AFT LOCAL 1935

MCEA BYLAWS

Article I - Meetings

1. Executive Board meetings shall be held at least eight times during the year. Special meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the President or by a majority of the Executive Board petitioning the President. The Executive Board meeting may be held remotely.
   

1. A quorum for doing business of the Executive Board shall consist of the President or Vice President and fifty percent of the membership of the Executive Board.
   

Article II – Dues and Membership

1. In addition to any automatic annual increase as provided in Article III., Section 2 of the MCEA Constitution, dues shall be determined by the Representative Assembly and approved by a vote of the membership.
   
   1. Effective January 1, 2023 the dues for active employee members shall be $ 25.00biweekly
      
   2. Effective January 1, 2024 the dues for employee members shall be $_____ biweekly
      
   3. Effective January 1, 2023 the dues for retiree members shall be $ 4.00per month, $48.00 per year.
      
2. Dues for all Councils of MCEA shall be collected and maintained by MCEA.
   

1. Members shall not be entitled to representation for matters arising prior to the effective date of membership. Membership is effective upon the receipt by MCEA of an individual’s membership dues.
   

Article Ill - Budget and Audit

1. The annual budget shall be prepared by the Finance Committee with the Treasurer as chairperson for Executive Board approval. The budget shall be presented for approval at the October Representative Assembly meeting
   
2. The Executive Board shall provide annually for an independent audit of the financial records and funds of MCEA, conducted by an independent Certified Public Accountant which audit shall be available to the membership and, where required, to regulatory bodies.
   

Article IV - Committees

1. The standing committees of the organization shall be:
   
2. Finance: A finance committee composed of the Treasurer and four (4) other members appointed by the President and approved by the Executive Board shall prepare a budget in accordance with the MCEA policies to be presented at the October Representative Assembly meeting.
   
3. Representative Assembly Meeting: A Representative Assembly meeting committee shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board and shall plan and convene the meetings of the Representative Assembly.
   
4. Election: The elections committee shall conduct all elections of officers, Council Vice Presidents and Representative Assembly members. It shall consist of five (5) members in good standing appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board. Members of the election committee shall not be running for office in the union.
   
5. Legislative and Political Action: The Executive Vice President shall chair this committee and shall work in concert with AFT Maryland.
   
6.  Organizing Committee: The organizing committee shall be chaired by the President and have four (4) additional members appointed by the President and approved by the Executive Board. The Committee shall be responsible for developing programs and activities that will focus on strengthening the union by increasing membership, and by creating an informed and engaged membership by working with Council Vice Presidents, shop stewards and staff.
   
7. The Executive Board, either on its own initiative or at the direction of the Representative Assembly or the Convention, may establish special committees.
   
8. Except for the Election Committee, the President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
   

Article V - Elections Procedure

1. Elections shall be conducted in accordance with the MCEA Constitution, the AFT Constitution and the standards set out by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA).
   
2. The Election Committee shall conduct all MCEA statewide elections and provide support for council elections  if requested  The appointment and approval of the Election Committee shall be completed no later than February 15 before the September elections. The committee will choose its chair. Any member of the elections committee nominated for or seeking office must vacate their position and be replaced by a member nominated by the President and approved by the Executive Board.
   
3. Nominations Procedure
   
   1. On or about July 1 in election years, but in no event less than sixty (60) days prior to the date of the election, the Election Committee shall notify all active members of the opening of nominations, the positions to be filled, the qualifications to hold office and the date of the election. Notice shall be sent by first class U.S. mail to the members' last known home address or by some other appropriate means reasonably calculated to provide maximum participation by members, with the means selected by majority vote of the Elections Committee.
      
   2. Written nominations must be submitted to the Election Committee no later than thirty (30) days following the notice of the opening of the nominations.
      
   3. Members nominated to run for office must affirmatively accept their nomination, in a notice provided to the Election Committee.
      
   4. The Election Committee shall determine whether the nominations were timely and if nominees are eligible for office.
      

1. At least fifteen (15) days prior to the election, the Election Committee shall notify all members of the election date, the process to be used for the election, and the candidates for office.
   

1. Should an election provided for in this Article be uncontested, the nominees shall be considered elected by acclamation and no balloting shall be conducted for that office.
   

1. The Elections committee shall prepare ballots and oversee elections, which shall be conducted via U.S. Mail to the members' last known home address or by some other appropriate means selected by majority vote of the Elections committee; all members in good standing shall be eligible to vote, and all elections shall be conducted by secret ballot.
   

1. A majority of the votes  cast shall determine the outcome of the election. In the event that no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the Elections Committee shall conduct a run-off election between the two candidates who have received the most votes for the office in question. The Elections Committee shall oversee the preparation and sending of ballots by the same means the initial election was conducted. In the event of a mail ballot election, the period between the mailing and return date for the ballot shall be no less than twenty (20) calendar days.
   
2. Challenges and objections to the election must be submitted in writing to the Elections Committee, along with a statement of supporting reasons that includes specific facts as well as any documentation within seven (7) days of the announcement of the election results. The Elections Committee shall issue its written opinion regarding the objections no later than ten (10) days after receipt of such objections, which decision shall be the final decision of the Union.
   

1. The final election results will be published and distributed to the membership within thirty (30) days of the vote count. All elections materials, including the ballots, will be kept in a secure location for one (1) year.
   

1. Successful candidates shall assume office at the close of the October meeting of the Representative Assembly.
   

Article VI - Duties of the Officers

1. The President shall:
   
   1. Be the presiding officer over all regular and special meetings of the membership, Executive Board, and Representative Assembly;
      

1. Be an ex officio member of the Councils;
   
2. Take general responsibility for and general supervision of the functioning of the relations to other organizations;
   
3. Receive, report and respond to correspondence of the Union;
   
4. Supervise all employees of the organization;
   
5. Be one of the responsible financial officers of the organization and be authorized to co-sign financial instruments and make regular and usual disbursements of funds;
   
6. Represent the Union before bodies of the employer, executive and legal officials;
   
7. Represent the Union before the public, community, organizations and the news media;
   
8. Be, by office, a delegate to the Central Labor Council and the state AFL-CIO body;
   
9. Be, by office, a delegate to the convention of the American Federation of Teachers and meetings or conventions of its affiliate bodies;
   
10. Make an annual report to the Union membership
    
11. Perform other duties as are ordinarily incumbent upon the office or as directed by the Executive Board.
    
12. The Executive Vice President shall:
    

1. Assume the duties of the President in the event of the absence or illness of the President;
   
2. Succeed the President in office, in the event of death, inability to perform the duties of the office, or resignation of the President;
   
3. Be the Chair of the Legislative and Political Action Committee; 
   
4. Co-sign financial instruments in the absence of the President or Treasurer;
   
5. Perform other duties as delegated by the President.
   

1. The Treasurer shall:
   

1. Be the chair of the Finance Committee;
   
2. Receive, record and deposit in the name of MCEA all monies from dues and other sources;
   
3. Be one of the responsible officers of MCEA  and be authorized to co-sign financial instruments and make regular and usual disbursements of funds;
   
4. Arrange for an independent annual audit of the books and records as required by the Constitution;
   
5. Forward all per capita dues and current membership lists to the AFT, AFT Maryland and all other bodies with which the local is affiliated;
   
6. Present a written report to the membership annually;
   
7. Perform other duties as delegated by the President or assigned by the Executive Board;
   

1. The Secretary shall:
   
   1. Maintain the non-financial files and records and be the custodian of the seal and charter of the organization;
      
   2. Record and keep accurate minutes of meetings of the membership, Executive Board and Representative Assembly;
      
   3. Oversee the work and receive and certify the reports of the Elections Committee;
      
   4. Assist the President in handling the correspondence of the organization;
      
   5. Perform other duties as delegated by the President.
      

Article VII – Executive Director

                        The Executive Board may hire an Executive Director, who shall report to the President and the Executive Board.

Article VIII - Duties of the Representative Assembly

1. Membership in the Representative Assembly shall be as outlined in the Constitution.
   

1. The President shall serve as chair at all regular or special meetings of the Representative Assembly
   

1. The Representative Assembly shall be responsible for approving the annual budget and expenditures of the MCEA, approving the filling of a vacancy caused by death, resignation of an officer or removal according to Article IX of the Constitution, approving any changes to the MCEA Constitution and Bylaws, approving the acceptance of a new council into the MCEA and advising the Executive Board of the MCEA in regards to any of the duties of the local.
   

Article IX - Councils

1. MCEA  shall be union Local composed of distinct councils. Councils are subordinate entities within MCEA that shall enjoy the rights and privileges devolved to them.
   

1. Each Council of this organization shall:
   
   1. Hold meetings and administer its own affairs so long as they are not contrary to the constitution, policies, and welfare of MCEA .
      
   2. Adopt bylaws that do not conflict with law or the Constitution or Bylaws of MCEA  or the governing documents of the AFT Maryland or the AFT, which shall be reviewed for sufficiency by the Executive Board and approved by the membership of the Council prior to taking effect; 
      
   3. Elect its own Council Vice President to the Executive Board and delegate (s) to the Representative Assembly pursuant to the procedures outlined in Article V.
      
   4. Conduct elections of council officers in a democratic manner on a regular basis.
      
   5. Conduct regular meetings of the council's membership.
      
   6. Assist MCEA in the maintenance of current and accurate membership information and
      
   7.  Unless dues are submitted by members through payroll deduction, submit its dues to the organization monthly.
      

1. All Executive Board Officers of MCEA shall have the right to meet with council members at any time.
   

1. Each Council of MCEA shall have the power and duty to carry out on behalf of its members the following: elect bargaining team members and participate in the conduct of negotiations with the approval of the MCEA Executive Board;
   

1. Each Council may apply to the Executive Board for a grant of funds to be used for organizing, member appreciation functions, Council events, etc. Grant applications shall be made on a form provided by the Executive Board, and may be submitted annually on or before August 1; the Executive Board will evaluate applications and respond on or before September 1.  Councils may seek an annual grant for an amount not to exceed the following:
   

0-50 active members                       $1,000

51 - 100 active members                  $2,000

101-150 active members                  $3,000

151 and up active members             $4,000

Retirees chapter                               $2,500

1. Newly formed councils may apply to the Executive Board for admission as a council of this organization and admission shall be approved by majority vote of the Representative Assembly at a duly called meeting. All new councils must be composed of current employees in good standing who meet the membership definition set forth in the Constitution. 
   

Article X - Rules of Order

1. The rules of parliamentary practice comprised in Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern all official proceedings of the MCEA and its councils subject to any special rules which may have been adopted.
   
2. A Parliamentarian may be appointed at the discretion of the President.
   

Article XI - Amendments

                         These Bylaws may be approved and amended by a majority of the delegates present at a meeting of the Representative Assembly  and approved by a vote of the membership