Constitution and Bylaws for the University of Florida Chapter of United Faculty of Florida

Constitution

Preamble

In accordance with Article IV of the Constitution and Article II of the Bylaws of the United Faculty of Florida, we, the members of United Faculty of Florida (UFF) at the University of Florida, have established this Chapter in order to achieve the objectives which are of unique importance for the faculty at the University of Florida.

Article I. Name.

This organization shall be known as the University of Florida Chapter of the United Faculty of Florida (UFF/UF).

Article II. Objectives.

Section I. To bring faculty and professional employees of the University of Florida into a relationship of mutual assistance and cooperation in order to protect the rights and privileges to which they are entitled under the constitutions of the United States and the State of Florida, and the United Faculty of Florida/Board of Regents (UFF/BOR) Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Section 2. To promote the democratization of the University to better serve the people of the State of Florida.

Section 3. To insure responsible management of the University and accountability for policies developed and actions taken by University administrators on behalf of the University, faculty and professional employees.

Section 4. To achieve and safeguard due process and academic freedom.

Section 5. To combat all forms of discrimination based on race, sex, age, religion, national origin, political belief or sexual preference at the University of Florida and in the State University System.

Section 6.To promote academic excellence in research, teaching and service at the University./p>

Section 7.To assist faculty and professional employees to realize their professional and human potential.

Section 8. To promote economic security and humane working conditions within the University.

Article III. Membership

Section 1. FFaculty and professional employees at the University of Florida who are within the bargaining unit shall be eligible for membership in the UFF/UF Chapter, according to the bylaws, except as otherwise provided in the Constitution of the United Faculty of Florida (Article III).

Article IV. Officers and Senators

Section 1. The membership of UFF/UF shall elect annually by open nomination and secret ballot the following officers: President, First Vice-president, four additional Vice-presidents, Secretary and Treasurer. These officers shall conduct the business affairs of and act as spokespersons for the Chapter. No individual may hold more than one office at the same time during any year.

Section 2. The membership shall elect the appropriate number of senators to the UFF Senate.

Article V. Executive Committee

Section 1. The elected officers shall constitute an Executive Committee to advise the President in the operation of the Chapter. The Executive Committee shall confirm the appointment of the Chairs of the Standing Committees and the Bargaining Team Representative.

Article VI. Chapter Council

Section 1. The Council shall be the chapter's legislative body. It shall consist of the elected officers, chairs of standing committees, UFF senators, chairs of ad hoc committees and a representative from each department within the bargaining unit.

Section 2. The Council shall interpret and enforce the Constitution, except that the Membership, in a general membership meeting, may overrule any action of the Council.

Section 3. The Council may create ad hoc committees and appoint their members.

Section 4. The Council shall review periodically the Chapter's goals and may redirect its resources to achieve those goals.

Section 6. The Council shall have regular meetings, as provided in the bylaws, which shall be open for attendance by the membership of the Chapter.

Article VII. Standing Committees

Section 1. There are four standing committees: Collective Bargaining Committee, Grievance Committee, a Membership Committee and Nominating Committee.

Article VIII. Rules of Order, Voting, Constitutional Ratification, and Constitutional Amendments.

Section 1. All Chapter business shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order.

Section 2. All decisions of the Chapter shall require a majority of the votes of the members present and voting.

Section 3. Ratification of this Constitution shall be by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a Membership meeting or by a mail ballot. The Constitution shall be made available to the members one month prior to the vote.

Section 4. This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a Membership meeting or by a mail ballot. The amendment(s) shall be made available to the members one month prior to the vote.

Bylaws

Article 1. Membership Meeting

Section 1.Membership meetings will be held at least once during the Fall and once during the Spring Semesters or whenever summoned by 10% of the Membership by petition. Members will be given no less than two weeks notice of regular meetings and as much notice as possible of any emergency meeting. The Spring Meeting will be held in March and will elect the Chapter officers for the coming year.

Article 2. Election and Recall of Officers, Standing Committee Chairs and Senators

Section 1.All officers, standing committee chairs and senators shall begin their terms of office on 1 April.

Section 2. Failure to carry out prescribed duties and actions or to adhere to Chapter policies shall constitute grounds for recall. Recall of a Chapter Officer, Standing Committee Chair or UFF Senator may be initiated: (1) by a majority vote of the Chapter Council; or (2) by a petition signed by 20% of the Chapter membership. An emergency Membership meeting shall be called to discuss the motion before further action. A recall election by the membership shall be held within 30 days of the emergency Membership Meeting by mail ballot.

Article 3. Duties of Officers and Standing Committee Chairs

Section 1. Duties of President. The President shall call and preside at all meetings of the Chapter Council, Executive Committee and Membership. S/He shall appoint the Standing Committee Chairs and the Bargaining Representative. S/He shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, sign all necessary documents and papers and represent the Chapter internally and externally. S/He is a member of the UFF President's Council. The President shall report to the membership annually on the activities of the Chapter Council. The President supervises the work of any employees of the Chapter. Significant correspondence and documents shall be deposited in the Chapter records at the end of the President's term of office.

Section 3. Duties of First Vice President. The First Vice-president shall assume the duties of the President when the President is absent or incapacitated. In the event of the recall, resignation or incapacitation of the President, the First Vice President shall assume this office for the remainder of the term of office.

Section 4. Duties of Second Vice-President. The Second Vice-president shall assume the duties of the First Vice-President when s/he is absent or incapacitated. In the event of recall, resignation or incapacitation of the First Vice-president, the Second Vice-president shall assume this office for the remainder of the term of office.

Section 5. Duties of Secretary. The Secretary shall maintain the records of the Chapter, shall record the minutes of all Membership meetings, Council Meetings, Executive Committee Meetings or Consultations with the University President or Provost. Copies of these minutes shall be distributed to all Council members.

Section 6. Duties of Treasurer. As chief financial officer of UFF/UF, the Treasurer shall exercise supervision over the receipt and disbursement of all monies, properties, securities and other evidences of financial worth of the organization. S/He shall prepare an annual financial statement and shall prepare a proposed budget for submission to the state UFF by July 1 each year. The Treasurer shall not disburse funds without the express prior approval of the Chapter Council. S/He shall report regularly to the Chapter Council on the financial status of the Chapter.

Section 7. Chair of the Collective Bargaining Committee. Chair of the Collective Bargaining Committee. The Chair of the Collective Bargaining Committee shall serve as the Chapter's representative to the State UFF Collective Bargaining Team unless otherwise determined by the Chapter Council. S/He shall coordinate the activities of the Collective Bargaining Committee as described in Article 6 Section 4 of the UFF Constitution and report regularly to the Chapter Council on the progress of bargaining.

Section 8. Chair of the Grievance Committee. The Chair of the Grievance Committee shall direct the administration of grievances at UF, coordinate the activities of the Grievance Committee as described in Article 6 Section 5 of the UFF Constitution and report regularly to the Chapter Council. S/He shall serve as the Chapter representative to the State UFF Contract Enforcement Committee unless otherwise determined by the Chapter Council.

Section 9. Chair of the Membership Committee. Chair of the Membership Committee. The Chair of the Membership Committee shall coordinate the activities of the Membership Committee as described in Article 6 Section 6 of the UFF Constitution and report regularly to the chapter Council. S/He shall serve as chapter representative to the State UFF Membership Committee unless otherwise determined by the Chapter Council.

Section 10. Chair of the Political Action Committee. Chair of the Political Action Committee. The Chair of the Political Action Committee will coordinate the efforts of the Committee as described in Article 6 Section 7 of the UFF Constitution and report regularly to the Chapter Council. S/He shall serve as the chapter representative to the State UFF Political Action-Legislative Committee unless otherwise determined by the Chapter Council.

Section 11. Chair of the Nominating Committee. Chair of the Nominating Committee. The Chair of the Nominating Committee shall be its Senior member. S/He shall make every effort to insure that a full slate of candidates is provided one month prior to the Spring Membership Meeting. S/He will report regularly to the Chapter Council and will carry out the elections in accordance with the Article 8 Section 8.

Article 4. Executive Committee

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall meet upon the request of the President or other member of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall monitor the operations of the Chapter and shall make recommendations to the Chapter Council.

Article 5. Chapter Council

Section 1. The Chapter Council shall adopt a budget which shall be submitted to the UFF Executive Director each year by July 1 for funding projects and activities for the coming year.

Section 2. The Council shall report regularly on its activities to the membership and shall solicit opinions from the membership.

Section 3. The Chapter Council shall meet once a month throughout the year at a regularly scheduled time and place which is announced at the beginning of each semester. The agenda shall be sent to Council members at least one week in advance.

Section 4. The Chapter Council shall have the power to employ persons on a part-time or full-time basis to assist with Chapter activities. The budget and approved activities for such employees shall be determined in advance by the Chapter Council. Social security and income tax withholding will be paid by the Chapter as required by law. The activities of the employee will be supervised by the Chapter President with the approval of the Chapter Council.

Section 5. Failure to carry out prescribed duties and actions or to adhere to Chapter policies shall constitute grounds for removal. Chairs of Ad-hoc committees may be removed by the Chapter Council by majority vote.

Section 6. Ad hoc committees shall report regularly on their activities to the Chapter Council.

Article 6. Standing Committees

Section 1. Committee members shall be appointed by the Chair of the Committee in consultation with the President except as provided otherwise in the Chapter Constitution or Bylaws.

Section 2. All committees shall report regularly to the Chapter Council on their activities.

Section 3. Committees shall submit a written report on current activities at the Spring membership meeting. By March 15 a proposed budget for the coming year shall be submitted.

Section 4. The Collective Bargaining Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the UF representative to to the UFF bargaining team and to the UFF SUS Bargaining Council. They will plan and analyze bargaining surveys and develop position papers as needed. The Committee shall meet at least once per semester during the academic year to discuss issues of concern to Collective Bargaining at UF.

Section 5. The Grievance Committee consists of the Chapter's certified grievance representatives. The Grievance Committee shall keep records of and supervise all grievances and make sure that the bargaining unit is fully represented in informal resolutions and in formal grievance procedures. They shall also insure that the Chapter Council is fully informed on progress in enforcing and expanding the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Committee shall meet at least once per semester during the academic year, to discuss issues of concern to contract enforcement at UF. Grievance training sessions shall be scheduled once per year.

Section 6. The Membership Committee shall carry out organizing drives among faculty and professional employees, contact new bargaining unit employees and prepare materials that can be used in recruiting. The committee shall maintain a file of non-members who have been contacted and those who might be interested in joining. The Committee shall meet at least once per semester during the academic year to discuss the progress of recruiting efforts at UF.

Section 7. The Political Action Committee shall cooperate with the State UFF in lobbying, endorsing candidates, raising contributions, gathering mailgram authorizations, sending mailgrams, conducting letter-writing campaigns, attending political functions, sponsoring events where UFF members can meet elected officials and working with UFF-PAC and FTP-NEA PAC. The Committee shall meet at least once per semester during the academic year to discuss ways of carrying out political action on behalf of UFF/UF.

Section 8. The Nominating Committee shall consist of the three most recent past presidents or, if they are unable to serve, by other active members as approved by the Chapter Council. The slate of candidates shall be announced to the entire membership by the Nominating Committee one month prior to the Spring membership meeting. The election will be conducted by the Chair of the Nominating Committee at the Spring membership meeting with a secret ballot. Nominations from the floor will be encouraged. The committee will prepare the ballots for the Chapter members' votes and will count the ballots after the election has taken place.

Article 9. Newsletter

Section 1. The chapter shall publish a quarterly newsletter entitled the Faculty Voice. The newsletter will be distributed to all members of the bargaining unit. The Executive Committee and the President hold ultimate authority over the approval of the contents of the Newsletter, although the President, with the approval of the Chapter Council, may appoint a Newsletter Editor for a one-year term.

Article 10. Amendments

Section 1. Proposed amendments to the Bylaws must be submitted to the Chapter Council 30 days prior to the date scheduled for a vote on the amendments.

Section 2. Adoption of an amendment requires a vote of a simple majority of the Council present and voting on the amendment.

To Join Your Union

• UFF Membership Form [MSWord Document]