GREATER TORONTO AREA COUNCIL BYLAWS
May 2014
ARTICLE 1 NAME
This Organization shall be known as the Greater Toronto Area Council (GTAC), of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).
ARTICLE 2 INTERPRETATIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
2.1 ‘Union’ shall mean the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.
2.2 ‘Executive’ shall mean the Greater Toronto Area Council Executive Committee.
2.3 ‘Constitution’ shall mean the Constitution of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.
2.4 ‘Delegate’ shall mean a voting Delegate.
ARTICLE 3 PURPOSE
3.1 To coordinate Union activities in the Greater Toronto Area, ie. Region Five, in such matters as:
political action, community involvement, social issues, participation in or co-operation with labour councils, education, and public relations.
ARTICLE 4 STRUCTURE
4.1 The structure of GTAC shall consist of:
a) Members
Any local, in good standing, in OPSEU’s Region Five, can join GTAC, following a majority vote at a regularly scheduled local meeting and payment of the membership fee as prescribed. Each member local shall be entitled to the same number of voting Delegates and Alternates to meetings as those locals are entitled to by the Union’s Convention formula.
b) Executive
The Executive of GTAC shall consist of: a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, the Chairs of six standing committees and two members-at-large
ARTICLE 5 GOVERNING AUTHORITY
5.1 The affairs of GTAC shall be governed by its membership in the following manner:
a) Through action taken at a membership meeting
b) Through actions taken by the Executive between meetings
5.2 The actions and decisions of the Executive between membership meetings may be overturned at the membership meeting.
5.3 GTAC does not endorse candidates seeking office within the Union.
ARTICLE 6 MEMBERSHIP DUES
6.1 Membership dues will be set at 1.3 percent of the annual rebate received by each local and will be paid quarterly. Locals may also pay their dues for multiple quarters at once or annually, if dues are paid in the first quarter of period for which they are owed.
6.2 Any local which is arrears of two consecutive quarterly dues will be notified by the Treasurer in writing. If such arrears are not paid within 30 days of receipt of notice; the local will lose its good standing and voting privileges.
6.3 Loss of good standing and voting privileges will not be effective until the local is so informed, in writing, signed by the designated member of the Executive following the 30 days referred to above.
ARTICLE 7 MEETINGS
7.1 The regular meetings of GTAC shall be monthly, with a provision for a summer adjournment, and where feasible, an agenda shall be sent to each Delegate at least by the Friday preceding the regularly scheduled meeting.
7.2 At the November General Membership meeting, every odd-numbered year, elections are to be held for the Executive and the two Trustees. In addition business covered at this meeting shall include written reports by the President, Treasurer and Standing Committee Chairs.
7.3 Special meetings may be called by the President, by the Executive, by a two-thirds majority vote at a regular meeting or upon written request of 12 Delegates of which five different locals must be represented.
7.4 A quorum for all GTAC meetings shall be 12 delegates of which five different locals must be represented.
7.5 Any member/ non-member of GTAC. may make a presentation to a regular meeting provided he/she first receive the endorsement of the Executive in advance.
ARTICLE 8 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
8.1 There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Chairpersons of the Standing Committees, elected to serve for two years.
8.2 Where a vacancy occurs among the Executive or Trustees, the vacancy may only be filled by a clear majority vote at a regular membership meeting. A notice of 30 days must be given prior to this meeting. Further, the new incumbent shall serve only for the unexpired period of the term of office.
8.3 Any member of the Executive who is absent from three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings without reasonable written excuse to the Executive shall be considered to have abandoned the position and the position shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired portion as stated above.
8.4 The Executive shall meet monthly with a provision for summer adjournment
ARTICLE 9 DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
9.1 OFFICERS
a) PRESIDENT: The President shall preside at all meetings of GTAC and also the Executive Committee.
b) VICE PRESIDENT: The Vice President shall assume the responsibilities In the absence of the President, and may be required to complete duties as assigned by the Executive Committee
c) SECRETARY: the Secretary is responsible for keeping minutes of meetings of GTAC, of the Executive Committee and is to perform other duties as may be designated by the Executive
d) TREASURER: the Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of GTAC. She/ he will
i) Collect and deposit membership dues
ii) Prepare two financial reports each year, duly audited by two trustees elected from the delegates
iii) Prepare a budget for the fiscal year
9.2 STANDING COMMITTEES
a) the EDUCATION CHAIR will
i) Identify and promote educational needs and human rights issues
ii) Assist affiliated locals in establishing educational programs
b) the HUMAN RIGHTS CHAIR will
i) Maintain a liaison with the Region Five equity organizations
c) the MEMBERSHIP CHAIR will
i) Receive all local applications for affiliation with the Council
ii) Maintain a list of member locals in good standing
iii) Actively encourage the recruitment of new locals
d) the LABOUR SOLIDARITY AND POLITICAL ACTION CHAIR will
i) Promote and coordinate labour solidarity within OPSEU and throughout the labour movement.
ii) Be prepared to take action of a political nature approved by the Council and sanctioned by OPSEU.
iii) Identify/ assist the Education Committee with courses of current political issues which speak to external politics and not those within the Union.
iv) Maintain a liaison with other unions, elected officials and social justice organizations, the news media, etc. on political issues in keeping with OPSEU’s policies.
e) the COMMUNICATION CHAIR will
i) Oversee the dissemination of all information that promotes the interest of the Council and its affiliated locals using such media which may be available
ii) Maintain a contact list of: Delegates, OPSEU staff and allies within the labour and social justice movement.
f) the SOCIAL COMMITTEE CHAIR will
i) Coordinate refreshments at meetings of the Council.
ii) Plan/promote activities of a social nature, including the annual seasonal party.
ARTICLE 10 BYLAWS
10.1 These Bylaws can be amended at any regular meeting of GTAC by a two-thirds vote provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at a previous regular meeting or a notice in writing has been sent to each voting Delegate 30 days in advance.
10.2 No amendment to these Bylaws shall become effective until it has been approved by the President of the Union, in accordance with the Constitution.
ARTICLE 11 PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
11.1 The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order newly revised shall govern the Council in all cases to which they are applicable
11.2 The Order of Business at a general membership meeting shall be:
1. Call to order
2. Statement of Respect
3. Adoption of agenda
4. Minutes of previous meeting
5. Business arising
6. Treasurers report
7. Correspondence
8. Initiation of new members
9. Reports of Committees
10. New business
11. Adjournment
ARTICLE 12 FINANCES
12.1 The fiscal year of GTAC shall be from 1 January to 31 December.
12.2 Trustees shall be elected at same time as the Executive Committee and shall examine all books at least twice each year.
12.3 The Trustees shall file an audit report, in a form specified by Headquarters, to Headquarters at least once in every six months and shall also make a full report to the first General Membership meeting following each audit.
12.3 The signing officers of GTAC shall be any two of the President, the Vice President and the Treasurer ( or Secretary- Treasurer)
ARTICLE 13 ADOPTION
13.1 These Bylaws shall be adopted upon the approval of a majority of the members voting upon their adoption at the GTAC meeting of Wednesday 21 May, 2014