BY-LAWS OF

THE UNION OF TAXATION EMPLOYEES

NORTHERN BC & YUKON  
OF THE

PUBLIC SERVICE ALLIANCE OF CANADA

ADOPTED:      JUNE 28, 2000   AMENDED:    FEBRUARY 3, 2003         

 

NAME FISCAL PERIOD
PURPOSE PROPERTY
MEMBERSHIP AUDIT
MEMBERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY AMENDMENTS
MEMBERSHIP DUES DISSOLUTION
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE EXPENSES OF THE EXECUTIVES
DUTIES OF OFFICER GENERAL PROVISIONS
ELECTION OF OFFICERS CONTINUITY
MEETINGS ADVANCED POLLING
DISCIPLINE APPENDIX 1:  HISTORY TO CHANGES TO BY-LAWS

  

¨     BY-LAW 1
NAME

This Local shall be called  “UNION OF TAXATION EMPLOYEES OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE ALLIANCE OF CANADA”, Northern BC & Yukon, Local 20002.

¨     BY-LAW 2
PURPOSE

The Local is formed for the following purposes and objectives: 

Section 1

To unite all employees of the Northern BC & Yukon Office of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, as members of one organization, capable of acting on their behalf. 

Section 2

To obtain, through democratic means for all such employees, the best possible standard of wages, salaries and other conditions of employment, and to protect their interests, rights and privileges.

Section 3

To support fully the Union of Taxation Employees of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Section 4

To represent any member or group of members in appeals, or under an established Grievance Procedure, or in any other manners, or any matters within the jurisdiction of the Local.

Section 5

To maintain the “esprit de corps” of the members.

¨     BY-LAW 3
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1

On adoption of these By-Laws, all members of the Union of Taxation Employees of the Public Service Alliance of Canada in and attached to the Northern BC & Yukon Tax Services office shall be deemed to be members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada and of this Local.

Section 2

Subject to Section 4 of this By-Law, all employees of the Northern BC & Yukon Tax Services office are eligible for active membership in the Public Service Alliance of Canada, the Union of Taxation Employees, and this Local.

Section 3– Associate Membership  (Employees)

Any employee of this Local may, upon application to the Management Committee of the Component, be granted an Associate Membership.

Section 4 – Associate Membership  (for Benefit)

The following employees or former employees of the Northern BC & Yukon Tax Services Office shall be eligible for the Associate membership in this Local:

NOTE:  Associate members shall not be eligible to hold office in the local and shall not have voice in meetings of the Local. 

Section 5 – Honorary Membership for Non-Members

This Local may, at the decision of the Executive thereof, recommend to the Component the granting of honorary membership in the Local to anyone who is deemed to merit such an honor but is not eligible for the membership as defined in this By-law.

Section 6 – Life Membership

This Local may, at the decision of the Executive thereof, recommend to the Component the granting of Life Membership in the Local to anyone who has rendered exceptional service to the Local.

Section 7

All members as described by Sections 1 and 2 of this By-Law shall be required to pay dues as provided by By-Law 5.

Section 8

Associate Members as described by Section 4 of this By-Law shall pay monthly dues equal to the amount allocated to the Social and Benevolent Funds from monthly dues paid by the general membership.  Associate members shall have voice and vote in the determination of such allocation.

Associate members shall be required to pay the same monthly dues as the general membership only if they wish to subscribe to any of the insurance plans available to the general membership. 

¨     BY-LAW 4
MEMBERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY

Section 1

Upon being granted membership in this Local and for the term of such membership, each member of this Local shall be deemed to have agreed to abide by and to be bound by the provisions of the By-Laws of this Local, and its Component, and the Constitution of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Section 2

Upon being granted membership in this Local and for the term of such membership, each member of this Local is deemed to nominate, constitute and appoint this Local, its Component, and the Public Service Alliance of Canada as the agent to negotiate with the employer on their behalf in the spheres of competence of this Local, its Component and the Public Service Alliance of Canada respectively, unless such member is debarred from such representation by the term of their employment or status.

Section 3

Upon being granted membership in this Local and for the term of such membership, each member of this Local is deemed to nominate,  constitute and appoint the Public Service Alliance of Canada as their agent for the purpose of entering into collective bargaining with their employer under collective bargaining procedures established by law for collective bargaining  in the Public Service Alliance of Canada unless such member is debarred from such representation by the terms of their employment or status, and the Public Service Alliance of Canada shall have the power through its duly appointed agents to ratify and sign agreements reached through collective bargaining, conciliation, and arbitration procedures established by law for the Public Service of Canada.

¨     BY-LAW 5
MEMBERSHIP DUES

Section 1

The monthly per capita dues for membership including Associate Membership in this Local shall be set from time to time by this Local at an Annual General Meeting by a majority vote of its membership present and voting.

Section 2

Members of this Local excluding Associate Members shall also be required to pay the membership dues established by its Component and by the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

¨     BY-LAW 6 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1

(a)     There shall be an Executive Committee of this Local, which shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties vested in it by these By-Laws. 

(b)    The Executive Committee shall consist of the following officers:

1) President

2) 1st Vice President

3) 2nd Vice-President

4) Secretary

5) Treasurer

6) Executive Steward

(c)     The Executive Committee shall have control of the business of the Local, subject

at all times to the direction of the general membership as brought forward at an

Annual General Meeting.

(d)    The Executive Committee shall be vested with the authority to deal with all

matters affecting the business and objectives of the Local; it shall discharge all duties and obligations imposed upon it by General Membership as brought forward at an Annual General Meeting.

(e)     The Executive Committee may make amend or delete such regulations as it

deems necessary and consistent with the Constitution and these By-Laws, provided they are submitted to the first succeeding Annual General Meeting for ratification.

(f)      The Executive Committee shall have the power to spend Local funds for the

Benefit of the Local in any manner in keeping with these By-Laws and resolutions adopted at Annual General Meetings.

(g)     The Executive Committee shall have the power to call into conference or

consultation, or to invite to attend a meeting of the general membership or of the Executive Committee, any person who, by reason of experience or special knowledge may be able to assist the Local in carrying out its objectives.  Any reasonable expenses incurred thereby shall be paid by the Local.

(h)     The Executive Committee shall have the authority to appoint representatives of the Local to any organization, to which the Local may send representatives.

(i)       The Executive Committee shall have the authority to add positions to the

Executive Committee at any time pending ratification of the addition at the next Annual General Meeting.

Section 2 – Vacancies

a)      If the office of any members of the Executive Committee becomes vacant, or the incumbent is rendered permanently unable to perform their duties, or a position is not filled at an Annual General Meeting, the Executive shall fill the office by election at its next regular or special meeting.

b)      Appointments or replacements made under subsection (a) of this section, shall have the same force and effect as an election at an Annual General Meeting.

Section 3 – Committees

a)      The President is empowered to appoint such committees as they deem necessary subject to approval of the Executive Committee.

b)      The President is empowered to appoint the Chairperson of each committee, and shall collaborate with the Committee Chairperson in selecting the members of the committee.

c)      Members of the Executive Committee may serve on the committees, or as committee Chairpersons.

d)      Each Committee shall meet at the call of its Chairperson.

e)      Any committee Chairperson, in consultation with the President, may appoint advisory members who may attend and have a voice at meetings, but shall have no vote.

f)        Committee or sub-committees appointed for the purpose of studying any particular subject, shall be deemed to be dissolved upon presentation of their final report.

g)      All committees shall report as directed by the President.

¨     BY-LAW 7
DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1

a)      President:  The President shall preside at all meetings and shall enforce due observance of the rules of order and of these By-Laws.  It shall be the duty of the President at all times to uphold the Constitution of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, and the By-Laws of the Union of Taxation Employees and of this Local.  The President shall preside at all meetings, shall be ex-officio a member of all committees, chairperson of the Executive Committee, chairperson of delegations to any Conventions or other assemblies to which this local may send delegates and, in general, shall perform all such duties as are incidental to the office of the President, and are properly required of them. 

b)      1st Vice-President:  In the temporary absence of the President, the Vice-President shall exercise all of the functions of the President and shall be vested with all of their powers.  In the event of permanent absence of the President, the Vice-President shall exercise all of the functions of the President and shall be vested with all of their powers until the next Annual General Meeting. 

c)      2nd Vice President:  In the temporary absence of the President and 1st Vice-President, the 2nd Vice-President shall exercise all of the functions of the President and shall be vested with all of their powers.  In the event of permanent absence of the President and the 1st Vice-President, the 2nd Vice-President shall be vested with all of their powers until the next Annual General Meeting.

d)      Secretary:  The Secretary shall prepare the minutes of all Annual General Meeting and Executive Committee Meetings and shall otherwise carry out the normal duties of a secretary.

e)      Treasurer:  The Treasurer shall collect and keep all monies of the Local and disburse them under the direction of the Executive Committee.  The Treasurer shall keep the accounts of the Local, and shall make a report of its financial condition at each annual meeting.

f)        Executive Steward:  The Executive Steward shall be responsible to the Executive Committee for the handling of grievances, complaints or other staff problems and shall report to the Executive Committee as circumstances warrant.  In particular, they shall report all contract, safety and health violations.  The Executive Steward, at the direction of the Executive Committee, shall have the authority to appoint Stewards as necessary to assist in the disposition of the duties of the office.  The Stewards shall be responsible to the Executive Committee through the Executive Steward.  The term of appointment shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee.  Notice of appointment or termination of appointment shall be posted within 5 days of such appointment or termination.

g)      Past President:  The Past President shall, at the request of the Executive Committee, advise the Executive Committee in the Administration of the Local in every way calculated to advance its purpose and objectives.

¨     BY-LAW 8
ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1

The officers of the Local shall be elected by ballot in accordance with the following schedule:

  1. a) The President and the Executive Steward to serve two year terms commencing with the founding Annual General Meeting.

b) The 2nd Vice-President to serve a one-year term commencing with the February 3, 2003 Annual General Meeting and henceforth this term will be for two years.

  1. The Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer to serve a one-year term commencing with the founding Annual General Meeting and henceforth these terms will be for two years.
  1. All officers will be elected at the Annual General Meeting coinciding with the expiry of the term for the office.

Section 2

Nominations for officers to be elected will be accepted from the floor at the Annual general Meeting or by submitting a written nomination including the name of the person being nominated, the position to which they are being nominated, the name of the person nominating the candidate and the name of the person who has seconded the nomination to the Secretary at least 7 days prior to the Annual General Meeting.  Elections will be held by secret ballot at that meeting.

 Section 3

The Chairperson of the nominations committee shall preside at the election of the officers and they shall appoint the necessary scrutineers to distribute, collect and count the ballots.  A Chairperson of Scrutineers shall report the results of each ballot taken to the Chairperson of the nominations committee.

Section 4

Election to any office shall be by majority vote only; i.e. 50% plus one, of the total votes cast.  Where more than two nominees stand for election to any office, and no one received a majority vote on the first ballot, the nominee receiving the lowest number of votes shall be dropped and balloting shall continue until one nominee receives a clear majority.

¨     BY-LAW 9
MEETINGS

Section 1

a)      The Local will hold an Annual General Meeting once in each calendar year but no more than 13 months shall pass between Annual General Meetings.  All members who are in good standing as at the date of the Annual General Meeting shall be eligible to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting.  A member shall be deemed to be in good standing if he/she has filed an application for membership with a member of the Executive and has paid all the required dues.

b)      The Executive Committee shall meet at least 6 times per calendar year.

c)      The Executive Committee shall have the authority to call a Special General Meeting, which will have all the authority of an Annual General Meeting.  Notice of such a meeting must be given to each member in writing by mailing the details of the meeting to their last known address at least 14 days prior to the date of the meeting.

d)      Notice of the date and time and place of the Annual General Meeting shall be given to the members a minimum of 14 days in advance of the meeting by posting notices on the bulletin boards in the workplace set aside for union business.  Said notice MUST include details of any proposed changes to the by-laws of the Local.

¨     BY-LAW 10
DISCIPLINE

Section 1

All discipline will be in accordance with the constitution of the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the By-Laws of the Union of Taxation Employees.

¨     BY-LAW 11     

FISCAL PERIOD

The fiscal period of the Local shall be the calendar year.

¨     BY-LAW 12 
PROPERTY

Section 1

Any property held, which is not registered in the name of the Local, shall be held in trust by a Board of three Trustees appointed by the Executive Committee.

Section 2

The Executive Committee may invest any funds of the Local not required for current expenses, in securities approved for investment by trust companies.  Such securities shall be kept in the custody of a bank or trust company in a safety deposit box rented in the name of the Local.

Section 3

All funds shall be deposited in a Canadian chartered bank or credit union.  All payments, with the exception of petty cash payments, shall be made by cheque and signed by any two of the following three officers:  The President, Vice-President and Treasurer. 

¨     BY-LAW 13

AUDIT

Two members shall be appointed as auditors at the Annual General Meeting for the ensuing year to audit the accounts of the Local and report their findings at the following Annual General Meeting.  They shall have full access to the books and records at all times.  These auditors shall not be members of the Executive Committee.

¨     BY-LAW 14
AMENDMENTS

Section 1

No alteration of these By-Laws shall be made except upon Notice of Motion in writing, stating in detail the nature of the proposed amendments, such notice to be attached, at the time of posting, to the notification of the meeting as defined in By-Law 9.

Section 2

A two-thirds majority vote of the members present at the meeting at which the proposed amendments are voted upon shall be required to pass the amendment.

¨     BY-LAW 15
DISSOLUTION

The Local may be dissolved and its assets and liabilities disposed of by a two-thirds majority of all votes cast at an Annual General Meeting provided a Notice of Motion in writing proposing such a dissolution, and disposition, has been attached at the time of posting, to the notification of the meeting as defined in By-Law 9.

¨     BY-LAW 16
EXPENSES OF THE EXECUTIVE

Section 1

Any member of the Executive Committee incurring traveling and living expenses while engaged on approved business of the Local shall be reimbursed for such expense.

Section 2

Any member of the Executive Committee required to take leave without pay for the purposes of carrying out approved business of the Local shall be reimbursed for such loss of pay.  Such loss, where travel time is involved, shall be based on the fastest means of transportation.

¨     BY-LAW 17
GENERAL PROVISION

Section 1

Nothing in these By-Laws shall be construed to conflict with the Constitution of the Public Service Alliance of Canada or the By-Laws of the Union of Taxation Employees.

Section 2

A quorum at all meetings of the Executive Committee shall be 50% of the members thereof.

Section 3

A quorum at any Annual General Meeting shall be a minimum of 20% of the members.

Section 4

Rules of Order:

The Rules of Procedure at all meetings of the Local, except as specifically provided by these By-Laws, shall be according to the Rules of Order of the Public Service Alliance of Canada adopted in 1974.

Section 5

On a question of the interpretation of any provisions of these By-Laws, reference may be made to the By-Laws of the Union of Taxation Employees or, if necessary, to the Constitution of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

¨     BY-LAW 18
CONTINUITY

Section 1

All benefits of membership, contracts of employment, legal agreements, matters in progress or any matters requiring continuity with the Union of Taxation Employees of the Public Service alliance of Canada Northern BC & Yukon Local, shall be deemed to be included in the Local.

¨     BY-LAW 19
ADVANCED POLLING

Section 1

Notwithstanding the provisions of the By-Laws 8 and 14, an advance poll will be held for members who will be out of town on Agency business at the time of the general election of officers, at which poll they may vote on proposed by-law changes and on those candidates for office who have been nominated at that time.

Section 2

Members who are unable by reason of employment to attend a general election of officers held during working hours may vote at an advance poll described in Section 1.

APPENDIX 1

HISTORY OF CHANGES

By-Law 3:  Amended February 3, 2003

By-Law 6:  Amended February 3, 2003

By-Law 7:  Amended February 3, 2003

By-Law 8:  Amended February 3, 2003