SFT AFT Local 2275

CONSTITUTION OF THE STOCKTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
As amended to date, March 26, 2004
ARTICLE I
This organization shall be known as the Stockton Federation of College Teachers, American Federation of Teachers, Local No. 2275.

ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this organization shall be:

Section 1. To provide a vehicle for discussion and cooperative faculty and professional staff action within the Stockton community.

Section 2. To present and make known to the State of New Jersey grievances as well as proposals concerning working conditions on behalf of the faculty and professional staff of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.

Section 3. To bring associations of faculty and professional staff into relations of mutual assistance and cooperation.

Section 4. To advance the professional interests of college faculty and professional staff.

Section 5. To improve the instruction and support services in institutions of higher learning.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. All faculty, professional librarians, and professional staff (unclassified, non-supervisory administrative personnel), and other employees at Richard Stockton College who are members of the State Colleges/Universities Unit are eligible for membership. Adjunct faculty who are members of the State Colleges/Universities Adjunct Unit are eligible for membership as well.

Section 2. Supervisory personnel who are designated “confidential” under the New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act shall not obtain membership. Members who are promoted to a “confidential” position shall be removed from membership on the effective date of promotion.

Section 3. Associate membership without the right to vote shall be open to retired faculty and professional staff, and to faculty and professional staff who withdraw from the profession for research or other purposes and who wish to maintain affiliation.

Section 4. Adjunct faculty may become members of the union at the same time they join the bargaining unit, and their membership in the union will cease when they are discharged from the bargaining unit, as specified in the adjunct agreement currently in effect between the State of New Jersey and the Council of New Jersey State College Locals.

Section 5. No discrimination shall ever be shown toward individual members or
applicants for membership because of age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, color, creed, national origin, physical handicap or political activity, private conduct, or union activity. The local may establish procedures for admission of new members except that no discrimination shall ever be shown toward individual members or applicants for membership because of age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, color, creed, national origin, physical handicap or political activity, private conduct, or union activity.

Section 6. A member may be charged with acts detrimental to the Federation upon presentation of written charges signed by at least 1/4 of the total membership. A hearing of those charges shall be held at the next regularly scheduled meeting. At this meeting action on the written charges shall be discussed. The expulsion of a member must be approved by at least 2/3 of the full membership in a closed mail ballot.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS

Section 1. The following officers shall be elected annually by this Federation:
1. President
2. Executive Vice President
3. Treasurer
4. Secretary
5. Vice President for Professional Staff
6. Vice President for Adjunct Faculty
7. Representative to the Central Labor Council

Section 2. Membership in good standing is required to hold office. Adjunct faculty may only hold office as the Vice President for Adjunct Faculty.

Section 3. Nominations for office shall be made at the first spring term membership meeting. Notice shall be provided to each member at least 15 days prior to the meeting that nominations are in order. Nominations shall be accompanied by petitions containing at least ten signatures of members.

Section 4. Ballots shall be prepared and mailed to each member in good standing within 15 days following the nomination meeting. The ballots shall be returned to the committee no later than 15 days from the date originally sent to the membership. The candidate receiving a plurality of votes shall be declared elected.

Section 5. Officers shall take office as of July 1st of the year in which they are elected and shall serve until June 30th of the following year.

Section 6. Vacancies in any office shall be filled in the same manner as originally filled.

ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES

Section 1. The following standing committees shall be active in this Federation:
1. Bargaining Committee
2. Information Committee
3. Grievance Committee
4. Membership Committee
5. Events Committee
6. COPE Committee
7. Budget and Finance Committee

Section 2. The following special committees shall be appointed:
1. Audit Committee
2. Election Committee
Additional special committees shall be appointed as authorized by the executive committee.

Section 3. The chair of each of the standing committees shall be appointed by the President with the consent of the membership, with the exception of the chair of the Budget and Finance Committee who shall be the Treasurer. (“Consent of the membership” is defined as a majority vote of the membership present at a membership meeting.)

Section 4. Members of each standing committee shall be appointed by the chair of each committee with the consent of the membership.

Section 5. The chair of each special committee shall be appointed by the executive committee. Members of each special committee shall be appointed by the chair of each committee with the consent of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VI – THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. The Executive Committee of this federation shall consist of the following:
1. All elected officers
2. Chairs of the standing committees
3. Additional at-large members as appointed by the Executive Committee
4. The President of the Faculty Assembly

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall administer the policy of this Federation as set by the membership at regular meetings. It shall have the power to act for the good of the Federation in emergency situations where the policy cannot be set by the membership.

Section 3. The chair of the Executive Committee shall be the President of the Federation.

Section 4. The Executive Committee shall meet regularly during the academic year, at least monthly. Special Executive Committee meetings may be called by the President of the Federation.

Section 5. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to:
1. make contracts and incur liabilities which may be appropriate to enable it to accomplish any or all of its purposes,
2. borrow money for the Federation purposes at such rates of interest, terms, and conditions as they may determine,
3. issue notes, bonds, or other obligations,
4. and secure any of its obligations by mortgage, pledge, or deed of trust of all or any of its property and income.

Section 6. The Executive Committee shall report its activities at each regular membership meeting.

ARTICLE VII – AFFILIATIONS

Section 1. The federation shall maintain affiliations with, and whenever possible send delegates to the following organizations:
a.) The American Federation of Teachers- All delegates and alternates to the National Convention of the AFT shall be elected by a majority vote at the April membership meeting. Notice of the election shall be made at the previous meeting and mailed to each member prior to the election. The President and the Secretary shall certify the election and forward the credentials of all elected delegates and alternates to the National Office as soon as possible but not later than 15 days before the convening of the National Convention. The delegates shall confer with the Treasurer to make sure that the AFT per capita through June has been sent to the National Office at least 15 days before the convening of the National Convention.
b.) The New Jersey American Federation of Teachers- Delegates shall be elected at least one month before State Convention at a regular membership meeting.
c.) The Atlantic Central Labor Union- Delegates shall be elected at the regular annual election of officers.
d.) The New Jersey State AFL-CIO – Delegates shall be elected at least one month before the State Labor Convention at a regular membership meeting.

Section 2. All delegates shall report to the Executive Council on meetings attended.

Section 3. Delegates to affiliated organizations shall meet the same requirements as officers of the local.

ARTICLE VIII – DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

Section 1: The President shall:
a.) Preside at all meetings of the Federation and of the Executive Council.
b.) Be ex-officio member of all committees except the Audit Committee.
c.) Sign all necessary papers and documents.
d.) Represent the local when and where necessary.
e.) Make a report to the membership at least once a year summarizing the accomplishments of the Federation and outlining plans for the next year.

Section 2. The Executive Vice-President shall:
a.) Perform all the duties of the President in the absence of that officer.
b.) Perform, at other times, such duties as may be delegated by the President..

Section 3 The Treasurer shall:
a.) Receive and record in the name of the Federation all monies from dues and all other sources. Deposit of said monies shall be made by another officer of the union, appointed by the President with approval of the executive committee.
b.) Forward to the national office of the American Federation of Teachers current membership lists, assessments, and any other financial documents or reports required by the national AFT to keep the local in good standing.
c.) Keep the membership roll, issue receipts and delinquent notices.
d.) Chair the Budget and Finance Committee.
e.) Present a written financial report to members once a year.
f.) Keep adequate records available at all times for the Executive Council and the Audit Committee.
g.) Pay all bills authorized by the adopted budget, retaining voucher or invoice for the same. Expenses not authorized in the budget must be presented to the Executive Council for authorization.

Section 4. The Secretary shall:
a.) Issue all notices and answer correspondence at the direction of the President and the Executive Council.
b.) Be the custodian of the seal and charter of the Federation.
c.) Record the minutes of the Executive Council and of the general membership meetings

Section 5. The Vice-President for Professional Staff shall:
a.) Monitor, report on, and work to correct concerns of professional staff about the terms and conditions of work.
b.) Communicate on a regular basis with professional staff concerning the master and local agreements, benefits, and other matters of interest to members.
c.) Appoint 3 to 5 shop stewards to assist him or her in these duties. Shop stewards shall be non-voting participants in the executive committee.

Section 6. The Vice-President for Adjuncts shall:
a.) Monitor, report on, and work to correct concerns of adjunct faculty concerning the terms and conditions of work.
b.) Communicate on a regular basis with adjuncts concerning the master and local agreements, benefits, and other matters of interest to members.
c.) Oversee the recruitment of adjuncts to full membership in the union.

Section 7. The Representative to the Central Labor Council shall:
a.) Attend Central Labor Council meetings and report on their proceedings to the Executive Committee.
b.) Work to build good relations with other unions in Atlantic and Cape May Counties, and elsewhere in South Jersey as appropriate.

ARTICLE IX – DUTIES OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 1. The Bargaining Committee shall prepare and substantiate salary and other contract proposals. It shall present these proposals for approval of the membership and then shall negotiate these proposals with the employer. The Committee shall, in addition, negotiate with the employer other programs and practices, relating to terms and conditions of work, as proposed by the Executive Committee or mandated by the master agreement.

Section 2. The Information Committee shall maintain an awareness of the local’s activities, both within the membership and in the community at large. Every effort shall be made by this committee to make use of other sources of publicity, i.e., newspapers, radio, television, and the internet.

Section 3. The Grievance Committee shall act on all grievances submitted in writing to the Executive Committee. It shall present to the Executive Committee a procedure for handling grievances. This committee shall cause this procedure to be publicized as widely as possible.

Section 4. The Membership Committee shall plan and execute a dynamic program to insure the growth and vitality of the Federation.

Section 5. The Events Committee shall plan and conduct social events and gatherings throughout the year such as pay day parties, toast and roast dinners, summer picnics, and workshops.

Section 6. The COPE Committee shall solicit contributions to the local’s COPE account, serve as a liaison to the state council’s COPE Committee, inform the Executive Committee of pending legislation of interest to higher education, and make recommendations for financial contributions to local, state, and national candidates for public office.

ARTICLE X – MEETINGS

Section 1. The time and place of meetings shall be fixed by the President in consultation with the Executive Committee.

Section 2. There shall be at least two membership meetings per term during the regular school year. They will generally be scheduled on the fourth Tuesday of a month at 4:30pm as provided for in the college calendar.

Section 3. A quorum shall consist of at least ten percent of the total full membership, except that a quorum of at least twenty percent of the total full membership shall be necessary to vote on an annual budget, changes in dues, special assessments, and amendments to the Constitution.

ARTICLE XI – FINANCES

Section 1. Regular dues shall be fixed by a majority vote of a quorum of at least twenty percent of the full members present at any regular meeting providing notice of contemplated dues increase has been announced at a previous meeting.

Section 2. Special assessments must be announced at one meeting and approved at the following meeting by 2/3 of a quorum of at least twenty percent of the full members.

ARTICLE XII – RULES OF ORDER
Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern in all cases not covered by this constitution or by the laws of this local.

ARTICLE XIII – AMENDMENTS
This constitution may be amended as follows:
The proposed amendment shall be submitted at any regular membership meeting and reviewed by the assembled members. A 3/4 vote of a quorum of at least twenty percent of the full members at the following membership meeting shall be sufficient to adopt the amendment.

ARTICLE XIV – AVAILABILITY OF THE CONSTITUTION
Section 1. Three copies of this constitution and all future amendments shall be submitted to the national office of the American Federation of Teachers.

Section 2. Copies shall be made available to other affiliated organizations upon request.

Section 3. Copies shall be made available for any members of this Federation upon request to the Secretary.