ARTICLE 1: NAME
1.1 This sector shall be known as the OPSEU Education Sector of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).
ARTICLE 2: INTERPRETATION AND ABBREVIATION
2.1 “Union” means the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), and not subsidiary body.
2.2 “Sector” refers to the OPSEU Boards of Education Sector.
2.3 “Constitution” refers to the constitution of the Union.
2.4 “Executive Board” refers to the Executive Board of the Union.
2.5 “Local” or “Unit” refers to a single unit Local or a unit of a Multi-unit or Composite Local composed of members employed by the Boards of Education.
ARTICLE 3: HEADQUARTERS
3.1 The headquarters of the Sector and the Union shall be the same and set out in Article 3.1 of the Constitution.
ARTICLE 4: AIMS AND PURPOSES
4.1 The aims and purposes of the Sector shall be:
a) To coordinate Union activities on a Sectors basis;
b) To participate with labour unions and union groups and other organizations to promote and support the aims and purposes and goals of the Union as set out in the Constitution;
c) To develop and promote sectoral bargaining;
d) To promote organizing initiatives within the Education Sector.
ARTICLE 5: AUTHORITY
5.1 The authority for the formation and activities of Sector are set out in Article 21 of the Constitution.
ARTICLE 6: JURISDICTION
6.1 Locals and Units comprised of members of the Union who are employed by Boards of Education.
ARTICLE 7: MEMBERSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS
7.1 Any Local or Unit as defined in Article 6.1, shall be deemed to be a member of the Sector.
7.2 Every Local or Unit is entitled to:
a) Participate in the business of the Sector with full voting privileges;
b) Run for office within the Sector; and
c) Receive a copy of the By Laws of the Sector, be advised of amendments to it, and receive an updated copy whenever it is compiled and reprinted.
7.3 Delegate entitlement, funded by Head Office, from Locals/Units to Sector Meetings shall be according to the “Convention Formula”, based on the number of members within the Local or Unit, except that the Local President will be the first delegate providing that his/her unit is represented by the Sector.
7.4 Sector Executive Committee members shall be automatic delegates to Sector Meetings.
ARTICLE 8: MEETINGS
8.1 Meetings or Conference Calls of the Sector will be called from time to time in compliance with the Policy of the Union.
8.2 A quorum of Sector Meetings shall be 50% of the delegates registered and entitled to vote. Should the Executive Board change the required percentage, this Article will be amended accordingly.
8.3 Meetings or Conference Calls of the Sector Executive can be called at any time by the Chairperson of the Sector; however there will be no less than one meeting per year.
8.4 The Sector shall follow the rules of order as set out in the Constitution. In matters not covered by the Constitution, “Robert’s Rules of Order” shall apply.
ARTICLE 9: OFFICERS
9.1 The Executive Officers shall be comprised of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and an Executive Officer at Large.
9.2 The Executive Officers shall be elected by and from the delegates at a Sector Meeting for a period of two years.
9.3 Two alternates shall be elected to fill vacancies that may occur on the Executive during the term of office. Alternates shall be elected by the Sector at large and ranked by the highest number of votes.
ARTICLE 10: AD COMMITTEES
10.1 From time to time it may become necessary for the Executive Officers to appoint an Ad Hoc Committee for a specific purpose. In this instance, the Executive Officers will establish terms of reference for the Ad Hoc Committee.
10.2 Ad Hoc Committees established in 10.1 shall be for a set period of time as decided by the Executive Officers and shall report on their progress regularly and at Sector Meetings.
ARTICLE 11: GENERAL
11.1 These By Laws may be amended only by a two-thirds majority of the delegates present and voting at a Sector Meeting.
11.2 These By Laws and all amendments shall be subject to the approval of the President of the Union before coming into force.
11.3 In all matters not specifically dealt with above, or where conflict arises, these By Laws shall be subject to the provisions of the Constitution and/or such Policies as are enunciated by the Executive Board.