CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

WESTERN ARKANSAS AREA LOCAL LOCAL

AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION

AFL-CIO

PREAMBLE

This body subscribes to and supports the Preamble as set forth in the Constitution of the American Postal Workers Union AFL-CIO.

ARTICLE I.. Name

Section 1. This body shall be known as the Western Arkansas Area Local of the Arkansas Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO, here-afterhereafter known as the APWU.

ARTICLE II. . Objects

Section 1. It shall be the object of this Local to secure through collective bargaining and legislative efforts, a better standard of living for the members of this Local and their families.

Section 2. This Local affirms its belief in a single union for all workers in non-supervisory levels. This Local shall make every effort to bring into being, a single union for all postal workers by mergers with other postal unions and initiating intensive allintensive all-out bargaining campaigns reflecting the Locals philosophy.

. Section 3. This local shall vigorously oppose any labor union outside the Postal Service moving into the Postal Service field.

Section 4. This local shall call on the AFL-CIO and its president to aid in the cause of merging all Postal Unions into a single Union. .

Section 5. This local shall strive to (a) continue to organize the unorganized; (b) uUnite within one organization, regardless of sex, race, creed, color, political affiliations ornationality, all employees under the jurisdiction of the local; (c) educate our membership in the history of the Labor Movement and develop and maintain an intelligent and dignified membership, to vote and work for the election of candidates who favor passage of improved legislation in the interest of labor; to work for the repeal of laws whichlaws which are unjust to labor and Postal Workers, such as the denial of the right to strike and the de3denial of the right to support candidates of their choice and to educate all members in the area of economic, political and social justice; (d) engage in legislative, political education, civic welfare and other activities which further the aims of our membership; (e) work as an autonomous union affiliated with the Afl-CIOAFL-CIO together with other unions for the solidification of the entire Labor Movement; (f) this local is established as an industrial union, including in its membership postal workers of all crafts who are not classified as management.

ARTICLE III. . MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Any non-supervisory employee, regardless of leave; or grade within the jurisdictional claims of this local is eligible for membership. .

Section 2. Members accepting promotion to supervisory positions or transfer to crafts outside the jurisdictional claim of the APWU, AFL-CIO may maintain their membership in the APE Insurance Plan by paying full per Capita Tax of the APWU and full assessed dues of the local, but may not attend or participate in business meetings or other activist of the Local except when formally invited by its Offices. .

Section 3. Members leaving the Postal Service, may retain their membership in this organization by the payment of dues as provided for in the National Constitution, but shall not hold office here in or serve as a delegate of this Union, unless said retireesaid continuesretiree continues to pay full APWU per capital taxes plus whatever Local dues that may be required, than then said retiree may maintain full memberships and all rights of membership as describe in Article III, Section 46 of the National Constitution and By-LawsBylaws. .

Section 4. Ineligibility to membership because of race, color, creed, political conviction or national origin shall not be imposed by this organization, and no criticism, reflection, argument or debate concerning such, shall be allowed at any meeting of this organization.



ARTICLE IV. . Meetings

Section 1. Date and place of regular meetings shall be posted on the bulletin board at all offices and stations. Emergency meetings shall be advertised in the same fashion. .

Section 2. Regular meetings of this organization shall be held once each month, except the month of December, on such a date as shall be determined by the voice of the membership and at such place as may be selected by the Executive Committee..

Section 3. A special meeting of this organization may be called by a petition of seven 15 members in good standing, a majority vote of the members of the Executive Board or a vote of the members present at any regular meeting. A notice of such special meeting shall ar be posted in accordance with Section 1. of of this Article. . A meeting cannot be postponed without the majority consent of the Executive Board. A Special Meeting shall not be called for the purposes of Initiative, Referendum or Motion to Reconsider .

Section 4. Seven members shall constitute a quorum at business meetings.

ARTICLE V. Dues

Section 1. Each member shall pay to the Treasurer by submission of FORM 1187 {dues check-off} or its equivalent, as dues, the sum of: {117.5% X National Per Capita Tax} + National Per Capita Tax. .

Section 2. Special assessments voted with the same numerical as amendments to the Constitution.

ARTICLE VI. . OFFICERS

Section 1. The Elective Officers of this Organization shall be: President, Vice-president, and Ssecretary/Treasurer, and Editor. . All Officers to serve for a period of two years . Section 2. . The Elective Officers of this Organization shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee. All regularly elected Officers and Delegates are to serve their stated terms, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Section 3. Any member shall be eligible to hold office in this organization under this Constitution, provided, He/SheHe/She is a member in good standing.

ARTICLE VII. Nominations & Elections

Section 1. Nominations of Officers of this organization shall be at the regular October meeting of each odd numbered tear and election to be held in November with Installation of new Officers following the election. Nominations of Delegates to the National Convention shall be made 3 months prior to such Convention and nominations of Delegates toDelegates to State Conventions shall be made at least 1 month prior to such a Convention. . No member shall be considered in nomination unless He/She has given His/Her written consent to such nomination prior tto or at the time of nominations. . The results of all elections shall be posted within 15 days after balloting.

Section 2. At the regular meeting in September, in the odd numbered years, an Election Committee of three members will be appointed. . It shall be their duty to post notices regarding nominations and the election, and to conduct the election and ballot count..

Section 3. Election of Officers will be conducted by secret ballot. .

Section 4. The ballot box may be constructed of any material. . It shall be sealed so as to insure safety from tampering. . A slot, large enough to accommodate the ballots cast, will be the only unsealed opening in the ballot box. .

Section 5. Ballots will be folded so as to insure the secrecy of ballots cast. . Ballots will not be signed. Any ballot signed or otherwise marked will be declared null and void by the election committee and said ballot will not counted in the election. .


Section 6. Members present at the election will place their ballots in the ballot box after verification of their eligibility by the election committee. . No ballot should be placed in the ballot box except under the observance of at least two members of the election committee. .

Section 7. Only Members absent from the election due to sickness, Annual leaveMilitary, Military leave or work only may choose to vote by absentee ballot. Ballots will be placed in the sealed envelope, and then placed in another envelope. . The member will sign His/Her name on the outer envelope and mail the ballot to the Election Committee. Ballots must be requested 3 – 14 days prior to the date of the election. Ballots must be received by the Election Committee at least 24 hours prior Close of Balloting. The Election Committee after verification of eligibility will place the ballot in the ballot box. . Section 8. A plurality vote shall elect in all cases.

ARTICLE VIII. . Officers and Duties

Section 1. . {A} President} President: It shall be the main duty of the President to see that all the other officers perform their duties. . The President shall fill by appointment,; all vacancies created by any cause whatsoever, until the next regular election, if the office is elective. . The President shall be the chief negotiator and spokesman at all Labor-Management meetings for the Western Arkansas Area Local APWU. He shall submit all proposals to the Local Memorandum of Understanding to the membership for a majority vote of approval. . He/She shall submit a written report of their official acts at each regular meeting and shall perform such duties as shall be placed upon Him/Her by virtue of this office. . It shall be His/Her main duty to preside at all regular, special, and executive board meetings of the Local. He/She may also designate a member of the local to co-sign checks drawn on the local treasury. He/She will be the steward in His/Her section. .

Section 1. . {B} Vice} Vice President: He/She shall perform the duties of the President in case of the officer's absence or inability to attend to the duties of that officer. . It shall be the duty of this office to see that agenda items and notices are posted on bulletin boards in the prescribed time, limits, and shall be Director of Research and Education and Legislative Director. . He/She may co-sign checks drawn on the local treasury. .

Section 1. . {C} } Secretary / Treasurer: It shall be the duty of the Secretary / Treasurer to keep accurate records of the proceedings of all regular and special meetings. . He/She shall be responsible for drives and non-member solicitation recruiting members to the WAAL. . He/She shall be responsible to see that all books are made available for audit. . He/She shall report at each regular meeting the financial condition of the Local. . He/She may should co-sign all checks on the Local treasury.

Section 1. . {D}

Editor: It shall be the duty of the Editor to edit, print and mail the monthly newspaper. to each Member in good standing. The Editor may co-sign checks drawn on the Local treasury.

ARTICLE IX. . Committees

Section 1. . {A} The} The President upon election shall appoint any committees he may deem necessary to the interest of this Union, and fill any vacancies that may occur on any committee. . The President shall act as chairman of all committees unless otherwise stated by the President. .

Section 1. . {B} Negotiation} Negotiation Committee shall consist of at least {5} five members including the President and shall include at least one member of each Craft represented by the Local.

ARTICLE X. Fiscal Year

The Fiscal Year of this Local shall be January 1 to December 31.

ARTICLE XI. . Appeals

The following procedures shall apply in the vent event that charges are levied against the officers or any member. . Protest on Local election may be handled with the same procedures, with the Election Committee being substituted for the Hearing Committee itself.

1. The President shall appoint a Hearing Committee, consisting of three members who are not involved in any way in the incident.
2. 21. The person preferring the charges shall do so by writing the specific and detailed charges and presenting them to the Hearing Committee. .
3. 2. The President shall appoint a Hearing Committee, consisting of three members who are not involved in any way in the incident. 3. After a reasonable time to prepare a defense, a full and fair hearing shall be conducted by the Hearing Committee. .
4. 4. The Hearing Committee shall report to the next Regular meeting of the Local and that meeting shall accept or reject the Committee's decision. .
5. 5. The decision may be appealed under the provisions of Article XLV, Section 10, of the National Constitution. . Assistance or advice on this appeal shall shall be provided by the Local if requested by the appellant.

ARTICLE XII. . Representation Travel Expenses

Expenses shall be paid in accordance with the following:

1. Registration Fee.
2. Per Diem shall be paid at the rate of $33 or in accordance with IRS limits, whichever is Less.
3. Transportation costs shall be the lesser of actual mileage or Airline costs. Airline cost shall be the cost of tickets plus airport to hotel transfer cost. Mileage rate will be paid in accordance with the IRS limits, and shall not exceed IRS limits.

4. Lodging shall be paid up to, but not to exceed the posted convention rates and shall be paid only during meeting dates.
5. Proper Receipts must be submitted with all requests for payment of, or reimbursement for travel expenses.
6. Only expenses that are approved in advance by a majority vote at a regular meeting will be paid.
7. All Delegates or attendees to all Conventions or Meetings must submit to the Body; a written report, Newspaper article, or give an oral report within 45 days of attending said Convention or Meeting. Failure to submit the required report or article will result in the forfeiture of travel expense for said Meeting or Convention.


ARTICLE XIII. . Salaries

Defined approved Section 1. The salaries shall consist of

{A} President} President - $250.00 plus approved expenses per month;

{B} Vice} Vice-President - $125.00 plus approved expenses per month;

{C} } Secretary/Treasurer - $150.00 plus approved expenses per month;

{D} Editor} Editor - $75.00 plus approved expenses per month;

Approved Expenses are defined as those that are Reasonable Usual and Customary for the normal operation of the Local. Total Combined Expenses for all Officers shall not exceed $200 per month unless approved by a majority vote at a Regular Meeting. .

Section 2. . {A} No elected officialofficial, who is absent three consecutive meetings without the approval of the general membership at a general membership meeting, shall be paid unless it is for sickness, working, or an emergency. . {Bb} Elected} Elected officials who do not perform their duties as outlined in Article VIII OF this Constitution, shall not be paid a salary, unless approved by the general membership. . {C} Elected} Elected officials who are absent three consecutive executive board meetings shall not be paid a salary unless approved by the general memberships at a general membership meeting.

Section 3. . Any member, who uses more than Eighty (80) hours of LWOP that the local has reimbursed them for, shall be reimbursed for lost Annual Leave and Sick Leave.

Section 4. A Steward having been a Steward for the entire calendar year and having attended at least 7 of 11 regular monthly meetings shall have the amount of their yearly dues reimbursed. This reimbursement shall be paid no later than December 15th.









ARTICLE XIV. Amendments to Constitution

Section 1. This Constitution and By-LawsBylaws may be amended at any meeting by a two-thirds vote of these those present and voting. , the The amendment having been proposed at a previous meeting. All constitution amendments will be posted 15 days in advance of such vote. . Section 2. No amendment shall be made or shall be in force that is in conflict with the Constitution of the National Organization.

ARTICLE XV. . Initiative

Section 1. Any member or members of this Union having submitted a question for decision, or a resolution at any regular meeting of this meeting and it having failed passage may prepare and circulate a initiative petition for the purpose of having such question or resolution brought to a vote of the entire membership. . Section 2. Before the circulation of such a petitiona petition, the Secretary most must be notified in writing of such action and purpose. . Section 3. Such petition must be accompanied by a verbatim copy of the proposal initiated. . Section 4. Such a petition must bear the signatures of ten percent 25 of the members in good the standing in this Union and it must be filed with the Secretary. . The Secretary shall read the petition at the next or regular meeting. .

Section 5. The election judges shall provide ballots with the proposal question or resolution printed there in, and send or give one ballot to each member present and in good standing. . After marking his ballot, the member must send or hand the ballot to one of the election judges or put it in the ballot box provided. .

Section 6. Balloting shall be conducted in the same manner and at the same place provided for the election of Officers, unless otherwise specified. . It shall require a majority of the votes cast to decide all questions of the Initiative, other than amendments to this Constitution and by-lawsBylaws. . Section 7. Arguments for or against any question, resolution or amendments shall be submitted to the Election Judges in writing and shall not exceed on one thousands words, and must be in the hands of the judges at least two days before the date of balloting, these arguments shall be posted.

ARTICLE XVI: Referendum

Section 1. Any questions, resolution, which shall have been passed by the members at any meeting of this organization may be recalled and reconsidered. . A member or members desiring an expression of the entire membership shall circulate a petition must specifically state the question and must bear the signature of no less than fifteen 25 members in good standing. .

Section 2. The petition shall be circulated, the ballots prepared and a vote or aan election shall be held in the same manner applicable to the initiative.

ARTICLE XVII: Recall

Section 1. Any Officer of this Union may be recalled from office through the medium of a recall election. .

Section 2. The Secretary must be notified in writing such recall. .

Section 3. A petition for recall election shall bear the signatures of twenty-five percent 35 of the membership members in good standing and must be accompanied by a written copy of the charges made against the Officer. .

Section 4. The recall petition shall be filed with the Secretary, who shall read such at the next regular or special meeting. . Nominations shall than be in order and election in the same manner as provided forprovided for the election of Officers, except as follows; at the meeting at which the recall petition is read, nominations shall be made for the office being recalled and the names of such nominees shall appear on the ballot. . The Officer named in the recall shall also appear on the ballot in a separate position from the nominees.the nominees . In the event the incumbent is recalled by the vote, the nominee receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected and the incumbent unseated. .

Section 5. The Officer being recalled shall be furnished a copy ofcopy of the charges made against him and the charges made and his answer to the charges must appear or accompany each ballot at the time of the election. . Section 6. It shall require a two-thirds vote of the entire membership those present to recall an officer of this Union.

ARTICLE XVIII: Affiliation

This Union may affiliate with any groupany group of Unions by a majority vote of the members present at any meeting in which a motion is made, provided that any such group is a recognized member of and affiliated with the AFL-CIO and provided further that this Union shall in no way participate in any strike or walkout of any Union, nor engage in any way to advocate the overthrow of the constitution form or manner of picketing or demonstration pertaining there to, unless so instructed byinstructed by the National Organization.

BY-LAWS OF THE WESTERN ARKANSAS AREA LOCAL Section:

Section 1. The dues of this organization shall be payable quarterly or by dues check-off through the Postal Service. .

Section 2. A suspended member may be reinstated by his request and accompanied by payment of current dues. .

Section 3. All Officers and Delegates of this Organization must be in good standing prior to election, and any Officer or Delegate who becomes three months delinquent in the payment of dues shall forfeit His/Her office, which shall be filled in accordance with the constitution of this Union.

ORDER OF BUSINESS:

1. 1. Roll call of Officers
2. 2. Reading of Minutes and Correspondence
3. 3. Report of Officers and Stewards 4.Stewards
4. Reports of Committees 5.Committees
5. Unfinished Business 6.Business
6. New Business 7.Business
7. Nominations of Officers and Delegates 8.Delegates
8. Adjournment ThisAdjournment

This order of business may be suspended at any given meeting by a two-thirds vote of those present. . In the absence of other authority, the deliberations of this local shall be governed by RobertsRobert’s' Rules of Order, Revised.