CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED PROFESSIONS OF VERMONT, AFT

ARTICLE I NAME

This organization shall be known as the United Professions of Vermont.

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ARTICLE II OBJECTIVES

This Constitution is adopted for the following purposes:

1) To promote the welfare of the citizens of Vermont, especially in the areas of labor, education, health and social programs.

2) To promote effective allocation of federal, state and local funds, particularly in the areas of education, health and social programs.

3) To promote the civil and professional rights of all workers.

4) To promote mutual assistance and cooperation among the locals of the UPV.

5) To advance the standards of the professions within the jurisdiction of Vermont membership.

6) To promote the aims and objectives of the American Federation of Teachers.

7) To expose and fight all forms of prejudice and discrimination.

8) To organize professionals and support personnel engaged in education, healthcare, social services and allied fields into one united organization.

9) To promote the common interests of the UPV membership.

10) To promote cooperative and collaborative relationships with labor organizations both regionally and nationally.

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ARTICLE III AFFILIATIONS

This organization shall affiliate with the American Federation of Teachers and the AFL-CIO.

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ARTICLE IV LOCALS

1) Definition: The local unit of UPV shall be one granted a charter by the National AFT

2) Recognition:

a) Locals must submit annually to the UPV Executive Council notification of elected leadership.
b) The treasurer shall notify any local which does not transmit its dues in a timely manner that, thirty (30) days from the date of notification, recognition shall be withdrawn from that local. The Treasurer shall file charges against any local which continues non-payment of dues thirty (30) days after notification. Such action shall be in accordance with the Constitution of the AFT.

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ARTICLE V MEMBERSHIP

There shall be the following membership categories: active, at-large and associate.

1) Active

Active membership in UPV shall be open to any person who is eligible for local membership.

2) At-Large

a) Members at-large shall pay regular dues to UPV, AFT and AFL-CIO as do regular members of UPV.
b) Whenver there are ten (10) or more at-large members at one job site, they shall form a local under the AFT constitution.

3) Associate

Associate membership shall be granted dues paying members of organizations holding associate affiliate arrangements with UPV. Such affiliations are done by specific contract with groups seeking representation and services.

Membership shall be obtained only through per capital payment by a local or by the state federation of the required dues amount for the category of membership.

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ARTICLE VI OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

1) Composition

a. The elected officers of UPV shall consist of the following: President, Two Vice-Presidents (one from an Education local and one from a Healthcare local), Secretary and Treasurer. These officers shall constitute the Executive Council and shall also be members of the Board of Directors.

b. The Board of Directors shall consist of the UPV Executive Council plus the President or designated ranking officer of each local affiliated with UPV.

c. In the event that an elected officer of the UPV is also the ranking member of an affiliated local, he/she may serve in both capacities simultaneously, or the local may designate another elected officer to the Board of Directors. However, it is understood that a single local may only vote the strength of its membership one (1) time as called for in the AFT constitution.

2) Candidates for elective officers must be member of an affiliated local or members-at-large of the UPV. Associate members must alto hold member-at-large status to be nominated and serve in an elective role.

3) Duties of the President

The President shall:

a) Be the chief executive officer of UPV. It shall be his/her duty to administer all of the affairs of the UPV and to execute policies of the organization as determined by the State Convention.
b) Act as chief spokesperson for UPV.
c) Call regular meetings of the Executive Council and Board of Directors. The executive council shall meet a minimum of three times per year, including one annual meeting with the full Board of Directors.
d) Call special meetings of the Executive Council as needed to conduct the business of the UPV, or as directed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
e) With the approval of the Executive Council, appoint special assistants who will serve at his/her pleasure, manage his/her office, speak for and represent him/her. If at the time of appointment any special assistant was an active member of UPV, she/he shall retain all rights pertaining thereto. Such appointment shall be limited to budgetary provisions for such employees.
f) Recommend the hiring, define the duties and perform the evaluation of full and part-time UPV staff employees.
g) Represent the UPV at appropriate regional and national meetings and serve, when appropriate, as a delegate to the AFT National Convention.
h) Oversee legislative activities conducted on behalf of the UPV, including any officer, member, staff and/or contracted lobbying arrangements as approved by the Executive Council.
i) Fulfill such other duties as his/her office requires and as are consistent with this constitution.

4) Duties of the Vice President

a) co-carry out the duties and responsibilities of the President during his/her absence.
b) work with the President and staff to facilitate communication and activities between the national, regional and state AFT offices and the member locals.
c) participate in lobbying activities at the state level on behalf of members.
d) co-chair the Committee on Political Education (COPE) and prepare requests for solidarity fund grants and other political activity.
e) meet on a regular basis with the President, Executive Board and staff to discuss and implement the policies and programs of the organization.
f) serve when appropriate, along with the President, as spokespersons for the organization.

The duties of the Secretary shall be to keep records and make reports as required by the Executive Council.

6) Duties of the Treasurer

The duties of the Treasurer shall be to collect and disburse monies and make reports as required by the Executive Council and to keep all financial records of the State Federation as required by the Executive Council. With the approval of the executive council, the Treasurer may engage the services of UPV staff, professional accountants, payroll services and/or tax consultants as deemed necessary to carry out his/her duties.

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ARTICLE VII NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION PROCEDURES

1) Nominations

a) Nominations for UPV officers shall be made by petition of membership or as specified in 7(e).
b) Candidates shall state and support qualifications for office in nominating petitions.
c) Petitions shall be submitted to an election committee composed of three (3) members as designated by the Executive Council. No member of the Election Committee shall be a candidate for office.
d) Petitions shall be submitted within twenty-one (21) days of the announcement of the State Convention, in the following manner:

1) Candidates for office of President and Vice President shall obtain twenty-five (25) signatures on their petition.
2) Candidates for all other offices shall obtain ten (10) signatures on their petition.
3) Signatures must be of members of the UPV affiliated locals.

e) Nominations from the floor of the State Convention shall be accepted if accompanied by two (2) seconds.
f) Statements and qualifications of petition-nominated candidates shall be published by the UPV and made available to members at least thirty (30) days prior to the State Convention.

2) Elections

a) Officers shall be elected by a majority of a roll call vote at the State Convention, unless there are more than two (2) candidates for a position, in which case the elections will be conducted by the method described in the bylaws.
b) Terms of Office. Duly elected officers shall serve a two (2) year term commencing at the end of the Convention at which they were elected.

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ARTICLE VIII PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES

Meetings of all duly constituted bodies of this organization shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, newly revised.

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ARTICLE IX FISCAL YEAR, RECORDS AND REPORTS

1) The fiscal year of this organization shall begin July 1st and end June 30th.
2) The Executive Council shall maintain all records and reports required by law.

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ARTICLE X AMENDMENTS

1) An amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws may be proposed in the following manner:

a. Action of the Executive Council or Board of Directors
b. By petition of ten percent (10%) of membership drawn from at least three (3) locals.

2) In order to be considered for adoption a proposed amendment shall be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors no less than thirty (30) days prior to the Board of Directors meeting at which said amendments shall be acted upon, to allow members to voice their opinions to the representatives.

3) This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) roll call vote of the Board of Directors and each local represented shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the membership as defined in the AFT Constitution, and each officer shall be entitled to one (1) vote.

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BY-LAWS OF THE
UNITED PROFESSIONS OF VERMONT, AFT

ARTICLE I DUES

1. Dues shall be set by a roll call vote of the delegates at the State Convention.
2. All per capital dues shall be payable annually, semi-annually, quarterly, or monthly, in advance.
3. Penalties:

a. No local more than three (3) months in arrears shall be entitles to services, defense funds or other aids.
b. The Treasurer shall notify any local two (2) months in arrears that recognition shall be withdrawn and services cancelled if such fails to make dues payment within thirty (30) days of such notification.
c. The Treasurer shall file charges with AFT and the offending local withdrawing recognition and services from any local three (3) months in arrears of dues payment, providing that notification was made to such local in accordance with above (Ib).

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ARTICLE II STATE CONVENTION

1. Procedures:

a. The State Convention shall meet every two years at a specified time and place determined and announced by the Executive Council. The UPV shall inform local officers as to the date and location at least sixty (60) days prior to the Convention.
b. All meetings will be governed by the newly revised edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.
c. When a delegate leaves the Convention, her/his place may be taken by an elected alternate. No delegates shall be seated in the per capital dues for his/her local or her/his at-large dues are in arrears for more than two (2) months preceding the Convention, as certified by the Credentials Committee.
d. On all roll call votes during the State Convention each local or at-large delegation represented shall be entitled to a number of votes equal tot he membership as defined in the AFT Constitution.

2. Composition:

Each local shall have one delegate. The additional delegates shall be appointed as follows: Two for the first fifty (50) members or fraction thereof and one additional delegate for each fifty (50) members or fraction thereof. At-large members and Associate members may elect delegates in accordance with this formula.

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ARTICLE III EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS POWERS AND DUTIES

1) The Board of Directors shall:

a) Carry out policies of the State Convention.
b) Oversee the affairs of the UPV.
c) In emergency conditions, act in place of the State Convention.
d) Fill all vacancies in the Executive Council.
e) Form necessary committees, including Nominating and Credentials Committees of the State Convention, and establish their membership.
f) Appoint the COPE Representatives and the Defense Fund Chair.

2) The Executive Council shall:

a) Assist the President as necessary to carry out the business of this organization.
b) In emergency conditions, act in place of the Board of Directors.

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ARTICLE IV COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION (COPE)

There shall be appointed by the Executive Council a COPE officer. Duties of the COPE officer are:

1. To act as a liaison between local, AFT and AFL-CIO COPE officers.
2. To raise money to support UPV COPE.
3. To distribute COPE money with the approval of the Board of Directors.

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ARTICLE V DEFENSE FUND CHAIR

There shall be appointed by the Executive Council a Defense Fund Chair.

1. Duties of the Defense Fund Chair are to review all defense fund requests, to obtain confirmation from the treasurer that funding is or is not available for each such request, and, on the basis of merit and availability of funds, to recommend action to the Executive Council for payment of such funds.
2. Action by the Executive Council shall be final and binding.

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ARTICLE VI DUES WAIVERS

Reduced dues shall be assessed to members in accordance with the following:

1. Employees earning less than $15,000 in any UPV fiscal year (July 1-June 30) shall pay one half (1/2) per capita to UPV.
2. Employees earning less than $10,000 in any UPV fiscal year shall pay one-quarter (1/4) per capita to UPV.
3. Employees on strike shall be absolved from state per capita payments for the duration of the strike.
4. Employees on leave of absence shall pay regular per capital dues in accordance with policies of their representing locals, except that, in hardship cases, such employees may apply to the Executive Council for reduced or waived per capita. The decision of the Executive Council shall be final and binding.

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ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS

In order to be considered for adoption, a proposed amendment shall be submitted in writing to the President no less than thirty (30) days prior to the Board of Directors meeting at which said amendment shall be acted upon, to allow members to voice their opinions to representatives.

The President shall notify the ranking officer in each member local within two (2) weeks of receipt of proposed amendment to allow members of locals opportunity to voice their opinions to representatives.

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