Constitution and Bylaws for the

University of South Florida Chapter of

United Faculty of Florida

Effective June 7, 2019

Constitution

Preamble

In accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the United Faculty of Florida, we, the members of theUnited Faculty of Florida (UFF) at the University of South Florida, organize a chapter in order to achieve the objectives and protect the rights of the faculty and professional employees.

 

Article I. Name.

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

 

Article II. Objectives.

Section 1. To bring faculty and professional employees of the University of South Florida into a relationship of mutual assistance and cooperation in order to obtain and maintain for them the rights and privileges to which they are entitled. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to, achieving and safeguarding due process and academic freedom, and combating all forms of discrimination including those based on age, disability, military status, veteran status, gender, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, or sexual orientation in the University and the State University System.

Section 2. To act as a local extension of the state collective bargaining agent, i.e., United Faculty of Florida. UFF/USF negotiates and enforces the collective bargaining agreement.

 

Article III. Membership.

Section 1. All faculty and professional employees holding regular, visiting, provisional, research, affiliate, or joint appointments in the position classifications listed in Appendix A of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Board of Governors, as delegated to the USF Board of Trustees, and the United Faculty of Florida shall be eligible for membership. Membership shall also be open to retired faculty and other s that have withdrawn from the profession who wish to maintain affiliation.

Section 2. Upon approval of the Chapter council, non-voting membership shall be open to any person who is interested in advancing the cause of education but is not eligible for active membership.

 

Article IV. Officers, Chapter Council, and Executive Committee.

Section 1. The membership shall annually elect by secret ballot a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, plus the appropriate number of Senators, and Alternate Senators as determined by the United Faculty Florida state Bylaws.The membership shall also annually elect delegates and alternate delegates to the FEA Assembly in accordance with FEA bylaws.

Section 2. Nominations shall be closed and all nomination materials shall be due by February 28. The elected officers and representatives shall be elected annually on or before March 31, and shall take office on the following April 1.

Section 3. The Chapter Council shall be composed of the elected officers, Senators, Alternate Senators and the appointed chairs of the standing committees. The Chairpersons of the standing committees shall be ex-officio nonvoting members of the Chapter Council. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Grievance Chair, and Chief Bargaining Negotiator.

Section 4. The President with the consent of a majority of the Chapter Council shall fill vacancies in the office of an elected chapter officer, UFF Senator, or FEA Delegate within thirty days of the occurrence.

 

Article V. Vacancies.

Section 1. UFF Senate alternates and FEA Delegate Assembly alternates shall be ranked by (a) number of votes cast and (b) alphabetically by last name.

Subsection 1.1 Should a senate seat become vacant prior to the Spring meeting of the Senate, the highest ranked alternate shall become senator.  Should there be no alternate to promote, the Chapter president shall nominate a replacement to serve the remainder of the term; upon confirmation by the Chapter Council, the nominee shall be the senator.

Subsection 1.2 Should a delegate seat become vacant prior to the Fall meeting of the Delegate Assembly, the highest ranked alternate shall become senator.  Should there be no alternate to promote, the Chapter president shall nominate a replacement to serve the remainder of the term; upon confirmation by the Chapter Council, the nominee shall be the delegate.

Section 2. Should the office of the President become vacant, the Vice President shall assume the office of president for the remainder of the presidential term; upon this assumption, the office of Vice President shall become vacant.  Should the offices of President and Vice President become vacant, the Secretary shall assume the office of President for the remainder of the presidential term.  Should the offices of President, Vice President, and Secretary become vacant, the Treasurer shall assume the office of President for the remainder of the presidential term.

Section 3. Should the office of the Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer become vacant, the president shall nominate a replacement to serve the remainder of the term; upon confirmation by the Chapter Council, the nominee shall hold that office.

 

Article VI. Referenda, Recall, and Due Process.

A referendum on any issue or recall of a Chapter officer may be initiated by 1) a majority vote of the Chapter Council, or 2) an on-line petition of 20% of the Chapter membership. A referendum or recall election must be held within thirty days of one of these two actions. During this period of time the Chapter Council shall guarantee ample opportunity for the pro and con arguments to be communicated to the membership. The membership shall resolve the issue through a fair and secret vote.

 

Article VII. Amendment.

The Chapter Council, 10% of the chapter membership (by petition), or a majority of the attending members at any membership meeting may propose an amendment to the constitution, whose proposed changes shall then be sent to the membership for thirty days before a paper-ballot or electronic vote.Ratification requires approval of two-thirds of those voting.

 

 

 

 

 

Bylaws

Article I. Rules of Order

Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern in all cases not governed by the Constitution or Bylaws.

 

Article II. Committees.

Section 1. Standing Committees shall be:

  1. Bargaining Committee
  2. Grievance Committee
  3. Membership Committee
  4. Communications Committee
  5. Government Relations Committee

Section 2. The President with the consent of the Chapter Council will appoint chairpersons of each standing committee.

Section 3. The membership of each standing committee shall be appointed by the committee chairperson with the consent of the Chapter Council.

Section 4. The President may appoint special committees when needed.

 

Article III. Duties of Officers and Chapter Council.

Section 1. The president shall preside at all meetings of the chapter and of the Chapter Council. He or she shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, shall sign all necessary documents and papers, and represent the organization.

Section 2. The Vice-President shall represent the President, when the President cannot be present and shall perform those duties that are prescribed by the President or the Chapter Council. In the event of any vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice-President shall serve as President for the period remaining in the existing term.

Section 3. The Secretary shall maintain records for the chapter proceedings and perform other functions as specified by the Chapter Council.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the chapter, shall exercise supervision over the receipt and disbursement of all monies, properties, securities, and other evidence of financial worth of this organization. The Treasurer shall prepare an annual budget and make regular financial reports to the Chapter Council.

Section 5. The Senators shall represent the Chapter at the statewide UFF meetings. The President shall assign an Alternate Senator to represent the chapter at one of these meetings when a Senator is unable to attend. Senators and Alternate Senators may exercise other duties as prescribed by the Chapter Council.The Delegates shall represent that chapter at the statewide FEA Assembly meetings.The President shall assign an Alternate Delegate to represent the chapter at one of these meetings when a Delegate is unable to attend.Delegates and Alternate Delegates may exercise other duties as prescribed by the Executive Committee.

Section 6. The Chapter Council shall adopt an annual budget and administer the policies of the chapter as set by the membership. It shall have the power to act for the good of the chapter in emergency situations where policy cannot be set by the membership. The Chapter Council shall regularly notify the membership of its actions.

 

Article IV. Duties of the Standing Committees.

Section 1. All committees shall be under the direction of and report to the President and the Chapter Council.A representative of each committee shall regularly report to the chapter on its activities.

Section 2. The Bargaining Committee shall serve as the Bargaining Team under the direction of the Chief Negotiator, who serves as chair.

Section 3. The Grievance Committee shall keep records of and supervise all grievances, and insure that the President and Chapter Council are fully informed on the progress in maintaining and expanding the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Section 4. The Services Committee shall carry out organizing drives among the faculty and professional employees, contact all new bargaining unit employees and, with the approval of the Chapter Council, cooperate in assisting in the organization of other colleges and universities. The committee will aid members in utilizing the full benefits of their union membership.

Section 5. The Communications Committee shall publish a regular newsletter and such other publications in consultation with the President and/or the Chapter Council. The Committee shall establish and maintain a Chapter Website.

Section 6. The Government Relations Committee shall cooperate, upon the approval of the chapter at a chapter meeting, with the State UFF in lobbying, endorsing candidates, and raising contributions. The Chairperson of the Government Relations Committee shall be an official nominee to the West Central Florida Central Labor Council unless otherwise determined by the President and/or Chapter Council.

 

Article V. Meetings.

Section 1. All meetings and discussion of the chapter, the Chapter Council, and committees are open to the membership, except when personnel matters and or grievances are being discussed.

Section 2. The time and place of regular chapter membership meetings shall be fixed by theChapter Council and announced to the chapter in a timely fashion.

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Article VI. Elections

Before the end of the fall semester of each academic year, the chapter shall elect a Nominations and Election Committee (which is not a standing committee) of union members to design an election process, subject to the advice and consent of the chapter; solicit nominations for office and representative positions; conduct the election; and report the results.  Members of the Nominations and Election Committee shall be barred from running for executive office, and all candidates for executive offices in contested races shall be barred from canvassing or counting ballots.

 

Article VII. Amendments.

The Chapter Council, 10% of the chapter membership (by petition), or a majority of the attending members at any membership meeting may propose amendments to the by-laws, whose proposed changes shall then be sent to the membership thirty days before a paper-ballot or electronic vote.Ratification of the proposed change(s) requires approval of a majority of those voting.