Annual Convention and approval of the Representative Assembly. The President shall act as official spokesperson for the Union, shall serve ex-officio on all Union committees, shall serve as an officer of CPEF, and shall be entitled to be a delegate to any convention or meeting at which the Union is allotted representation. The President shall have a right to be one of the full time paid officers.

Section Five.

The First 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 Annual Convention, prior to which a President shall be elected by a mail ballot for the unexpired portion of the term or for a full term, as the case may be, in the manner provided in Article VI. The First Vice President shall discharge such other duties as may be assigned by the Annual Convention, the Representative Assembly or the President, in that order.

Section Six.

The Second Vice President shall assist the President and the First Vice President in carrying out the policies and directives of the Annual Convention and the Representative Assembly, and shall discharge such other duties related to the administration of the Union as may be assigned by the President and the First Vice President. The Second Vice President shall serve as acting President during the simultaneous absence or disability of the President and First Vice President.

Section Seven.

The Secretary shall record, compile and maintain all minutes of meetings of the Representative Assembly and of the Annual Convention, and shall be responsible for the maintenance of all other official Union records and documents. The Secretary shall be responsible for the processing of all official Union correspondence. The Secretary shall maintain the membership records of the Union and shall be responsible for regular informational mailings to the general membership. The Secretary shall conduct and report to the Representative Assembly an annual reconciliation of the membership records. The Secretary shall serve as acting President during the simultaneous absence or disability of the President, First Vice President and Second Vice President.

Section Eight.

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 chairperson of the Budget Committee. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of revenues and for the authorized disbursement of Union funds. The Treasurer shall appoint a member of the Budget Committee to serve as Assistant Treasurer, subject to approval of the Representative Assembly. The Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer in the performance of duties involving revenue and expenses as deemed appropriate by the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall serve as acting President during the simultaneous absence or disability of the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President and Secretary.

Section Nine.

The Chief Negotiator shall be chairperson of the Negotiating Committee and shall be responsible for all matters pertaining to the collective bargaining process. Forthwith upon his or her nomination and approval pursuant to Section One (f) of this Article, each Chief Negotiator shall appoint the members of the negotiating Committee pursuant to Article XI, Section Four of this Constitution, to serve for the duration of the Chief Negotiator's term.

Section Ten.

The Chief Steward shall: (1) be responsible for contract administration; (2) ensure that the Union keeps steward enrollment at 100% of the level authorized by the collective bargaining agreement, consistent with the need for agency, class and geographic balance; (3) be the chairperson of the Arbitration Review Committee; and (4) make a monthly report on both steward activity and the decisions of the Arbitration Review Committee to the Representative Assembly.

Section Eleven.

The President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected in each odd-numbered year in the manner provided in Article VI and shall serve until their successors have been elected and have assumed office. Such officers shall take the oath required by Article VI and assume office at the annual convention following their election, except that if a run-off election is required for any office such officers will assume office immediately upon their election.

Section Twelve.

If an A&R full-time officer loses his/her position, and doesn't gain another full-time position with the Union, the Union shall ensure that he/she suffers no loss of salary or benefits for a period of not more than thirty calendar days from the date of leaving office. This amendment shall not apply if the officer is removed under Article Ten.

Section Thirteen.

A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled in the manner provided in Section Five of this Article and in Article VI. A vacancy in any other elective office specified in this Article shall be filled by a majority vote of those present and voting at a regular or special meeting of the Representative Assembly until the next Annual Convention, at which a successor shall be elected for the unexpired portion of the term or for a full term, as the case may be, in the manner provided in Article VI.

Section Fourteen.

A vacancy in the office of Chief Negotiator or Chief Steward shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner in which such office is filled for a full term pursuant to Section One of this Article. For purposes of filling any such vacancy any amendment to Section One of this Article, regarding selection of such officers, adopted at the 1984 Annual Convention shall be deemed to be effective immediately.

Section Fifteen.

Voluntary resignation by any officer shall be in writing with a date specific filed with the Union at the Union office, or orally at a meeting of the Representative Assembly. Such resignation shall be effective on the date specified therein, or if no date is specified, on the date received at the Union office.

 

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY

Section One.

The Representative Assembly shall consist of the officers, fifteen Member Representatives elected by a mail ballot in each even numbered years, fifteen Member Representatives elected by a mail ballot in each odd-numbered year, in the manner provided in Article VI. Such Member Representatives shall take the oath required by Article VI and assume office at the annual convention following their election, except that if a run-off election is required for any member representative such member representative will assume office immediately upon their election, and shall serve until their successors have been elected at the second annual convention next succeeding and have assumed office.

Section Two.

No person shall hold more than one seat in the Representative Assembly.

Section Three.

When the Annual Convention is not in session, the Representative Assembly shall have sole authority to exercise all the powers of the Union delineated in Article 11 of this Constitution, with the exception of the following powers: the powers specified in Article 11, Section Three, subsections (c) and (j), and the power to levy and adjust A&R Union dues and assessments specified in subsection (g), which powers shall be reserved to the Annual Convention exclusive, and the power to affiliate with or disaffiliate from another labor organization, specified in subsection (e), which power shall be reserved to the general membership exclusively, as provided in Article XII. Within the limitations established by Article II and by this Article, the Representative Assembly shall determine Union policy when the Annual Convention is not in session.

Section Four.

The Representative Assembly shall meet monthly to attend to all appropriate matters of Union business. The regular meeting schedule of the Representative Assembly shall be periodically publicized to the membership. Special meetings of the Representative Assembly shall be convened forthwith upon the call of the President, or upon petition of a majority of the members of the Representative Assembly submitted to the Secretary. All meetings of the Representative Assembly shall be open to attendance by any member of the Union. Any member may address the Representative Assembly on any matter under discussion. Membership participation shall be withheld until completion of discussion by the Representative Assembly. Any member may make proposals or suggest any course of action, but motions and amendments to motions may only be made by a seated Member Representative or officer.

Section Five.

All meetings of the Representative Assembly shall be chaired by the President. The chair shall be permitted to vote on any matter before the Representative Assembly.

Section Six.

The monthly meeting of the Representative Assembly shall be on a day or date certain to be determined by the Representative Assembly.

Section Seven.

At any meeting of the Representative Assembly a quorum must be present and shall consist of a majority of the Representative Assembly excluding any current vacancies.

Section Eight.

All meetings of the Representative Assembly shall be conducted under Robert's Rules of Order except as otherwise provided in this Constitution.

Section Nine.

Voluntary resignation by any Member Representative shall be in writing with a date specific filed with the Union office, or orally at a meeting of the Representative Assembly. Such resignation shall be effective on the date specified or the date received at the Union office or Representative Assembly meeting.

Section Ten.

A vacancy in the position of Member Representative shall be filled by a majority vote of those present and voting at a regular or special meeting of the Representative Assembly, until the next Annual Convention prior to which a successor shall be elected in the manner provided in Article VI for the unexpired portion of the term or for a full term, as the case may be.

Section Eleven.

Any officer or Member Representative may be removed for unexcused absence from three consecutive regular meetings of the Representative Assembly or for four unexcused absences in the period between Annual Conventions. This section may be invoked by any officer or Member Representative for hearing and action according to Article X, Sections Five and Six. This section shall not affect the right of any member to initiate a recall for malfeasance according to Article X.

 

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