PSAC North By-Laws - Adopted May 8, 2005
PSAC NORTH BY-LAWS
SECTION 1 NAME
Pursuant to Section 16 of the Constitution of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC or Alliance), the regional organization of the PSAC in the North of Canada shall be known as PSAC North.
SECTION 2 MANDATE AND OBJECTIVES
Sub-Section (1) The mandate of PSAC North shall be to:
a) Provide for a PSAC structure in the North that reflects the needs and reality of the membership within the three Northern Territories while respecting the constitutional integrity of the PSAC;
b) Bring all Alliance members in the North under a single democratic organization;
c) Promote the interests of the PSAC and its members in the North;
d) Manage the finance of PSAC North;
e) Encourage the development of the PSAC regional committees in the North; and
f) Undertake other initiatives as may be mandated by the PSAC.
Sub-Section (2) The Objectives of PSAC North are:
· To promote and foster the organization of PSAC members in the North into Territorial Area Councils that are representative, visible, fair, equitable and respectful of the rights of all PSAC members in the North;
· To promote and coordinate the involvement of PSAC locals in the Federations of Labour; and
· To promote and coordinate the involvement of PSAC locals in social justice, coalitions in their communities.
SECTION 3 ORGANIZATION
Sub-Section (1) PSAC North shall:
a) In the context of PSAC policies, attend to the needs and aspirations of PSAC members residing in the North;
b) Define the issues that the Regional Executive Vice-President, North (REVP), should submit to the Alliance Executive Committee and the National Board of Directors of the PSAC; and
c) Address all issues important to PSAC members in the North.
Sub-Section (2) Participation in PSAC North
All PSAC Components, Branches and Locals with members residing in the North, all PSAC regionally based structures operating in the North, and all PSAC members residing in the North, have the right to participate in the affairs of PSAC North and are encouraged to participate in its activities and decision-making processes through the channels made available to them through the PSAC Constitution and these By-laws. A member who participates in the activities of PSAC North, including Council and Convention, may not participate in the activities of the other PSAC regional jurisdictions
SECTION 4 PSAC NORTH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Sub-Section (1) Composition of the PSAC North Executive Committee:
The PSAC North Executive Committee shall be comprised of:
a) The Regional Executive Vice-President who shall be elected pursuant to Section 11 of these By-Laws;
b) The Alternate Regional Executive Vice-President who shall be elected pursuant to Section 11 of these By-Laws;
c) The President (or her/his designate) of each of the three PSAC Components that are geographically located in the North:
· The President of the Nunavut Employees Union or her/his designate
· The President of the Union of Northern Workers or her/his designate
· The President of the Yukon Employees Union or her/his designate
d) The President of each of the PSAC Territorial Area Councils.
e) The Representative of each of the PSAC Regional Women's Committees in the North.
f) The Representative of each of the PSAC Regional Health and Safety Committees in the North.
g) The Representative of each of the PSAC Alliance Facilitators’ Network in the North.
h) The Representative of each of the PSAC Equity Committees, including Human Rights Committees, in the North.
i) One PSAC Territorial Director for each Northern Territory that will represent all PSAC Locals and Members that belong to a Directly Chartered Local or a component other than YEU, UNW or NEU.
Sub-Section (2) Election of Executive Committee Members
a) With the exception of the REVP North and the PSAC Territorial Directors, all Executive Committee Members will be elected from within their own respective forums, with copies of the minutes covering such elections, to be submitted to the Executive Committee prior to the Triennial Convention of PSAC North and prior to the incumbent’s attendance at an Executive Committee Meeting.
b) The PSAC Territorial Directors and alternates shall be elected at the PSAC North Triennial Convention from among the delegates within each Territorial caucus.
c) In the event of vacancies, the PSAC North Executive Committee will use election procedures pursuant to these By-Laws.
Sub-Section (3) The Role of PSAC North Executive Committee shall be to;
a) Manage the business of PSAC North between its Triennial Conventions; and
b) Establish regulations to guide the operations of PSAC North.
SECTION 5 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
a) The PSAC North Executive Committee shall meet three in regular session three (3) times per year (at least one month prior to the PSAC National Board of Directors Meetings), or upon the request of two-thirds (2/3) of its members, conduct a special meeting.
b) In the year of the PSAC North Convention, the PSAC North Executive Committee shall meet immediately prior to the Convention and shall remain in session throughout the Convention.
c) Meetings shall take place through teleconferencing, other available technology, and various cost saving initiatives.
d) A quorum shall consist of the REVP and a majority of the PSAC North Executive Committee.
SECTION 6 PSAC NORTH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS' ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Sub-Section (1) REGIONAL EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT (REVP) - NORTH
The Regional Executive Vice-President North shall:
a) Chair meetings of the PSAC North Executive Committee, the PSAC North Triennial Convention and any other regionally determined committees where appropriate;
b) Participate on the Alliance Executive Committee and the National Board of Directors with full voice and vote;
c) Serve as an ex-officio member of all PSAC North Committees;
d) Be the political voice for the PSAC within the North;
e) Act as the liaison officer between the PSAC and the Federations of Labour in the North and be the political voice of the PSAC at the Federations of Labour in the North;
f) Submit a written report of her/his activities to the PSAC North Executive Committee meetings and the PSAC North Triennial Convention;
g) Interpret the PSAC North By-Laws; and
h) Appoint an equal number of members from each of the territories to the various PSAC North Standing Committees.
Sub-Section (2) COMPONENT PRESIDENTS OR HER/HIS DESIGNATE
The Component Presidents of YEU, UNW and NEU, or her/his designate shall:
a) Attend meetings of the PSAC North Executive Committee and PSAC North Triennial Convention;
b) Submit written reports of her/his activities related to the business of PSAC North, to PSAC North Executive Committee meetings and the PSAC North Triennial Convention; and
c) Support the activities and continued activism of PSAC North.
Sub-Section (3) PRESIDENTS OR DESIGNATES OF PSAC TERRITORIAL AREA COUNCILS
The President or designate of PSAC Territorial Area Councils shall:
a) Attend meetings of the PSAC North Regional Council, Executive Committee and PSAC North Special and Triennial Conventions;
b) Submit a written report of her/his activities to the PSAC North Executive Committee meetings, the PSAC North Triennial Convention and affiliated Locals in their respective territories; and
c) Attend meetings and/or support the activities and continued activism of committees within their area of jurisdiction, as circumstances warrant or as determined by the PSAC North Executive Committee.
Sub-Section (4) REPRESENTATIVES OF PSAC REGIONAL WOMEN’S COMMITTEES
The Representatives of PSAC Regional Women’s Committees shall:
a) Be responsible for the PSAC Regional Women's Committees within their respective territories and shall promote and foster the activism of such committees;
b) Attend the PSAC North Executive Committee meetings and PSAC North Triennial Convention and shall be the spokespersons for the PSAC Regional Women's Committees in their respective territories;
c) Submit, to each PSAC North Executive Committee meeting, a written report of her activities and those of the PSAC Regional Women's Committees within their respective territories and report to PSAC North Triennial Convention and the Locals in their respective territories; and
d) Ensure and promote representation of women and their equality goals in the various union bodies, programs and social justice groups.
Sub-Section (5) REPRESENTATIVES OF PSAC EQUITY COMMITTEES
The Representatives of PSAC Equity Committees, including Human Rights Committees, shall;
a) Be responsible for their own Equity Committees within their respective territories and shall promote the creation and activism of such committees;
b) Attend PSAC North Executive Committee meetings, attend the PSAC North Triennial Convention and shall be the spokesperson for the Equity Committees within their respective territories;
c) Submit, to each PSAC North Executive Committee meeting, a written report of her or his activities and those of the Equity Committees within their respective territories and report to PSAC North Triennial Convention and to Locals and equity groups within their respective territories; and
d) Ensure and promote representation of equity group members, their issues and equality goals in the various union bodies, programs and social justice groups.
Sub-Section (6) PSAC TERRITORIAL DIRECTORS
The PSAC Territorial Directors shall;
a) Attend meetings of the PSAC North Executive Committee and PSAC North Triennial Convention;
b) Submit a written report of her/his activities to the PSAC North Executive Committee and PSAC North Triennial Convention; and
c) Ensure and promote representation of the interests of members employed by Treasury Board, Separate Employers, Directly Chartered Locals, Members at large and other non-component bargaining units within the various union bodies, programs and social justice groups.
Sub-Section (7) REPRESENTATIVES OF PSAC REGIONAL HEALTH and SAFETY COMMITTEES;
The Representatives of PSAC Regional Health and Safety Committees shall:
a) Be responsible for the PSAC Regional Health and Safety Committees within their respective territory and shall promote the creation and activism of such committees;
b) Attend PSAC North Executive Committee meetings and PSAC North Triennial Convention and shall be the spokespersons for PSAC Regional Health and Safety Committees within their respective territories;
c) Submit, to each PSAC North Executive Committee meeting, a written report of her/his activities and those of the PSAC Regional Health and Safety Committees within their respective territories and report to PSAC North Triennial Convention; and
d) Ensure and promote representation of members in the various union bodies, programs and social justice groups.
Sub-Section (8) REPRESENTATIVES OF ALLIANCE FACILITATOR NETWORKS
The Representatives of Alliance Facilitator Networks shall:
a) Be responsible for the Alliance Facilitator Networks and shall promote the creation and activism of such committees within their respective territories;
b) Attend PSAC North Executive Committee meetings and the PSAC North Triennial Convention and shall be the spokespersons for the Alliance Facilitator Networks within their respective territories;
c) Submit, to each PSAC North Executive Committee meeting, a written report of her/his activities and those of the Alliance Facilitator Network within their respective territory and report to PSAC North Triennial Convention; and
d) Ensure and promote Alliance Education to members in the various union bodies, programs and social justice groups as required.
SECTION 7 PSAC NORTH TRIENNIAL CONVENTION
Sub-Section (1)
a) PSAC North shall hold its Triennial Convention no less than nine (9) and no more than fourteen (14) months prior to the opening of the PSAC National Triennial Convention.
b) The PSAC North Executive Committee may, at the request of two-thirds (2/3) of its members, call a Special Convention.
c) PSAC North will convene its Triennial Convention in the North.
d) Triennial Conventions shall take place face-to-face where possible, or through teleconferencing or other effective means.
Sub-Section (2)
The PSAC North Triennial Convention shall be chaired by the Regional Executive Vice-President, North or, in his or her absence, by the Alternate Regional Executive Vice-President.
Sub-Section (3)
The PSAC North Triennial Convention shall:
a) Adopt rules of procedure governing the processing of all matters before the PSAC North Triennial Convention;
b) Deal with all resolutions and matters submitted to it in the approved form at least six (6) months prior to the opening of Convention by the PSAC North Executive Committee, the PSAC North Regional Council, the northern components, PSAC Locals, and from the PSAC Regional Women’s Committees, PSAC Territorial Area Councils, PSAC Equity Committees, PSAC Alliance Facilitators Networks and PSAC Regional Health and Safety Committees in good standing;
c) Establish the budgetary provisions of the ensuing period;
d) Deal with any other administrative matters placed before it by the delegates, in the manner prescribed by the procedural rules adopted by the PSAC North Triennial Convention for the orderly conduct of its business; and
e) Elect, in accordance with the provisions o f Section 11:
· the Regional Executive Vice-President;
· the Alternate Regional Executive Vice-President; and
· the PSAC Territorial Directors (and Alternates).
SECTION 8 REPRESENTATION AT THE PSAC NORTH TRIENNIAL CONVENTION
Sub-Section (1)
Each PSAC Local with members working or residing in the North, shall be entitled to two delegates up to the first 300 members and one additional delegate for each additional 300 members or major portion thereof.
Sub-Section (2)
Two (2) delegates entitlement from each of the three Northern Territories to represent established PSAC Territorial Area Councils.
Sub-Section (3)
Two (2) delegates entitlement from each of the three Northern Territories to represent established PSAC Regional Women's Committees.
Sub-Section (4)
Two (2) delegates entitlement from each of the three Northern Territories to represent established PSAC Equity Groups.
Sub-Section (5)
Two (2) delegates entitlement from each of the three Northern Territories to represent established PSAC Regional Health and Safety Committees.
Sub-Section (6)
Two (2) delegates entitlement from each of the three Northern Territories to represent established PSAC Alliance Facilitators’ Networks.
Sub-Section (7)
All PSAC Component National Officers who are members of a Northern Local and have residence in the North, shall be entitled to attend the PSAC North Triennial Convention as delegates.
Sub-Section (8)
PSAC North Executive Committee members shall have delegate status to the PSAC North Triennial Convention.
Sub-Section (9)
To be accredited, all delegates to the PSAC North Triennial Conventions must complete an approved delegate credential form and submit it to the Regional Executive Vice-President at least six months prior to the opening of Convention.
SECTION 9 OTHER PSAC NORTH COMMITTEES
Sub-Section (1)
The PSAC North Executive Committee shall establish the following Standing Committees:
1) Finance
2) Political Action
3) Education
Sub-Section (2)
The PSAC North Executive Committee shall have the authority to establish other committees of PSAC North.
Sub-Section (3)
All PSAC North Committees shall submit a written report of their activities to meetings of the PSAC North Executive Committee, and to PSAC North Triennial Conventions through the Regional Executive Vice-President.
Sub-Section (4)
The PSAC North Executive Committee shall establish Terms of Reference to guide the work and activities of each committee.
Sub-Section (5)
Materials necessary for the conduct of business of any Sub-Committee meeting will be distributed not less than two (2) weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
SECTION 10 FINANCES AND COLLECTION OF MEMBERSHIP FEES
Sub-Section (1)
PSAC North shall be funded from the budget allocated by the PSAC to PSAC North and from fees that may be levied from time to time pursuant to a resolution approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote at a Triennial Convention, or at a Special Convention called for that purpose.
Sub-Section (2)
The fiscal year of the PSAC North shall be from January 1 to December 31. The PSAC North Standing Finance Committee shall perform an annual audit of PSAC North finances and expenditures. The Finance Committee shall submit a written report to PSAC North Executive Committee meetings and to the PSAC North Triennial Convention.
SECTION 11 NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Sub-Section (1) TIMING OF THE REGIONAL CONVENTION
The PSAC North Triennial Convention shall elect the Regional Executive Vice-President, North and the Alternate Regional Executive Vice-President, North.
Sub-Section (2) ELIGIBILITY OF NOMINEES FOR OFFICE
a) All nominees for the office of Regional Executive Vice-President and Alternate Regional Executive Vice-President shall be members in good standing of the PSAC.
b) A nominee for office as the Regional Executive Vice-President or Alternate shall reside in the North.
c) Nominees for the office of Regional Executive Vice-President North shall be prepared to live in a location as determined by the Alliance Executive Committee.
Sub-Section (3) NOMINATION OF REVP AND ALTERNATE REVP
a) At each Triennial Regional Convention, a Nominations Committee of at least three (3) persons shall be appointed by the Regional Council from among those present, other than staff.
b) The duties of the Nominations Committee shall be to:
(i) Receive nominations for the offices of Regional Executive Vice-President and Alternate Regional Executive Vice-President;
(ii) Verify the eligibility of nominees for office;
(iii) Ascertain the willingness of nominees to accept and perform the duties of the office to which they may be elected; and
(iv) Report to the Triennial Regional Convention the names of all such nominees.
c) Nominations for the office of REVP and Alternate REVP filed with the Nominations Committee shall be in writing, signed by a nominator and a seconder, each of whom shall be an accredited delegate.
d) Nominees who are not present at the Convention must submit a nomination form to the PSAC Regional Staff Coordinator prior to the start of the Regional Convention.
e) Nominees who are present at the Regional Convention can submit a nomination form to the Regional Staff Coordinator prior to the start of the Regional Convention, to the Nominations Committee during Convention or be nominated from the floor of the Regional Convention. The Regional Staff Coordinator will provide nomination forms received prior to the commencement of Convention to the Chair of the Nominations Committee as soon as the Nomination Committee has been ratified by Convention.
f) The Chairperson of the Nominations Committee shall be appointed by the Regional Council and shall conduct the election of REVP and Alternate REVP. The Chairperson shall have the power to appoint scrutineers and assistants deemed necessary to conduct the elections in an orderly manner, subject to the limitations of (1) above.
Sub-Section (4) ELECTION OF THE REVP AND ALTERNATE REVP
a) The election of the Regional Executive Vice-President, North and the Alternate Regional Executive Vice-President, North shall be conducted in turn. Each office shall be called in turn and completed before the next office is called.
b) As the election for the office of REVP and Alternate REVP is called, the Nominee, Nominator or Seconder of each nominee, whether filed previously with the Nominations Committee or nominated from the floor, may speak to the Triennial Convention for not more that three (3) minutes on behalf of the nominee.
c) The election to the office of REVP and Alternate REVP shall be by secret ballot. A blank ballot paper shall be distributed to all voting delegates, for each office in turn as it is called. Each voting delegate shall write on the ballot paper the name of his/her choice for the office called, from among the nominees for office.
d) Election to the office of REVP and Alternate REVP shall be declared only on receipt of a clear majority of the ballots cast with standings revealed to voting delegates after each ballot. In the event that more than two (2) nominees stand for election to any one office, the election procedure shall be by way of elimination.
e) In the event of a tie vote, the Chairperson shall immediately take a second ballot without recess or adjournment. If this results in a second tie vote, the Chairperson shall call a short recess before taking the third ballot.
f) Upon completion of the election of REVP and Alternate REVP, the Nominations Committee will sign a declaration outlining the number of accredited delegates, the number of accredited delegates voting, the vote tally for each candidate, and the number of spoiled ballots for each ballot during the election of the REVP. The signed declaration will be forwarded to the PSAC National President and maintained on file.
g) The REVP and Alternate REVP shall take office at the end of the PSAC North Triennial Convention.
h) Members elected to the position of Regional Executive Vice-President shall not hold Component, Local or Branch Executive Officer positions other than steward.
Sub-Section (5) VACANCY IN THE POSITION OF REVP AND ALTERNATE REVP
a) A vacancy in the office of REVP shall be filled by the Alternate REVP.
b) A vacancy in the office of Alternate REVP occurring six months or more prior to the PSAC North Regional Triennial Convention shall be filled in the following manner:
(i) Nominations shall be called by the Alliance Executive Committee from amongst all members in the PSAC North region.
(ii) The AEC shall ensure that all nominees are members in good standing of the PSAC in the North region of the PSAC, and that the nominator and seconder were delegates at the previous PSAC North Triennial Regional Convention.
(iii) The nominations process will be concluded within 60 days from the date of notice of vacancy in the position of Alternate REVP.
(iv) If there is more than one nominee for the office of Alternate REVP, and an election is necessary, it shall be conducted by the AEC from amongst those members in good standing who were voting delegates at the preceding PSAC North Regional Triennial Convention.
SECTION 12 DISCIPLINE
The PSAC North Executive Committee shall have the authority, by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote at a regular meeting, to remove any member from office on the PSAC North Executive Committee for contravening a provision of the PSAC Constitution or these By-Laws.
SECTION 13 AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS
Unless otherwise specified, any amendment of, deletion from, or addition to these by-laws shall become effective at the time of its adoption by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the delegates voting at a PSAC North Triennial Convention.
SECTION 14 INTERPRETATION OF PSAC NORTH BY-LAWS
Sub-Section (1)
The Regional Executive Vice-President shall have authority to interpret these By-Laws and the interpretation shall be conclusive and in full force and effect unless reversed by the Executive Committee, the Regional Committee or a Regional Convention. Any interpretation given at a meeting of the Executive Committee, Regional Council or at a Regional Convention of the PSAC North whether conclusive and in full force and effect, or reversed, shall be reported in the Appendix to the appropriate minutes of the proceedings.
Sub-Section (2)
Nothing in these By-Laws may contravene the PSAC Constitution.
SECTION 15 GLOSSARY
Territorial Directors: representative of PSAC Locals that belong to various components of the PSAC that do not fall under: the Union of Northern Workers, Yukon Employees Union, or Nunavut Employees Union. These can be Treasury Board Locals, Directly Chartered Locals, or separate employers such as “ The City of Yellowknife Local “ this PSAC Local is a part of the National Component of the PSAC, but its employer is not Treasury Board. These Directors will also be representative of the PSAC members in the North whose local is based outside of the North. If they work in Old Crow, Yukon, their local may be based in Vancouver, BC, or Edmonton, AB, or Ottawa, ON. The position of Territorial Director will be representative of these members as well.
Record_of_Decisions_OCT14.pdf