The purpose of this local shall be:

Section 1. To secure full union trade rights for all employees who are eligible for membership.

Section 2. To advance the economic, social, and political well being of the membership at the local, state and national level.

Section 3. To represent classified staff in the Coast District on all issues affecting their employment at the local, state, and national level.

Section 4. To encourage mutual understanding and cooperation among the membership and between the membership, faculty and administrators of the Coast District.

Section 5. To promote the interests of the community and students who are served by the membership.

Section 6. To promote democracy and equality in the Coast District and the community it serves.

Section 1. All classified employees in the Coast Community College District are eligible for membership except those designated as management, supervisory, confidential, and those classified employees who are members of the exclusive bargaining unit represented by the International Photographers of the Motion Picture Industries, Local 659 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

Section 2. Retired classified employees may continue as union members indefinitely. Members who have been laid-off may continue membership for thirty-nine (39) months.

Section 1. Any eligible classified employee of the Coast District who joins the local is a member as soon as the enrollment card is submitted to the treasurer of the local, and will remain a member of the local until the treasurer is notified, in writing, by the employee of their intent to resign.

Section 2. Special meetings of the membership may be called by:

a. the Executive Council,

b. the Area Rep Council,

c. a petition of twenty-five percent (25%) of the members.

Section 3. The membership meeting shall be the supreme policy making body of the local.

All officers are at large excluding e thru h.

Section 3. An ad hoc Elections Committee shall conduct all general and special elections of the local.

Section 4. At least forty-five (45) days prior to the date of the election, the ad hoc Elections Committee shall notify all members of the opening of nominations for office.

Section 5. A candidate must submit in writing to the ad hoc Elections Committee a statement as to why he/she wishes to run for office.

Section 6. The ad hoc Elections Committee shall prepare and send notification of candidates running for CFCE officers, polling locations, times to cast ballot, and information to absentee vote no later than fifteen (15) days following the close of the nominations.

Section 7. A majority of the ballots received shall determine the election. In the absence of a majority vote, the ad hoc Elections Committee shall conduct a run-off election among the two candidates who have received the most votes for the office in question using the procedure specified in Section 6 above.

Section 8. All newly elected officers shall become non-voting members of the Executive Council until they are eligible to take office.

Section 9. Successful candidates shall assume office the first day of July following the election.

Section 10. In case of a resignation or removal of office by the Executive Council, all vacancies (with the exception of the President and Executive Vice President), shall be filled by a majority vote of the Executive Council.

Section 2. Elected officers may be required to write monthly articles for the union newsletter.

Section 3. The President shall:

Section 4. Executive Vice President shall:

a. assume the duties of the President in the event of the absence, resignation, illness, or death of the President, for the remainder of the term,

b. assist the campus and District/DIS Vice Presidents with the Area Rep Councils, upon request,

c. co-sign financial instruments in the absence of the President or Treasurer,

d. perform other duties as delegated by the President, or assigned by the Executive Council.

Section 5. The Secretary shall:

a. maintain the non-financial files and records of the local,

b. co-sign financial instruments in the absence of the President, Treasurer, or Executive Vice President,

c. record and keep accurate minutes of meetings of the membership and Executive Council, and record excused and unexcused absences,

d. assist the President in handling the correspondence of the local,

e. make available copies of the Constitution and By-Laws, upon request,

f. be the custodian of the seal and charter of the local,

g. perform other duties as delegated by the President, or assigned by the Executive Council.

Section 6. The Treasurer shall:

a. receive, record, and deposit all dues, monies and other income in the name of the local,

b. maintain accurate membership records,

c. be one of the responsible financial officers of the local, and be authorized to co-sign financial instruments, and make regular and usual disbursements of funds,

d. maintain all financial records of the local,

e. bi-annually arrange for an independent audit of the finances of the local, and make the findings and report available to the American Federation of Teachers, California Federation of Teachers, Executive Council, Area Rep Council, and membership,

f. transmit percapita payments on a regular basis to the Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers, California Federation of Teachers, and similar officers of all other bodies with which the local is affiliated,

g. assist the president in preparing an annual budget to be presented for approval by the Executive Council,

h. prepare monthly budget reports to be presented for approval by the Executive Council,

i. perform other duties as delegated by the President, or assigned by the Executive Council.

Section 7. The Vice-President for Shared Governance shall:

Section 8. The Vice-President for Communications shall:

Section 10. The Vice-President for Political Action/Legislative shall:

a. make reports to the Executive Council concerning legislative bills and the position of the AFT and CFT,

b. attend both state and local political functions as the representative of the local,

c. oversee the work of, and chair, the COPE Committee,

d. perform other duties as delegated by the President, or assigned by the Executive Council.

Section 11. The Vice-Presidents for OCC, GWC, CCC, and District/DIS shall:

a. chair and maintain campus and District/DIS Area Rep Councils (if applicable),

b. represent the local before campus administration,

c. assist campus and District/DIS employees with questions, concerns, and issues,

d. assist the Grievance Committee, upon request,

e. select campus, Dist/DIS classified committee members (with the assistance of the Area Reps, if applicable),

f. provide and update campus, Dist/DIS committee list and classified staff serving on those committees to the Vice-President of Shared Governance,

g. participate in phone-banking and one-on-one membership recruitment,

h. perform other duties as delegated by the President, or assigned by the Executive Council.

Section 1. The Executive Council shall meet bi-monthly, or at the call of the President, or at the call of two (2) or more of its members.

Section 2. A quorum of the Executive Council shall consist of no less than seven (7) members of the Council. In the event of a vacancy a quorum shall consist of fifty-one percent (51%) of the remaining Council.

Section 3. The Executive Council shall approve an annual budget in September, which shall be presented by the President and Treasurer.

Section 4. The Executive Council shall employ all professional, technical, clerical, and support staff of the organization.

Section 5. The Executive Council shall establish the salary, benefits, and expense guidelines of any general officer who is employed by the local; except that no such person shall suffer loss of economic status as a result of such action.

Section 6. Consistent with the approved budget, the Executive Council shall be empowered to make contracts and incur liabilities, including the purchase of services, equipment, and real property, to borrow money, to secure such obligations by mortgage or other instrument, and to otherwise engage in financial transactions to the extent permitted by applicable law or statute.

Section 1. An officer may be removed by a majority vote of the Executive Council for one or all of the following reasons:

a. three (3) unexcused absences in a year.

1. an excused absence is defined as:

a. notification to the President, or designee, prior to the Executive Council meeting.

a. failure to fulfill those duties and responsibilities for which they were elected.

Section 2. The President shall notify an officer, in writing, when they have accumulated two (2) unexcused absences.

Section 3. An officer who has been removed by the Executive Council may appeal the decision before the Internal Review Panel.

Section 1. Subject to the final authority of the Executive Council, the campus and District/DIS Area Rep Councils shall be considered the representative body of the organization, consisting of members of the organization appointed by the President and Vice President of each campus and district/DIS as follows:

Section 2. Commencing in 1994, and every two (2) years thereafter, the members of each campus, site, and District/DIS shall elect both Area Reps and Alternate Area Reps to their respective campus, sites, and District/DIS, no later than April 30th of that election year using the same formula as in (a), (b) and (c) above.

Section 3. The ad hoc Elections Committee shall conduct Area Rep Council elections using the same procedures as outlined in Article V, Sections 2,4,5,6, and 7.

Section 4. All newly elected Area Reps and Alternates shall become non-voting members of the Area Rep Councils until they re eligible to take office.

Section 5. Successful candidates shall assume office the first day of July following the election.

Section 6. The Vice Presidents for OCC, GWC, CCC, and District/DIS shall be the presiding officers of the Area Rep Councils, but may vote only in the event of a tie.

Section 7. The Area Rep Councils shall meet twice (2) a month, or at the call of the campus Vice President, or District/DIS Vice President, or at the call of two (2) or more Area Reps.

Section 8. The jurisdiction of the Area Rep Councils shall be limited to those matters that are indigenous to their campus or sites respectively. Matters which have general application to the colleges/sites collectively shall be solely within the jurisdiction of the President and Executive Council.

Section 1. Area Reps shall:

a. welcome new employees to the college, site, or District/DIS,

b. attend all regular and special meetings of the Area Rep Council,

c. hold regular monthly meetings of the membership at the worksite, or other appropriate place, for the purpose of making reports, discussing work place and organizational concerns, receiving instruction from the membership, and other activities as may be required,

d. recruit eligible persons for union membership,

e. conduct elections and referenda when so instructed by the ad hoc Elections Committee.

f. problem solve worksite issues and concerns,

g. notify grievance committee of potential grievance, and upon request, assist the grievance officer.

Section 2. Alternate area Reps shall:

Section 1. Commencing in 1993, and every year thereafter, the members may elect delegates, to attend either the convention(s) of the American Federation of Teachers, California Federation of Teachers, or the California Labor Federation.

Section 2. Commencing in 1993, and every year thereafter, the Executive Council (with the exception of the President) may run for a delegate position to state and national conventions listed in Section 1 above.

Section 3. Number of delegates will be determined by the appropriate Constitution & By-Laws of the AFT, CFT, or CLF.

Section 4. The ad hoc Elections Committee shall conduct delegate elections.

Section 5. To be eligible as a delegate a person must be a member in good standing of the organization for a period of one (1) year prior to the date of the election.

Section 6. At least fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the election, the ad hoc Elections Committee shall notify all members of the opening of nominations for office.

Section 7. The ad hoc Elections Committee shall prepare and send notification of candidates running for CFCE Convention Delegates, polling locations, times to cast ballot, and information to absentee vote no later than fifteen (15) days following the close of the nominations.

Section 8. A majority of the ballots received shall determine the election. In the absence of a majority vote, the ad hoc Elections Committee shall conduct a run-off election among the two candidates who have received the most votes using the procedure specified in Section 7 above.

Section 1. The standing and/or ad hoc committees of the organization shall be:

a. Contract Development

b. Elections

c. Grievance

d. COPE

e. Social

f. Membership

Section 2. The Executive Council may establish special committees.

Section 3. Upon appointment by the President and approval by the Executive Council, committee chairs shall have one (1) month to select committee members and present their names to the Executive Council.

Section 4. Within one (1) month of formation each committee shall present its annual program of action to the Executive Council and Area Rep Council.

Section 5. The ad hoc Elections Committee shall conduct and supervise all elections and Constitution and By-Law revisions of the organization.

Section 6. The ad hoc Contract Development Committee shall conduct research, surveys, hearings, and other activities which shall assist the organization in its collective bargaining, or similar programs.

Section 7. The COPE (Committee on Political Education) Committee shall promote public and governmental support for public education, government services and health care; encourage the participation of the union's members and the general public in governmental and political activities; improve union members' and the general public's understanding of policies and legislation that affect education, state, and local government and health care; and engage in lawful activities suitable for achieving these ends.

a. The membership of this committee shall consist of:

1. union members who make either a minimum of (1) dollar per month automatic payroll deduction or a ten (10) dollar donation per year,

2. the officers of this committee shall be a chairperson, treasurer, and a secretary appointed by the president and subject to the constitution of the union.

b. This committee shall have the authority to carry out activities related and limited to the achievement of its purpose; and

1. shall make recommendations to the Executive Council with regard to political endorsements.

Section 8. The Social Committee shall conduct activities which promote the social well being of the membership, are attractive to potential members, the Coast District and the community it serves.

Section 9. The Membership Committee shall be responsible for coordinating and conducting membership recruitment activities, phone banking, and one-on-one membership recruitment.

Section 10. The Grievance Committee/Officers shall work towards the resolution of contractual and non-contractual disputes in the workplace, with the concurrence of the President; shall maintain records of grievances and their disposition and shall be responsible for the processing of grievances and disputes beyond the immediate work location with the concurrence of the President.

a. There may be two (2) Grievance Officers per campus and one (1) from District/DIS.

b. All grievances must be processed regardless of grievance officers' personal opinion.

c. No grievance or disputes cannot be denied without Presidential approval.

d. Grievance Officers should not help employees fill out employee grievance form.

e. All completed grievance information and files shall be immediately turned over to the President for future reference and storage. If sent through District mail, the file must be sealed and marked confidential.

f. All grievances must be held in strictest confidence.

g. The chairperson shall:

1. train all Grievance Officers before they are allowed to handle a grievance,

2. conduct at least one (1) monthly Grievance Committee meeting,

3. meet monthly with the President to go over all pending grievances,

4. give full status report to President before a grievance goes to level III,

5. handle all grievances at level III and/or arbitration,

6. make recommendations and obtain approval from the Executive Council regarding grievances and disputes to be taken to arbitration or civil remedy,

7. request from Executive Council approval to seek professional counsel,

8. recruit grievance officers from each campus.

h. Grievance officers shall:

1. be respected members of their campus,

2. attend monthly Grievance Committee meetings,

3. go through a training period,

4. handle informal conference, level I and II grievances,

5. notify chairperson when a grievance or dispute is filed at formal level I or II,

6. notify chairperson when a grievance or dispute has been denied at formal level II,

7. discuss all grievances or disputes with the Grievance Committee,

8. send a copy of all formal grievances to the President within twenty-four (24) hours of being filed.

i. Grievant shall:

1. personally complete an Employee Grievance Form detailing the alleged grievance,

2. sign Grievance Form and authorization to represent.

j. Appeal Process:

1. employees may appeal a decision by the Grievance Committee by appearing before the Executive Council,

Section 1. The Executive Council hereby establishes a procedure for the selection of an arbitration panel for the settlement of an internal union dispute. Such a panel shall be made available to hear a complaint from members concerning action by the union which the member(s) alleges to affect adversely his/her remedies provided in the Constitution and By-Laws of CFCE Local 4794.

Section 2. The union Internal Review Panel shall consist of three (3) members: one (1) chosen by each party, and a third (3rd), a chairperson, chosen by the first two (2). The chair of the panel shall be chosen from an approved list of the American Arbitration Association. The chairperson of the panel shall not be a member of CFCE 4794, nor shall have been a member during any of the five (5) previous years immediately prior to his or her appointment to the panel.

Section 3. The American Arbitration Associations shall monitor each step of the procedure.

Section 4. Cases will be heard in the Los Angeles AAA region.

Section 5. CFCE 4794 shall assume the administrative costs of the procedure and the fees and expenses of the chairperson of the panel. CFCE 4794 shall assume the fees, if any, and expenses of the CFCE 4794 panel members.

Section 6. In order to insure that the complaint is not frivolous or mischievous, or that the complaint is not utterly without merit, the complainant shall post a two hundred and fifty dollar ($250) escrow amount with the AAA. The panel shall not hear the case until the escrow is posted. The tripartite panel shall, by its majority, decide whether the escrow fund will be returned or forfeited.

Section 7. A panel shall have authority to decide the issue in conflict and order a correction of the situation in those instances in which it is judged that the complaint has merit; however, no monetary damages can be granted in the award.

Section 8. The decision of the panel shall be final, and they shall carry with them the obligation of full compliance by the complainant(s) and any affected member(s).

Section 1. Dues to the Coast Federation of Classified Employees shall be point seven percent (0.7%) of annual base salary, plus affiliate percapita charges, payable either in advance or through tenthly payroll deductions. Effective April 1, 1992, the dues of each member shall be increased by an amount equal to any increase in per-capita payments that are required to be made to the American Federation of Teachers, California Federation of Teachers, or similar bodies with which the organization is affiliated.

This local shall maintain affiliation with the following organizations:

Section 1. Any member of the organization may present a proposed amendment to any regular meeting of the Executive Council, which shall notify the membership of the proposed amendment no later than fourteen (14) days prior to the next annual membership meeting. Proposed amendments must be signed and dated by the author of each proposed amendment.

Section 2. Two-thirds (2/3) of those members present and voting at the annual membership meeting shall be required for passage of the amendment.

Section 1. Three (3) copies of this Constitution and all subsequent amendments shall be submitted to the office of the Secretary/Treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers.

Section 2. One (1) copy shall be sent to the similar officers of each organization with which this local is affiliate.

Section 3. The Secretary shall provide a copy to all members of the local in addition to making available, upon request, additional copies to any member of the local, or Coast District employee.

Robert's Rules of Order, Revised shall govern this organization and all of its subordinate bodies in all matters not covered by this Constitution or the By-Laws of this organization.