
LOCAL
20029
PUBLIC
SERVICE
BYLAWS & REGULATIONS
As amended March 4, 1993
As amended February 3,
2000
As amended February 6,
2002
As amended February 6,
2003
As amended February 10,
2004
As amended February 17,
2005
As amended February 8,
2006
As amended February 6,
2007
As amended February 7,
2008
As amended February 18,
2009
As amended April 15, 2010
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
BYLAW 4 CONDITIONS OF
MEMBERSHIP
BYLAW 7 ROLES OF THE
LOCAL EXECUTIVE
Section 6 Equal Opportunity Representatives (EO Reps)
Section 7
Term Representatives
BYLAW 8 ELECTION
OF THE LOCAL EXECUTIVE
BYLAW 13
DELEGATES/OBSERVERS
TO NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CONVENTIONS AND
CONFERENCES
BYLAW 18 EXPENSES OF
REPRESENTATIVES
REGULATION 1 FAMILY CARE
EXPENSES
REGULATION 3 DUTIES OF
OFFICERS
REGULATION 5 DUTIES OF
THE STEWARDS
REGULATION 6 REQUIREMENT
TO ATTEND CONVENTIONS/CONFERENCES (DELEGATES AND/OR OBSERVERS)
This
Local shall be called Union of Taxation Employees (UTE), Local 20029, Pacific
Region – a component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), herein
after referred to as the Local.
The
Local is formed for the following purposes and objectives:
To
support fully the PSAC in the furtherance of its constitutional
responsibilities for the improvement and protection of wages, salaries and
other terms of employment of employees of the PSAC and to subscribe
unconditionally to the aims and objectives outlined in the Constitution.
To
represent any member or associated member of the Local, under any established
Grievance procedure or on any other matter within the jurisdiction of the
Local.
To
promote the welfare of members and superannuated members.
All
employees of the Surrey Tax Centre and its offsite work locations other than
Management exclusions and terms over three (3) months shall be eligible for
membership in the Local.
The
Local may retain as Associate Member of the Local persons described in the
Public Service Staff Relations Act as "designated employees" also
employees whose employment with the Agency was terminated by (a) reaching the
minimum statutory retirement age; (b) ill health, when such is certified 'by
the Agency as the reason for retirement; or who by abolition of position are
separated from their continued employment in the Federal Public Service. Associate member shall not be eligible for
executive office in the Local but may be accorded such privileges of membership
for such length of time as may be provided by Regulations to these Bylaws.
The
Local may, by a two-thirds (2/3) decision of the Local Executive award honorary
membership in the local to anyone who is deemed to merit such honour and is not
eligible for membership as defined in By-Law 3, Section 1..
Honorary
members shall not be required to pay dues and shall not be entitled to vote at
meetings or to hold office in the local, but shall be entitled to all other
rights and privileges of membership in local.
It shall
be a condition of membership that each member shall agree to abide by the
Constitution and Bylaws of the PSAC and of the UTE Component and of the Local.
The
monthly dues payable by each member shall consist of the total of such dues as
may be established from time to time by the UTE Component and/or the PSAC, plus
the Local dues as may be established under these Bylaws.
Local
dues may be set forth at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) or, if not less than fourteen (14) days notice is given,
at a Special General Meeting. A
two-thirds (2/3) majority of votes shall be required to change Local dues.
a)
The
business of the Local shall be conducted by the Local Executive.
b)
All
members in good standing are eligible for office with the additional
requirement for the Office of President that such member has served at least
one (1) year on a Local Executive of the PSAC.
c)
The term of office for all positions
on the Local Executive shall be for a period of two (2) years, in accordance
and continuance with By-Law 8 Section (1)(a).
d)
Except
for the office of President, the Local Executive shall have the power to fill
any vacancies that may occur on the Local Executive until the next succeeding
AGM.
e)
The
position of Past President is for a one (1) year term, with voice but no vote.
a)
The
Local Executive shall consist of:
·
President
·
Vice
President
·
Recording
Secretary
·
Finance
Officer
·
Seven
(7) Officers
·
Two
(2) Equal Opportunity Representatives
·
One (1) Term Representative
·
Past
President
b)
The
Local Executive may make, amend, or delete such Regulations as it deems necessary,
consistent with the Constitution and the Bylaws of the Local provided that
these Regulations are submitted to the first successive AGM for ratification.
c)
The
Local shall have the authority to initiate action on matters having a broader
effect than the interests of its own members, by submission in writing to the
Executive of the Component or by resolution to the Triennial Convention of the
Component, or by submission in writing to the Area Council of the PSAC,
whichever is appropriate.
d)
All
members of the Local Executive shall present, at each AGM, a written report of
their union activities during the preceding year.
Note:
The duties are stated in Regulation 5
a)
Stewards,
as required, shall be appointed by election by the Local Executive and shall be
responsible to the Local Executive. The
term of appointment shall expire at the first Local Executive meeting
subsequent to every AGM.
b)
Notice
of Appointment shall be posted within five (5) days of such appointment or
termination.
a)
The
President shall preside at all meetings and shall enforce due observance of the
Bylaws and Regulations.
b)
The
President shall be an ex officio member of all committees.
c)
The
President shall be responsible for the business of the Local.
a)
The
VP shall act with full authority and responsibility if the President is absent
or is rendered incapable of performing his/her duties.
b)
The
VP shall replace the President until the next Annual General Meeting of the
Local in the event of death, retirement or resignation of the President, or
his/her transfer to another office of the Canada Revenue Agency.
c)
The
VP shall assist the President.
d)
The
VP shall attend all Local Executive meetings.
e)
The
VP shall carry out duties assigned by the President.
f)
The
VP shall be familiar with the applicable Collective Agreement, arbitration
awards and grievance process.
a)
The
Recording Secretary shall cause a record to be kept of all proceedings of the
Local and shall issue all notices and conduct all correspondence of the Local
except where otherwise provided. The
Recording Secretary shall be responsible for recording and distribution of the
minutes of all General and Local Executive meetings of the Local.
b)
The
Recording Secretary shall post the minutes of all General and Local Executive
meetings within ten (10) working days of the approval of those minutes. The
minutes shall be posted on every UTE local 20029 bulletin board and shall
remain on the bulletin board for a minimum of three (3) months.
c)
The
Recording Secretary shall accept the responsibility for all authorized union
travel and bookings.
d)
The
Recording Secretary shall cause a dated record to be kept of all written
reports received in accordance with Regulation 6(4).
a)
The
Finance Officer shall be responsible for the finances of the Local and ensure
all expenses are paid in accordance with Bylaw 10.
b)
The
accounts shall be audited as provided by Bylaw 12.
c)
At
the end of each fiscal year the Finance Officer shall present to the Local
Executive and to the AGM complete financial statements of the Local.
d)
The
Finance Officer may be required to be sufficiently bonded by a guarantee
company selected by the Local Executive and the cost to be borne by the Local.
a)
The
Officers shall represent various areas within the workplace. The duties are defined in Regulation 3. Each Officer shall be a sitting member of at
least two (2) Committees as defined in Regulation 3.
a)
The
EO Reps shall be members of at least one of the five (5) equity groups as
defined by the PSAC Constitution. The
five (5) equity groups are: Visible
Minorities, People with Disabilities, Women, Aboriginal Peoples and Lesbians,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Persons.
b)
The
EO Reps shall equally represent members of the five equity groups as defined by
the PSAC Constitution.
c)
The
EO Reps shall be responsible for and be members of the Local EO Committee.
a)
The
Term Representative will be term plus 3 (+3) members in good standing with the
union, at the time of the AGM.
b)
The
Term Representative will be full, active members of the Local Executive
responsible for:
i.
Bringing
forward and representing issues and concerns of the term members;
ii.
Communicating
with term members to protect and advance their rights;
iii.
Assisting
in obtaining and putting forward bargaining issues specific to term members;
a)
The
President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Finance Officer, Officers, Equal
Opportunity Representative and Term Representative shall be elected by secret
ballot by the members attending the AGM in accordance with the following
schedule:
i.
The
President, Finance Officer and Recording Secretary to serve a two (2) year term
of office commencing with the AGM held February 3, 2000;
ii. Four (4) of the eight (8) Officers to serve a two (2) year term of office commencing with the AGM held February 17, 2005. For the year 2005 only, one (1) officer to serve a one (1) year term ending at the AGM in 2006. The remaining three (3) officers elected in 2004 to complete their term of office as originally elected;
iii. One (1) Equal Opportunity Representative to serve a two (2) year term of office commencing with the AGM held on February 17, 2005. One (1) Equal Opportunity Representative to serve a one (1) year term of office commencing with the AGM held on February 17, 2005, therein after to be elected to serve a two (2) year term of office;
iv. One (1) Term Representative to serve a two (2) year term of office commencing with the AGM held on February 8, 2006. One (1) Term Representative to serve a one (1) year term of office commencing with the AGM held on February 8, 2006, therein after to be elected to serve a two (2) year term of office;
v. Vice President position added at the AGM in 2010;
vi.
One
(1) officer position to be removed at the AGM in 2010 and One (1) officer
position to be removed at the following AGM in 2011 to leave a total of six (6)
officer positions;
a)
Nominations
will be accepted for each elective office of the Local Executive before the AGM.
b) Each nomination will be seconded and
accompanied by an acceptance from the nominee and be forwarded to the Local
Executive and shall be posted on the bulletin boards as soon as possible.
c) Nominations
will be opened at least thirty (30) days prior to the AGM.
a)
Nominations
will be accepted from the floor at an AGM under the same conditions as
prescribed in Section 2(b) of Bylaw #8 without the requirement to forward to
the Local Executive.
a)
Election
to any office shall be by majority vote - i.e., fifty percent-plus one (50% +
1) of the total votes cast. In the event
that no nominee receives a majority of the votes, the nominee receiving the
least number of votes shall be dropped from the ballot and a new vote shall be
taken immediately. This procedure shall
continue until one (1) nominee receives the majority of the votes cast. In the event of a tie vote when only two (2) nominees
remain for election to the same office, the presiding officer shall declare no
ballot, and request that a new vote be taken.
a)
The
Local Executive may dismiss from office any member of the Local Executive who
is absent from three (3) successive meetings of the Local Executive without
notification.
b)
A
person dismissed from office shall not be eligible for re-election to any
office for a period of one (1) full year.
All
funds shall be deposited in a Chartered Bank or a recognized Credit Union. Funds not immediately required for the use of
the Local may at the discretion of the Local Executive be invested in securities
approved for Investments by a Chartered Bank or a recognized Credit Union. Such securities must remain for safe keeping
in the custody of the bank or credit union where current funds are on deposit.
a)
Any
expenditure in excess of $50.00 shall be authorized by the Local Executive.
b) All
payments shall be made by cheque; and
c) All
cheques shall bear the signature of any two (2) of the following: President, Vice
President, Finance Officer and the Recording Secretary.
d) A
petty cash fund up to a maximum of $100.00 may be established.
The
fiscal year of the Local shall be the calendar year.
a)
Two
(2) members shall be appointed at each AGM to conduct an audit of the books and
records of the Local for the fiscal year and report their findings to the
membership. This will be construed to
mean the Local business and any other committee that is formed where monies are
to be deducted for or on behalf of the Local members.
b)
They
shall not be members of the Local Executive.
c)
They
shall have access to the books and records at all times.
d)
In
the event that any vacancy occurs in the office of auditor, the Local Executive
shall have the power to fill such vacancy until the next AGM.
e)
Upon
demand in writing by the Auditors the books and records of any committee formed
by the Local shall be turned over to the Auditors within five (5) calendar days
of such demand.
f)
All
records pertaining to the business of the Local that may be held by any
committee must be turned over to the Executive ten (10) calendar days before
the AGM
g)
Each
Auditor shall be paid a stipend of $50.00 following the presentation and
acceptance of their report at the AGM.
Note: Requirements
are stated in Regulation 6
At least one (1) delegate or observer shall be a member of
the Local Executive.
Delegates and observers must be members in good standing,
and
a)
possess
a broad knowledge of matters relating to the Local and public service problems
and be;
b)
a
person of such character, manner and address as will enable her/him to worthily
represent the collective membership of the Local.
Preference will always be given to active members of the Local/workplace committee of the relevant Convention or Conference.
a)
An
AGM at which officers shall be elected and other business transacted, shall be
held in February of each year, or as soon as may be convenient, the date to be
determined by the Local Executive.
b)
Notice
of the date of the AGM shall be duly posted not less than fourteen (14) days
prior to such date.
a)
Special
General Meetings may be held at the call of the Local Executive or upon written
demand of twenty-one (21) or more members.
The Local shall call a Special General Meeting and such meeting shall
not be held later than twenty-one (21) days following the date of such demand.
b)
Notice of
the date of the Special General Meeting shall be duly posted not less than
fourteen (14) days prior to such date.
a)
A
"Quorum" for the AGM shall consist of not less than twenty-one (21)
members.
b)
A
"Quorum" for a Local Executive Meeting shall consist of not less than
fifty percent (50%) of the Local Executive.
c)
Business
may not be legally transacted at a meeting unless the required Quorum is
present.
a)
Unless
otherwise specifically provided, amendments to the Bylaws made, may be made at
the AGM, at a Special General Meeting, provided fourteen (14) days notice is
given and posted as to the nature and intent of the proposed amendment.
b)
A
two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members in attendance at such meetings shall
be necessary for adoption of proposed amendments.
a)
In
the event of any staff organization, corporation, Agency or subdivision thereof
changes its name after the coming into effect of these Bylaws, the old name as
referred to therein, shall be amended to the new one without recourse to the
provisions of these Bylaws.
a)
The
Local may be dissolved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of its membership. Such vote shall be supervised by the UTE
Executive Council. Upon dissolution, the
disposition of the assets of the Local shall be determined by the UTE Executive
Council.
b)
Notice
of such General Meeting clearly stating its purpose shall be posted not less
than fourteen (14) days before the day of the meeting.
Any
member of the Local incurring travelling and living expenses while engaged on
approved business of the Local shall be reimbursed for such expenses upon the
approval of the Local Executive.
Any
member of the Local 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 upon the approval of the Local Executive.
Nothing
in these Bylaws shall be construed to conflict with the Constitution of the
PSAC or the Bylaws of the UTE.
a)
The
rules of procedure at all meetings of the Local except as specifically provided
by the Bylaws shall be according to the UTE’s
Rules of Order. NOTE: It should
be borne in mind such rules should not be enforced to the point where they will
tend to embarrass members in the presentation of ideas.
b)
The
Chairperson of a General Meeting shall have the authority to restrict members
to five (5) minutes speaking time.
a)
‘Tax
Centre’ means the Surrey Tax Centre and work sites as listed in the Regulations
and the "Agency" shall refer to the aforesaid Canada Revenue Agency.
b)
The
‘Constitution’ means the Constitution of the PSAC, unless specifically
indicated otherwise.
Family
care expenses will be reimbursed to members who attend authorized local union
functions. Union members will be entitled to be reimbursed for family care
expenses in respect of dependent children 16 years of age and younger; and for
dependent children and adults who are in need of special care and who either
permanently reside in the household of the member or with whom the member
permanently resides. Reasonable family care expenses will be reimbursed provided
that a valid receipt or an approved signed statement is submitted by the
claimant.
The
worksites of Local 20029 are as follows:
1.
The
Surrey Tax Centre at
2.
The
3.
and
any temporary worksites.
The duties of the Officers
include:
1.
to
provide information and assistance to members in their areas of responsibility;
2.
to
provide information to the Local Executive;
3.
to
attend Local Executive meetings, the AGM, Special General meetings, and
committee meetings, as required;
4.
to distribute information;
5.
to
assist with signing up members;
6.
to
take the PSAC TUB (Talking Union Business) Course within their first (1st)year
of their term of office;
7.
to
be sitting members of at least two (2) Committees as defined under Regulation
3.1(1) of the UTE.
One of
the Officers will be responsible for the Education portfolio.
The
Duties of the Stewards include:
1.
to
support, inform and provide assistance to members;
2.
to
listen to and empathize with members who have concerns or complaints;
3.
to
discuss options and strategies with members for dealing with complaints or concerns and to mutually agree upon the
approach or strategy;
4.
to
file grievances on behalf of members;
5.
to
research, prepare and present cases in meetings;
6.
to
represent members in meetings with management;
7.
to
ensure that the member is involved and kept informed during the complaint of
grievance process;
8.
to elect a Chief Steward. A Chief Steward will be elected at a Steward
meeting held within forty-five (45) days after the AGM;
9.
to
attend monthly meetings of
stewards as called by the Chief Steward;
10.
to
take the PSAC course Talking Union Business (TUB) or an equivalent course;
11.
to
take the PSAC Grievance course.
1.
to
complete the TUB (Talking Union Basics) course prior to the
Convention/Conference.
2.
to
be a member, in good standing, of the Local.
3.
to
submit their request to attend the Convention/Conference in writing by the
required deadline.
4.
(i)
to provide a written report on the Convention/Conference to the Recording Secretary
within thirty (30) days of the close of the Convention/Conference. The written report will be part of the next
Local Executive meeting minutes and will be posted on the Union Bulletin Board.
(ii) failure to submit the required report will relegate all
future applications for a period of twelve (12) months. Reports received after the thirty (30) day
limit will be marked as late.
(iii) a copy of the written reports specific to standing
committees or groups (i.e. EO, EAP, OHS) shall be forwarded to the Co-Chair of
said committee for consideration at its future meeting.