Protecting The Workers Who Protect America's Workers

American Federation of Government Employees          Bylaws

Headquarters

 

SECTION 1. The headquarters of the local is U. S. Department of Labor, Room N1501, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20210

 

Meetings

 

SEC. 2 (a). Regular meetings of the entire local membership shall be held on the fourth Thursday of the month, except that the date of a specific meeting may be changed by the membership or the Executive Board. Meeting notices of regular and special meetings will be posted ten days in advance of the meeting. The meetings shall be held at a time and place selected by the Executive Board. Regular agency (unit) meetings shall be held bi-monthly on the first Thursday. Agency membership meetings shall be chaired by the Agency Vice President, or by the President if the meeting is called by the President. The call by the President for the meeting will state the agenda for the meeting. The membership at agency meetings shall have the authority to set policy on agency matters,

provided that such decisions shall not conflict with Local 12 or Federation policy.

SEC. 2 (b). Special meetings of the entire local may be called by the President, a majority of the Executive Board, or upon written petition of at least 25 members. Notices and petitions must state the purpose of the meeting, i.e., the topic or motion to be discussed. The President shall schedule a special meeting within 30 days of receipt of any valid petition. The quorum shall be the same as that for regular membership meetings.

Special agency meetings also may be called by the President, or the respective Agency Vice President, or a meeting may be called by petition of ten members or 25% of the membership in the agency, whichever is smaller. Notices and petitions must state the purpose of the meeting, i.e., the topic or motion to be discussed. If called by petition, the meeting must be scheduled within 30 days.

 

SEC. 2 (c). The regular order of business for local meetings will be:

 

(a) Roll call of officers

(b) Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting

 (c) Report of financial condition by Local Treasurer

(d) Reports of committees

(e) Unfinished business

(t) New business

(g) Comments for the good of the local

(h) Adjournment

 

This order may be suspended by majority vote.

SEC. 2 (d). Only members of the local in good standing shall be allowed to vote.

 

SEC. 2 (e). A quorum of this local shall consist of 25 members. A quorum for agency meetings shall be five members. A quorum of any committee shall consist of a majority of the members thereof.

 

SEC. 2 (f). All questions before the local will be decided by vote of the members present first by voice vote, then by a showing of hands.

 

SEC. 2(g). The current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the proceedings of all meetings of the local, when not inconsistent with the provisions of the standard local constitution, the AFGE National Constitution, or these bylaws.

 

SEC. 2 (h). The total time allowed for debate of any particular issue before the local, including the time allowed for speeches, will not exceed 30 minutes. The time allowed for debate may be extended by a majority of those present and voting. No individual shall speak for more than five minutes on any motion before the body, unless an extension of time is approved by the members.

 

Officers and Duties

 

 

SEC. 3 (a). The general officers of this local are as follows:

President                                     Executive Vice President

Treasurer                                     Secretary

Head Steward                            Assistant Treasurer

            Agency Vice Presidents/Chief Stewards (nine)

 

The general officers and the Agency Vice Presidents shall comprise the Executive Board. Voting on the Executive Board shall be one vote per member. Prior to taking a vote, the President shall strive to reach a consensus on matters before the Board, taking into consideration all interests of the local.

 

SEC. 3 (b). The duties of the President, Treasurer, and Secretary are set forth in Article VI of the standard local constitution. In addition, the Treasurer shall provide copies of the written monthly financial report to the members at each regular membership meeting. In the event the Treasurer does not make a financial report at a regular membership meeting, the Secretary is required to notify the National Vice President in writing within seven days that no financial report was made.

 

SEC. 3(c). The Executive Vice President shall assist the President in the performance of the duties of that office; sign checks in the absence of the President; chair the Green Light Committee; perform such other duties deemed necessary by the President; and by virtue of election to office, serve as an automatic delegate to AFGE National Conventions, district caucuses, and such councils with which the local is affiliated and entitled to delegates. See standard local constitution, Article VI, Sections 3,4. In the case of a vacancy in the office of President, the Executive Vice President shall fill the office for the unexpired term. See standard local constitution, Article VII, Section 4.

 

SEC. 3(d). The Head Steward shall serve as liaison between the Executive Board, Agency Vice Presidents, and the stewards; monitor enforcement of the collective bargaining agreement and training programs for the stewards; supervise the activity of the stewards and recommend the removal of stewards for cause; and have such other duties deemed necessary by the President.

 

SEC. 3 (e). The Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer in the performance of the duties; act in place of the Treasurer in the event the Treasurer is incapacitated or unable to perform the duties; and sign checks only for previously approved or budgeted items, such as affiliation per capita, 12NOW, parking fees, and established payroll.

 

SEC. 3 (1). The Agency Vice Presidents shall serve as the chief spokesperson for the local at their respective agency levels; oversee the operations of the union at the agency level and monitor contract enforcement in their respective agency; chair the agency LMR committee and serve as the chairperson for agency membership meetings; appoint with the approval of the agency membership such agency committees as are deemed necessary; and have such other duties deemed necessary by the President. Agency Vice Presidents shall represent the following nine agencies: 1. Bureau of Labor Statistics

(BLS); 2. Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA); 3. Employment Standards Administration (ESA); 4. Employment and Training Administration (ETA); 5. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA); 6. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); 7. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM); 8. Office of the Solicitor (SOL); and 9. Office of the Secretary (SECY) ("one combined Agency" in the contract).

 

Two Year Term Elections

 

SEC. 4 (a). Nomination for the offices of President, Executive Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Head Steward, and Assistant Treasurer, normally shall be held in January, election in February by manual ballot, and installation in April after proper notice to local members, in the even numbered years. A quorum is not required for nominations and/or elections. See AFGE National Constitution, Appendix A, Part I, Section 3. Candidates shall not run for more than one elected office; however, the running as a delegate shall not be in conflict with an elected officer position. A runoff election, if necessary, shall be conducted not less than seven calendar days after election results are announced at the same times and locations as the general election. A candidate for Agency Vice President shall be employed in the agency he or she seeks to represent. Nominations for Agency Vice President shall be made only by members employed in the agency in which the candidate is employed. Agency Vice Presidents shall be nominated in March and elected by the members in their respective agencies no later than three weeks after the nomination meeting. A runoff election, if necessary, shall be conducted not less than seven calendar days after election results are announced at the same times and locations as the original election. The Agency Vice Presidents shall be installed at the same time as the general officers.

 

SEC. 4 (b). An Election Committee of at least five members shall be elected by majority vote of local members present and voting at the October regular membership meeting preceding the January nomination meeting. See AFGE National Constitution, Appendix A, Part I, Section 2. The Election Committee shall ensure that there are sufficient poIling places to ensure reasonable access to a ballot for all members.

 

SEC. 4 (c). All officers will be administered the "Oath of Union Officers" contained in the AFGE National Constitution upon their installation in office. Officers shall serve for two year terms.

 

SEC. 4 (d). The local's delegates to the AFGE National Convention, district caucus, national council meetings, and such other central labor bodies or councils to which the local is entitled to send delegates, after proper notice to the local's members, shall be elected during the regular officers election, excepting the local's President and Executive Vice President, who if elected to the office, serve by virtue of office. See AFGE National Constitution, Appendix A, Part I, Section 3. All delegates and alternate delegates shall serve for two year terms. At that or a subsequent meeting, the local shall vote upon the authorization of funds for the delegates' attendance at the National Convention, caucus, or council meetings. See AFGE National Constitution, Appendix A, Part I, Section 6(d).

 

SEC. 4 (e). Individuals who are not members and who wish to participate in any election must deliver a signed SF-1187 to the Treasurer or his/her designee by the close of business two work days prior to the election.

 

SEC. 4 (f). All candidates are entitled to a list of the members (with their respective agencies) who are eligible to vote for them. The President shall ensure that the most recent membership list of the local is available to the Election Committee two weeks before the nomination meeting. At the nomination meeting, the Election Committee will inform candidates that if they want the appropriate list of members, they must request it of said committee. The Election Committee will fulfill all such requests within three work days.

 

Finances

 

SEC. 5 (a). In addition to the requirements of Article VIII, Section 3 of the standard local constitution, in the event the Executive Board does not make a report of expenditures at the next regular membership meeting, the Secretary is required to notify the National Vice President in writing within seven days that no report was made.

 

SEC. 5 (b). The local, if approved by the membership, shall secure professional services for the preparation of required IRS and LM-2 forms, in accordance with the National Secretary Treasurer's guidelines. The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall work with this person to ensure timely, accurate forms are prepared. Once completed, the reports will be signed by the President and Treasurer and filed properly.

SEC. 5 (c). The local shall have no paid officers. No officer or steward shall be paid by the local for any services rendered to the local, except for reimbursement for authorized expenditures or allowances.