Report of the Constitution Committee
March 13, 2024
Pursuant to the recommendations of the Committee and Officers of Local 749, The Constitution Committee recommends changes to the Local 749 Constitution. All proposed changes were previously read in accordance with Article XI and posted on the Local 749 website (local749.org) for review.
Article III Objectives
Local 749 exists to improve working conditions through collective bargaining and ensuring contractual compliance by having a solid network of trained and active officers and stewards, and to carry out on a local basis the objectives of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Our driving values are communication, integrity, equality, honesty and accountability to our members.
(Corrected repeated wording)
Article IV Membership and Dues
Section 1. All employees of the Judicial Branch of the State of Connecticut, Division of Public Defender services, and members of the Division of Criminal Justice of the Executive Branch, whose positions fall into the bargaining unit, are eligible for membership in this local union, subject to the requirements. of the constitution of the International Union.
Section 2. Application for membership shall be made on a standard membership and authorization for dues deduction form.
Section 3. The bi-weekly membership dues of the local shall be $ 23.54 $24.81 per member. Dues shall be increased in January of each year in accordance with the provisions of the International Constitution and with the Council 4 Constitution. Deductions shall commence with the first paycheck in January.
Section 4. Membership dues shall be payable monthly in advance to the local secretary treasurer and in any event shall be paid not later than the15th day of the month in which they become due. Any member who fails to pay dues by the 15th day of the month in which they become due shall be considered delinquent, and upon failure to pay dues for two successive months shall lose their good standing status and stand suspended. Provided, however, that any person who is paying dues through a system of regular payroll deduction, bank draft, or similar system, shall for so long as such person continues to pay through such deduction method, be considered in good standing.
(section 1. Adds Division of Public Defender services, section 2. updates language on authorization form, section 3. updates the Dues amount Section 4. adds secretary treasurer
Article V Meetings
Section 2. Regional meetings may be called per region, within the geographic boundaries of said region, at a time and place to be fixed by the regional membership, the regional vice-president or the local executive board. Business and decisions of such a regional meeting may only affect matters on a regional scale and may not affect the local union as a whole.
(Change in mandatory annual regional meeting requirement. In connection with mandating site visits for Regional vice presidents each region each year)
Article VI Officers, Nominations, and Elections
Section 2. Nominations shall be made at a regular or special meeting of the local. At least fifteen days’ advance notice shall be given the membership prior to the nomination meeting. A nominating committee may be appointed or elected to make nominations, but whether or not such nominating committee is used, nominations shall be permitted from the floor at the nomination meeting. All regular elections shall be held in the month of October. Nominations for the seven regional vice-presidents shall be made at a regular Executive Board. At least fifteen days’ advance notice shall be given the membership prior to the nomination meeting. A nominating committee may be appointed or elected to make nominations, but whether or not such nominating committee is used, nominations shall be permitted from the floor at the nomination meeting. All regular nominations and elections shall be held in the month of November.
(Moves requirement of nomination and election at regional meeting(s) to Local 749 executive board meeting)
Section 6. Vacancies in office shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by vote of the executive board. Vacancies in regional office shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by vote of the executive board.
( Allows Executive Board to fill vacancy, consistent with typical constitutional language)
Article VII Duties of Officers and Executive Board
Section 1. The president shall:
c. the president shall appoint all committees and all special committees of the local subject to the approval of the local executive board. In the event an emergency requires the appointment of a committee, the requirements of this section will be considered met by polling the executive board by telephone, video conference or email.
(adds language to conduct emergency appointment votes using email or video conferencing)
Section 5. The regional vice-president shall:
c. report at the regional meeting or site visit regarding the progress and standing of the local, the executive board and the official acts of the president.
d. Annually, Schedule and facilitate work location site visits within their respective region, as designated in appendix A. by providing information to members as indicated in section 5c and provide a report to the Executive board at the next meeting.
(added language on site visits, and expectations on Regional Vice President to conduct site visits)
Section 6. The trustees shall:
a. make or cause to be made at least semi-annually an audit of the finances of the local, ensure that all union resources - monetary or other assets - are used for legitimate union purposes as authorized, in accordance with the local constitution, and shall report to the membership on the results of such audit. An independent audit may be requested to the Local executive board, and the results reported to the local.
(New language to reflect role of trustees. Old language referred to pension, insurance and healthcare. Trustee(s) focus will be on the Locals finances)
Section 8. The officers of the local - being the president, vice-president, secretary treasurer, recording secretary, and regional vice-presidents - shall attend all meetings as called in accordance with Article VII, Section 7, unless duly excused by the chair for just cause.
Should an officer fail to meet these obligations, upon 3 unexcused absences within a one year period, they shall be removed by vote of the executive board, without the need for formal charges, and their vacancy filled in accordance with Article VI, Section 6.
(Fixed spelling/format)
The Above having been read and posted, the Committee recommends votes to adopt at the June Meeting of the membership.
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Nelson
President Local 749
Chair, Constitutional committee.
