UNA CALENDAR Published by United Nurses of Alberta nine times a year for the members. Editor: Keith Wiley Production : Sherry Shewchuk Provincial Office 900, I0611-98 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2P7 (780) 425- 1025 •1-800-252-9394 Fax: (780) 426-2093 Southern Alberta Regio nal Office 505, 700- 6th Ave. S.W. Calgary, AB TIP OT8 (403) 237-2377 • 1-800-661- 1802 Fax: (403) 263-2908 c-mail : nurses@ una.ab.ca Web S ite: http://www.una.ab.ca Your Nurses' Planner UNA is pleased to again provide you with the handy caJendar book your Alberta Nurses' Planner. Pocket-size and very useful , the Planner gives you a quick reference to some important info rmation about your union. On the cover of the 2000 edition we are proud to present a long-time UNA member that many members know well, Merulana (Lana) Tahririha fro m Local #62, Leduc General Hospital. Lana appears with her daughter, Golnosh. TTTTTTTTTTT Executive Board Heather Smith, President H ome: 437-2477 • Work: 425-1025 Bev Dic k, Vice-President Home: 430-7093 • Work: 425- 1025 Jane Sustr ik, 2nd Vice-President Home: 461-3847 • Work: 425-1025 Ka ren Craik, Seer etaryffrcasurer H ome: 720-6690 • Work: 425-1025 o r 237-2377 TTTTTTTTTTT North Dis trict Darlene Wallace. Bridge! Faherty North Centra l Tom Kinney, Alan Bescckcr, Jacquie Boisvert, Teresa Caldwell, Mari lyn Coady, Gina Stanlcy, Beryl Scou Central Nancy Walker, Carol Gillett South Central Dcnisc Palmcr, Holly Heffeman, Beverly Krabsen, Robcrt Reich-Sander, Olga Pitts South Diane Poynter, Barbara Charles TTTTTTTTTT Senior StaiT David Harrigan, Director of Labour Relations Darlene Rathgcber. Director of Finance & Administrative Services Florence Ross, Director of Information Systems UNA CONTRACTS Facilities finalized but Community close UNA files with LRB W hile the UNA Facility contract has been fi nalized and is bei ng printed, the contract for Community nurses is has j ust been finaJ ized. In mid-October, after months of delay in determining the final wording on the Corrununity Collective Agreement, UNA applied to the Labour Relations Board (LRB ) to have the wording settled. A LRB heari ng date had been set for November 25 but fi nal meetings between UNA and the Provincial Health Authorities of A lberta (PHAA) brought the fi nal Community Agreement close to completion and .the hearing was cancelled. The delay in reaching the Community Agreement is difficult for the members says UNA Director of Labour Relations, David Harrigan. "This has been unfair to our Community member , who need their new agreements. We have already been worki ng under this agreement fo r months, surely the members deserve to know what it contains." The Provincial Health Au thorities of Alberta had asked for the mediator, Michael Necula, to be brought back in to the discussions. Meetings with the mediator brought about several clarifications and brought the agreement close to being finalized. The Long-term Care contracts, which were negotiated at the same time as the other two, have long since been signed and will shortly be delivered to the Long-term Care . . . Collective Agreement ~~ United Nurses of Alberta The Union tor Nurses Web site: http://www.una.ab .ca UNA OFFICES CLOSa~DHD~~~mber 27 - 31, 1999 An emergency telephone number will be announced! UNA President Heather Smith One more time Mr. Klein has to be told: Albertans don't want for-profit health care he new for-profit hospitals plan announced by Premier Klein is much worse than Bill 37. If Mr. Klein has his way Alberta will have for-profit hospitals- paid by public tax dollars- next year, and it's a giant step further down the road to private insurance, and for-profit medicine with better services for the wealthy who can afford them. That leads inevitably to an erosion of the public system, which would be left with the less profitable services and procedures and providing care for those who can't afford premium service. T "The Alberta government is doing its best to undermine the medicare system," says Harvard health analyst Dr. David Himmelstein. "At each step they deny the next step," he says. It happened exactly like this in the U.S. For Registered Nurses, Klein's plan would mean many more, for-profit employers who make more money by lowering nursing costs, nurse-to-patient ratios and quality of care. For our families it would signal the end of the best possible care for all of us, no matter what we can afford. Funda mental to nurses is our professional responsibility For-profit hospitals: ----:-:,~in:-;health Rich ard P a ' a costly concept e conomist: " If w_e urselves 1n that leads to involve 0 rivate clinics addition al P ' his this Amertcan-style d rivate hosp•.... •. p d l recogm1· corporate health care an will be har : dicare system to~~~~ne in a few The Klein plan: to allow years!' private, for-profit services to ~----· contract to Regional Health Authorities for any type of Ma ude Barlowe medical care, including major chairp erso n of the Cou ncil o f Cana d ians· procedures that require ex"His long-term goal is ' tended overnight stays. Klein complete privatiution." continues to insist that even for Alberta's plan to allow stays of several nights, these surgical operations to be facilities are clinics. and not for- contracted out to private facilities will destroy profit hospitals. Currently medicare across Canada private clinics are limited to under inter national trade r ules, says Barlow. "He's procedures that keep patients also p utting the entire only 12 hours or less. health-care system In Canada in jeop ardy." and our ability to address quality of care issues. A for-profit operation is not going to welcome professional involvement in the way they do business. Nurses and all Albertans cannot afford Mr. Klein's health care alternatives. We must act now to stop his plan. And we will. UNA will be launchi ng major campaigns with our public health care coalition partners. We will do everything we can to show Albertans the true implications of the government's fo r-profit plans. We will do everything we can to show the government Albertans do not want to follow his road, and how serious we are about keeping and improving our public system. Stopping the government's plan for fo~profit medicine must begin now with calls and letters to politicians.The campaign will grow until the Legislation is introduced next February or March. The message is simple: I won't stand for private hospitals and fo~profit medicine that erodes our Medicare system. The government must improve our public health system with more money now, and not by putting more money into fo,..profit medicine. The Hon. Ralph Klein Premier 307 Legislature Edmonton, Alberta T5K 286 Phone: 427-2251 Fax: 427-1349 Premier@gov.ab.ca The Hon. Halvar Jonson Health and Wellness Minister 228 Legislature Edmonton, Alberta T5K 286 Phone: 427-3665 Fax: 415-0961 PonokaRimbey@ assembly.ab.ea There were 334 delegates, 133 member observers, guests and others for over 500 people in the room at the UNA Annual General Meeting in Edmonton, October 27 and 28. Members debated and voted on constitution and policy motions and on budgets at the meeting. The following is a brief summary of some of the major discussions and decisions at the meeting. l nd Vice-President position created after strong debate "We're doing what our Employers have done," one delegate said about creating a new second Vice-President position on UNA's Provincial Executive. "Here's more work and there's no more staff." Mter initially voting against a new executive position on Wednesday, delegates at the UNA Annual General Meeting voted in favour of a 2nd Vice-President in a reconsideration vote on Thursday. Reconsideration is an established parliamentary procedure. Almost every UNA AGM has entertained a motion to reconsider. The debate on the position was hot and long, with some members concerned about creating a top-heavy organiza- tion, while others pointed out that with an increase of nearly 25 per cent in the number of member , another Executive Officer position was completely in order. The second vote got the necessary two-thirds majority to amend the Constitution by a vote of 238 in favour and 95 opposed. How many days the Executive Officers should work and be paid for each week was also discussed and a new policy implemented. The motion that carried makes the President's position full-time, at 5 days a week, and the Vice-Presidents and Secretaryffreasurer are flexible from a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 5 days a week. UNA to loan Quebec nurses $450,000 Delegates at the UNA AGM overwhelmingly endorsed the motion to make a special loan of $450,000 to the Quebec nurses' federation, HIQ. Heather Smith expressed a sentiment that was echoed by several delegates' remarks from the floor: "It could just as easily have been us." A tearful Michele Boisclair, Vice-President of FIIQ, expressed a heartfelt thanks to the UNA members for the Michele Boisclair, VicePresident of FIIQ, hugs Heather Smith after the announcement of the For AU of Us button campaign. show of solidarity. She told delegates the solidarity from nurses in Alberta would be tremendously appreciated by nurses in Quebec. The Federation des Infirmieres et Infirmiers du Quebec (FUQ) sti ll has no contract after a 23-day strike last June and July and is attempting mediation now. Quebec nur es will be in a legal strike position in November. The Federation faces fines mounting to nearly $20 million as a result of special legislation passed by the Quebec government in its attempt to end the summer strike. The loan will come from the UNA Emergency Fund and will be almost entirely repaid by the time of UNA's next negotiation round in 200 l . A special clause in the motion and loan agreement specifies that if UNA requires it during negotiations, full repayment of the loan will be quickly completed. Protest of the AARN late registration penalty Every time it was mentioned at the meeting, delegates reacted strongly to the new Alberta Association of Registered Nurses (AARN) $53.50 penalty for registration after the Sept. 15 due date. Vice-President Bev Dick explained that the matter was being looked into, both legally and in consultation with the AARN. Delegates made a motion to have UNA open discussions on the penalty with a view to having the fee revoked and "reimburse those penalized and further cancel any default notices." Dues increase not supported Members voted down a proposed increase in dues, from 1.1 per cent to 1.2 per cent of salary. If the motion had passed the proposed increase would have been put to a vote of all members. The increase was proposed by one Local, but did not carry the recommendation from the Finance Committee or the Executive Board. Emergency Fund maintained A minimum level of $3 million was set for the UNA Emergency Fund by a motion passed at the AGM. Further transfers from budget surpluses or the Dues levy will be added to keep the fund at least at the minimum level. The members also debated, and rejected, the idea of putting a maximum cap- $5 mmion was proposed - on the fund. How large should the Negotiating Commit t ee bet Motions and amendments limiting the size of UNA's provincial Negotiating Committee to one representative per district or other formulations were defeated by the meeting, but there was a general understanding that the Executive Board would have to deal with the question before the next round of negotiations. The sentiment was clearly there that the size of the committee had to be brought down from the 20 plus members it had during the last round. Another motion that responded to concerns that came up during the last negotiation round allows for Districts to elect an interim replacement if their District Representative is serving SHE'S SEEN A FEW UNA MEETINGS. Sister Terry on the provincial negoHorvath announced that this tiation committee. would be her last UNA AGM as Members said there was a working member. Approaching a need for a District the age of 65, Sister Terry announced at the meeting she'll continued... be retiring later this year. Representative role during the critical time of negotiations and they felt it is impossible for anyone to cover both negotiating committee responsibilities and District Representative responsibilities at the same time. Crisis in recruitment and retention for the nursing profession The UNA AGM passed the following pointed and specific motion on the crucial questions of the future of the profession and the shortage of qualified Registered Nurses. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT UNA lobby legislators to take action to improve the recruitment and retention of registered nurses. 1. Develop comprehensive recruitment strategies to enhance the profile of registered nursing as a career choice; 2. to create vacancies to be filled by unemployed/underemployed registered nurses, rather than increasing the workload of existing registered nurses; 3. to establish policies that registered nurses will be replaced by registered nurses; WHEREAS Statistics Canada predicts that by the year 2011 , the nation's population will rise by 23%, thereby increasing overall demand for health services. 4. develop and promote programs of early retirement and deferred salary leave to address the needs of aging registered nurses; WHEREAS the Restructuring of the Health Care system in the last decade has led to fewer job opportunities and fewer working hours tor registered nurses. 5. to establish grant programs for students entering the Nursing Education Programs to facilitate and broaden the scope of registered nurses in the Health Care system. WHEREAS in 1995, the N e w UNA Board largest group of working M e mbe rs lane Sustrik, (above right) registered nurses was in the 40-45 age range. elected 2nd Vice President. Barb Charles, (above) new By the year 2011, they South District Representative, will be in their mid to and Olga Pitts, (right) new late fifties, and leaving South Central District the profession at a Representative. rapid rate. 6. Continue to monitor the hiring of frontline workers in health care in Alberta. 7. Continue to utilize the collective bargaining process to address workplace issues that undermine the recruitment and retention of the registered nursing workforce. UNA members walk the line and lend support in both Calgary Herald and Bethany Cochrane disputes Two Calgary area strikes involved UNA members recently. Secretary/Treasurer Karen Craik and other nurses walked the picket line with journalists and other staff on strike at the Calgary Herald and at Bethany Care Cochrane. The Licensed Practical Nurses and Nursing Assistants were locked out when they asked the employer for salary parity with other Bethany Care Centres. UNA Local #173 members continued to work in Bethany Care Cochrane but were careful not to undertake the work of the staff who were locked out. The Local was eager to show support and placed an ad in the Cochrane newspaper explaining they are still at work, but supporting the locked out staff. The Herald staff are looking for a fi rst contract with the newspaper. UNA has launched a campaign asking members to cancel their subscriptions to the Herald and to the National Post. "The striking staff of the Herald newspaper are looking for reassurances of decent jobs at the newspaper. The Herald has been stripping away full-time jobs, cutting regular news beats and using freelancers to maximize profits," says UNA President, Heather Smith. "Herald policy not only deprives staff of decent, secure jobs, it also deprives its readers of quality news reporting and information. Conrad Black may be trying to wring maximum profits out of the Herald but it is Calgarians and Herald readers who will lose in the quality of their newspaper," said Smith. The UNA Executive Board approved donations to both groups of employees in the disputes and Secretary/ Treasurer Karen Craik and District Representive Holly Heffernan delivered cheques to very grateful people at both the picket lines. "When you compare notes with nursing unions across Canada, our new contract shapes up weiJ," said UNA Director of Labour Relations, David Harrigan after returning from a meeting with counterpart Canadian nurses' unions. A comparison chart produced by the New Brunswick Nurses' Union shows UNA nurses have the highest RN start rate, and the second highest top salary rate in the country. "And when you look at shift differentials, education allowances and overtime provisions, Alberta nurses are also on the top," Harrigan noted. Salary Breakdown by Province PROVINCE $/HR· MIN $/HR·MAX STEPS EFFECTIVE DATE Brltlllh Columbia 20.98 25.98 6 1-Apr-98 Alberta 20.25 24.83 8 1-Apr-99 Sasketchawan 19.29 23.44 5 1-Apr-99 Manitoba 19.28 22.73 6 1-Apr-99 Ontario 18.30 28.36 1-Apr-97 Quebec 16.04 23.30 9 12 1-Jan-98 N- Brunewlck 17.84 21.72 6 1-Jul-99 17.07 21.21 7 1-Sep-99 Union 19.53 22.91 6 1-Apr-99 Gov't Emp's Union 19.59 22.99 6 1-Apr-99 Nu....' Union 17.69 21 .55 6 5-0ct-97 Union of Public Sector Emp 18.83 23.53 6 1-Apr-99 Newfoundland & Labrador NurMI' Nova Scotla Prince Edward Island Sick Leave Benefits Comparison Union Sick Oaya 1.5 dayslmo 1.5 days/mo 1.5 days/mo MNU 1.25 days/mo ONA FIIO Maximum Advance Credits Family Sick Leave .5 day/4 weeks maximum of 25 days 3 days 'special leave' Is In addition to sick leave from OT/vacation 'Only employees currently able to borrow m 190 days 1/3 day/mo to 5 day mUo so 30 max' .25 of each The new CA removed the 5 day annual cap < n/ a n/ a accumulated 1.25 day~ family illness leave Private Plan Private Plan Maternity leave precludes use of aiel< leave 15 days max alter 2 yrs~/a from 8 weeks prl to livery 240~ 1800 ours specoal leave at Compassionale leave or extraordinary (240 days) 15 days max after 5 yrsemployer's discretion circumstances - employer's discretion 1125 hours 37.5 hrs/aooum debltec For preventative personal care. family illnes Olher pereonal eme!1Jenciel (150 days) nla from lick leave 15 days/year nla 5 days of 15 day total Sick leave longer than 3 days 0 75% pa Special leave up to 3 ~ with proof tor 215 days serioua IHnesa of member n/a 1 ~daymax 25 days/15 days' 5 days per year in 25 days for Injury-on-duty application n/a employer's discretion addition to sick leave 25 days for 'regular' sick leave 156 days 120 days n/a n/a N8NU 1.5 dayslmo NLNU NSGEU 1.50 days/mo 1 1.25/163 hrs (1.5 days/mo) pro-rated/mo PEINU 1.5 days/mo PIPS 1.25 days/mo UNtON WEEKEND EVENING NIGHT 12HR NIGHT IN CHARGE CALL BACK .50/ht .70/ht 1.00/hr no lenQueQe 1.26/lv 2twamln00T,_ 3 hrs 0 OT rate NSNU Comments Shift Differentials MNU ONA FliO 1.10/hr 1.50/hr 1.50/hr 1.50/hr 1.25/hr .30/llr .45/hr 1.35111< 4% salary .70/ht .70/hr no~ .91/hr .90/hr 1.05/hr -~ NlHU PIPS .28/hr 1.00/hr 2.1Mw - ltwm 1.80/hr - 8 hr min 1.00/llr 1.25/hr 4% sala'L_!!% sale~ 4%/11% 3.0018hlft 4.scw.tllft 7 .50/ehlft ,eo.tv) (.ll (;40/1111' .33/hr .,.... 4 pm • 8 am: 1.00/hr STAND BY 2.501hr .40/hr .33/hr .85/hr 4.1101ah111 7.0Ciilllll no language 2 hrs min 0 OT rate 11 .36/8 hr shift 3twamOOTNie 10.,.... 1.26/hr BN - $82/month MA • $1 10/monlh 3 hrs mln 0 OT rate • Numbers in parentheses represent calculations not contract language •• Nurses receive the hou~y in-charge pay rate during hours when the Nurse Wanager is normally off duty. Nurses receive the salary In-charge pay rate during hours when the Nurse Manager is normally on duty. Talks continue on independence for nurses' pension funds After five years of discussions, agreement on LAPP self-administration may be close he control and management of over 8 billion dollars is at stake in negotiations over the independence of the Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP), the pensions of almost all UNA nurses. For several years the LAPP has been moving toward independent control of the pension plans which had been under provincial government direction. Concluding the fmal deal on the independence of the LAPP, initially proposed for 1996, is taking longer than expected, however. T "With the huge amounts of money involved and the complexity of a shared governance structure, negotiating the independence of the LAPP has proven to be a timeconsuming task," says Richard West, UNA's representative and current Chair of the LAPP Board. "We are making progress, but even after five years we can't say when it will finally be conc luded." The LAPP Board has presented the government with a plan for independence and has requested special legislation for the LAPP self-government. AJberta Treasury, the legal sponsor and trustee of the LAPP, hired pension experts to assess the Board' s proposals. With the recommendations from the experts in hand, LAPP and AJberta Treasury representatives are refining the independence proposals. "The thrust of the benchmarks (recommendations from the experts) is to protect plan stakeholders by ensuring the governance arrangements can withstand any adverse scenarios that may ari e over the life of the plan," says a joint communique recentJy issued by Provincial Treasurer Stockwe ll Day and West, as chair of the LAPP Board. Independence of the Pension Fund from the Richard West, UNA Labour Relations Officer and chair of the Local Authority Pensions Plan board government frrst came up nearly fifteen years ago when the province recognized that it didn't have enough money in the fund to cover the pension commitments already made (an "unfunded liability"). The province had always guaranteed the pensions, so if the fund fell sho~, any additional financing would have had to be prov1ded by the government. The agreement with unions, employers and the government was that in return for independence, the LAPP added a special surcharge to pension contribution rates to cover the unfunded liability. By 1998 the plan was full y funded and the surcharge was discontinued. "The employees and employers paid thei r share of the unfunded liability and now it is time for the province to complete the deal by passing control of the plan on to the employees and employers," says UNA President, Heather Smith. Nurses are a big stakeholder in the LAPP. They make up nearly one eighth of the employees it covers. Municipal employees in Edmonton, Calgary, and other cities, towns and counties, along with nonteaching staff at schools and many colleges are the other major employee groups. UNA has a position on the LAPP Board of Trustees and for the last four years, UNA Labour Relations Officer Ri chard West has been the Chairperson of the LAPP Board since 1998. Health Minister says over 1,000 new health care staff hired registered nursing positions have been created. The Locals reported nowhere near the hiring the Health Minister has reported, and in many cases the hiring was temporary or casual positions. There has even been a question of whether some of the reported new hi rings are old positions - nursing positions that had been vacant and are being filled. UNA review shows far fewer " We are pleased to see the government is anxious to keep Albertans informed about how many nurses it is hiring, but this public relations exercise is doing nothing to end the on-going crisis in patient care," UNA president, Heather Smith said following the government's announcement on health care hiring. "The fact is that, even as they are hiring, nurses are also being laid-off. The Mistahia Health Authority is talking about closing whole wards at the Grande Prairie hospital, and there are proposals to eliminate nursing positions in Edmonton," she said. Health and WeUness Minister Halvar Jonson provided UNA with the province-wide report on health care hiring that showed over 1,000 new "front-line" staff positions had been created. Heather Smith initiated a Local by Local survey throughout the province to report on how many new On Monday, November 15, UNA Locals all over the province gathered the facts on how many nurses were working and how many patients, clients or residents were being helped in an initiative to develop a "snapshot" of Alberta's health care system. Province-wide statistics on Alberta's health care system are not being compiled or released by the provincial government. But these numbers are essential to understanding what is happening in our health system, and to documenting staffing problems and staffing ratios. For this reason the UNA Executive Board launched the survey project, asking every Local to compile some key numbers to assemble the first province-wide picture of the health system. UNA launches button campaign in support of Quebec nurses At the AGM UNA launched the For All of Us! button campaign that is being picked up by nurses' unions across Canada. For All of Us! buttons and contribution kits went out to UNA Locals at the AGM. UNA members are selling the buttons for a contribution - $ 10 is suggested - and all the money raised goes to the Quebec nurses' federation, FllQ. Quebec nurses were on strike for 23 days last June and July and still did not win a contract. The Quebec nurses' union faces heavy fines and has had their dues collection suspended indefinitely. They need support from alJ Canadian nurses so they can continue their negotiations and achieve a fair contract for nurses! "It's our turn to pitch in and get behind our Quebec sisters and brothers who really need our support now. Please buy and wear the For All of Us! button," says UNA President, Heather Smith. The For AIJ of Us! campaign is a grassroots support drive that complements the union level support, donations and loans, already undertaken by UNA. Nurses' unions across the country from Nova Scotia to B .C. are selling the buttons in the solidarity campaign to raise money and show support for the Quebec nurses. Even more UNA support Members at Local #301 recently made a donation of $2200 to the Quebec nu rses. " It warmed our hearts to be able to present the donation to Michelle Beauclair while she was in attendance at the UNA AGM," says Betty Ann Emery, President of Local #301 . South District made a donation of $400, South Centre District sent $1,000 and Local # 121 -R sent a donation of $ 1200. over the age of 65 or approaching it. Court ruling quashes decision that denies right to use sick time before delivery in longcontested maternity leave grievances A Court of Queen's Bench ruling on Nove mber 1 gives UNA a better case in pursuing maternity leave grievances. The Court ruling quashed an arbitration decision that nurses could be forced to use Employment Insurance Sub-Plan maternity benefits, and not their sick time, when they booked off work before their birth. "After seven years we have a breakthrough on it," says UNA Labour Relations Officer Mark Cowan. "It can turn the tide." Cowan has already applied for a new arbitration in the case ruled on by the court. ''This case wi ll have to be re-heard in arbitration," he says. With the Court ruling in UNA's favour, the union's case is that much stronger. Besides the arbitration that now has to go back to a new hearing, UNA has one other arbitration on the issue also pending. "Our Collective Agreement is clear, it's the employee's choice to use sick time or to access El Sub Plan benefits predelivery, but Employers have been fighting this every step of the way," he said. If an employee is forced to start their maternity leave Sub-Plan benefits well before the birth, it takes that much time off their El maternity benefits at the other end. There have been many maternity leave grievances on this issue over the past years. "Finally with this court ruling we may settle the next arbitration in our favour and in the future employees should get their choice of when to commence their maternity leave," Cowan said. Nurses over 65 and benefits A number of Employers have benefit plans that cut off Employees when they reach the age of 65. "We believe that this may be prohibited and discriminatory," says UNA Director of Labour Relations David Harrigan . There aren' t many nurses working out there at 65, however. Harrigan launched a survey of Locals on UNA*Net to find out just how many there are. Few turned up but UNA may be pursuing a case for those that are Southern Alberta: more bed closures and layoffs of nurses The Chinook Health Region has informed employees of plans to shut down Coaldale's acute unit and emergency room within the next year. Sharon Gurr from Local # 13 1 reports: ''The Board said they regret letting us hold onto our acute care, but will not give in this time. Their goal is, if they can shut us down (and not even convert the acute beds to LTC), to save $600,000. Then they will also be looking at shutting down Picture Butte, Raymond, Magrath and even Taber acute care services." Sharon Gurr adds that she will , "call the mayor to hold a community meeting as we need to let our community know what this Regional board is up to!!" Meanwhile in Lethbridge, Local 72 will be moving to a new facility with 2 10 beds for St. Michael' Hospital. But management is proposing to have Nursing Assistants give medications in bubble packs and operate the faci lity with 6 less FfE Registered Nursing positions. Final plans are still evolvi ng and hospital managers could be planning for even more position eliminations. The Local is negotiating on the staffing levels. California nurses win new patient ratio law The state of California has enacted a new law setting minimum nurse-topatient ratios and nurses in the state are delighted. Under the new law the state de partment of health services will set sta ndards for nurse-to-patient ratios. The law will not take effect until 2002, although further nurse-sponsored legislation next year may move the date ahead. The declaration of the new law made this "one of the most significant days in the history of nursing," said Kay McVey, president of the California Nurses' Association which sponsored the bill. "This bill Laureen Me Peak and Bonnie Wademan relax during a break at the Misericordia Hospital in Edmonton. PHOTO: FLORENCE ROSS will save the Lives of countless numbers of patients needlessly endangered by unsafe hospital conditions. It will rebuild the safety net in California hospitals. This is a dramatic victory for the thousands of nurses and patients and the CNA who worked tirelessly to achieve this powerful reform." The hospital industry made defeat of AB 394 "its top legislative priority this year," noted CNA Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro. "The reason is that this is the only genuine reform that actually affects the delivery of patient care at the hospital bedside. At a time when the industry has placed cost cutting ahead of safe care, this law allows the health care professional to Capital Health w ithdraws "attendance awareness" plan Strong pressure from UNA persuaded the Capital Health Region to re-think its "attendance awareness" plan that was zeroing in on nurses who use their sick leave. Capital Health has withdrawn parts of the plan and made adjustments to meet UNA's concerns. "We couldn't let Capital Health begin harassing members about their basic rights, the right to sick leave," says UNA Labour Relations Officer Janice Peterson who is the union 's representative on the Capital Health's Disability Management group. " If they hadn't backed off regai n control over the health care system from the bottom up." DeMoro paid tribute to the "thousands of nurses who mobilized for the law with calls, letters, postcards, and by attending three large rallies. Former hea lth minister on Medicare today Monique Begin was the federal Health Minister in the Trudeau government that brought in the Canada Health Act. During a recent CBC Radio interview Begin had some interesting things to say about health care today, nearly twenty years later. "Nurses are totally under-utilized in our Canadian system and are badly organi zed in terms of the time, the schedules they have to follow. ... it's to the point of danger to the quality of care, and to their own health." "Nursing is very important, it's not a tap you can open and close at liberty. Young girls in high school read newspapers, and listen to the news. No doctors lost their jobs with the downsizing. We have to learn for the future, but there's not much more we can do today, except enticing them with higher pay ..." "Privatization is a major, major problem. At the same time, in the hospital world, (they must) put their house in order, organizing their services in a much better, more efficient way..." "Ailan Rock should numbers on their plan, we hardly constitutes being were ready "available". to pull out completely," UNA staff she says. are closely s onsibilit UNA • • • • • • checking what different published a regions are providing in poster "Being Sick is not a the way of "available" crime!" and had alerted all managers and will be Edmonton area members ensuring that a manager about the Capital Health really is ''available" to deal plan. with problems, or a nurse gets the extra pay. A Who are you Registered Nurse has quite enough to do without going to cant having to cope with a For many smaller health broken heating system or facilities the nurse-insimilar facility problems. charge often ends up in charge of the entire hospiRoyal Alex tal. A benefit in the new contract (16.03) stipulates drops plan t o in charge of facility pay of eliminate $1.50 an hour when no nursing management is available. Some rural facilities leave positions long lists of managers for Management at the nurses to phone if there is a Royal Alexandra Hospital major problem at a hospiin Edmonton appears to tal. A long list of phone ~) t'""'~"'"' announce that he will fully enforce the Canada Health Act. The Canada Health Act is only based on hospital and doctor visits, the intent of the Act is clearly that these drugs should be covered by Medicare. You don' t need a change to the act to do that. "He should also initiate discussion on what it would take for the provinces to start a universal, free-of-charge, pre-paid in other words by taxes, home care program. Home care is the poor relative of the system right now. So it's parents, families, friends or re latives who at the cost of their work or their health give the care to patients who are discharged rather rapidly from hospital." have cancelled its plans to reduce staffing on some of its 30-bed medical units, after strong Local protests and coverage of the staff reduction in the Edmonton Journal. The Royal Alex was proposing to eliminate over 8 full-time equivalents by reducing staffing on the units, including an Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) unit. The plan was to drop staffing from four Registered Nurses and three Licensed Practical Nurses, to three RNs and three LPNs. The hospital proudly announced opening some new beds and creating over 11 new FTEs, but had quietly been planning the staff reduction on other units at the same time. Wealthy people shouldn't have to wait when they can afford private medical care! we·ll have long-stay, non-hospital, surgical facilities . / ~)) ~ When is a hospital not a hospital? When it's ·a long-sta!l non-hospital, surgical faciliL!JI We will protect Medicare. We are saying NO to for-profit hospitals. How long will it take to have American for-profit hospitals across Canada? Public health care dollars should not be paying profits for private hospitals. Save Medicare with better funding and planning. Don't start parallel, for-profit health care in Canada. United Nurses of Alberta 2000 (With amendme nts as of October, 1999) TABLE OF CONTENTS Article 1: Article 2: Article 3: Art icle 4: Article 5: Article 6: Article 7: Article 8: Article 9: Article 10: Article 11: Article 12: Na me Objectives Membership Executive Board Powers of the Executi ve Board Discipline of Members Reinstatement of Membership Meetings of Executive Board Meetings of the UNA Voting at Meetings of the UNA Strike Votes & Ratification Votes Elections 2 2 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 ~ ARTICLE 1 : NAME 1.01 Thi s organization shall be know n as the United Nurses of Alberta (hereinafter referred to as "UNA''). 1 .02 In the interpretation of this Constitution, the feminine gender used herein shall mean and include the masculine, and the singular shall include th e plural and vice versa as applicable. ~ ARTICLE 2: OBJECTIVES 2.01 The advancement of the social, economic and general welfare of nurses and other all ied personnel. 2 .02 (a) The regulation of relations between nurses and other allied personnel and between nurses and their employers. (b) The negotiation uf written contracts with employers aimed at implementing progressively better conditions of employment. 2.03 The promotion of effective communication with employers. 2 .04 The promotion of the knowledge of nurses and other allied personnel in all things related to their social and economic wel fare through education and research. 2.05 The promotion of the highest standards of health care. 2.06 The promotion of unity within the labour movement, the nursing profession and other allied fields through cooperation wi th and support of other organizations. 2.07 The promotion of the occupational hea lth & safety of the membership through resea rch and communication with allied fields and organizations. Article 13: Article 14: Article 15: Article 16: Article 17: Revenue Au di t Chartered Locals Merger & Transfer Constitutional Amendments & Policy Resolutions Rules of Procedure... Dissolu tion of a Chartered Local Article 18: Article 19: Appendix "A" Appendix "B" Appendix "C" Long & Short-Term Goals 9 10 10 11 12 12 12 13 16 21 23 3.02 Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, persons who, in the course of their employment, exercise managerial functions or who are employed in a confidential capacity in matters relating to labour relations shall be excluded from membership. 3.03 Indi viduals seeking membership in the United Nurses of Alberta snail be requ ired to sign an application for membership which shall include an undertaking to abide by provisions of this Consti tution and Bylaws and an undertaking to pay all dues, levies and assessments as required. Any person meeting these requirements for membership and w ho is accepted by UNA w ill be entitl ed to attend meetings, hold offi ce and recei ve all other benefits of UNA membership. A member w ho is: (a) un STD, LTD, WCB, or who obtains an unpaid leave of absence from employment pursuant to the provisions of a Collective Agreement sha ll remain a member of the UNA and shall pay no dues, levies or assessments during the period of any such absence; or (b) laid off pursuant to the prov isions of a Collective Agreement shall remain a member of the Union and shall pay no dues, levies or assessments for the period of the layoff for the duration of the right to recall unless in receipt of wages as a member of a UNA bargaining unit; or (c) suspended or terminated and who is pursuing recourse under the grievance or arbitration procedures of a Collective Agreement, shall remain a member of the Union and shall pay no dues, l ev ies or assessments until the grievance is resolved, withdrawn or otherwise concluded. ~ ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP A person ceases to be a member upon: 3.01 (a) suspension or termination of membership pursuant to this Constitution; or All registered, graduate or student nurses and other allied personnel w ho are eligible to engage in collective barga ining are eligible for membership in the UNA provided that no allied personnel shall be admitted to membership wi th out an eighty percent (80%) vote of approval of the Executive Board. UNA Constitutio n • 1999- 2000 (b) fai lure to pay all required dues, levies and assessments to the UNA or to a Chartered Loca l of the UNA or to a Chapter thereof for a period of six (6) months. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any person who has resigned her membership in the UNA due to her non-support of a strike or in the face of charges, or who has been expelled from membership shall only be eligible for membership in the UNA or its Chartered Locals upon successful application to the Executive Board for reinstatement pursuant to Article 7. 3.04 No person shall be refused membersh ip because of nationality, race, colour, origin, sex or sexual orien tation, age, physical disability or religious or political beli ef. 3.05 lt is the ob Iigation and responsibi Iity of every member of UNA to refrain from revealing or otherwise disclosing, except to those who have the right to such information or unless required by law, any information acquired by virtue of membership in UNA which cou ld disadvantage or compromise UNA or its members. 3.06 lt is the obligation and responsibility of every member of UNA who is appointed or elected to an office or other position in the UNA to duly and faithful ly and to the best of her skill and ability discharge the duties of her offi ce and to refrain from disclosing or revealing to any person, except to those who have a right to such information or unless required by law, any information which could disadvantage or compromise UNA or its members that comes to her knowledge or possession by reason of the office or position held. 3.07 3.08 M embership in a Local Union, chartered by the UNA, shall also constitute membership in the UNA; however, no person shall act as or be deemed to be an agent of the UNA or any chartered or subordinate body of the UNA because of her membership unless specifi ca lly authorized in writing signed by an appropriate official to so act. (a) 4.02 The number of Distri ct Representatives shall be determined on the basis of one (1) Distri ct Representative fo r each one thousand two hundred and fifty (1,250) duespayers or part thereof in the District as of sixty (60) days prior to the Annual General M eeti ng. Th ere shall be a min imum of two (2) Distri ct Representatives for each District. 4.03 All Officers shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting except when a vacancy occurs between Annual General Meetings. A vacancy shal l be deemed to exist in any office or position if the ho lder of th e office during the term of office dies, resigns or is unable or unwilling in the opinion of the Executive Board of the UNA to attend meetings or perform the duties of the position . Any such vacancy shall be fi lled by the Executive of the body entitled to elect a member to occupy the position. The said Executive of the body entitled to elect a member to occupy the position shall report at the next meeting of the body each appointment made by it. At such meeti ng nominations may be made and an election shall be held if necessary to fill the said office. 4.04 Each term of office shall begin upon the adjournment of the Annual General Meeting at w hich the election to the office takes place and sha ll continue for a period of two (2) years, more or less, until the conclusion of the second Annual General Meeting thereafter. 4.05 The duties of the Executive Board shall be as follows: (a) M embers w ho retire or resign and are therefore no longer paying dues to UNA shall be eligible for Associate Membership. Annual Associate M embership fees shall be ten do llars ($ 10.00). (b) Associate Members shall not be eligible to hold elected office in UNA or vote at meetings of UNA. (c) The criteri a for Assoc iate Membership status shall be established by the delegates at the Annual General M eeting. ~ ARTICLE 4: EXECUTIVE BOARD 4.01 Any member elected to a position on the Executive Board shall not hold the position of President of a U NA Local. The newly elected Board Member shall have three (3) months to vacate her position as Local President. The affairs of the UNA shall be managed by an Executive Board which shall be composed of the following: 1) President; 2) 1st Vice-President; 3) 2nd Vice-President; 4) Secretaryffreasurer; 5) District Representatives. P RESIDENT The President shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board and all meetings of the UNA and shall be c harged with the responsibi lity of carrying ou t the policies of the UNA. The President shal l be an ex-officio member on all Committees of the Executive Board. (b) 1 ST VICE-P RESIDENT The 1st Vice-President sha ll preside at all meetings where the President is absent and shall be c harged w i t h th e particular responsibi lity of establishing and maintaining the flow of communication between the UNA and its members, and between th e UNA and other organizations. (c) 2ND VICE-PRESIDENT The 2nd Vice-President shall preside at al l meetings where the President and 1st VicePresident are absent and shall be charged with the particular responsibi lity of establishing and mai ntaini ng the flow of communi catio n between the UNA and its members, and between the UNA and other organi zations. ~ 3 (d) between any provisions of this Constitution and the approved Bylaws of any Charter~d Local of the United Nurses of Alberta or m t he event of co nfli ct between this Constitution and the policies adopted by the United Nurses of A lberta then this Constitution shall be paramount and the provisions of this Constitution shall apply. SECRETARY/T REASURER The Secretary/Treasurer shall cause to be kept such regu lar books and records of the UNA's finances as shall be set up unde r the instructions of the Executive Board, shal l cause to be maintained full records of minutes of all meetings of the Executive Board and of all meetings of the UNA and shall cause to be maintained all records, documents and correspondence of the UNA. (e) T HE D ums O F T HE DISTRICT R EPRESENTATIVES The District Representatives shall carry <;>ut generally the objectives of the UNA and funct1on as members of the Executive Board. (The terms of reference for District Representatives are as outl ined in Appendix "C'.) 4.06 4.07 (c) The Executive Board shall be responsible for and accountable to the membership for the administration of affa irs and activities of the UNA when the UNA is not meeting. 5.02 On ly members in goo~ standing of th~ UNA are eligible for membership on the Executive Board. In the event that a member of the Executive Board absents herself from two (2) consecutive meetings, i.e. Executive Board, Delegate, Special, Committee, the reasons for such absences shall be delivered in writing to the President. If the reasons so delivered are found to be unsati sfactory to the Executive Board by a two-thirds (2/3) bal lot vote, the office of the member shall be declared vacant. Such vacancies shall be filled in accordance with Article 8.05 or Appendix "C" 1.3 as appl icable. Such appointed or elected member shall. hold office until the next Annual General Meet1ng at w h ich time an e l ec tion sha ll b e he ld in accordan ce with Article 12.04. 4.08 Any member of ~h~ Execu~ive .Board. ':lay resign her office by g1vmg not1ce m wnt1ng to tne President. 4.09 Any Executive Board member v.:ho. ceases to hold office for any reason, shal l, w1thm one month, turn over to the Executive Board, al l documents, assets and property of the UNA in her possession. 4.10 The District Representative shall designate an alternate member to attend Executive Board meetings in her absence. 4.11 In the event that a District Representative is elected to serve on the Provincial Negotiating Committee, the District shall elect an interim repl acement for the duration of Negotiations. Th e inter.im replacement wi ll receive the budgeted fundmg for that position. (b) The Executive Board or any person or committee to w hi c h the Executive Board de legates such autho rity, shal l be empowered to negotiate and enter i~to regional, Local, provincial or area-w1de collective bargaining agreements on behalf of any Local or Locals without the necessity of the written authorization of such Local or Loca ls and the Executive Board or its delegate shall coordinate activities towards this end in consultati on with the Local Unions involved. 5.03 To the extent required for the proper functioning of the UNA, the Executive Board, or any person to w hich the Executive Board delegates such authority, shall emp loy, retain, direct, and compensate personne l, consulta nts, lega l, accounting, and other professional personnel, and engage and pay for the use of premises and equ ipment. 5.04 No monies of the UNA shall be expended without the authorization of the Executive Board or such person or persons as the Exec~tive B~ard or a meeting of the UNA may from t1m~ to t1~e authori ze for this purpose. The manner m wh1ch monies may be withdrawn or cheques issued by the UNA shall be determined from time. to time by the Executive Board. All acts bona f1de done by any meeting of the Executive Board or by any person acti ng a.s a me ~be r. o~ the Executive Board, notw1th sta ndmg 1f 1L be afterwards discovered th at there was some defect in the appointment of any such person acting as aforesaid or that they ~r any ?f them were d isqualified, shall be va lid as 1f every person had been duly appointed .and was qualified to be a member of the Execut1ve Board. 5.05 The Executive Board may set up committees of the UNA and may appoi nt or elect a Chai r and members to the committees. The committees shall be subject to any restrictions or regulations imposed upon them by the Executive Board. ~ ARTICLE 5: POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD 5.01 (a) The Executive Board shal l be responsible for constitutional interpretation. (b) In the event of a conflict between any provision of thi s Constitution and any provision of the standard Bylaws as set out in Appendic.es "A", "B" and "C" or in the event of a confl1ct UNA Constitution • 1999 -2 000 (a) The Executive Board shal l be responsible for the formu lation and development of the general collecti ve bargaining objectives of the UNA and for the presentation of the sa id objectives to th e membership at meetings for discussion and approval. 5.06 The Executive Board, in addition to all other powers vested in it, is hereby authorized and empowered subject to the approval and authorization of the UNA as defined in Article 5.07: is detrimental to the UNA or any of its Chartered Locals; (f) Fraudulently receiving or misappropriating any property of the UNA or an y of its Chartered Loca ls; (g) Using without proper authority the name of the UNA or of the Chartered Local for soliciting funds or advertising; (a) to acquire, hold, and dispose of, real and personal property or any part thereof; and (b) to invest monies on behalf of the UNA; and (c) to borrow money for the purpose of the UNA and to give security for any money so borrowed on any of the real, personal or mixed property of the UNA by way of mortgage, pledge, charge or otherw ise. 5.07 5.08 5.09 (h) Without receiving proper authority to do so, furn ishing a complete or partial l ist of the membership of the UNA or of any Chartered Loca l to any person or persons other than those whose official position entitles them to have such a list; Authorization for the exercise of the powers li sted in Article 5.06(a) and 5.06(b) shall be by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Board subject to approval at the next A nnu al General M eeti ng. Authorization for the exercise of powers listed in Article 5.06(c) shall be ga ined by a two-thirds (2/ 3) vote of the delegates at an Annual or Special meeting prior to exercise of such powers. The business of the UNA shall be managed by the Executive Board w ho shall exerci se all such powers of the UNA and do on behalf of th e UNA all such acts as may be exercised by the UNA and as are not by law or by this Constitution required to be done by the UNA in an Annual or Special meeting of the UNA. W rongfully interfering with any officer or accredited representative of the UNA or any of its Chartered Locals in the discharge of his or her duties; (j) Circu lating reports designed or calcu lated to injure or weaken the U NA or any of its Chartered Locals; (k) Doing any act contrary to the Constitution or to the Bylaws of any Chartered Local, or failing to do any act requi red of her by the said Constitution or Bylaws, w here such conduct has the effect of injuring the UNA, the Executive Board of the UNA or any of its Charte red Locals, or i mpeding the implementation of any policy constitutionally formed by either the UNA or any of its Chartered Locals; The Executive Board may in the exercise of its powers do all such things and acts w hich in the exercise of its sole discretion better further the objectives of the UNA. ~ ARTICLE 6: DISCIPLINE OF MEMBERS 6.01 (i) (I) Any member may be charged by another member of the following offences: (a) Violating any provision of thi s Constitution or the Bylaws of any of its Chartered Locals; (b) Obtaining membership through fraudu lent means or misrepresentation; (c) Instituting, urging or advocating that a member of any of the Chartered Locals of this union should institute action in a court of law against the UNA or aga inst the Executive Board or any of its officers or against any of the Chartered Locals or any of its members in respect of any matter concerning the affairs of the U NA or any of its Chartered Locals or chartered bodies w ithout first exhausting all remedies through the forms of appeal provided in this Constitution; (d) Publishing or circulating either verbally or otherw ise amo ng th e membership false reports or misrepresentations concerning any member of the UNA in respect to any matter connected w ith the affairs of the UNA or its Chartered Locals; (e) Working in the interest of any organizati on competing w ith the U NA in a manner which 6.02 1. During the course of a strike by the UNA or any of its Chartered Loca ls fa iling to give all necessary support to the said strike. CHARGES (a) Charges for an offence enumerated under Article 6 of the Constitution may be laid by a member, or by a member on behalf of a C hartered Loca l, i n wri t i ng to the Pres ident. Charges are to include specific references to sections and articles allegedly violated and must include a plain, factual statement of the circumstances alleged. (b) Charges must be filed wi th the President w ithin one hundred and twenty (120) days of the date the complainan t first became aware of or reasonabl y should have become aware of the alleged violation of the UNA Constitution. (c) The Executive Officer (the President or a designate) shall review the charges to see if they comply with the above requi rements. If the charges do not comply, the Executive Officer may reject them and provide written notice to the complainant. A complainant may refi le a charge in proper form provided that in no circumstance shall a charge be refiled one hundred and th irty (130) ~ 5 days after the complainant first became aware of or reasonably should have become aware of the alleged violation. discretion. The rul es of evi dence need not be stri ctly adhered to. Hearsay is admissible. The onus of proving guilt is on the complain ant. If the accused does not show for the Disciplinary H earing, the h earing may continue in her absence, but the complainant must stil l prove gu ilt. The accused cannot be compe lled to testi fy. EXECUTIVE OFFICER RE VIEW 1. 2. 3. 4. The Executive Offi cer must then advise the accused by forwarding a copy of the complaint in person or by double registered mail. The accused wi ll at that time be afforded th e opportuni ty to respond in writing to the complaint, wi th in thirty (3 0) days of notification of charges. The Executive Officer must th en review the charges and th e accused's reply to determine if the compla int is frivolou s or trivia l and to determin e if it is in the best interest of the Union to proceed with a Discipl ina ry H earing. The Executive Officer at this time may also act as a fac il itator or mediator to attempt to resolve thi s matter before heari ng by a Trial Comm ittee. 5. ~ ARTICLE 7: REINSTATEMENT OF MEMBERSHIP 7.01 If the Executive Officer decides not to proceed, the complainant has a right to appeal this decision to the Executive Board. The Executive Board shal l examine th e charge and the accused 's repl y to determine if it is in the best interest of the Union to proceed. The Executive Officer shall not be entitled to discuss the merits or vote on the appeal of her decision. If the Executive Board determi nes it is not in the best interest of the Union to proceed, the charge will be dismissed. If the Executive Board dec ides it is in the best interest of the Union to proceed, the matter w ill go to a Disciplinary H earing. A Disciplinary Hearing w ill be con ducted by a Tri al Committee whose cost w ill be borne by the UNA. The complainant and the accused must each select a member in good standing as their nominee on th e Trial Committee. The two (2) n ominees wil l c hoose a C ha ir of th e Tri al Committee from a list of Trial Chairs. The list is to be co mposed of five (5) members, one (1 ) chair b eing nomin ated from eac h of the f ive (5 ) D istricts. Current Executive Board members are prohibited from being Trial Chairs and nominees. (b) A person who has been suspended from membership shall have her membership c ard h eld at Provinc i al Office for th e duration of the suspension. Such member shal l forfeit all rights and benefits under the Constitution but shall remain bound by the terms of the Constituti on. ~ ARTICLE 8: MEETINGS OF EXECUTIVE BOARD 8.01 The Executive Board shall meet at the cal l of the President o r at the request in w riting of no fewer than three (3) members of the Executive Board to th e President. In any eve nt, the Executive Board shal l meet at least three (3) times a year. 8 .02 The time and place of meetings of the Executive Board shall be determined by the President, provided that any meeting requested by no fewer than three (3) members of the Executive Board, pursuant to the prov isions of Article 8.01 '.shall be held w ithin thirty (3 0) days of the rece1pt by the Presiden t of any such request. Every Board member shall be given at least fourteen (14) days' notice of such meetings. 8.03 The majority of the members or delegated alternate members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of bu siness (a) Nominations and election s shall be in accordance wi th Article 12 of the Consti tution of the UNA. 2. If the two (2) nominees cannot d etermine which o f the five (5) Tria l Chairs to appoint, each nominee ca n remove one (1) name from the list of Tri al Chairs and a random draw of the three (3) rema ining Tri al Chairs is to be made. 3. The Di scipl inary Hearing shall be convened and conducted expeditiously. lt shall be fair and impartial and both sides may be represented b y counsel. The Trial Committee shall also be entitled to have counsel. The co sts of the counsel for the Trial Committee shall be paid by the UNA. 4. Procedures to be followed at the Disciplinary Hearin g are i n the Tri al Com mittee's so le UNA Constitution • 1999- 2000 (a) Any person who has been expelled from membership or w ho has resigned fol lowing the receipt of charges is not eligible to apfly for membership at any Chartered Loca of the UNA. Where a person w ishing to become el igible for membership in the UNA is required by the terms of Article 3.03 to apply to the Executive Board for rein statement, application shall not be made unti l one (1) yea r from th e d ate of expu lsion or d ate of resignation. Prior to the Board considering suc h an application, the applicant shall have met the criteria for reinstatement as determined by Executive Board Policy. If a p erson's m embershi p rein sta tem ent application is rejected for any reason, she shall not be eligi ble to reapply for a period of one (1) year. DISCIPLI NARY H EARING 1. On a finding of guilt, the Tri al Committee may expel, suspend or reprimand the accused, and impose conditions prior to reinstatement. The decision of th e Trial Committee is final and binding. There is no appeal. For the purpose of this article the Arbitration Act shall not apply. President of the UNA of any such request. Any such request shall specify the subjects to be considered at such a Special Meeting. provided that this quorum consists of at least one (1) District Representative or delegate alternate from each District. 8.04 Unless otherwise provided in this Constitution, any questions arising at a meeting of the Executive Board shall be decided by a majority vote of the members present. Each member of the Executive Board shall be enti tled to one (1) vote on each question which is voted upon at a meeting. 8.05 In the event that the President, Vice-President or Secretaryffreasurer should resign, die or otherwi se cease to act, the Executive Board shall elect by and from themselves a replacement until the next Annual General Meeting at which time an election shall be held in accordance with Article 12.04 or for the unexpired term as appropriate. A Leave of Absence may be taken by Executive Board Members. A written request for such Leave of Absence shall be made to the Executive Officers of the UNA for approval. The request shall include reasons for such application, the length of leave requested and the expected return date. This Leave of Absence shall not exceed six (6) months. This Leave of Absence will not be funded by the UNA. The interim replacement will receive the budgeted funding for that position. Thirty (30) days' prior w ritten notice shall be made to the Executive Officers of the UNA of the expected date of return to the position. Interim replacements shall be made in accordance with Appendix "C" Bylaws 1.3. In the event that the President, VicePresident or Secretaryffreasurer should take a Leave of Absence, the Executive Board shall elect by and from themselves a replacement for the term of the Leave of Absence or until the end of the term of office. Where an Executive Board Member is elected to replace an Executive Officer, she shall return to the unexpired term of her Executive Board office, if applicable, following the next Annual Genera l Meeting. 8.06 The Executive Officers, w ith unanimous agreement, may poll the Executive Board in emergency ci rc um st ances. Polling shall b e done in accordance with Executive Board Po licy. ~ARTICLE 9: MEETINGS OF THE UNA 9.01 (a) The UNA shall hold an Annua l General M ee tin g in t he month s of September, October or November of every calendar year at such place as may be determi ned by the Executive Board. · (b) All other meetings of the UNA sha ll be determined at the call of the President. 9.02 A Special Meeting of the UNA may be called at any time and place at the request in w riting of at least one-third (1/3) of the members of the Executive Board or of at least one-third (1/3) of the Chartered Locals which shall represent one-third (1/3) of the membership evidenced by notice in w riting signed by the President of each and shall be held wi thin forty-five (45) days of the receipt by the 9.03 Every Chartered Local shall be given at least thirty (30) days' notice of the Annuaf General Meeting and as much notice as possible of Special Meetings. The President and Secretaryffreasurer of each Chartered Local shall make every reasonable effort to inform the members of the Chartered Locals of said meeti ngs. 9.04 The form of notice of meetings shal l specify the subject to be considered at the meeting, and, in the case of Special Meetings, only such subjects as are specified in the notice call ing the meeting may be considered and acted upon at that meeting. ~ ARTICLE 10: VonNG AT MEETINGS OF THE UNA 10.01 (a) The Pres ident or the d esignate of the President of a Composite Local shal l be a delega te to any Annual , Special , Negotiations Reporting Meetings of the UNA. In addition, each of the component Chapters of the Composite Local shall have entitlement to representation by one (1) voting delegate for every seventy-five (75) members of the Chapter or part thereof; (b) At any Annual or Special M eeting of the UNA every Local other than a Composi te Local is entitled to be represented by one voting delegate for every seventy-five (75 ) members of the Loca l or part thereof; (c) The Local President shall ensure that each voting delegate elected to represent the Local is a member in good standing of the UNA. The number of voting delegates to which each Local is entitled shall be based on the number of members in the said Local, thirty (30) days prior to the Annual General M eeting. 10.02 The Local President shall ensure that each voti ng delegate elected to represent the Local is a member in good standing of the UNA. The number of voting delegates to which each Loca l is en ti tled shall be based on the number of members in the Loca l thirty (30) days pri or to the Reporting Meeting. (a) At Negotiations Demand Setting Meetings, each Composite Local shall be entitled to be represented by one (1) voting delegate for every seven ty-five (75) members or part thereof for each of its component Chapters. The voting delegate must be a member in good sta nd ing of the UNA and sha ll be elected at a meeting of the component Chapter. In regards to the Demand Setting Meeting, there will be a maximum of ten (1 0) voting delegates per Chapter. (b) At Negotiati ons Demand Setting Meetings every Local other than a Composi te Local of the UNA shal l be entitled to be represented by one (1) voting delegate for every seventyfive (75) members of the Local or part thereof. ~ 7 The voting delegate must be a member in good standing of the UNA and shall be elected at a meeting of the Chartered Local. In regards to the Demand Setting Meeti ~g, there wi ll be a maximum of ten (10) vot1ng delegates per Local. (c) At Negotiations Reportin g Me~t ings each Composite Local sha ll be en titled to be represen ted by one (1) voting delegate for every seventy-five (75) members or part thereof. The voting delegate(s) must be a member in good standing of the UNA and shall be e l ecte d at a meetin g of the component Chapter. (d) At Negotiations Reporting Meetings each Chartered Local shall be entitled to be represented by one (1) voting delegate for every seventy-five (75) members or part thereof. The voti ng delegate(s) must be a member in good standing of the UNA and shal l be elected at a meeting of the Chartered Local. 10.03 The Chair of the Meeting shal l appoint scrutineers. 10.04 The scrutineers shall arrange for the holding of any vote; shall distribute, col lect and ~aunt_ banots if used; and shall report the results m wntmg to the meeting. 10.05 Two-thirds (2/3) of the registered voting delegates, including a representative from each ~istrict, sha!l constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 10.06 Unless otherwise provided in this Constitution, any resolution presented at a meeting of the UNA or of any of its committees shall be deemed_ to have been carri ed if a majority of th e votmg delegates present vote in favour of it. 10.07 10.08 10.09 11.04 ~ARTICLE 12: ELECTIONS 12.01 All Officers, other than those deemed elected by acclamation, shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting by _a majority of the voting delegates present and votmg. 12.02 All elections shall be by secret ballot, unless otherw ise provided in the Constitution. 12.03 The Legislative Committee or any known pers~ms acting w ith its authority shal l prepare nom1nat1on forms for the Annual General M eeting and shal l send them to the President and Secretary of each Chartered Local and to the Chapter Chair and Chapter Recorder of each Chapter at least _sixty (60) days prior to the Annual General Meetmg. 12.04 The offices of President, Secretary/Treasurer and one-half (1/2) or the majority of District Representatives in each District, shall be elected in the years ~nding with even numbers. The offices of 1st and 2nd Vi ce-Presidents and one-half (1 /2) or the minority of District_ Representatives_ in ea~h Distri ct shall be elected m the years endmg w 1th uneven' numbers. Each District shall elect their Trial Chairs annual ly. 12.05 A Distri ct Representative who accepts a nomination for an Executive Officer position to be elected at an Annual General Meeting other than the Annual General Meeting at which that person's term of office ends: (a) shal l be deemed to have resigned the District Representative position upon the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting at w hich the election tak es pla ce regardless of the outcome of th e election; Voting shall be by show of hands unl~ss the Chair otherwise directs or unless otherw1se prov1ded hereinafter. At an'( Annual General_ Meeting or Special ~eet­ ing o UNA and Negot1at1ons Demand Settmg or Negotiations Reporting Meeting, every member of the Executive Board shall have a vote as though she were an accredited voting delegate. Unless otherwise specified, any decis ion adopted at a meeting shall take effect forthwith at the conclusion of the meeting. (b) shall not be eligible to seek election as a Di stri ct Representative in the election to fi ll the vacancy created. 12.06 Each D istri ct Representative and each Chair of th e Trial Commi ttee must be a member of a Chartered Local in the Distri ct she represents. Only members from the Di strict may_ nof!lin_ate her and only voting delegates from sa1d D1stn cts are entitled to vote in her election. 12.07 Upon receipt of nomination forms, the President of each Local shall make every reasonable effort to inform the Local thatthe Legislative Committee wil l receive nominations pursuant to this Article. 12.08 Each nominat ion shall be on a proper form bearing the name of the nominee and signatures of two (2) members in good standing of the UNA. 12.09 Nominations shall be accepted until forty-five (45) days prior to the Annual General Meeting or from the floor at the Annual General Meeti ng onl y in the absence of an official nomination. If, at the ~ ARTICLE 11: Sm1KE VOTES & RAnFJC.ATION VOTES 11 .01 Strike votes and ratification votes shall be conducted by secret ballot. 11.02 O nly UNA members shall have the right to vote in strike and ratification votes. 11.03 An information meeting shall be held at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to commencement of strike and ratifi cation votes. UNA Constituti o n • 1999 - 2000 Strike votes and ratifi cation votes shall be conducted on al l shifts w ithin a twenty-four (2 4) hour period . 12. 10 12. 11 12 .1 2 close of nominations, a single candidate has been nominated for any position, that person shall be deemed to have been elected by acclamation. A declaration of acclamation by the Chair of the Legislative Committee shall occur for all filled posi tions at the time of nomination deadline. 13.02 (a) The UNA shal l have the right to levy assessments in an urgent/crisis situation upon its duespayers, provided that any such assessment must fi rst be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at an Annual or Special M eeti ng of the UNA. Prior notice will be given. The Chair and two (2) members of the Legislative Committee shall send a notice regarding el ections to the President of the UNA and to the President of each Local and delegate no later than thirty (3 0) days before the An nual General M eeting. This notice shall include the list of candidates, the list of vaca ncies requiring elections at the Annua l G eneral M eeti ng, and the names of nomi nees decl ared acclaimed in accordance with Article 12.08. Every reasonable effort shall be made to inform the members of the Local. (b) The UNA shall have the right to levy assessm ents fo r specia l purposes upo n its du espayers, p rovided tha t any such assessment is subject to the provisions in Article 13 .Ol(a). If there are not enough candidates to fi ll all vacant positions, nominations shall be received from the fl oor. The Chair wi ll declare nominati ons cl osed after three (3) calls for nominations, unless a moti on to postpone nominations has been passed by the assembly. In the event that any Chartered Local or a Chapter of a Composite Local fa ils to elect Executive O ff icers as provided in this Constitution and the respective Bylaws, the President, or her designate, of th e United Nurses of A lberta shall ca ll a meeting of the members of the Chartered Loca l or a Chapter thereof for the purpose of electing the offi cers of the Chartered Local or a Chapter thereof. 13.03 Any funds owed to the UNA by a Chartered Local pursuant to the provisions of this Const itution shall consti tute a preferred claim and must be paid promptly by the Chartered Local each month prior to t he payment of any other obligati ons of the Chartered Local. 13.04 (a) UNA dues shall be one point one percent (1.1%) of gross income, w ith a minimum of ten dollars and eighty-three cents ($10.83) per duespayer per month or five dollars ($5.00) per bi-weekly pay period. (b) The UNA shall issue to each Chartered Local other than a Composi te Local, a monthly rebate. Monthly rebate of dues to Chartered Loca ls other than Composite Locals shall be as follows: (A) For Locals with fifty (50) duespayers or less the rebate shal l be five dollars ($5 .00) per duespayer per month for the fi rst th irty (30) duespayers. For the next ten (10) duespayers or part thereo f the reba te shall be three dollars ($3 .00) per duespayers per month. For all remai ning duespayers the rebate shall be two dollars ($2.00) per duespayer per month. (B) For Locals with more than fifty (50) duespayers, the rebate shall be four dollars ($4 .00) per duespayer per month for the first thirty (30) duespayers. For the next one hundred (100) duespayers or part thereof, the rebate shall be three dollars ($3.00) per duespayer per month. For the next one hundred (100) duespayers or part thereof, the rebate shall be two dollars ($2 .00) per duespayer per month. For al l remai ning duespayers, the rebate sha ll be o ne dol l ar ($1.00) per duespayer per month except Locals w ith 51-56 duespayers per month shall receive a flat rate of two hundred dol lars ($200.00) per month. ~ARTICLE 13: REVENUE 13.0 1 The revenue of the UNA shall be derived as follows: (a) Each Chartered Local shall remit to the UNA each month such sum as may be determined from time to time, subject to the restrictions in this Arti cle, by the UNA at an Ann ual or Special Meeti ng. Any change in the dues structure must be ratifi ed by a two-thirds (2/ 3) vote of the delegates at an Annua l or Special Meeti ng. Any change in the dues structure resulting in an increase in dues must be supported by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of th e del ega tes at an A nnu al o r Specia l M eeting and shall be subject to a posit ive majori ty Membership Ratifi cati on Vote held in accordance w ith Article 11 of the UNA Consti tuti on. A ny dues increase must be supported by the majority of members and the majority of Locals voting. (b) The charter fee to establ ish a new Chartered Local shall be one do llar ($ 1.00). (c) The UNA may accept any donation, grant, bequest or other form of transfer of funds or properties from any charitable, governmental, educational or other source and may agree w ith the transferrer to devote the funds or proper properties so transferred to any specific purpose consistent with the objecti ves of the UNA w ithout any political bias or favours. (c) The UNA shall issue to each component Chapter of a Composite Local a monthly rebate. The monthly rebate of dues to each component Chapter of a Composite Local shal l be as fol lows: ~ 9 (A) (B) For Chapters w ith fifty (50) duespayers or less the rebate shall be five do llars ($5 .00) per duespayer per month for the fi rst thirty (30) duespayers. For the next ten (1 0) duespayers or part thereof the rebate shall be three dollars ($3.00) per duespayers per month . For all remaining duespayers the rebate sha ll be two doflars ($2 .00) per duespayer per month. For Chapters w ith more than fifty (5 0) duespayers th e rebate shall be three dollars ($3.00) per duespayer per month for the f irst thirty (3 0) duespayers. For the next one hundred (1 00) duespayers or part thereof the rebate shall be two dollars ($2.00) per duespa yer per month . For all remaining duespayers the rebate shall be one dollar ($ 1 .00) per duespayer per month. (d) Locals that have not had their books audited as per Appendix "A", Bylaw XII Finances for a period in excess of fourteen (14) months, shall have their dues rebates held in trust until such time as their books have been audited by UNA Provincial Office. (e) There shall be an Emergency Fund. A minimum of three million dollars (cash value) shall be in the Eme rgency Fund at the comm encemen t of pro v incial group bargaining. Contributions to the Emergency Fund shall be allocated from dues revenue and determined on an annual basis by the Executive Board. 13.05 In the event of a strike or the approval of a loan or donation to other Trade Unions, assistance, as determi ned from time to time by the Executi ve Board, shall be drawn from the Emergency Fund. 13.06 Any member paying dues at more than one (1) source shall, upon request w ith submission of pay slips, receive from Provincial Office a reimbursement of dues paid in excess of the amount set out in Article 13.04. w~ ARTICLE 14: AuDIT 14.01 The fiscal year of UNA shall be January 1 to December 31 unless otherwise designated by the Executive Board. There shall be an auditor of the UNA w ho shall not be a member, employee, or relative of an employee, of the UNA; and who shall be a Chartered Accountant. fh e Executive Board shall appoint an audi tor annually. Th e auditor shall conduct an audit once every year and shall submit a written report to the Annual General Meeting and to each Local at least one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the Annual General Meeting. ~ ARTICLE 15: CHARTERED LOCALS 15.01 (a) The UNA may issue a Charter to any group of five (5) members or more, eligible for membership under Article 3, and the group UNA Constitution • 1999- 2000 sha11 thereafter be referred to as a "Chartered Local". (b) The UNA shall determine the type of charter to be issued to any group eligible for membership under Article 3. There shall be two (2) typ es of c harters, Composite Loca l charters and Local charters. Th e number, jurisdiction and type of Loca l shall be as determined by the United Nurses of Alberta. (c) A Co mposite Loca l i s a Local w hich represents a group of employees appropriate for the purpose of bargaining collectively, w hich group of employees encompasses the employees of a single employer w ho are employed at more than one (1) instituti on or geographic location. A Composi te Local is comprised of two (2) or more component Chap ters. A component Ch apter of a Composite Local is a group of at least five (5) employees of an employer employed at a single instituti on or geographic location. (d) The UNA may determ ine that a Chapter of a Composite Local shall consist of all members w ho are employed by the same employer at a single institution o r location or m ay determine that a Chapter shall consist of all employees employed by an employer within a des ign ated departm ent or di vis ion of operations of the employer at one (1) or more institutions or locations. (e) The UNA may determine that the employees of an employer at an inst itution or locati on should be part of a Composite Local but th at th ere are too few empl oyees to warrant hav ing th eir own Chapter and Chapter Officers in which case the UNA may require the said employees to affil iate w ith and be part of another group of employees for the purpose of compri si ng part of a component Chapter of a Composite Local. (f) Subject to the provi sions of Arti cl e 15.03 the Bylaws contained in Appendix "B" shall be the Bylaws of every Chartered Composite Local. 1 5.02 (a) Subject to the provi sions of Articl e 15.03 the Bylaws contained in Appendix "A" shall be the Bylaws of every Chartered Local other than a Composite Local. (b) In the event of confl ict between any cl ause of this Constitution and any clause of the Bylaws of a Chartered Composite Loca l or a Chartered Local this Constitution shall be paramount and the clause in this Constitution shall apply. 15.03 (a) Except as a result of amendment to Append ix "A" or Appendix "B" at a meeting of the UNA, the Byl aws of Chartered Loca ls may be amended onl y w ith the approva l of a twothirds (2/3) vote of those members present and voti ng at duly constituted meetings of the Chartered Loca l, or in the case of a (ii ) Composite Loca l, at du l y co nst ituted meetings of the Chapters of the Composite Loca l, a nd with th e appro va l of the Executive Board of the UNA. Where the Executive Board determines that the Charter of a Chartered Local is to be revo ked or a Tru stee or Trustees are appointed pursuant to the provisions of this Article, the Chartered Local shall be entitled to a fair hearing before the Executive Board w ithin three (3) months. Any action of the Executive Board under this Article may be appealed to the Annual General Meeting. (b) Bylaws of a Chartered Local w hich were amended or altered prior to November 8, 1984 in accordance with the Consti tution of the UNA at that time shall be deemed to have been amended or altered in accordance with Article 15.03 (a). 15.04 All Collective Agreements with employers of members shall be signed by two (2) Executive Officers of the Chartered Loca l as the contracting party on beha lf of the members affected. 15.05 (a) If the Executive Officers of Un ited Nurses of A lberta have or receive information w hich leads them to believe that any of the officers of a Chartered Local of United Nurses of Alberta are dishonest or incompetent, or that such Chartered Local is not being conducted in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of United Nurses of Alberta, or for the benefit of the membership, or is being conducted in such a manner as to jeopardi ze the interests of the United Nurses of Alberta, or if the Executive Officers believe that such action is necessary for the purpose of co rrect in g corru pti on or financial malpractice, assuring the performance of collective bargain ing agreements or other bargaining representative duties, restoring democratic procedures or preventing any action which is disruptive of, or interferes w ith the performance of ob Iigations of other me mbers o r Cha rtered Locals under col lective bargaining agreements, or otherw ise carrying out legitimate objectives of the United Nurses of Alberta, the Executive O fficers may place the Chartered Local in immediate interim Tru steesh ip pending an investi gation in accorda nce with the provisions of Article 15.05 (b). The Executive Officers shal l immediate ly notify th e Executive Board of such action, and shal l arrange for a Special Executive Boa rd Meeting to consider the matter. (b) In any situation in w hich there is reason to believe that a Chartered Local has adopted or undertaken policies or activities contrary to the principles and policies of the UNA, and where a Chartered Local has been placed in interim Trusteeship, the Executive Board shal l have the pow~r upon a twothirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Board to conduct an investigation into the affairs of the Chartered Loca l and to require the Chartered Local to amend and rectify any pal icies or activities contrary to the principles and pol icies of the UNA, and the Executive Board may: (i) appoint a Trustee or Trustees for the Chartered Local, or revoke the Charter of the Chartered Local on such terms and conditions as the Executive Board may see fit. If the Annual General Meeting is scheduled for three (3) months or more from the date of the decision of the Executive Board, the Chartered Local may, with at least one-third (1/3) of the Executive Board or one-third (1I 3) of the Chartered Loca ls which shall represent one-third (1/3) of the membership, demand a Special Meeting of the UNA. This Special Meeting shall be held within two (2) months to consider the Trusteeshi p or suspended Charter. 15.06 (a) Where the Executive Board makes an order provided for in Article 15.05, the Executive Boa rd may orde r t hat all fu nds and p roperties of any na ture held by the Chartered Local shall be held in trust for the purpose of effecting a reorgani zation of th e said Chartered Local. If such a reorgani zation is effected, such funds and properties of the Chartered Local shall be reinvested with the Chartered Local for its use and benefit. If the Chartered Loca l is not re-organized within a period of one (1) year, such funds and properties shal l revert to the provincial funds of the UNA. (b) W here the Executive Board orders that all funds and properties held by a Chartered Local sha ll be held in trust of the UNA, it shall be the duty of th e Officers of the Chartered Local to deliver forthwith all funds and properties of any nature held by th e Chartered Local to the Trustee or Trustees appointed pursuan t to the provisions of this Article or dul y authorized agent who shall be entitled to take immediate possession of all funds, properties, books and records of the Chartered Local and shall have authority to bring appropriate legal proceedings to secure such fu nds, properties, books and records. ~ ARTICLE 16: MERGER AND TRANSFE R 16.01 The United Nurses of Alberta may merge or amalgamate with another Union , may accept a transfer of jurisdiction from another Union and may transfer jurisdiction to another Union at a meeting of the UNA by adoption of a motion passed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those delegates present and voting. ~ 11 16.02 l OCAl M ERGER AND/OR T RANS FER sentation to the Annua l General Meeting; (a) A Chartered Local may merge and/or transfer its jurisdiction, rights, privileges, duties and assets to one (1) or more Chartered Locals. (ii) (b) The Chartered Local transferring and the Ch artered Loca l (s) recei vi ng and th e Executive Board must each approve of the merger and/or transfer. (ii i) (c) A meeting between the parties must be held for the transfer and/or merger. (d) The transfer and/or merger must be approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the members voting at each Local concerned by secret ballot. The voting shall be conducted in accordance with Article 11 : Strike Votes and Ratification Votes. (iv) (e) A Chartered Loca l may also merge with another bargaining agent for the purpose of acquiring its jurisdiction, rights, pri vi leges, duties and assets. (v) ~ ARTICLE 17: CoNSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND POLICY RESOLUTIONS 17.01 17.02 17.03 Thi s Constitution may be amended or altered only at a meeting of the UNA by a two-thirds (2/ 3) vote of those voting delegates present and voti ng. Except where otherwise required in this Constitution a resolution shall requi re a simple majority to pass. There shall be a Constitution and Resolutions Review Committee struc k by the Legislative Committee of the Executive Board . The function of suc h Comm ittee shall be to facilitate the processing of constitutional amendments and pol icy resolutions for the UNA's Annual General Meeting. 17.04 (a) Throughout the year and up to one hundred (100) days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting, any member may submit to the Constitution and Resolutions Review Comm ittee a resolution or constitu tional amendment in writi ng signed by such member. The Executive Board shall have the right to submit an y resolut i on to th e Committee at any time up to the date of the meeting. Late resol utions shall be submitted to the Constitution and Resolutions Review Committee who shall consider the urgency of the resolution . Only late resolutions deemed to be of an urgent nature shall be placed before the meeting. (b) The proposer shall have the right to appea l the Com mittee's decision by having her appeal placed before the General Assembly of the meeting. 17.05 (a) The Constitution and Resol utions Review Committee shall: (i) receive and prepa re constitutional amendments and resolutions for pre- U N A Con stitut ion • 1999 - 2000 17.06 17.07 17.08 have power to el iminate duplications in cons tituti onal amendments and resolutions submitted, after consultation with and agreement of the proposer; have the power to determine the order in w hich constitutional amendments and resolutions will be presented to the meeting; have power to ed it constitutional amendments and resolutions provided that the purpose of any such amendment or resolution is not changed and only after consultation with and agreement of the proposer; This organization shall be known as the United Nurses of Alberta (here inafter referred to as the "Chartered Local"). 1. The affai rs of the Chartered Local shall be admi nistered by an Executive wh ich shall be composed of the follow ing: 1) 2) 3) 4) Pres ident Vice-President Secretary Treasurer --~ BYLAW Ill: REPRESENTATIVES The Consti tution and Resol utions Review Committee shall prepare a report which shall be sent to the President and Secretary of each Chartered Loca l at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual General M eeting. Th is report shall contain all constitutional amendments and resolutions and their rati onale. An appropriate number of representatives may be elected by and from the members of the Chartered Local to represent nurses and other all ied personnel employed in specific areas or functions of their employer's establishment. The said represen tatives may be appointed by the Executive if a majority of the members of the Chartered Local at a meeting authorizes the Executive to appoint such representatives as it sees fit. All constitutional amendments and resolutions must: ~ BYLAW IV: CoMMITTEEs (a) deal with only one (1) subject; There shall be a Grievance Committee. The Local is to decide the composition of this Committee. One of the members of the Committee shall act as the Chair. The members of the Grievance Committee shall be elected at an Annual or Special Meeting of the Chartered Local. A Parliamentarian shall be appointed for each Annual General Meeting. ~ ART1CLE 19:DISSOLUT10N OFA CHARTERED LocAL When a Chartered Loca l dissolves for any reason, including as a result of an institution closure, decertification, or charter revocation, all funds, property and books of the Chartered Local shall be turned over to and shall become the property of the United N urses of Alberta. However, in no event shall the United Nurses o f Alberta without its consent become liable for the obligations of the Chartered Local. Nominations for the Executive and for other positions for which elections are held shal be received from the floor. 3. All elections shall be by secret ballot or show of hands. ~ BYLAW VI: VACANCIES 1. A leave of absence may be taken by Local Executive members. A written request for such leave o f absence shall be made to the Local Executive and the Local for approval. The request shall include reasons for such application, the length of leave requested and the expected return date. This leave of absence shall not exceed six (6) months. This leave of absence shall not be funded by UNA. 2. In the event that a member or members of the Executive of the Chartered Local should resign, die or otherwise cease to act, the Executive shall appoint from the members of the Chartered Local a rep lacement until the next General Meeting. As much notice as possible will be given of this meeting and an election will be held to fill the vacancy according to Appendix "A" 13ylaw V.2 and 3. The Executive shall meet at least once every four (4) months. The Local may determine additional positions to those listed under Bylaw 11 1. Throughout these Bylaws, the term "President" shall be deemed to refer to the President of the Chartered Local unless otherwise expressly stated. All standing committees of the Chartered Local shall be elected by the membership. The Executive may set up special committees of the Chartered Local and may appoint the members of each such committee from the members of the Chartered Local, the Chair to be chosen by the Executive and to be entitled to a casting vote in the case of a tie. The Executive may delegate any of its powers to any such committees. These committees shall be subject to any restrictions or regulations imposed upon them by the Executive. ~ BYLAW V: ELECTIONS 1. The Executive shall be elected at Annual General Meetings. Each term of office shall begin upon the adjournment of the Annual General Meeting at w hich the election to the office takes place and shall continue for a period of two (2) years, more or less, until the conclusion of the second Annual General Meeting thereafter. Where the Chartered Local so determ ines, some of the Executive Offic- any 2. ~BYLAW 11: EXECUTIVE A majority of the members of the Constitution and Resolutions Review Committee shall constitute a quorum. The ru les of procedure and order of business at Meetings of the UNA shall be govern ed by Robert's Rules of Order. ers may be elected in years ending with even numbers and the remaining may be elected in years ending in odd numbers. ~BYLAW 1: NAME 2. ORDER OF BUSINESS AT MEETINGS OF THE UNA 19.01 OTHER THAN COMPOSITE LOCALS (b) The proposer shall have the right to appeal the Committee's decision by having her appeal placed before the General Assembly. ~ ARTICLE 18: RuLES OF PROCEDURE AND 18.02 BYLAWS GovERNING CHARTERED LocALS have the power to propose constitutional amendments up to forty-five (45) days prior to the Annua l Genera l Meeting. (b) be submitted on the appropriate forms before respective deadlines. 18.01 APPENDIX "A": ~BYLAW VII: ELECTION OF VOTING DELEGATE 1. Any two (2) members of the Chartered Local may nominate a voting delegate provided that they produce satisfactory proof that the consent of the nominee to stand for election has been obtained. 2. A voting delegate and an alternate voting delegate to attend any meeting of the United Nurses o f Alberta (hereinafter referred to as the UNA) shall be elected by a majority vote of those members of the Chartered Local present at a meeting of the Chartered Local. The alternate voting delegate shall act whenever the voting delegate is unable to do so. The number of alternates shall be determined by the Local. 3. Both the voting delegate and the alternate voting delegate shall be members of the Chartered Local. ~BYLAW VIII: MEETINGS 1. Once in every calendar year, there shall be an Annual General Meetin9 of the Chartered Local. At least two (2) weeks notice shall be given. During the Annual General Meeting, the local budget shall be presented and approved, reports shall be presented by each member of the Executive, the affairs of the Chartered Local shall be reviewed and planned, and elections shall be held. The Chartered Local's Annual Genera l Meeting shall be held by December 31st of each year. ~ 13 6. The Financial Return and Annual audit sha ll be presented to the membership at the next Annual General Meeting of the Chartered Local. ~BYLAW XIII: (g) The Chartered Local may amend the Bylaws governing the Chartered Local as set out in Appendix "A". The amendments must be approved by the Executive Board of the United Nurses of Alberta. Dues AND AssessMENTS 1. The Chartered Loca l may establish initiation fees and monthly dues higher than those set by the United Nurses of Alberta. 2. The Chartered Local may levy assessments for special purposes upon its members, provided that any assessment must f irst be approved at a meeting of the Chartered Local. (h) The merger must be approved by the Executive Board of the UNA. (i) --~ BYLAW XIV: 2. MERGER A Chartered Local may merge with another bargaining agent for the purpose of acqu iring its jurisdiction, rights, privileges, duties and assets. 1. Where two (2) or more Chartered Loca ls merge, the following shall apply: The Chartered Local may, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present at a meeting of the Chartered Local ca lled for that purpose of which notice has been given to the members, merge w ith and transfer its jurisdiction, rights, privileges, duties and assets to o ne (1) or more other Chartered Locals. (a) O ne (1 ) or more Chartered Locals must be w illing to transfer. (b) Another Cha rtered Local or Locals must be wi lling to receive the Loca l. (c) The Local wishing to merge must call a meeting for the purpose of merger and transfer. Notice must be given of this meeting. At the meeting a motion is made to "merge and transfer its jurisdiction, rights, privileges, duties and assets to the transferee". The motion must be passed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present at the meeting. The vote on this motion shall be in accordance with Articles 11 and 16 of the Consti tu tion. (d) A meeting of the receiving Local or Locals must be cal led for the purpose of approving the merger and transfer. Notice must be given of this meeting. At this meeting a motion is made to "approve the merger and transfer". The motion must be passed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present at the meeting. Th e vote on this motion shal l be in accordance with Articles 11 and 16 of the Constitution. Once the Secretary/Treasurer of the UNA receives notice and documents pertaining to the merger, a new or amended Charter snail be issued. W here a Chartered Local or Locals merges w ith anoth er barga ining agent, which is not a Chartered Local of UNA, for the purposes of acquiring its jurisdiction, rights, privileges, duties and assets, the following shall apply: (a) A meeting of the receiving Local or Locals must be called for the purpose of approving the merger and transfer. Notice must be given of this meeting. At this meeting a motion is made to "approve the merger and transfer". The motion must be passed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present at the meeting. The vote on this motion shall be in accordance with Artic l e 11 of the Constitution. (b) The merger must be approved by the Executive Board of the UNA. ~ BYLAW XV: TRUSTEESHIP Whenever a Trustee for a Chartered Loca l has been appointed pursuant to Article 15.05 of the Constitution of the UNA, such Trustee shall take over the complete direction, control and supervision of the Chartered Local. ~BYLAW XVI: COLLECTIVE BARGAINING The United Nurses of Alberta shall be empowered to negotiate and enter into regiona l, local or area wide col lective bargai ning agreements on behalf of the Chartered Local. ~ BYLAW XVII : AMENDMENTS The Bylaws of a Chartered Local may be amended only in accordance with Article 15 of the Constitution of the UNA. (e) A meeting of both parties is ca lled by the President of each. Two (2) weeks' notice must be given of thi s meeting. At the meeting a motion is made to approve the merger and transfer. (f) Election for Officers of the Chartered Local w hich has resulted from the merger wil l be held. ~ 15 APPENDIX "B" CHARTERED COMPOSITE LOCAL BYLAWS ~BYLAW 1: NAME AND JURISDICTION signified in writing their willingness to be a candidate for this office. This organization shall be known as Composite Local # _ of the United Nurses of Alberta and shall have jurisdiction over UNA members who are employed at (Institutions and/ or geographic locations) . The component Chapters of this Composite Local shall be as follows: (NOTE: The Executive Board in consultation with and upon the advice of the Loca l w ill decide the component Chapters) (d) The Chapter Recorder of each Chapter shall forthwith report to the President of the Composite Loca l the names of al l nominees w here upon the President of the Composite Local will compile a list of all nominated candidates and shall transmit same to each of the respective Chapter Chairs for the conduct of elections. A Chapter Treasurer may be assigned to be responsible for the safekeeping of the monies of the Composite Local and shall keep a record of all financial transactions. ~BYLAW 11: OBJECTIVES The objectives of this Composite Local shall be: (a) to support the objectives and activities of the U nited Nurses of Alberta; (b) to promote effective communicatio n between and amongst the UNA, the Composite Local, its component Chapters its members and the employer; (c) to advance wi thin its jurisdiction the social, economic and general welfare of nurses and other allied personnel; (f) (d) to regulate within its jurisdiction, relations between nurses and other allied personnel and their employer; (e) to co-ord inate the activities of its Chapters; and (f) to participate with in its jurisdiction in collective bargaining. (g) Each term of office shal l begin upon the adj o urnm ent of the Annual General Meeting at which the election to the office takes place and shall continue for a period of two (2) yea rs, more or less, until the conclusion of the second Annual General Meeting thereafter. (e) Voting for the position of President shal l take place at the June meeting at each of the respective Chapters and shall be conducted on the basis of al l candidates nominated by the respective Chapters. ~BYLAW Ill: MEMBERSHIP (h) The results of the balloting of each of the respective Chapters for the position of President shall be tallied and the combined votes of the Chapters shall determine the results of the election. The President and Chapter C hai rs shall take offi ce as Composite Local Officers on the first day of Ju ly in the year of the election. Any person who is employed within the jurisdiction of this Composite Local and who is a member in good standing of the United Nu rses of Alberta shall be a member of this Composite Local and shall be a member of one of its component Chapters. ~ BYLAW IV: ExEclJTlVE OFFICERS oF THE 3. The Executive Officers of the Composite Local shal l meet from time to time and at least once every three (3) months at t he call of the President of the Composite Local and shall be responsible for the co-ordination of the activities of the Chapters and for the implementation of policies of the Composite Local. Meetings may be cond ucted by telephone, teleconference, computer or in person. 4. The Executive Officers of the Composite Local shall be its signing officers for the purposes of signing collective agreements. COMPOSrTE LocAL 1. The affa irs of this Composite Local shall be administered by an Executive which shall be composed of its President and the Chapter Chairs of each of its component Chapters. 2. (a) Nominations for the position of President shall be solicited at the regular meeting of each component Chapter in May of election years. (b) The members of any Chapter of a Composite Local m ay nominate members of that Chapter or of any other Chapter of th e Composite Local for election to the office of President of the Composite Local. (c) No member shall be nominated for office of the President unless they are present or have UNA Constitution • 1999- 2000 The President of the Composite Local shall be elected by the combined vote of the members of each of its component Chapters. ~ BYLAW V: DUTIES OF ExECUTIVE OFFICERS OF A CoMPOSITE LocAL 1. President: The President shall be the senior Executive Officer of the Composite Local and shal l record o f the membership of the Chapter. act as Chair at all meetings of the Executive of the Composi te Local and at all meetings of the Composite Local. The Chapter Treasurer shal l carry out duties as assigned by the Chapter Executive. 2. Chapter Chairs: The duly elected Chapter Chair of each of the Chapters of a Composite Local shall also serve as an Executive Officer of the Composite Loca l. 3. In the case of a tie vote, the President shall cast the deciding vote at a Composite Local meeting or of the Executive Officers of the Composite Local. (b) On ly members in good standing of the respective Chapter are el igib le to nominate candidates for office or vote i n elections for its Chapter Officers. 4. The President of the Composi te Loca l shall be an ex-offic io member of all committees of the Composite Local. The Composite Loca l President and each of the Chapter Chairs or thei r designates shall represent the Composite Local o n the District Committee of the United Nurses of A lberta. (c) No member shall be nominated for Chapter office unless t hey are present or have signified in writi ng their w il lingness to be a candidate for a Chapter office. 3. (d) Each term of o ff ice shall begin upon the adjournment of the Annual General Meeting at w hich the election to the office takes place and shall continue for a period of two (2) years, more or less, u nti l the conclu sion of the seco nd A n nual General Meeting thereafter. W here the Chapter so determines, some of the Chapter officers may be elected in years endi ng with even numbers and the remaining may be elected in years ending in odd numbers. ~BYLAW VI: CHAPTER OFFICERS 1. The affairs of each Chapter of a Composite Loca l shall be administered by an Executive of Chapter Officers which shall be made up of the following: (a) (b) (c) (d) Chapter Chair Chapter Vice-Chair Chapter Recorder Chapter Treasurer (e) Voting shal l be by secret ballot and the candidate receiving the highest number of votes for each Chapter office shal l be declared elected. The Chapter may determine addi tional positions to those listed under Bylaw VI 1. 2. The duties of Chapter officers shall be as follows: (a) Chapter Chair: the duties shall be similar to those of a Local President but shall in no way conflict with those of the President of the Composite Local. Each Chapter C hair shal l also serve as a member of the Executive of the Composite Local and shall carry out such duties as are assigned by the President of the Composite Local. In the case of a t ie vote, the Chapter Chairs shall cast th e deciding vote at each of their Chapter meetings. (b) The Chapter Vice-Chair: shall carry out such duti es as are ass i gned b y th e Chapter Executive and shall act in lieu of the Chapter Chair in th e absence of the Chapter Chair. (c) The Chapter Recorder: shall keep a record of al l meetings of the Chapter and of al l meetings of the Chapter Officers. The Chapter Recorder shall be responsible for the correspondence of the Chapter and in conjunction w ith the Chapter Treasurer shall keep a record of the membership of the Chapter. ~~~~ B YLAW VII: MEETINGS OF CHAPTER OFFICERS Chapter Officers shall meet at least once every fou r (4) mon ths. ~~~~ BYLAW VIII: CHAPTER MEETINGS 1. No Chapter shall hold any meeting contemporaneously wi th any Special Meeting of the Composite Local. 2. Each Chapter of a Composite Loca l shal l hold General Meeti ngs at least quarterly. 3. Special meetings of the Chapter may be cal led by the Chai r of the Chapter. 4. There shall be an An nual General Meeting of each Chapter of a Composite Loca l of which two (2) weeks notice shall be given. 5. The Executive Officers o f the Composite Local namely, the President of the Composite Local and each of its Chapter Chai rs shal l attend and report to the membership of the respective Chapters at their respecti ve Annual General Meetings wi th respect to the affairs of the Composite Local. The Chapter Recorder shal l carry out duties as assigned by the Chapter Executive. (d) The Chapter Treasurer: shal l be responsibl e for the safekeep ing of the monies of th e Chap ter and sh al r keep a record of al l financia l transactions. The Chapter Treasurer sha l l make a fi nanc ial report at Chapter meetings and at Executive Meetings of the Chapter. The C hapter Recorder shal l keep a (a) Chapter Officers shal l be nom inated and elected at an Annua l General Meeting of each Chapter. ~ BYLAW IX: CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF THE COMPOSITE LOCAL 1. M eetings of the Chapters of a Composite Local shall constitute and be consi dered the regular meetings of the Composi te Local. ~ 17 ~ SHORT-TERM GOALS 1. Free collective bargaining for all UNA members. 2. Ensure that all Hospital Chartered Locals w ill have a functional Professional Responsibility Committee and Occupational Health and Safety Comm ittee as per the Hospitals Contract. Monthly minutes shall be sent to Provincial Office. 3. Ensure that Chartered Loca l leadersh ip is processing grievances at the Local or Chapter level up to Step 3 of the grievance procedure. 4. Ensure participation by rank and file members during negotiations by reinforcement of the process set up for collective bargai ning. 5. A ll Chartered Loca l Executives including Chapter Executive, Committee Members and Ward Representatives shall have the opportunity to attend workshops, as appropriate. 6. (a) Ensure that financial expenditures of the UNA reflect the budgetary allotments. (b) Proper documentation of expenditures. (c) Ensure the implementation of a documentation system for expenditures. UNA Constitution • 1999 - 2000 3. 4. 5. The Chapter Chair shall ensure that each voting delegate elected to represent a Chapter of the Composite Loca l is a member in good standing of the UNA. The number of voting delegates to which each Chapter of the Composite Local is entitled shall be based on the number of members in the said Chapter thirty (30) days prior to the Annual General Meeting. Both the voting delegate and the alternate voting delegate shall be members of the Chapter of the Composite Loca l which elects them as delegates. office for any reason shall within one (1) month turn over to a cu rrent Officer of the respective Chapter all documents, assets and property of the Chapter in that person's possession. ~ BYLAW XVI: FINANCES OF THE CoMPOSITE LOCAL 1. The Executi ve Officers of each Composite Local shall prepare and submi t an annual budget to the Finance Committee of the UNA. 2. The revenue of a Composite Local shall be derived as fol lows: Any two (2) members of a respective Chapter of a Composite Loca l may nominate as a delegate to a United Nurses of A lberta meeting another member of the respective Chapter provided that the nominator produces satisfactory proof that the consent of the nominee to stand for election has been obtained. 6. Each voting delegate and alternate voting delegate attending any meeting of the United Nurses of Alberta shall be elected by majority vote of those members of the respective Chapter of the Composite Loca l present at a meeting of that Chapter. 7. The alternate voting delegate shall act whenever the voting delegate is unable to do so. The number of alternates shall be determined by the Chapter of the Composite Local which elects them as delegates. ~BYLAW XIII: RuLES OF PROCEDURE (a) by start up grant of up to two hundred and fifty dol lars ($250.00), and (b) by allocation o f an annual bu dget amount from the U nited Nurses of Alberta In addition, the Composite Local shal l have the right to levy assessments for special purposes provided that any such levy is fi rst approved by a combined simple majority vote of each of the respective Chapters taken at meetings of wh ich notice has been given. 3. Any funds owed by a Chapter of a Composite Loca l to the Composite Local shall constitute a preferred claim and must be paid promptly by the Chapter of the Composite Local. 4. (a) The rules of procedure and order of business governing meetings of a Composite Local and/or its Chapters shal l be as outlined in Article 18.01 of the Constitution of the United Nurses of Alberta. (b) All transactions shal l be by cheque. (c) The President and one oth er Executive Officer of the Composi te Local shall eo-sign all cheques. ~ BYLAW XIV: QuoRUM The quorum for Chapter meetings shall be established as fo llows: 1. The majority of members present at a meeting of th e Chapter shal l constitute a quorum of the Chapter for the transaction of business. Thi s is the minimum requirement for quorum. 2. A Chapter may establi sh a number of members for quorum suitable for that Chapter, greater than the minimum. 3. The majority of the members of the Executive of the Chapter shall co nstitute a quorum for the transaction of Executive business. ~ BYLAW XV: DOCUMENTS, RECORDS, ASSETS 5. The President of each Composite Loca l shall submit to the United Nurses of A lberta a completed financ ial return for each fi scal yea r. 6. Each Composite Local shall have an annual audit by the United Nurses o f Alberta at the end of each fiscal year. 7. The financial retu rn and annual audit shall be presented to the membership of the Composi te Loca l at the Annual General Meeting o f each of the respective Chapters of the Composite Local. 8. All members of a Composite Local shal l be required to pay the Composite Loca l all initiation fees, dues and assessments applicable to them. 9. The operating expenses of the Composite Local shall be the responsibility of the Composite Local and shall be paid from the reven u e o f the Composite Loca l. AND PROPERTY Any member(s) of the Executive of the Composite Local or member(s) of any committee of the Composite Local who ceases to hold office for any reason shall within one (1) month turn over to a current member of the Composite Local Executive all doc uments, assets and property of the Composite Local in that person's possession. Any Chapter Officer or member of any Chapter com mittee of a Chapter of a Composite Local who ceases to hold All monies of a Composi te Local shall be kept in a chartered bank or credit or trust company. ~BYLAW XVII: FINANCES OF COMPONENT CHAPTERS OF A CoMPOSITE LocAL 1. The revenue of each of the respective Chapters of a Composite Local shall be derived as follows: ~ 19 meeting a motion is made to "merge and tra nsfer its jurisdiction, rights, privileges, duties and assets to be tran sferred". The motion must be passed by a combined twothirds (2/3) vote of those present at the Chapter meetings. The vote on thi s motion shall be in accordance with Articles 11 and 16 of the Constitution. (a) The UNA shall issue to each Chapter of a Composi te Local a monthly reba te. The monthly rebate shall be calculated and paid in accordance with Article 13.04 of the UNA Constituti on. (b) All monies of a Chapter of a Composite Local shall be kept in a chartered bank or credit or trust company. All transactions shall be by cheque. (c) The Chapter Treasurer and the Chapter Chair or designated signing office shall eo-sign all cheques. 2. (a) Th e Chapter Treasurer shall submit to the UNA a completed financial return for each fiscal year. (b) Each Chapter shall have an annual audit by the UNA at the end of each fiscal year. (c) The financial return and annual audit shall be presented to the membership of the Chapter at the Annual General Meeting of the Chapter. 3. (a) The Chapter may establish initiation fees and monthly dues higher than those set by the UNA. (b) The Chapter may levy assessments for a special purposes upon its members provided that any assessment must first be ~pprov~d at a meeting of the Chapter of wh1ch not1ce has been given. (c) All members of a Chapter of a Composite Loca l shall b e required to pay to their respective Chapter all initiation fees, dues and assessments applicable to them. 4. The operating expenses of a Chapter of a Composite Local shall be the responsibi lity of the Chapter and shall be paid from the revenue of the Chapter. ~BYLAW XVIII: MERGER 1. 2. A Composite Local w ith the approval of the UNA may merge with another Chartered Local for the purpose of acquiring its jurisdiction, rights, privileges duties and assets. A Composite Local may by a combined two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Chapters of the Composite Loca I at Chapter meetings called for that purpose of w hich notice has been given to the members, merge w ith and transfer its jurisdiction, rights privileges, duties and assets to one (1) or more other Chartered Loca ls. (a) One or more Chartered Loca l s must be willing to transfer. (b) Another Chartered Local or Locals must be willing to receive the Local. (c) The Local wishing to merge must call a meeting for the purpose of the merger and transfer. Notice must be given of thi s meeting. At the UNA Constitution • 1999 - 2000 (d) A meeting of the receiving Local or Locals must be called for the purpose of approving the merger _a nd tra_nsfer. No~ice mu_st be given of th1 s meetmg. At th1 s meet1ng a motion is made to "approve the merger and transfer". The motion must be passed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present at the meeting. The vote on this motion shall be in accordance with Articles 11 and 16 of the Constitution. (e) A meeting of both parties is ca ll e~ by the President of each. Two (2) weeks not1ce must be given of this meeting. At the meeting a motion is made to approve the merger and transfer. (f) Election for Officers of the Chartered Local which has resulted from the merger w ill be held. (g) The Chartered Local may amend the Bylaws governing the Chartered Local as set out in Appendix "B". The amendments must be approved by the Executive Board of the United Nurses of Alberta. (h) The merger must be approved by the Executive Board of the UNA. (i) Once the Secretary/Treasurer of the UNA receives notice and documents pertaining to the merger, a new or amended Charter shall be issued. ~ BYLAW XIX: TRUSTEESHIP Whenever a Trustee for a Composite Local has been appointed pursuant to Article 15.05 of the Constitu tion of the UNA such Trustee shall possess all the rights, privileges and duties previously exercised by the Executive Officers of the Composite Loca l. Whenever a Trustee for a Chapter of a Composite Local has been appointed pursuant to Arti cle 15.05 of the Constitution of the UNA such Tru stee shall be empowered to exercise all the rights, privileges and duties of th~ Chapter Officers of the respective Chapter of the Compos1te Local. ~ BYLAW XX: CoLLECTIVE BARGAINING The UNA shall be empowered to negotiate and enter into Regional, Local or area wide collective bargaining agreements on behalf of the Composite Local. ~ BYLAW XXI: AMENDMENTS The Bylaws of a Composite Local may be amended only in accordance with Article 15 of the Constitution of the UNA. APPENDIX "C" TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES AND DISTRICT CoMMITTEES (Bylaws Governing Districts of the UNA) ~ B YlAW 1: ORGANIZATION O F DISTRICTS O F T HE UNA ~ B YLAW Ill: D UTIES OF O FFICERS 1. 1 0 2. The number of Districts and the area covered by each District sha ll be determined at the Annual General Meeting of the UNA. CHAIR (a) The District Chair shall have the following duties and limitations: There shall be a committee to administer the affairs of the Distri ct. The committee shall be composed of: (i) Call and ch air the Executive and District M eetings; (ii) Act as ex-officio member of all committees; (iii) In association w ith Chartered Locals in the area, draft an agenda w hich shal l be forwarded w ith notice of the meetings; (iv) Present the views, concerns and direction of the District at the Executive Board Meetings; (v) Appoint interim District Representati ves; (vi) In conjunction w ith the District Treasurer, prepare a District Annu al Budget; (vi i) Conduct the business of the District; (vi i i) Prepare District Reports for Board Meetings and Annual District Report to Annual General Meeting and any further reports deemed necessary by the D istri ct Chair or the Executive Board . (a) District Representatives; (b) the President or designate from each Chartered Local in that Distri ct; (c) the President and each Chapter Chair or designate for each Composite Local i n the District. 3. In the event that a District Representative should resign, die or otherwise cease to act or fi lis an Executive Officer vacancy in accordance w ith Article 8.05, a replacement shall be elected at the next District M eeting. The Distri ct Chai r shall appoint an interim Distri ct Representative until such meeting. Thi s position shal l remain in effect until the incumbent returns to the position in accordance with Article 8.05 or until an election occurs at the next Annual General Meeting. 4. The District Committee has the power to appoint or elect other members of the District to committees for the purpose of recommending acti on to the Distri ct Committee. 5. The Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and the Treasurer, or the Secretary!Treasurer, shall be elected by the District Committee at the first District Committee M eeting following the Annual General M eeti ng. The Chair and Vice-Chair shall each be District Representatives. The Secretary and the Treasurer or the Secretary!Treasurer shall be elected from the Distri ct Committee. ~ B YlAW 11: DISTRICT REPREsENTATIVES 1 0 2. VICE-CHAI R (a) The Vice-Chair shall carry out duties as assigned by the Executive and act in lieu of the Chair in her absence. 3. SECRETARY (a) The Secretary shall have the fo llowi ng duties: Each District Representative must be a member of a Chartered Local in the District she represents. (i) In the event that a District Representative shall change her place of employment from one (1) District to another or for any reason ceases to qualify for membership in the UNA, during her term of office, she sha ll resign forthwith. Shall keep a record of all meeti ngs of the District and of all meetings of the Executive; (ii) Shal l be responsible fo r the correspondence of the District; (ii i) Shall maintain current phone fan-out lists for the entire District Committee. Such lists shall be forwarded to the ~ 21 members of the District Committee, the Representative for that District on the Provincial Negotiating Committees and the President of the UNA; (iv) (v) 4. A copy of the minutes shall be forwarded to the Provincial Office and Chartered Loca ls in that Distri ct. Shall ca rry out duties as assigned by the Executive. TREASURER (a) Th e Treasu rer shall have th e following duties: (a) A Special Meeting may be called at any time and place by the Chair. The District Committee members sha ll be given reasonable notice of any such meeti ng. The purpose of such meeting shall be provided wi th this notice. (b) A Special Meeting of the District may be cal led at any time and place at the request in writing of at least one-th ird (1/3) of the members of the D istrict Committee evidenced by notice in writing by such members and shall be held within forty-five (45) days of the receipt by the Chair of any such request. Any such request shall specify the subjects to be considered at such special meeting. (i) Shall hold the monies of the District in sa fekeeping and shall keep a record of all financial transactions; (c) The business of the D istrict sha ll be in accordance wi th the UNA Constitution and its Bylaws and with the UNA Policies. (ii) Shal l make a financial report at regular meetings of the District and at meetings of the District Executive; (iii) In conj unction with the District Chair, prepare the Annual Distri ct Budget; (d) The rules of procedure and order of business governing meetings of the District shall be as outlined in accordance with Article 18.01 of the UNA Constitution. (iv) Shall present the necessary documentation to the UNA for an Annual Audit at the end of the fiscal year; (v) Shall subm it to Provincial Office, a completed District Financial Return ahereachfiscal yea~ (vi) Shall present the Financial Return and Annual Audit to the Distri ct Committee. (vii) Shall ca rry out duties as assigned by the Executive. ~ BYlAW IV: MEETINGS OF THE DISTRICTS OF THE UNA 1. District Comm ittee Meetings shall be held at least three (3) times a year. 2. The objectives of such meetings shall be: (a) to increase communications between the Locals; (b) to co-o rdinate effo rts for a co mm on purpose; (c) to act as a liaison between the Chartered Locals and the provincial body. 3. 4. Only District Committee members sha ll be entitled to vote at the District Meetings. UNA Constituti on • 1999- 2000 ~ LoNG-TERM GoALS (a) negotiations; A. (b) ma tters of concern to our members as hea lth care workers; and G ENERAL 1. All UNA activity shall refl ect the universal principles of trade unionism, including cooperation with other Unions. 2. The UNA shall maintain the democratic nature of the organization through: (a) open and democratic Annual and Special Meetings with the authority to make major policy decisions; (b) a commitment to openness, cooperati on and participation of the membership at every level of the Union structure; and (c) B. ExECUTIVE BoARD 1. c. The UNA shall continue to organize all unorganized working nurses in Alberta. 4. Every UNA member shal l work in optim al working conditions achieved throu g h a commitment to group barga inin g and mainten ance of contractual provisions co-ordinated at the provincial level. The Executive Board shall continue to have the commitment, knowledge and authority to manage the business of the U NA in the best i nte rest of the membership. CHARTERED LOCALS 1. maintenance of open and democratic negotiations and ratification procedures. 3. 5. (c) matters of co ncer n to m em bers as c itizens and consumers. The UNA shall conti nue to be committed to th e principle of member helpin g member through the development of the local leadership in: (a) processing grievances at the loca l level; (b) identifying and resolving professional responsibi lity issues at the local level; (c) identifying and resolving O ccupati onal Health and Safety i ssues and promoting th e hea lth and safety of the Chartered local's membership; There shall be an efficient, effective and we l l -mai nta ined commu ni ca tion network between all levels of the Union structure, including maintenance of a complete and correct phone fan -out system in every District and Chartered local. 6. The UNA shall ensure the maintenance of an Emergency Fund. 7. The UNA shal l have a financial administrative structure capable of ensuring full value and fu ll accounting for each dollar spent. 8. The UNA shall have a capi tal budget, and shall continue to have an operating budget, both of which sha l l be consistent with the goa ls of the UNA. 9. The UNA sha ll continue to promote publicly l eg islation and politi ca l positions favourable to UNA members and consistent with the goals of the UNA in the areas of: (d) promoting the principles of trade unionism and the UNA among the Chartered local's membership. 0. M EMB ERSHIP 1. Al l members shall have knowledge and commitment to the principles of trade unionism with special reference to the UNA. 2. The UNA shall encourage participation by the rank and fil e membership in the UNA affairs. ~ 23 ~ SHORT-TERM GOALS 1. Free collective bargaining for all UNA members. 2. Ensure that all Hospital Chartered Locals w ill have a functional Professional Responsibility Committee and Occupational Health and Safety Comm ittee as per the Hospi tals Contract. Monthly minutes shal l be sent to Provincial Office. 3. Ensure that Chartered Loca l leadersh ip is processing grievances at the Local or Chapter level up to Step 3 of the grievance procedure. 4. Ensure participation by rank and file members during negoti ations by reinforcement of the process set up for collective bargaining. 5. All Chartered Loca l Executives including Chapter Executive, Committee Members and Ward Representatives shall have the opportunity to attend workshops, as appropriate. 6. (a) Ensure that financial expenditures of the UNA reflect the budgetary allotments. (b) Proper documentation of expenditures. (c) Ensure the implementation of a documentation system for expenditures. UNA Constitution • 1999 - 2000