BY-LAWS of APWU 1477 & Local Constitution

Tyler Area Local Constitution And By-laws of the American Postal Workers Union

AFL-CIO PREAMBLE

MEMBER'S BILL OF RIGHTS THE OATH OF OFFICE

ARTICLES

.I Name I. Object

III. Membership IV. Jurisdiction

V. Meetings VI. Officers

VI. Craft Officers VIII. Executive Board

IX. Elections/Delegates/Conventions X. Succession of Officers

XI. FinancialOperations XII. Committee

XIII. By-laws

XIV. Amendments

Amended as of November 19, 2017

PREAMBLE

We, the postal workers of America, in order to form a more perfect union establish this Constitution.

We, who come from the diverse crafts, believe that in unity there is strength.

We believe that all postal workers and all members of labor have the right to economic, political, and social justice.

Al members have hte inherent right ot earn a living and ot eb justly services they perform.

Al postal workers have the right to expect to have decent shelter, food, and clothing. They have the right to see that their children have the best education. The investment of the worker's lifeblood in giving services gives them that right.

We further believe that all workers are created equal with the right to determine their own destiny and to participate in the forces and events that affect them.

We believe that all workers have the right regardless of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation or national origin to hold their heads high and to have respect for themselves as individuals.

We believe, therefore, that in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution all workers are free and have the right to come together

to promote the common cause of all.

We also believe that all members have certain basic rights within our union and shall be secure in those rights. In order to give life to the Preamble to this Constitution, and to the Constitution itself, the member's Bill of Rights has been established.

THE OATH OF OFFICE

The officers shall take the following oath after the first regular meeting after the count of ballots and shall assume their duties immediately after having this oath administered: "I (name of officer), do hereby promise, swear or affirm that I will serve the office to which I have been elected or appointed and, until my successor is duly installed, will perform all duties of my office to the best of my skill and ability. I will obey, support and maintain the Resolutions and the Constitution and By-Laws of the National, State and Local bodies of the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO, so help me God."

MEMBER'S BILL OF RIGHTS

Every member has the right to be respected as a human being.

Every member has the right to be respected as a brother or sister of the Union.

Every member has the right to freedom of speech and the right to be heard.

Every member has the right to the freedom to listen.

Every member has the right to the freedom of the press.

Every member has the right to participate ni the activities of the Union.

No member shall be denied the right to seek any office or the right to vote ni this Union because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, or religion.

Every member has the right to support the candidate of his/her choice and to participate ni that right with others.

Every member has the right to a fair trial, to be represented by an individual of his/her choice, and to proper appeal procedures.

Every member has the right to be secure in his/her basic rights without fear of political, economic, physical, or psychological intimidation.

NAME

ARTICLE I

SECTION 1. The name of this organization shall be the American Postal Workers Union AFL-CIO, Tyler Area Local.

ARTICLE II

OBJECT

SECTION 1. It shall be the object of the APWU-AFL-CIO, Tyler Area Local to secure through collective bargaining and legislative effort a better standard of living for the members of this union and their families.

SECTION 2. To educate our membership in the history of the labor movement and to develop and maintain an intelligent and dignified membership; to vote and work for the election of candidates who favor the passage of improved legislation ni the interest of al labor. To work for the repeal of laws which are unjust to labor and to the postal workers such as the denial of the right to strike and to educate all members ni the area of economic, political, and social justice.

SECTION 3. The APWU-AFL-CIO Tyler Area Local is established as an industrial union, including its membership of postal workers of the Clerk Craft, Vehicle Maintenance Craft and Maintenance Craft. Its leadership shall consist of aPresident, Vice President, aSecretary-Treasurer, and aCraft Director in each Craft represented.

SECTION 4. To unite within one organization, regardless of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, nationality, handicap, political affiliation, age, or religion, al employees under the jurisdiction of the APWU.

MEMBERSHIP

ARTICLE III

SECTION 1. Any employee within the jurisdictional claim of the APWU AFL-CIO, Tyler Area Local is eligible for membership. Those accepted for membership shall pay full per capita tax plus whatever dues our local may require.

SECTION 2. No person eligible under the above provisions shall be denied membership because of sex, sexual orientation, race, age, creed, color, political affiliation, or nationality. An honorary member shall be required to pay dues set by the local and honorary members shall not be eligible to hold office, nor shall he/she have the right to vote.

SECTION 3. Retention of membership: Any member who has resigned from the postal service, or may have been promoted to positions exercising supervisory authority will have the right to maintain his/her membership. When any officer becomes a supervisor and has his/her official orders designating them as a supervisor he/she shall resign their office immediately. In accordance with Article 10 of the National Constitution and by- laws, any member who serves ni a supervisory position shall not hold office for one year from the time he/she resigns from that position.

SECTION 4. Members of this Union who retire from employment in an APWU bargaining unit may maintain full membership with all rights of such membership by continuing to pay full per capita taxes to the APWU plus whatever local dues may be required by their local union. They shall retain the same right to vote in all matters they had immediately before retiring from service.

ARTICLE IV

JURISDICTION

SECTION 1. The APWU-AFL-CIO, Tyler Area Local claims jurisdiction over al postal operations, including but not limited to: sorting machines (first, second, and third class, parcel post, sack, etc.) al area levels of postal and federal maintenance, motor vehicle maintenance services, and al technical advancement

n the area of mail processing. Also, this local claims jurisdiction in all areas of personnel, accounting technicians, timekeeping, window services, and all non supervisory levels and grades of the Postal Service which are directly and/or indirectly involved in mail processing.

ARTICLE V

MEETINGS

SECTION 1. The Executive Board shall meet prior to each regular meeting at the prescribed time. Regular meetings wil be at 1400 hours the second Sunday of every other month. Stewards are required to attend regular meetings. The President may change day and time of the meetings fi for the good of the Local. Special meetings may be called fi requested by any officer or member when justification is apparent and the Executive Board approves reason. Any member in good standing may attend these executive board meetings without voice or vote.

ARTICLE VI

OFFICERS

SECTION 1. President: It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Local and Executive Board. He/she shall appoint, with the approval of the Executive Board, persons to fil any office, which becomes vacant for any reason until implementation of Article X Section .2 He/ She shall sign all orders drawn by the Secretary-Treasurer, and shall have the authority to countersign all checks drawn by the Secretary-Treasurer. Al officers shall report to him or her.

SECTION .2 Vice President: The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in case of his/her absence or inability to attend to the duties of his/her office. In the event of death or resignation of the President, the Vice President shall replace him or her until the next President takes office. He/she shall be a member of the Local Negotiations committee and he/she perform such other duties as the President may require of him or her.

SECTION 3. Secretary-Treasurer: The Secretary-Treasurer shall receive and deposit all moneys. He/ She shall also be responsible for the recording of all moneys of the Local. He/ She shall submit the books of the organization at the close of the year, to be certified by a committee appointed by the President. He/ She shall also make a written itemized list of receipts and disbursements at each meeting. The Secretary Treasurer shall keep a record of all proceedings. He/ She shall insure that minutes of al union meetings shall be available ot any member upon request within a reasonable period of time, and a copy shall be submitted to the President. He/ She will insure that all news information from the state and national organizations are posted at al facilities and stations. He/ She shall perform such other duties as the President may require of him or her.

ARTICLE VII

CRAFT OFFICERS

SECTION 1. Craft Directors: The Craft Director of each craft (Clerk, Vehicle Maintenance, and Maintenance) shall be responsible for all activities in their respective crafts. They are the leaders of their crafts and wil represent their members ni any situation requiring such. Craft Directors wil work with and through the President. They shall perform such other duties as the President may require of them.

SECTION 2. Union Stewards: Stewards shall be designated to serve as the direct liaison between members and management pursuant ot the terms of the National Agreement and the Local Memorandum of Understanding. The Stewards shall be approved, certified, and/or removed by mutual agreement between the local President and appropriate Craft Director. Ifa mutual agreement cannot be reached to remove a steward, ti will be decided by the executive board. If a Steward resigns, it shall be in writing and given to the President with a date of resignation. Any person serving as Steward shall be required to attend as soon as possible after selection, a training course or seminar on the duties of Union Stewards.

EXECUTIVE BOARD

ARTICLE VIII

SECTION 1. Executive Board: An Executive Board will conduct the business of the Union. The Board shall consist of elected Officers: President, Vice President, Secretary-Treaurer, and the Craft Director of each craft. The President with the approval of the Executive Board may appoint a Sergeant of Arms.

SECTION 2. The President of the Local shall preside at all meetings of the Board. The Executive Board shall be responsible for advising the President.

SECTION .3 Meetings: Executive Board shall meet prior to the regular meeting of the Union and at such other times as the President shall notify them.

ARTICLE IX ELECTIONS/DELEGATES/CONVENTIONS

SECTION .1 Nominations: The nomination of Officers and State/National delegates shall be made from the floor at the meeting ni March. Any member ni good standing may nominate or be nominated. The full membership shall be eligible to vote for the general officers and the craft directors shall be nominated and voted on by their respective craft membership. Al Officers and delegates shall be elected for a term of three years.

SECTION 2. Committees: The President shall appoint, subject to the approval of the Executive Board, an election committee at the first meeting of the election year. The committee shall consist of an odd number of members. This committee shall mail out the ballots so as to receive them back before the deadline postmark of 2400 hours on the 30th of April. Any ballots received after the deadline shall be voided. The ballots shall be counted the first business day after April 30th any member can observe the count by the election committee.

SECTION 3. Elections: The elections shall be held every three years

SECTION 4. Conventions: The President, by virtue of the office held, shall be a delegate to all State/National Conventions. The method for choosing other delegates to the State/National Convention during the times specified is that any member ni good standing may nominate other members that are in good standing. The delegates for the State/National Conventions shall be elected by the membership. Ties shall be broken by the toss of a coin. Al delegates to such Conventions shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of the Title VI of the LMRDA. Delegates expenses and reimbursements will be paid in accordance with the General Services Administration (GSA) policy. Any member who is an officer of the National or State Organization shall not be reimbursed for the same. The number of paid delegates to the State/National Convention shall be the President plus four elected by the membership, two from the Clerk Craft, one from the Maintenance Craft, and one from the Vehicle Maintenance Craft. fI the elected delegate(s) becomes ineligible or unable to attend such Conventions, the only alternate will be the craft director for each respective craft.

SECTION 5. All members in good standing will be eligible for nomination to conventions. Any elected officers/delegates, who shall miss three consecutive meetings, can be removed in accordance with the National Constitution and By Laws unless such absence si caused by an approved emergency.

The following reasons are acceptable for excused absences: sickness, bid job schedule, postal training, military obligations, mandatory overtime or emergency. The member must provide in writing his/her reason for absence to the President within 14 days ofthe missed meeting.

ARTICLE X

SUCCESSION OF OFFICERS

SECTION 1. The succession of officers shall be in the following order: President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, and then the Craft Directors by seniority. The length of office shall determine the seniority of Craft Directors. Iftwo or more Craft Directors have the same length of service in office then the number of members ni their respective crafts shall determine their seniority. The largest number of members will then make that Craft Director senior.

SECTION 2. In the event of death or resignation of any Officer

special election will be held within two months of vacancy, with the exception if the office would have been filled within a three-month period by regular elections.

ARTICLE XI FINANCIAL OPERATIONS

SECTION 1.    Expenditures

(a) The Local shall rebate dues of the Officers and stewards. Dues will be returned to them yearly in December, provided they attend 67% of the regular meetings. The following reasons are acceptable for excused absences: sickness, bid job schedule, postal training, military obligations, mandatory overtime or emergency. The member must provide in writing his/her reason for absence to the President within 14 days of the meeting.

(b) The President shall have the authority to approve Leave for handling union business, not to exceed 24 hours, per officer and per quarter. Expenses and reimburse will be paid in accordance with the GSA. Anything above that amount will be upon approval of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE XII

COMMITTEES

Section 1. Local negotiations with management: The President and Local Negotiating Committee shall be responsible for conducting all local negotiations with management on behalf of the union. The negotiating committee shall consist of the President and each craft director.

Section 2. The President shall make appointments to fill all Postal committees as required including Safety Health Committee and Social Recreation Committee.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE XIII

SECTION 1. Unless amended or modified by the members Robert's Rules of Order shal be hte accepted governing authority for al meetings of this Local.

SECTION 2. Reporting of all Officers and Committees shall be as brief as possible. A minute limit shall be observed except when the President grants additional time, fi needed, or a vote from the floor.

SECTION 3. Quorum: Five members present at a regular meeting shall constitute a quorum, Three members present will constitute a quorum for the Executive Board.

SECTION 4. The dues of this Local shall be established as follows: any dues increase shall be in tandem with the National Office increase unless a motion, to the contrary, is adopted by the Executive Board and/ or Membership. ARTICLE XIV

AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1. All proposed amendments must be made in writing and presented to the Secretary-Treasurer. Al proposed amendments shall be posted not less than 15 days prior to the next local meeting on the union bulletin boards. They shall be voted on at the next local meeting. The Constitution may be amended yb a 2/3rd's vote of the membership present and voting at the local meeting.

STANDING POLICIES OF THE TYLER AREA LOCAL #1477 *These are not part of the Constitution or By-laws

1. New Members will be provided copies of the Local Memorandum as soon as available.

2.

Grievance Procedures:

A. All Resolved Grievances shall be given to the Secretary- Treasurer by the first meeting of January of each year. B. Craft Directors shall provide a copy of all Grievances pending Step Three or Arbitration to the Secretary-Treasurer.

C. Craft Directors shall keep the originals of their crafts grievances until the grievances have been resolved or adjudicated.