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ARTICLE I - NAME
SECTION 1. The name of the organization will be the Faculty Association of Monroe Community College.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
SECTION 1. The purpose of this organization will be:
A. to negotiate written agreements with the College on behalf of the bargaining unit;
B. to administer the contract and to promote and improve the rights, privileges, and working conditions of the bargaining unit members;
C. to promote legislation favorable to education and to the teaching profession.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. Membership will mean unified membership in the Faculty Association of Monroe Community College, the New York State United Teachers, and its affiliates.
SECTION 2. Membership will be open to all persons recognized in Article III of the contract and to retired faculty. Membership will be accomplished at any time by the signing of a membership enrollment form.
SECTION 3. Membership dues or agency fees will be paid by payroll deduction or by direct payment to the Faculty Association in a single payment no later than two weeks after membership approval of the annual budget. Dues for employment for less than an entire academic year will be prorated. A person must be a dues paying member of the FA for 60 days before becoming eligible to vote in local union elections or to run for office in the MCC-FA. Ratification and bylaw votes can be made once membership enrollment form has been signed.
SECTION 4. Resignation must be accomplished in writing to the Faculty Association.
SECTION 5. The general membership will approve the annual budget and the annual dues structure at the first membership meeting after September 1st.
ARTICLE IV - FACULTY COUNCIL
SECTION 1. The Faculty Council will consist of four officers (president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer), six standing committee chairpersons (grievance, institutional, legislative, benefits, membership, and contract research), and six directors (two teaching, two professional [one ranked and one unranked]), one DCC and extension sites, and one part-time/adjunct). Effort will be made to find director candidates from the constituency of the above groups.
SECTION 2. Duties of Officers
A. The President will:
(1) preside at meetings of the Faculty Association and Faculty Council;
(2) serve as liaison with affiliates and other organizations;
(3) represent the Faculty Council on the negotiating team;
(4) sign negotiated agreements;
(5) act as chief delegate to all conventions related to union business;
(6) sign for disbursement of funds;
(7) supervise employees of the Faculty Association.
B. The Vice President will:
(1) act as president in the absence of the president;
(2) coordinate the work of special FA committees;
(3) serve as delegate to all conventions allowing at least two (2) delegates and as an alternate delegate to all conventions allowing only one (1) delegate;
(4) sign for the disbursement of funds.
C. The Secretary will:
(1) create, distribute, and revise minutes of membership and Faculty Council meetings.
D. The Treasurer will:
(1) supervise all monies;
(2) sign for disbursement of funds;
(3) keep records of all receipts and disbursements;
(4) prepare an annual budget for approval of membership;
(5) supervise the timely and appropriate submission and payment of all taxes;
(6) prepare budget updates as requested by Faculty Council.
SECTION 3. Duties of Faculty Council
A. The Faculty Council will:
(1) carry on the general business and formulate the policy of the Faculty Association;
(2) approve the budget and dues structure for submission to the members;
(3) appoint the Chief Negotiator and Negotiating Team, with the approval of the membership;
(4) authorize decisions to proceed to arbitration;
(5) appoint ad hoc committees;
(6) receive all reports and review all policy recommendations of committees;
(7) take action on recommendations brought by the membership;
(8) hold regular meetings which are publicized and open to all Faculty Association members;
(9) during negotiations, report on negotiations to general membership.
SECTION 4. Duties of Executive Committee
A. The President, Vice President, Grievance Chair, Contract Administrator, and one person selected by Faculty Council will act as the Executive Committee and be responsible for the day-to-day business of the Association. In addition, specific duties will include:
(1) preparing agendas for the Faculty Council;
(2) providing for communication with the general membership through the Faculty Association Newsletter (FAN), website, and email;
(3) advising Faculty Council and Faculty Association committees regarding decisions on courses of action.
SECTION 5. Vacancies
A. The president may appoint, with advice and consent of the Faculty Council, a member to fill a vacant position until the next regular election.
ARTICLE V - STANDING COMMITTEES
SECTION 1. Composition
A. Each standing committee will consist of a minimum of three (3) members, including the elected chairperson and at least two (2) others appointed by the Faculty Council. A vacancy may be filled by the Chairperson with the approval of the Faculty Council.
SECTION 2. Responsibilities
A. The Faculty Association Standing Committees will:
(1) report regularly to the Faculty Council;
(2) present recommendations on routine matters to the Faculty Council for action;
(3) present recommendations on Faculty Association policies and contract proposals to the Faculty Council for its consideration and to the membership for its approval.
SECTION 3. Names and Functions
A. Grievance: It will serve as the vehicle for resolving individual and collective grievances of those personnel represented by the Faculty Association. It will act as advocate of the grievant. It will advise the Faculty Council regarding other matters of a legal nature.
B. Contract: It will be continuously engaged in reviewing, researching and revising contract issues, and will assist the Negotiating Team during the period of negotiations. It will work with the Contract Administrator in advising the Faculty Council regarding the administration of the contract.
C. Legislative: It will consider legislative and political matters relating to education and the teaching profession, keep Faculty Association members informed of critical issues and cooperate with action groups of affiliates. It will advise the Faculty Council regarding actions related to legislative and political matters.
D. Benefits: It will consider and advise the Faculty Council in matters related to contractual benefits status of individual faculty employed at the College.<o:p></o:p>
E. Institutional: It will consider matters related to other organizations or committees at the college which may require a Faculty Association response or action. It will advise the Faculty Council regarding positions or actions to be taken regarding intra-college matters.
F. Membership: It will consider all matters relative to encouraging membership and participation in the Faculty Association.
ARTICLE VI - NEGOTIATING TEAM
SECTION 1. Appointment
A. The Chief Negotiator and Negotiating Team will be appointed by the Faculty Council with the approval of the membership.
SECTION 2. Composition
A. When possible, there will be at least five members, representing full-time teaching faculty, full-time professional staff, and part-time/adjunct faculty.
B. In addition, the President of the Faculty Association will serve on the team.
SECTION 3. Responsibilities
A. The Negotiating Team will:
(1) conduct negotiations for the Faculty Association under the direction of the Faculty Council and with the approval of the membership;
(2) report regularly and fully to the Faculty Council;
(3) consult on a regular basis with all constituencies in the bargaining unit;
(4) present the final contract proposal in the Faculty Council for approval and for submission to the membership;
(5) follow all guidelines on negotiations as approved by the membership.
ARTICLE VII – LABOR/MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
SECTION 1. Composition
A. Members of the Labor/Management Committee will be president, vice-president, grievance chair, and contract administrator. A fifth member will be appointed annually by Faculty Council.
SECTION 2. Responsibilities
A. The Labor/Management team will:
(1) discuss matters of mutual concern to the Faculty Association and the management of the College;
(2) inform Faculty Council of deliberations and potential agreements proposed and made by the Labor/Management committee;
(3) maintain an archive of signed minutes.
ARTICLE VIII – CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR
SECTION 1. Appointment
A. The contract administrator will be annually appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Faculty Council.
SECTION 2. Responsibilities
A. The Contract Administrator will:
(1) serve on the Executive, Labor/Management, and Grievance committees;
(2) consult with the contract chair;
(3) assist the negotiating team with the coordinating and preparation of initial contract packages and proposals;
(4) meet regularly and consult with the Faculty Association president;
(5) (along with the Faculty Association President) regularly meet with the College’s contract administrator;
(6) sign for the disbursement of funds.
ARTICLE IX - APPOINTED COMMITTEES
SECTION 1. Appointment
A. Other special committees may be appointed by the Faculty Council as needed.
SECTION 2. Terms
A. Term of office will be determined by Faculty Council.
ARTICLE X - MEETINGS
SECTION 1. Regular Meetings
A. At least one regular meeting of the Faculty Association membership will be called each semester.
B. An agenda will be distributed at least one week in advance.
SECTION 2. Special Meetings
A. Special meetings may be called by the President, a majority vote of the Executive Committee or the Faculty Council, or a petition of 20% of the members.
SECTION 3. A quorum will consist of those in attendance after due notification.
ARTICLE XI - ELECTIONS
SECTION 1. FACULTY COUNCIL
A. Terms
(1) Members of Faculty Council will be elected for two year terms.
(2) Elections for President and Vice-President will be held during the same year and for Secretary and Treasurer in the alternate year. Of the remaining twelve (12) council members, six (6) will be elected with the President and Vice President, and the other six (6) will be elected with the Secretary and Treasurer.
(3) Terms commence July 1.
B. The election will be by secret ballot and take place by May 1.
C. Balloting will be conducted for a minimum period of 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m on a working day. Absentee ballots may be obtained from the Faculty Association Office at least one week prior to voting and returned no later than 4:00 p.m on the last day of voting.
D. Members of the Faculty Council will be elected by a majority vote. If no majority is achieved between three or more candidates, a run-off election will be held between the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes.
ARTICLE XII - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
SECTION 1. Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, will govern all the Faculty Association meetings and its committees in all cases where applicable and not inconsistent with these bylaws.
ARTICLE XIII - RATIFICATION OF AGREEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. Ratification of Agreements
A. Negotiated proposed changes to the previous contractual agreement presented in plain language describing salary, fringe benefits, and working conditions will be distributed to members of the Faculty Association in conjunction with the announcement of a special meeting called for the exclusive purpose of discussing the agreement. At least one working day will intervene between the day of the announcement and the day of the meeting.
B. At least one working day will intervene between the day of the last meeting and the (first) day of voting.
C. The ratification vote will be by secret ballot conducted for a minimum of six (6) hours on a working day, times to be announced in advance. Absentee ballots may be obtained at the FA office.
D. The agreement will be ratified if a majority of those voting are in favor of said ratification.
E. Any written agreement supplementing, clarifying or modifying the primary negotiated agreement must be distributed to the membership in final and complete form. If an agreement is to be ratified, it will follow the process outlined above. A ratification vote may be initiated in one of two ways. The Faculty Council may decide to hold a ratification vote. Or, upon written request of 10% of the Association's membership at the time of the distribution of the supplemental agreement (submitted within 30 days of the distribution), a vote will be scheduled within 60 days of the distribution.
F. The Faculty Council may authorize implementation of portions of the distributed supplemental agreement before the end of the 30 day period, or before the ratification vote is requested, only if implementation of such portions will be rescinded retroactively if a ratification vote fails.
G. Any written agreement supplementing, clarifying, or modifying the primary negotiated agreement (Contract) must indicate when it expires. No agreement outside the contract will expire later than the implementation date of the next contract. In order to continue in force after the implementation of the next contract, such supplemental agreements must become a part of the negotiated contract as printed and ratified.
SECTION 2. AMENDMENTS TO THESE BYLAWS
A. Proposed amendments to these bylaws will be published in their entirety to all members of the Faculty Association at least one week before a meeting at which they are to be discussed. A proposed amendment will not be moved to a vote until the next meeting after it is presented to the membership for debate.
B. Any Faculty Association member may submit an amendment to these bylaws.
C. Voting will be by secret ballot conducted for a minimum of six (6) hours on a working day, times to be announced in advance. Absentee ballots may be obtained at the Faculty Association office.
D. The amendment will become a part of the Bylaws of the Faculty Association if approved by a majority of those voting.
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