DISTRICT 12
2007 - 2008
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
1.
ARTICLE 1 Ð OBJECTS
1.1.
The objects of
District 12 shall be as stated in the OSSTF Constitution.
2.
ARTICLE 2 -
DEFINITIONS
2.1.
In this
Constitution:
2.1.1.
"AGM"
shall mean Annual General Meeting.
2.1.2.
"AMPA"
shall mean the Annual Meeting of the Provincial Assembly.
2.1.3.
"Bargaining
Unit" or "BU" shall mean a Bargaining Unit Organization of OSSTF
District 12, Toronto.
2.1.4.
"Bylaws"
shall mean standing rules governing the membership of OSSTF District 12 Toronto
made under this Constitution on matters of internal regulation and matters,
which are entirely within the control of District 12.
2.1.5.
"Chairperson"
shall mean the Presiding Officer of an official body of OSSTF District 12.
2.1.6.
"Constitution"
shall mean a system of fundamental principles according to which District 12 is
governed, and the basic organization of District 12.
2.1.7.
"Days"
shall mean school days.
2.1.8.
"District"
shall mean the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, District 12,
Toronto.
2.1.9.
"Executive"
shall mean the District 12 Executive.
2.1.10.
"FTE"
(Full Time Equivalent Membership) for the purposes of representation and
finances of the District shall mean those FTE numbers as determined by the Provincial
Office.
2.1.11.
"General
Meeting" shall mean a meeting open to all Members.
2.1.12.
"Member"
shall mean any member of District 12 as defined by the Provincial Constitution
and Bylaws, unless otherwise stated.
2.1.13.
"OSSTF"
shall mean the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation.
2.1.14.
"OTF"
shall mean the Ontario Teachers' Federation.
2.1.15.
"Policy"
shall mean a stand or position taken by District 12 in accordance with the
Bylaws on matters whose resolution is beyond the internal legislative power of
the District.
2.1.16.
"TDSB" shall
mean the Toronto District School Board.
1.1.17.
"STBUÓ
shall mean the Secondary TeachersÕ Bargaining Unit, District 12, OSSTF.
2.1.18.
"PSSPÓ shall mean
the Professional Student Services Bargaining Unit, District 12, OSSTF.
2.1.19.
"OTBUÓ shall mean the Occasional TeachersÕ
Bargaining Unit, District 12, OSSTF.
3.
ARTICLE 3 Ð NAME
3.1.
This organization shall be known as: "OSSTF
District 12, Toronto".
4.
ARTICLE 4 Ð
MEMBERSHIP
4.1.
Membership in District 12, OSSTF shall be in
accordance with the OSSTF Provincial Constitution and Bylaws.
5.
ARTICLE 5 -
ORGANIZATION
5.1.
There shall be a
District Executive consisting of:
5.1.1.
Nineteen (19)Voting
members as determined under Bylaw 3 comprised of:
5.1.1.1.
President
5.1.1.2.
First Vice-President
5.1.1.3.
Second
Vice-President
5.1.1.4.
Secretary/Treasurer
5.1.1.5.
Fifteen (15)
Executive Officers
5.1.2.
Chairs of Standing
Committees shall be non-voting members of the Executive.
5.2.
The Standing
Committees of District 12 shall be:
5.2.1.
Finance
5.2.2.
Constitution
5.2.3.
Occupational Health
and Safety
5.2.4.
Status of Women
5.2.5.
Human Rights
5.2.6.
Political Action
5.2.7.
Communications
5.2.8.
Gay Straight Alliance
6.
ARTICLE 6 - TERMS OF
OFFICE
6.1.
District Executive
6.1.1.
The term of office
for a newly appointed Executive shall begin July 1st.
6.1.2.
The term of office
for the District Executive will end June 30th.
7.
ARTICLE 7 Ð GENERAL MEETINGS
7.1.
There shall be a
minimum of two (2) General Meetings
per school year, one in October and one in June.
7.2.
The June General
Meeting shall be the Annual General Meeting.
8.
ARTICLE 8 - CONFLICT
WITH OSSTF PROVINCIAL CONSTITUTION
8.1.
Any part of this
Constitution or any amendment thereto, which conflicts with the Provincial
Constitution of the OSSTF are hereby declared null and void.
9.
ARTICLE 9 Ð DISTRICT
LEVY
9.1.
There shall be a levy upon District Members
as described in the Bylaws
10.
ARTICLE 10 Ð
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
1.1.
Amendments
to these articles may be made at a General Meeting provided notice of motion
has been given to the Constitution Committee twenty (20 days in advance of the
General Meeting).
10.2.
The Constitution
Committee shall ensure that the District Executive is provided copies of the
proposed amendments at least 10 days prior to the General Meeting.
10.3.
Each Bargaining
Unit Executive must provide the proposed amendments to their membership prior
to the General Meeting.
10.4.
Amendments submitted in accordance with
Article 12.1 may be passed by a two thirds (2/3) majority of those present
and voting and otherwise by nine tenths (9/10) majority.
BYLAWS
1.
BYLAW 1 - QUORUM
1.1.
A quorum for
District Executive meetings shall be at least fifty (50) per cent of the membership of the District
Executive, with representation from at least two bargaining units
1.2.
A quorum for
District Committee meetings shall be thirty per cent (30%) of the membership of
the committee, except for the Finance Committee.
1.3.
A quorum for a
District General Meeting or the Annual General Meeting shall be (100) one
hundred members or (5%) of the membership of District 12, which ever is less.
1.4.
A quorum for the
Finance Committee shall be four (4), including the Chair.
2.
BYLAW 2 - VOTING
2.1.
Each District
Executive member shall have one vote on the District Executive.
2.2.
Each District Committee member shall have one
vote on the Committee.
3.
BYLAW 3 -
DETERMINATION OF EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
3.1.
District Executive
Appointed By Bargaining Units
3.1.1.
The District 12
Bargaining Units' Executives shall each appoint, from its own duly elected
officers, the following number of District Executive Members:
3.1.1.1.
The President of the
Secondary Teachers' Bargaining Unit, plus nine (9) other Executive members from
the Secondary Teachers' Bargaining Unit.
3.1.1.2.
The President of the
Professional Student Services Bargaining Unit, plus (1) one other Executive
member from the Professional Student Services Bargaining Unit Executive
3.1.1.3.
The President
of Occasional Teachers' Bargaining
Unit, plus (1) one other Executive member from the Occasional Teachers' Bargaining
Unit Executive
3.1.1.4.
Five (5) additional
Executive Officers elected or appointed by their respective Bargaining Unit as follows:
three (3) from the BU with the largest FTE,
one (1) from the BU with the second largest FTE,
one (1) from the BU with the third largest FTE.
3.1.2.
The Executive of
each Bargaining Unit shall appoint its representatives to the District
Executive within fourteen (14) Days of the election of the Bargaining Unit
Executive, while keeping the total number provided from each Bargaining Unit in
accordance with this Constitution a nd Bylaws.
3.1.3.
A representative of
the appropriate Bargaining Unit Executive shall be appointed by the appropriate
Bargaining Unit to fill vacancies on the District Executive.
3.2.
Appointment and
Election Of District Executive Positions
3.2.1.
Voting Members
3.2.1.1.
The President of
District 12 shall be the President of the Bargaining Unit with the largest FTE
membership.
3.2.1.2.
The
Secretary/Treasurer shall be the Treasurer of the Bargaining Unit with the
largest FTE membership.
3.2.1.3.
The First Vice-President
shall be the President of the Bargaining Unit with the second largest FTE
membership.
3.2.1.4.
The Second
Vice-President shall be the President of the Bargaining Unit with the third
largest FTE membership.
3.2.2.
All other voting
members of the District Executive shall serve as Executive officers
3.2.3.
Non-voting members
of the District 12 Executive:
3.2.3.1.
others as may, from
time to time, be deemed necessary by the District 12 Executive
4.
BYLAW 4 -
STANDING COMMITTEES and AFFILIATIONS
4.1.
General Objectives
of Standing Committees
4.1.1.
To advise the
District Executive and the membership on items encompassed by the specific
objectives of the committee.
4.1.2.
To submit the
committee budget to the Finance Committee,
4.1.3.
To report in writing
to the District Executive and the membership on its activities.
4.2.
Membership
and Terms of Reference of Standing Committees and Affiliations
4.2.1.
Additional Committee
Members
4.2.1.1.
Additional members
may be co-opted by any committee with the approval of the District Executive.
4.2.2.1.
Membership
4.2.2.1.1.
The committee shall
consist of those members of the District who have an expressed interest in the
work of the committee and any additional members elected or appointed by the
District Executive. The committee
shall attempt to ensure that all District
12 Bargaining Units are represented.
4.2.2.1.2.
The chairpersons of
the Standing Committees, except for Occupational Health and Safety and Finance,
shall be elected internally by their respective committees, subject to
ratification by the District Executive.
Committee chairpersons shall be elected annually, at the first meeting
of the committee and hold office until the following June 30th.
4.2.2.2.
Terms of Reference
4.2.2.2.1.
To promote the
dissemination of information within and between District 12 members,
Provincial OSSTF members, and the wider community.
4.2.2.2.2.
To provide expertise
and advice in improving communications techniques and to make recommendations for long-term
communications strategies.
4.2.3.1.
Membership
4.2.3.1.1.
The Committee shall
consist of members as follows:
4.2.3.1.2.
the District
Treasurer who shall act as Chairperson,
4.2.3.1.3.
the treasurers of
each of the District 12 Bargaining units, not serving as Chair
4.2.3.1.4.
up to three (3)
additional members from the Secondary Teachers' Bargaining unit
4.2.3.1.5.
the committee may
appoint up to three (3) non-voting members
4.2.3.2.
Terms of Reference
4.2.3.2.1.
To prepare a draft
budget for the Federation year for presentation to each District 12 Bargaining
Unit Executive by May 15.
4.2.3.2.2.
To advise the
District and Bargaining Unit Executives
4.2.3.2.3.
To periodically
review the purposes and practices concerning any and all District funds
and to report its findings to the District Executive.
4.2.3.2.4.
To review the
detailed authorized expenditures of the spending authorities of the District and prepare a written
report to the District Executive.
4.2.3.2.5.
To monitor all
special District accounts.
4.2.4.
Health and Safety
4.2.4.1.
Membership
4.2.4.1.1.
The committee shall
consist of
4.2.4.1.2.
the District Health
& Safety Officer who shall act as chairperson,
4.2.4.1.3.
one member from each
Bargaining Unit,
4.2.4.1.4.
additional members
appointed or elected by the District Executive.
4.2.4.2.
Terms of Reference
4.2.4.2.1.
To become familiar
with the Health and Safety Act and its provisions.
4.2.4.2.2.
To monitor
workplace-related health and safety concerns, and to forward them to the
District Health and Safety Officer, if needed.
4.2.4.2.3.
To act in an
advisory capacity to the District Executive.
4.2.4.2.4.
To make
recommendations relating to health and safety issues to the Bargaining Units,
through the District Executive.
4.2.5.1.
Membership
4.2.5.1.1.
The committee shall
consist of those members of the District who have an expressed interest in the
work of the committee. The committee shall attempt to ensure that all District
12 bargaining units are represented.
4.2.5.2.
Terms of Reference:
4.2.5.2.1.
To monitor regularly
the professional status of women members of OSSTF District 12
and to advise the District Executive on the need for appropriate action with
respect to any developing trends.
4.2.5.2.2.
To provide a forum
for the discussion of issues relevant to women in OSSTF.
4.2.5.2.3.
To recommend to the
District Executive, on an annual basis, goals to be achieved in order to
implement OSSTF Affirmative Action statements and ways to remove barriers
to women's full participation in OSSTF.
4.2.5.2.4.
To recommend to the
District Executive educational programs to promote equality of opportunity with
specific reference to women members.
4.2.5.2.5.
To encourage and
promote respect for the rights and diverse needs of all members with respect to
their personal and family obligations.
4.2.5.2.6.
To work in conjunction with the Human Rights Committee
and The Gay Straight Alliance Committee to emphasize the intersections of
identity and equity issues and to support members in negotiating conflicting
rights.
4.2.6.
Human Rights
4.2.6.1.
Membership
4.2.6.1.1.
The committee shall
consist of those members of the District who have an expressed interest in the
work of the committee and any additional members elected or appointed by the
District Executive. The committee shall attempt to ensure that all District 12
bargaining units are represented.
4.2.6.2.
Terms of Reference:
4.2.6.2.1.
To recommend to the
District Executive on a regular basis, goals to be achieved and policies and
actions to be implemented in order to safeguard human rights.
4.2.6.2.2.
To recommend to the
District Executive policies and actions that will ensure equity and inclusion for all individuals
in the workplace and all members of OSSTF.
4.2.6.2.3.
To establish links
with other District Standing Committees to achieve common goals.
4.2.6.2.4.
To advocate for and
allow for the creation of sub-committees to promote groups identified within
the Ontario Human Rights Code.
4.2.6.2.5.
To assist the
District Executive in the implementation of human rights and equity programs,
actions and policies.
4.2.6.2.6.
To assist the
District Executive in keeping the membership informed of events and issues
pertaining to human rights and equity issues.
4.2.6.2.7.
To assist the
District Executive and/or the Communications/Excellence in Education Committee
in the communication of District 12 human rights and equity concerns and
policies to the community at large.
4.2.6.2.8.
To establish links
with other OSSTF Human Rights Committees.