PCCFFAP Constitution
We are dedicated to a philosophy at Portland Community College which provides for all its students an atmosphere stimulating to an individual’s intellectual, vocational, and personal growth. We recognize this pursuit is a cooperative activity of students, faculty, supporting personnel, and administration. Thus, this Constitution sets forth the base through which to realize these goals.
ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of this organization shall be PORTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE FEDERATION OF FACULTY AND ACADEMIC PROFESSIONALS, Local 2277, AFT; also known as PCCFFAP or the Federation.
ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this organization shall be: 1. To bring members of the faculty and academic professionals into relations of mutual assistance and cooperation. 2. To advance the professional interests of community college faculty and academic professionals. 3. To improve the instruction at Portland Community College. 4. To eliminate all forms of discrimination in education. 5. To cooperate with organized labor for the purpose of advancing democratic concepts through the schools at all levels.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
1. All teaching faculty, Academic Professionals (AP), librarians, counselors, and others at PCC designated by Employment Relations Board ruling as qualified for inclusion in a bargaining unit are eligible for membership. 2. Only current dues paying Federation members of a bargaining unit may have voice and vote on contract matters affecting that bargaining unit. 3. It is the right of the membership to rescind any decision of the Executive Council by petition and vote as provided for in the By-Laws of this Constitution. 4. Associate membership without the right to vote shall be open to retired members and to members who withdraw from the profession for research or other pursuits and who wish to maintain affiliation. 5. Each member may have the right to vote by absentee ballot as provided for in the By-Laws of this Constitution. 6. No discrimination shall ever be shown toward individual members or applicants for membership because of race, religious faith, sexual orientation or political activities or belief. 7. A member may be expelled for acts detrimental to the Federation upon presentation of written charges signed by at least one-fourth (1/4) of the total membership. The member shall have the right to appeal the decision to the membership at the following General Membership Meeting and shall be reinstated with full rights if a majority of the members present vote to reinstate. 8. Members who fail to pay dues shall be dropped from the rolls and their names removed from the records of the National Office. The member may be reinstated upon payment of dues.
ARTICLE IV – STRUCTURE
(Note: Article IV, Section 2 includes amendments that were approved in an election in Fall 2009. Officers in deleted positions will serve out the remainder of their terms. New offices will take effect with the next election for those offices).
1. The Executive Council shall consist of all elected Officers of the organization and shall have duties and responsibilities as provided for in the By-Laws of this Constitution.
2. The officers of the organization shall consist of the following:
President
Executive Vice-President
Vice-President: Full-time Faculty
Membership Vice-President: AP
Membership Vice-President: Part-time Faculty
Membership Vice-President: Full-time Faculty
Grievance/Contract Administration
Vice-President: Part-time Faculty
Grievance/Contract Administration
Vice-President: Academic Professional
Grievance/Contract Administration
Secretary
Treasurer
Vice-President: Political Action and Legislative Action
Vice-President: Sylvania (1 Full-time Faculty & 1 Part-time Faculty & 1 Academic Professional)
Vice-President: Cascade (1 Full-time Faculty & 1 Part-time Faculty & 1 Academic Professional)
Vice-President: Rock Creek (1 Fulltime Faculty & 1 Part-time Faculty & 1 Academic Professional)
Vice-President: Southeast Campus (1 Full-time Faculty & 1 Academic Professional & 1 Part-time Faculty)
and shall have duties and responsibilities as defined in the By-Laws of this constitution. 3. Eligibility to hold elective office shall be limited to those who have been members of PCCFFAP for not less than thirty (30) calendar days and are currently in good standing.
4. Federation Representatives (Fed. Reps.) shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Executive Council and shall have duties and responsibilities as provided for in the By-Laws of this Constitution.
ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES
1. The following committees shall be active in the Federation:
a. Grievance and Contract Administration
b. Membership
c. Political and Legislative Action committee
2. Except where otherwise specified in this Constitution and its By-Laws, the chair of each standing committee and of all special committees shall be appointed by the President with the consent of a majority of the Executive Council.
3. Except where otherwise specified in this Constitution and its By-Laws, members of each committee shall be appointed by the chair of each committee with the consent of the Executive Council.
4. Special Committees will be formed when the Executive Council deems them necessary.
5. Duties and responsibilities of these committees are as defined in the By-Laws of this Constitution.
ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS
1. General Membership Meetings shall be held at least once during the academic year as provided for in the By-laws of this Constitution.
2. Federation Representatives (Fed Reps) shall hold meetings once each quarter for their respective campus or site groups.
3. Executive Council Meetings shall be held at least monthly during the academic year as provided for in the By-Laws of this Constitution.
4. Special meetings of the Executive Council or the Membership may be called as provided for in the By-Laws of the Constitution.
ARTICLE VII – ELECTIONS
Elections will be held in accordance with certification requirements of the organizations with which the PCCFFAP is affiliated and with the provisions of the By-Laws of this constitution.
ARTICLE VIII – DUES AND FINANCES
1. Regular dues will be assessed the members of this organization and the amount will be set as provided for in the By-Laws of this Constitution.
2. A budget will be planned and approved as provided for in the By-Laws of this Constitution and shall govern spending by the Executive Council, officers and staff.
ARTICLE IX – AMENDMENTS
1. Amendments may be made to this Constitution and By-Laws only by a vote of the membership.
2. Previous notice of a proposed amendment and the specific text of that amendment must be submitted to the Executive Council at least thirty (30) calendar days before ballots for the proposed amendment are made available to the membership.
3. The Executive Council will publish the proposal with or without recommendation no less than fifteen (15) calendar days before the ballots for the proposed amendment are made available to the membership.
4. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast shall be required to adopt an amendment to this Constitution. A simple majority of the votes cast shall be required to adopt an amendment to the By-Laws of this Constitution.
ARTICLE I – AFFILIATIONS
ARTICLE II – DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
AND
THE FEDERATION REPRESENTATIVES
ARTICLE III – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
ARTICLE IV – DUTIES OF FEDERATION
REPRESENTATIVES
ARTICLE V – DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS
ARTICLE VII – ELECTIONS
ARTICLE VIII – DUES AND FINANCES
ARTICLE IX – RULES OF ORDER
ARTICLE X – AVAILABILITY OF CONSTITUTION AND
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I – AFFILIATIONS
1. This Federation shall maintain affiliation with and whenever possible send delegates to the meetings and conventions of the following
organizations:
a. American Federation of Teachers
b. AFT-Oregon
c. Northwest Oregon AFL-CIO Central Labor Council
d. Oregon AFL-CIO
2. All delegates shall make written reports to the Executive Council about meetings attended, if requested.
3. Every reasonable effort shall be made by this Federation to pay the legitimate expenses of delegates to meetings and conventions of affiliated organizations.
4. The Federation, to the best of its ability, shall be active in the affairs of affiliated American Federation of Teachers AFL-CIO. The PCC Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers. The AFT is an international union representing over 1.6 million members. The AFT is made up of more than 3,000 local affiliates. Five divisions within the organization represent the broad spectrum of AFT’s membership: teachers; paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRP); local, state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff; and nurses and other healthcare professionals. In addition, the union includes more than 170,000 retiree members.
ARTICLE II – DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE FEDERATION REPRESENTATIVES
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
1. The Executive Council shall administer the policy of this Federation as set by this Constitution and By-Laws, and by the membership at regular meetings. It shall have the power to act for the good of the Federation in emergency situations where policy cannot be set by the membership.
2. Shall meet at least monthly during the academic year, not including General Membership Meetings.
3. Shall fill all Executive Council and Federation Representative vacancies not otherwise provided for within thirty (30) days whenever possible.
4. Shall have the power to employ all personnel on full or part time basis and issue contracts to these employees as may be determined by the needs and finances of the Federation.
5. Shall report its activities at each regular General Membership Meeting.
6. Shall abide by the following regulations:
a. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the current Executive Council Officers.
b. Decisions to go to arbitration on behalf of the Federation or a member must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the current Council at a regular or special Executive Council Meeting or when the current Council is polled by the President.
c. The Executive Council cannot rescind any action taken by the membership in any regular or special General Membership Meeting. It may ask the membership to rescind previous actions at regular or special meetings.
7. Executive Council Members who have a report shall submit it to the Council four (4) working days before each Executive Council Meeting. The President shall also submit the agenda four (4) working days before for the next meeting..
8. Special meetings of the Executive Council may be called by the President or by a majority of the Executive Council.
9. An Executive Council Member may be removed from office and their office considered vacant if the Executive Council Member fails to attend three (3) consecutive Executive Council meetings in any term or over two (2) terms.
FEDERATION REPRESENTATIVES
10. Federation Representatives shall serve as an information link between the individual member and the Council.
11. Federation Representatives shall meet quarterly with their respective campus or site groups.
12 A Federation Representative shall have no set term of office.
13. A Federation Representative shall serve at the discretion of the President and the Executive Council.
ARTICLE III – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
1. PRESIDENT
a. Shall act as the Executive Officer of the Federation.
b. Shall preside over all Executive Council and General Membership Meetings, enforcing the rules of order.
c. Shall enforce the rule of this Constitution and its By-Laws.
d. Shall call regular meetings of the Executive Council.
e. Shall assign the duties of and direct the activities of Executive Council members not otherwise specified in these By-Laws.
f. Shall call special meetings of the Executive Council or submit proposals whenever such action is necessary.
g. Shall appoint all committees, not otherwise specified in these By-Laws, subject to the approval of the Executive Council.
h. Shall represent or appoint an appropriate designee to represent the Federation regarding contract administration, PCC Board activities, and public or Federation functions.
I .Shall sign all necessary papers and documents.
j. Shall present an annual report to the membership at the General Membership Meeting detailing the state of the Federation.
k. Shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.
l. Shall appoint individuals to fill all Executive Council vacancies with the advice and consent of PCCFFAP By-laws the Executive Council.
m. Shall notify the college in the event of his/her extended absence and establish the authority of the Executive Vice-President during that absence.
n. Shall supervise and schedule employees’ work.
o. Shall appoint an Officer to serve as Parliamentarian for the Executive council.
p. Shall appoint Federation Representatives (Fed Reps) with the advice and consent of the Executive Council.
2. EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT
a. Shall perform the Duties of the President in meetings in the event of the President’s absence and assume the duties of the President in the event of an extended absence, permanent incapacity, death, or resignation.
b. Shall at the direction of the President, fulfill the duties of any office in the event of an extended absence of any Officer or the failure of any Officer to perform their Constitutional duties.
c. Shall be a member of each of the Federation’s standing committees (Contract Administration, Political and Legislative Action Committee and Membership).
3. VICE-PRESIDENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP
a. Shall chair any Election Committee and shall conduct all elections and ratifications as required.
b. Shall chair the Membership Committee and conduct Membership Drives.
c. Shall maintain a current list of committees and Federation Representatives.
4. VICE-PRESIDENTS FOR GRIEVANCE/CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION
a. Shall recruit and train all Grievance Committee members
b. Shall represent the Federation in the enforcement of the contract.
c. Shall work closely with the President in matters of contract administration and report regularly to the Executive Council and membership concerning grievances and current matters of dispute resolution.
d. Shall supervise grievance timetables, maintain grievance files and maintain the security of member’s rights.
e. Shall be elected from the appropriate constituency.
5. TREASURER
a. Shall be the Financial Officer of the Federation.
b. Shall receive and deposit all funds due in such bank or banks as may be designated by the Executive Council or prudent financial planning, sign all draft drawn on Federation accounts, and submit vouchers for Executive Council approval or audit these activities in a prudent manner.
c. Shall maintain a current list of all dues paying members and all fair share bargaining unit members and make this list available to the appropriate officers.
d. Shall prepare or cause to be prepared an annual written report at the end of the fiscal year, all required State and Federal reports required by law, and other financial reports and documents necessary to monitor the fiscal security of the Federation.
e. Shall prepare a financial report for every regular Executive Council and General Membership Meeting and submit to audits at the discretion of the Executive Council.
f. Shall submit or cause to be submitted a proposed budget to the Executive Council no later than the April meeting.
g. Shall disburse funds as they are available in accordance with the approved budget and the advice and consent of the President and/or Executive Council.
6. SECRETARY
a. Shall keep a proper and current record of the proceedings of General Membership and Executive Council Meetings, conduct all correspondence pertaining to Federation business at the direction of the President, maintain a file of all letters, documents and records of the Federation in a prudent manner or cause these activities to take place.
b. Shall furnish each member of the Executive Council with a copy of the minutes of previous meetings in a timely manner and shall furnish the Federation Publicist with current information for communication to the membership.
c. Shall provide copies of the minutes of previous Executive Council and General Membership Meetings in prudent numbers for members at General Membership Meetings.
d. Shall be custodian of the Seal and Charter of the Federation.
7. CAMPUS VICE-PRESIDENTS
a. Shall represent each Campus or building(s) from which they are elected. They will communicate with their members, act as a Grievance Representative when requested or when they deem such action is prudent, and supervise and support the Federation Representatives in their areas.
b. Shall insure that the membership is aware of Executive Council actions by posting notices, minutes, and other pertinent materials in appropriate places.
c. Shall hold periodic informal meetings with members on their Campuses or in their buildings for the purpose of gathering information and addressing the concerns of those members.
d. Shall chair standing and special committees, and/or be of assistance at the request of the President.
8. POLITICAL AND LEGISLATIVE ACTION VICE-PRESIDENT
a. Shall chair the Political and Legislative Action Committee
b. Shall coordinate the political and fund raising activities of the Federation.
c. Shall prepare and file, on time, all campaign reports with the appropriate filing officer.
d. Shall work closely with the President and the Executive Council to develop and implement political education strategies.
e. Shall represent the Federation on the AFT-Oregon Political and Legislative ActionCOPE Committee and to the Northwest Oregon Labor Council (NOLC).
ARTICLE IV–DUTIES OF FEDERATION REPRESENTATIVES
1. Shall serve as an information link between the individual member and the Executive Council
2. Shall represent each Campus or site group to which they are appointed. They will communicate with their members, and act as a Grievance Representative when requested or when they deem such action is prudent.
3. Shall insure that the membership is aware of Executive Council actions by posting notices, minutes, and other pertinent materials in appropriate places.
4. Shall hold periodic informal meetings with members of their Campus or site groups for the purpose of gathering information and addressing the concerns of those members.
5. Shall chair standing and special committees, and/or be of assistance at the request of the President.
ARTICLE V – DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
1. GRIEVANCE AND CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
a. Shall review all grievances submitted in writing to the Executive Council or the Vice Presidents for Grievances/Contract Administration.
b. Shall cause the grievance procedures to be publicized as widely as possible.
c. Shall recommend from their membership a Contract Administration Team for the contract currently bargained by the Federation. This team shall meet on a regular basis and as needed with College Administration for the purpose of discussing matters of common interest arising out of the administration of the Collective Bargaining Agreements.
d. Shall make recommendations to the Executive Council as necessary.
2. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
a. Shall recruit new members continuously.
b. Shall arrange such programs and entertainments as appropriate and within the Federation Budget.
3. POLITICAL AND LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE
a. Shall support and strengthen the commitment of the citizens and the government to excellence in public education at all levels.
b. Shall promote and strive for the improvement of the college by encouraging and stimulating faculty and staff to take a more active part in governmental affairs pertaining to public education.
c. Shall encourage the membership to know and understand the nature and actions of their government and the important political issues as they pertain to public education.
d. Shall assist the membership in organizing themselves for more effective political action and in carrying out their civic responsibilities.
e. Shall engage in any suitable activities to achieve the purposes stated above.
f. Shall recommend to the Executive Council, by a simple majority vote of the current committee members, any donation made
to a political candidate or cause on behalf of the Federation.
g. Shall be chaired by the Political and Legislative Action Vice President.
ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS
1. The time and place of General Membership Meetings shall be fixed by the Executive Council.
2. There shall be at least one regular General Membership Meeting during the academic year.
There shall be at least one regular Federation Representatives campus or site group Meeting in
every academic term.
3. A quorum for General Membership Meeting shall consist of five (5) percent of the total
membership.
4. Special or Emergency General Membership Meetings may be called by the President, by a majority of the Executive Council, or by a petition signed by no less than one-fifth (1/5) of the membership, provided, however, that no less than seven (7) calendar days notice of such a meeting shall be provided to the membership. In the event the meeting is called by petition, such a petition
shall be delivered to the President. The President shall cause the Executive Council to be convened within (7) calendar days’ of the receipt of the petition. The Executive Council shall set the time, date and place of the Special or Emergency. Meeting no more than twenty-one (21) calendar days following the receipt of the petition by the President.
5. Any action of the Executive Council that was not required specifically by this Constitution or By- Laws can be rescinded by a vote of the membership at any regular or special General Membership Meeting if the issue has been published as part of the regular agenda. A simple majority of those voting is required for recision.
ARTICLE VII – ELECTIONS
1. Absentee ballots will be made available to members of the Federation in any elections at the discretion of the Elections Committee.
2. The Elections Committee will establish an adequate system of ballot certification to insure the rights of the individual to confidentiality and the Federation to a certifiable election.
3. The Executive Vice-Presidents for Membership shall establish the times, dates, places, and methods of election with the approval of the Executive Council.
4. The Executive Vice-Presidents for Membership will certify election procedures
and results.
5. Election of delegates to conventions shall have the following restrictions:
a. The Executive Council will decide the number of delegates to send to any convention within the limits of the Federation budget and reasonable value to the Federation of such representation.
b. The membership will elect delegates under the specific requirements of and procedures prescribed
by the convention.
c. Delegates must meet the same qualifications as Officers of the Federation.
d. Ties shall be decided by the President.
6. Election of Federation Officers shall have the
following restrictions:
a. A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President during the month of April.
b. The voting membership shall be presented with a slate of nominees to the Membership
at least fifteen (15) days before the election date.
c. Election of Officers will be held annually during the Spring Quarter. Terms of office shall begin July
1, of the year elected.
d. Officers will be elected by majority vote.
e. Campus Vice-Presidents will be elected by members from their Campus.
f. Officers shall serve two (2) year terms of office. The President, Executive Vice President, Vice-Presidents for Grievance/Contract Administration, the Treasurer and the Sylvania Vice Presidents
shall be elected in even numbered years. The Vice Presidents Membership, Secretary, the Vice President of Political and Legislative Action, and the Cascade, Rock Creek and
Southeast Vice Presidents shall be elected in odd numbered years.
7. Recall of Officers and Federation Representatives shall be done in the following
manner:
a. When two-thirds (2/3) of the Executive Council feels that an Officer is not performing the duties
outlined in this Constitution and/or By-Laws or is failing to exercise prudent judgment as an officer,
the Executive Council may initiate and serve a request in writing for the resignation of that Officer.
This request will include the reasons for the requested resignation. The Officer in question shall have five (5) days in which to respond. If the Officer refuses to resign, recall may be initiated by
a resolution in the next Executive Council Meeting and passed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority. A secret
ballot election will be held after a special General Membership Meeting convened to discuss the
recall. A majority of the members voting will prevail. The Vice-President for Membership will conduct the election unless he/she is the subject of the recall. In that instance, the President will
conduct the election and certify the results. The results of the election shall be publicized within two (2) working days. The voters eligible to vote in a recall election will be restricted
to those voters normally eligible to vote in an election for that position.
b.When a petition requesting the recall of any Officer and signed by at least twenty (20) percent
of the membership is submitted to the Executive Council, the Executive Council after verifying the
signatures shall initiate the recall process as described in Section 7, Subsection “a” of this Article. Representatives of the petitioners must attend the Executive Council Meeting when the petition is presented to explain the reasons for the request. If such persons do not appear, the petition may be declared invalid.
8. The Negotiating Team will be appointed by the President with the advice and
consent of Executive Council after interviewing interested members and shall be as representative
as possible.
9. Contract ratification will be by secret ballot election of the membership held after the Negotiating Team has reached a tentative agreement.
10. Vacancies in any office, except that of President, shall be filled by the President with the
approval of the Executive Council.
11. In the case of a vacancy in the Presidency, the Executive Vice President will serve as interim
President for a maximum period of forty-five (45) days during which nominating petitions will be
submitted to the Executive Council and a special election of the membership will be held.
ARTICLE VIII – DUES AND FINANCES
1. Regular local dues (other than Affiliate dues) shall be fixed by a vote of the membership. A
simple majority of those voting is required, provided that notice of the proposed dues
change has been announced to the membership no less than fourteen calendar days prior to the election. Affiliate dues increases shall be passed through to members without vote or announcement.
2. Additional funds may be obtained by fundraising activities.
3. The full dues amount charged each month shall be the computed
local dues plus affiliation fees and insurance premiums. The local will also create a special class
of membership for those members who qualify under the provisions of Article III, Section 6 of the
AFT Constitution, and will pay affiliation fees for these members in accordance with that section of
the AFT Constitution. All members paying reduced dues under this section are entitled to the full rights
and benefits of membership. The full dues amount charged each month shall be computed local dues
plus affiliation fees and insurance premiums.
ARTICLE IX – RULES OF ORDER
Roberts Rules of Order, revised, shall govern in all cases not covered by this Constitution and/or its
By-laws. A parliamentarian shall be appointed by the President (see Article III, Section1, Subsection
“n”)
ARTICLE X – AVAILABILITY OF CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
1. Three (3) copies of this Constitution and its By-Laws and all future amendments shall be submitted
to the National Office of the American Federation of Teachers.
2. Copies shall be made available to other affiliated organizations upon request.
3. Copies shall be made available for any member of this Federation upon request to the secretary.