Union Constitution and Unit Bylaws

Unit 1 - Teaching Assistants Unit 2 - Invigilators Unit 3 - Course Lecturers & Instructors Adopted: February 17, 1993 Amended: February 17, 1994 October 12, 1995 April 2, 1996 April 8, 1997 April 8, 1998 April 7, 1999 September 23, 2004 March 22, 2006 October 19, 2006 March 28, 2007 March 24, 2010 April 7, 2011 March 30, 2012

Table of Contents Chapter One: General ..................................................................................................................... 4 Name ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Headquarters ............................................................................................................................... 4 Jurisdiction.................................................................................................................................. 4 Union Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 4 Affiliation.................................................................................................................................... 4 Disaffiliation ............................................................................................................................... 4 Withdrawal of Request for Certification..................................................................................... 5 Chapter Two: Membership ............................................................................................................. 5 Definition .................................................................................................................................... 5 Eligibility .................................................................................................................................... 5 Joining the Union........................................................................................................................ 5 Union Dues ................................................................................................................................. 5 Privileges..................................................................................................................................... 6 Resignation ................................................................................................................................. 6 Suspension or Exclusion ............................................................................................................. 6 Justification ............................................................................................................................. 6 Procedure ................................................................................................................................ 6 Chapter Three: The General Assembly........................................................................................... 7 Composition................................................................................................................................ 7 Frequency.................................................................................................................................... 7 Attributes..................................................................................................................................... 7 Annual General Assembly .......................................................................................................... 7 Special General Assemblies........................................................................................................ 7 Quorum ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Criteria for a Binding Vote ......................................................................................................... 8 Secret Ballot................................................................................................................................ 8 Chapter Four: Union Finances ........................................................................................................ 8 Union Accounts .......................................................................................................................... 8 Fiscal Year .................................................................................................................................. 9 Investment Policy........................................................................................................................ 9 Signing Officers .......................................................................................................................... 9 Union Budget .............................................................................................................................. 9 Special Funds .............................................................................................................................. 9 Annual Financial Report ........................................................................................................... 10 Unit Contribution Formula ....................................................................................................... 10 Administration of Unit Funds ................................................................................................... 10 Internal Reporting ..................................................................................................................... 10 Solidarity Grant for Smaller Units............................................................................................ 10 Auditing Committee.................................................................................................................. 11 Recognition of the Unions Auditors.................................................................................... 11 Election of the Auditing Committee Members..................................................................... 11 1

Meetings and Quorum........................................................................................................... 11 Rights and Duties.................................................................................................................. 11 Annual Report....................................................................................................................... 11 Chapter Five: Coordinating Committee....................................................................................... 11 Composition.............................................................................................................................. 11 Attributes................................................................................................................................... 12 Positions.................................................................................................................................... 12 Duties ........................................................................................................................................ 14 Compensation ........................................................................................................................... 14 Eligibility .................................................................................................................................. 14 Nominations.............................................................................................................................. 14 Elections.................................................................................................................................... 15 Procedure .............................................................................................................................. 15 Acclamation Procedure......................................................................................................... 15 Vote....................................................................................................................................... 15 Term of Office .......................................................................................................................... 16 Completion of the Office Term................................................................................................. 16 Vacancy..................................................................................................................................... 16 Meetings.................................................................................................................................... 16 Special Meetings....................................................................................................................... 16 Quorum ..................................................................................................................................... 17 Binding Vote............................................................................................................................. 17 Suspension and/or Recall from Office...................................................................................... 17 Justification ........................................................................................................................... 17 Procedure .............................................................................................................................. 17 Limitations ............................................................................................................................ 17 Suspension of Unit Officers from Coordinating Committee ................................................ 18 Unit-Level Suspension Procedure......................................................................................... 18 Chapter Six: The Units.................................................................................................................. 18 General...................................................................................................................................... 18 Restrictions ............................................................................................................................... 18 Chapter Seven: Rules of Order ..................................................................................................... 19 Jurisdiction................................................................................................................................ 19 Calling the Meeting to Order .................................................................................................... 19 Agenda ...................................................................................................................................... 19 Vote........................................................................................................................................... 19 Notice of a Motion .................................................................................................................... 19 Adjournment ............................................................................................................................. 19 Motions ..................................................................................................................................... 20 Amendments ............................................................................................................................. 20 Sub-Amendments...................................................................................................................... 20 Previous Question ..................................................................................................................... 20 Privileged Motions.................................................................................................................... 20 Etiquette .................................................................................................................................... 20 Right to Speak........................................................................................................................... 21

Call Back to Order .................................................................................................................... 21 Point of Order ........................................................................................................................... 21 Procedural Dispute.................................................................................................................... 21 Chapter Eight: Amendments to the Constitution .......................................................................... 21 Amendments ............................................................................................................................. 21 Restrictions to Amendments ..................................................................................................... 21 Dissolution of the Union........................................................................................................... 21 Annex............................................................................................................................................ 22

Chapter One: General Name 1.01 The Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill, as established in Montreal on February 12, 1992, is an employees association within the meaning of the Labour Code. The Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill is hereinafter referred to as the Union. Headquarters 1.02 The Union headquarters is situated at 3479 Peel Street, 3rd floor, in Montreal. Jurisdiction 1.03 The Union's jurisdiction may include any employee of McGill University covered by an accreditation certificate issued to the Union. Union Objectives 1.04 The Union subscribes to the declaration of principles of the CSN and has as its objectives the examination and improvement of the social, professional, economic and political interests of its members. These goals shall be pursued collectively and include negotiating collective agreements, precluding any form of discrimination based on race, sex, language, age, political opinion or affiliation, religion, sexual orientation, social class, ethnicity, or physical or mental disability. The Union shall also seek to ally itself with similar union organizations. Affiliation 1.05 The Union is affiliated to the Confdration des Syndicats Nationaux (CSN), the Fdration nationale des enseignantes et des enseignants du Qubec (FNEEQ) and the Conseil Central de Montral Mtropolitain (CCMM), hereafter Affiliates. The Union shall abide by the constitutions of the Affiliates, and shall act accordingly. The Union agrees to pay the monthly per capita dues set by the Affiliates. Any officer or delegate thereof shall have the right to attend any union meeting and participate in the deliberations, but shall not be entitled to vote. Disaffiliation 1.06 A resolution of dissolution of the Union or disaffiliation from the Affiliates cannot be discussed at a General Assembly unless a prior notice of said motion has been given ninety (90) days beforehand. The said notice of motion must be presented, and discussed at a duly convened, regularly-scheduled or Special General Assembly. The General Assembly convocation notice must indicate the reasons for which a dissolution or disaffiliation proposal is demanded. Once a notice of motion for the discussion of dissolution or disaffiliation from the CSN has been presented, a copy of the said motion must be forwarded to the secretary-general of the Affiliates. The said notice of motion must be forwarded at least ninety (90) days prior to the day of the meeting. 1.07 The authorized representatives of the Affiliates shall be duly entitled to attend the meeting where the resolution is to be discussed, and they may give their point of

view if they so desire. For the resolution of dissolution or disaffiliation to be duly adopted, approval by the majority of the paid-up membership of the Union is required. 1.08 If the Union should disaffiliate from the CSN, or be suspended or expelled from the latter, the Union shall remit to the CSN union dues in the amount corresponding to the three months of dues immediately following the disaffiliation, suspension or expulsion. 1.09 For a disaffiliation vote to be binding, there must be a secret ballot vote showing the majority of the paid-up membership of the Union voted in favour of disaffiliation. Withdrawal of Request for Certification 1.10 The withdrawal of a request for certification cannot be decided without the agreement of a duly mandated CSN representative. Chapter Two: Membership Definition 2.01 Members shall enjoy the rights set out in the present Constitution, provided that they satisfy the eligibility criteria defined in 2.02, as well as the conditions specified in 2.03. Eligibility 2.02 To belong to the union and to remain a member: one must meet one of the following criteria: o employed in a position under the Union's jurisdiction; o be a current member of the Unions Coordinating Committee, a units Executive Committee, a units Bargaining Committee, or any member elected to a position in the Affiliates; o have met either of the criteria above during the previous twelve months; o have been laid off from a position under the Unions jurisdiction, but maintain the right to be recalled; o have been dismissed, but have a filed grievance sustained by the Union with respect to the dismissal; o be on paid or unpaid leave authorised by a collective agreement under the jurisdiction of the Union; o be on strike or be locked out from a position under the jurisdiction of the Union. one must abide by the present Constitution and the bylaws of ones unit(s); one must pay the union dues set by the General Assembly; one must not belong to any other association whose objectives are in conflict with those of this Union, as defined by 1.04. Joining the Union 2.03 Employees shall become members upon signing a membership form. All employees in the bargaining unit are eligible for union protection upon hiring. Union Dues 5

2.04 The union dues are set at 2.5% of an employees gross pay. Privileges 2.05 Only members in good standing as per 2.02 shall benefit from the privileges conferred by the present Constitution. This Constitution, unit bylaws, and any enforced collective agreements shall be made available on the union website. Members may view union-wide meeting minutes and union-wide financial statements upon written request submitted to the Secretary-General and the Treasurer, respectively. Resignation 2.06 Any member who submits her resignation from the Union shall forfeit all union advantages and privileges. The said resignation must be submitted in writing to the Union. 2.07 If a member wishes to rejoin the Union following her resignation, she must sign a union membership card. Suspension or Exclusion Justification 2.08 Any member shall be liable to suspension or exclusion from the Union by the Coordinating Committee if she: neglects to abide by commitments made by the Union or any of its instances; causes a serious prejudice to the Union; is active in, or spreads propaganda in favour of, associations that are detrimental to the interests of the members of the Union. 2.09 A unit executive committee may temporarily suspend a member of its unit, by a process outlined in the bylaws of that unit, pending formal suspension or exclusion by the Coordinating Committee for any of the reasons listed in 2.08. 2.10 Any member who has been suspended or excluded from the Union shall lose the right to all union benefits and advantages as long as the suspension or exclusion has not been lifted. Procedure 2.11 Before declaring the suspension or exclusion, the Coordinating Committee must give the said member at least eight (8) days notice, invite her before the Committee to explain and defend her position, and indicate, in writing, the charges against the member as well as the time and the place of the proposed meeting. The motion of suspension or exclusion must indicate the duration thereof and shall reflect the nature of the offense. 2.12 Any suspension or exclusion shall take effect immediately upon a unanimous vote by the voting members of the Coordinating Committee. The chair shall also be required to cast a vote and there shall be no abstentions. The suspended or excluded member shall neither have a vote nor chair the meeting. 2.13 The suspended or excluded member may appeal to the next General Assembly. The General Assembly shall have the authority to reinstate the member by a majority vote. The suspended or excluded member may have speaking rights while her reinstatement is being considered at the General Assembly. 6

Chapter Three: The General Assembly Composition 3.01 The General Assembly shall be made up of all the members in good standing of the Union (2.02). Frequency 3.02 There must be at least one General Assembly every calendar year (including the Annual General Assembly). This meeting must be called with fourteen (14) days notice; the notice of the meeting must contain the information listed in 3.05. Attributes 3.03 The General Assembly is the highest authority of the Union. More specifically, it has the following attributes: to determine the overall policies of the Union; to elect the President, Secretary-General, and Treasurer; to receive all reports and accounts forwarded from members of the Union and any other instances of the Union; to ratify, amend or annul the decision of any union-wide instance; to create any committee that it deems necessary to fulfill the Unions functions; to modify the Union's Constitution; to set the amount of union dues; to vote upon annual budgets that have been submitted for approval by the Coordinating Committee; to dispose of the Auditing Committees report and all other documents related to the administration of union funds; to act upon and to decide on all matters that are so judged to be in the interests of the proper functioning of the Union. Annual General Assembly 3.04 The Annual General Assembly shall take place in April. The Annual General Assembly must be called at least fourteen (14) calendar days beforehand. 3.05 The notice of meeting must contain at least the following information: date of the meeting; time of the meeting; location of the meeting; agenda. 3.06 At this meeting, there must be: the presentation and adoption of the financial statements for the current fiscal year, as well as the Auditing Committees report and the budget (not including unit budgets) for the next fiscal year; elections held for the President, Secretary-General, Treasurer and the Union Auditors, when applicable; a report compiled by the Coordinating Committee outlining the previous years activities and accomplishments; updates from each unit of the Union. Special General Assemblies 7

3.07 Special General Assemblies may be convened by the President, upon approval of the unit Executive Committees, after an official notice of at least eight (8) calendar days; however, in an emergency situation, the Coordinating Committee of the Union may call such a meeting within a reasonable lapse of time. 3.08 The number of members corresponding to the quorum of a General Assembly may obtain the calling of a Special General Assembly by submitting to the President a written petition signed by them, indicating the purpose(s) or subject(s) of such a meeting. The President must then proceed to convene the said Special General Assembly within the eight (8) days following her receipt of the petition. 3.09 The Auditing Committee, following a unanimous vote, may obtain the calling of a Special General Assembly. The President must convene a Special General Assembly within the eight (8) days following her notification of the vote. 3.10 The Coordinating Committee must call a Special General Assembly when so requested by the Affiliates, whereupon the reasons are serious and judged to be in the interest of the Union's members and the labour movement in general. 3.11 The notice of meeting must indicate the reason(s) for the said meeting. Only this (these) subject(s) can be discussed at the said meeting. Quorum 3.12 The quorum of a (Special) General Assembly is sixty (60) individual members. For a vote to be binding, there must be thirty (30) Teaching Assistants, six (6) Invigilators, and thirty (30) Course Lecturers. Criteria for a Binding Vote 3.13 Any vote of the General Assembly indicating that the majority of the members present support a given resolution shall be a binding decision, unless otherwise indicated in the Constitution. Secret Ballot 3.14 Any vote of the General Assembly shall be taken by a show of hands, except in the cases indicated in 3.14. However, at any time a member may pass a non-debatable motion for the vote to be taken by secret ballot. 3.15 The following decisions must be taken by a secret ballot vote to be binding: disaffiliation; elections of President, Secretary-General, Treasurer, and the Union Auditors; amendments to the Constitution. Chapter Four: Union Finances Union Accounts 4.01 The Union shall maintain, in distinct accounts or folios, the following funds: a fund for the Coordinating Committee and expenses related to union-wide activities; a union-wide contingency fund for any emergency expenses or unforeseen expenses in other areas of the Union Budget, subject to the approval of the unit Executive Committees; a fund for each unit for expenses related to unit activities; 8

 a strike fund for each unit for member support during legally declared labour actions. Fiscal Year 4.02 The fiscal year of the Union shall begin February 1 and end on January 31. Investment Policy 4.03 All union funds shall be maintained in a Caisse Populaire or other credit union. Any investments made by the Union must be in the form of socially responsible investments and remain consistent with the objectives of the Union (1.04), after consultation with an accredited financial advisor. The General Assembly alone may adopt specific directives related to investment consistent with this article; any such directives shall constitute a Union Investment Policy and shall appear as an annex to the Constitution. Signing Officers 4.04 The signing officers for union-wide funds shall be the President, Secretary-General, and Treasurer. Cheques dispensing union-wide funds shall be signed by the Treasurer and the Secretary-General, except in cases of emergency or in cases where the Treasurer and Secretary-General have given written permission. 4.05 The signing officers for unit-level funds shall be the Secretary-General, Treasurer and the Vice President/Unit Chair of the relevant unit. Each cheque dispensing unit funds shall be signed by the Treasurer and the Vice President/Unit Chair, except in cases of emergency or in cases where the Vice President/Unit Chair and Treasurer have given written permission. Under no circumstances shall unit-level funds be disbursed by other signing officers without the consent of the appropriate Vice President/Unit Chair, or her designee. Union Budget 4.06 The Union Budget shall include expected revenue and expenses for each union-wide fund. 4.07 The Union Budget shall include allocations for the following: liberations for the President, Treasurer, and Secretary-General, budgeted at the rate of the unit with the highest hourly compensation rate; this shall include the number of hours budgeted for these positions; salary and benefits of any statutory employees of the union; office and administrative expenses; a discretionary fund for union-wide activities and initiatives of the Coordinating Committee. 4.08 Once the Union Budget has been adopted at the Annual General Assembly, the units shall contribute their respective shares of the Union Budget according to the Unit Contribution Formula (4.11). Unit contributions to the Union Budget shall not be modified in unit budgets. Special Funds 4.09 The Coordinating Committee may, from time to time, establish special funds for new projects. Any fund established by the Coordinating Committee shall expire at

the following Annual General Assembly, unless confirmed as a permanent fund by the general membership. The Coordinating Committee must request funding from the units for any special funds not provided for in the budget. Annual Financial Report 4.10 The Annual Financial Report shall be presented and adopted at each Annual General Assembly and shall contain the following: financial statements for the fiscal year about to end (or just ended); the report of the Auditing Committee; the Union Budget to be approved for the following fiscal year; the annual calculation of the Unit Contribution Formula (as per 4.11). Unit Contribution Formula 4.11 Each units contribution to the Union Budget shall be equal to their percentage share of overall union revenues. To determine the units contribution for the following year, the total unit revenue (from union dues) shall be divided by the total union revenue (from union dues). The resulting figure shall be converted to a percentage by multiplying by one-hundred (100). 4.12 If a units actual percentage share of overall union revenues at year-end is different form the amount forecast in the previous budget, the unit(s) shall be reimbursed (or shall be charged for) the difference in the next years Union Budget. Administration of Unit Funds 4.13 Each unit Executive Committee shall prepare an annual unit budget in consultation with the Treasurer. The units budget must be approved by members of the appropriate unit at an annual unit meeting. 4.14 With the exception of the units fixed contribution to the union budget, each unit shall manage its own funds and expenses, including its own strike fund, according to policies established by the unit. Unit-level policies that contradict the Unions Constitution shall have no effect. 4.15 Liberations for unit executive officers shall be paid from unit funds. 4.16 Each unit shall pay its per capita dues to the Affiliates from unit funds. 4.17 Units shall not allocate funds for items or projects already provided for in the Union Budget without the approval of the Coordinating Committee. Internal Reporting 4.18 The Treasurer shall provide each unit Executive Committee with a monthly statement of unit funds and the Coordinating Committee with a monthly statement of union funds. The Treasurer shall also provide to the Coordinating Committee and each unit Executive Committee a quarterly report displaying the forecast union and unit annual budgets compared with actual expenses and revenues during the reporting period. Solidarity Grant for Smaller Units 4.19 The Annual General Assembly may approve a solidarity grant to any unit for which the unit contribution to the union budget would create an undue financial burden.

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4.20 Any unit awarded a solidarity grant shall be exempt from making a contribution to the union budget. The revenues of the exempted unit shall be subtracted from total union revenues when calculating the contributions of the other units. 4.21 The General Assembly may approve, as needed, additional grants in the union-wide budget to support smaller units, upon request to the Treasurer. Auditing Committee Recognition of the Unions Auditors 4.22 At any time, a person authorized to represent the Affiliates may proceed with an audit of the books of the Union. The Treasurer shall submit to this authorized representative all requested books and exhibits so that she may conduct the audit. Election of the Auditing Committee Members 4.23 Three (3) members of the Union shall be elected as the Unions auditors in the same manner as the Coordinating Committee is elected (5.15-26). No one involved with the Union in an official capacity or who has a seat on any of the Unions committees may be a member of the Auditing Committee. Meetings and Quorum 4.24 The Auditing Committee shall meet at least once every six (6) months. The Treasurer must be present at the meetings of the Auditing Committee, unless the members of the Committee decide otherwise. Quorum is two (2) members. Rights and Duties 4.25 The attributes of the auditors are: to examine all revenues and expenses; to examine and to authenticate the reconciliation of the Caisse Populaire or bank account, the Treasurers report, as well as all other financial accounts of the Union (leisure, insurance, strike funds, etc.); to verify the adherence to the resolutions of the Coordinating Committee, unit Executive Committees, and the General Assembly; if necessary, to call a Special General Assembly, upon a unanimous decision. Annual Report 4.26 Once a year, the Auditing Committee shall submit a written report of their work, as well as any recommendations that they deem appropriate, to the General Assembly. The report and recommendations shall be submitted beforehand to the Coordinating Committee, unit Executive Committees, and, if applicable, unit Councils. 4.27 If the report is not ready fourteen (14) days before the Annual General Assembly, the Treasurer will request that a representative from the Affiliates proceed with an audit of the books of the union and present a report to the Annual General Assembly. Chapter Five: Coordinating Committee Composition 5.01 The Coordinating Committee shall be composed of:

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 Attributes

one (1) President; one (1) Treasurer; one (1) Secretary-General; The Vice President of each unit, or her designee.

5.02 Either the President or the Secretary-General must speak English and French. 5.03 At least one of the President, Treasurer, and Secretary-General positions shall be filled by a woman. 5.04 If the President, Treasurer, or Secretary-General positions were to be vacant in accordance with 5.02 and 5.03, then these articles will no longer apply at the General Assembly and nominations from the floor will be entertained, as per 5.22. 5.05 The Treasurer shall be trained and/or have experience in accounting. 5.06 Representatives from units receiving solidarity grants may sit on the Coordinating Committee, but are not entitled to vote. 5.07 No one individual can serve two positions on the Coordinating Committee at one time. Positions 5.08 President shall be, with the assistance of the appropriate Vice President/Unit Chair, the public face of the Union as its spokesperson and official media contact; shall promote inter-unit solidarity and the interests of the Union; shall chair Coordinating Committee meetings and General Assemblies. She shall temporarily abandon the chair during a meeting to another member of the Coordinating Committee if she wishes to take a position in the debate; shall facilitate the smooth function of the Coordinating Committee; shall vote in meetings where she has a seat only to break a tie; shall have the right to sit on any committee of the Union; shall represent the Union at all inter-union activities; shall coordinate projects that affect multiple units, in coordination with the appropriate unit-level officer(s); shall serve as the primary officer responsible for the Unions Constitution; shall inform the Vice Presidents in advance of all meetings of the Affiliates various instances and ensure the appropriate representation of all units (proportional to the units membership) on the Unions delegations to those instances. 5.09 Treasurer shall be a signing officer of union funds; shall oversee the administration of the Unions finances, respecting this Constitution and any applicable unit bylaws; shall ensure that all financial transactions are properly recorded in the appropriate accounting statements and registers as per the system established by the CSN; shall oversee the collection of all union dues and money owed to the Union; shall present to the appropriate unit Executive Committee every month, or upon request, the bank reconciliation and that units financial statements;

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 shall make all disbursements authorized by the Coordinating Committee and unit

Executive Committees;

shall deposit, as soon as possible, to the Caisse Populaire or Credit Union any

funds on hand, and send the appropriate amounts owed to the Affiliates;

shall prepare any budgets, in collaboration with the Coordinating Committee and

Unit Executive Committees, and ensure their presentation to the appropriate instances; shall prepare an annual financial statement at the end of the fiscal year and ensure its presentation to the Coordinating Committee and General Assembly; shall be empowered, at all times, to disclose the Unions ledgers and all relevant supporting documents to the duly authorised representative of the Executive Committee of the CSN and to the Unions Auditing Committee; shall oversee the verification of dues lists received from the University; shall submit a draft budget of union finances for the next fiscal year to the Coordinating Committee by February 1; shall attend Coordinating Committee meetings; shall attend Auditing Committee meetings (4.24); shall complete the CSN treasurer training no later than four (4) months after her election; shall be proficient in French. 5.10 Secretary-General shall oversee the day-to-day operations of the local; shall ensure that the minutes are taken for the Coordinating Committee, the General Assembly, and any other official union-wide meeting; she shall circulate the minutes of each preceding meeting and enter said minutes in a register to be signed by the chair of that meeting; shall be a signing officer of union funds; shall convene Coordinating Committee meetings and General Assemblies; shall sign the minutes of all Coordinating Committee meetings and General Assemblies; shall supervise any statutory employees of the Union; shall oversee external communications for the Union, in coordination with the appropriate unit-officers, including but not limited to website or other media campaigns; shall oversee membership databases; shall ensure the privacy of any member information held by the Union, in consultation with the appropriate unit officers; shall assist the President as needed, or temporarily replace the President if she is unable to perform her duties; shall ensure that the Constitution is followed, including election procedures; shall ensure that the property of the Union is properly insured and that all spaces occupied by the Union conforms to all legislation governing environmental, health, safety, electrical, and/or building standards. Should the Union occupy space maintained by the employer, the Secretary-General shall ensure that the employer maintains the space to the same standards; shall ensure that all membership cards are logged and securely stored; 13

 shall serve as the primary officer responsible for archiving historical records and promoting institutional memory; shall maintain a union-wide calendar of meetings and events and assist the units in coordinating their activities. Duties 5.11 The duties of the Coordinating Committee are as follows: to guide the affairs of the Union; to determine the time and place of General Assemblies; to authorize expenditures set out in the Union Budget; to check the Treasurers accounting books and reports; to ensure the rules and regulations adopted by the General Assembly are respected; to set up any committee required to study, to discuss, to promote, or to further the goals of the Union; to name representatives to represent the Union to the various bodies to which the Union participates; to receive and examine all communications and information submitted by the union membership to them, and to report back; to abide by the decisions made by the General Assembly, which constitute a mandate; to submit to the General Assembly any question or issue requiring a vote by the members; to present a report of the previous years activities and accomplishments to the Annual General Assembly; to authorize all the procedures and legal acts necessary for the best interest of the Union; shall declare null and void any bylaw passed by a unit that is in conflict with this Constitution, subject to appeal at a General Assembly. Compensation 5.12 Individuals elected to the President, Treasurer, and Secretary-General positions shall be compensated according to the rates defined in the bylaws of the unit of which the individual is a member. If the individual is a member of multiple units, the compensation rate shall be the higher rate. 5.13 Coordinating Committee members shall be compensated for travel expenses, accommodation expenses, meal expenses, and baby-sitter fees that are incurred in the course of union duties and as needed, subject to the standards set by CSN. 5.14 When union duties require absence from work, the remuneration allotted shall not exceed the regular pay of the member who has been discharged from work. Eligibility 5.15 Any member in good standing is eligible to become a member of the Coordinating Committee Nominations 5.16 The nomination period will be announced via email and the union website before

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the nomination period begins. The announcement must be in English and French and contain positions available, job descriptions (5.08, 5.09, and/or 5.10), and 5.025, as applicable. 5.17 The nomination period for the positions of President, Treasurer, and SecretaryGeneral will last for two (2) weeks, ending at noon (12 pm) seven (7) calendar days before the General Assembly where the elections are to be held. 5.18 Nomination forms must be signed by the nominee and five (5) members of the Union in good standing (2.02). These forms must include the candidates name, the unit(s) of which she is a member, the position applied for, the department of the candidate, languages spoken, and relevant contact information. Nomination forms may be submitted in person, by mail, or by fax to the union office. 5.19 Nomination forms will be made available at the union office or online via the union website. The official form need not be used by nominees but is provided by the Union for convenience. 5.20 There will be a nomination sheet at the union office, available to union members that lists all nominees for all positions. 5.21 A person may be nominated for only one position during the nomination period. 5.22 Nominations will also be accepted from the floor at a General Assembly, but only for positions that have one or no nominations, or in the case that 5.02 and/or 5.03 are not fulfilled. At least five (5) members in attendance must support nominations from the floor by a show of hands. 5.23 If a member wishes to run for a Coordinating Officer position but is unable to attend the elections meeting, she may present her candidacy to any position, provided that her nomination is put forward by a member present at the election meeting, who then must present a signed procuration from the absent member who so wishes to stand for election. Elections Procedure 5.24 The meeting at which the Coordinating Committee elections are held shall name a chair of the election, someone to take the minutes of the election, and scrutineers to participate in the counting of the ballots. These individuals may not be nominated to any of the positions being filled. Nominees will be introduced and may speak to the membership at the chairs discretion. There shall be a question and answer period for members to pose questions to nominees. Acclamation Procedure 5.25 If only one person accepts the nomination to any of the positions to be filled, the Unit Meeting shall vote by secret ballot to endorse the acclamation of the position. If the Unit Meeting votes against the win by acclamation, then the position remains unoccupied and the election procedure will repeat at the following General Assembly. Vote 5.26 Each vote must be conducted by secret ballot. In the case of competition, the winner shall be the candidate receiving the majority of the votes. The scrutineers shall count the ballots and report the results to the chair of the election; the latter shall 15

only vote in the case of a tie. Only those members in good standing and who are present at the meeting shall be entitled to vote. Term of Office 5.27 The term of office the President, Treasurer, and Secretary-General is two (2) years. Elections for these positions shall be held at the Annual General Assembly in every even-numbered calendar year. Completion of the Office Term 5.28 At the completion of their office terms, all members of the Coordinating Committee must transfer to their successors all union properties, as well as all useful information and pertinent documentation. Vacancy 5.29 If a Coordinating Committee position becomes vacant, the members of the Coordinating Committee shall appoint an acting replacement from among the pool of all elected officers and positions of the Union. This replacement must be confirmed by the unit Executive Committees. At the next General Assembly, or within six (6) months, there must be an election to fill the vacant position. Meetings 5.30 The Coordinating Committee shall meet at least once a month, in accordance with the provisions that they shall determine. 5.31 A Coordinating Committee meeting must be called at least five (5) working days beforehand by notifying all Coordinating Committee members via email. 5.32 The notice of meeting must contain the following information: date of the meeting; time of the meeting; location of the meeting; agenda. 5.33 Any member in good standing of the Union may attend and participate in the Coordinating Committee meeting, but the right to vote belongs only to those persons officially designated to the Coordinating Committee. If the discussion concerns confidential material as required by laws protecting personal privacy, the meeting may be in camera and solely members of the Coordinating Committee and Union Advisors, upon permission from the Coordinating Committee, may be present. Special Meetings 5.34 Special Coordinating Committee meetings may be convened by the President with at least twenty four (24) hours notice, except in the event of an emergency. 5.35 The notice of meeting must indicate the reason(s) for the special meeting. Only this (these) subject(s) can be discussed at this meeting. 5.36 At any time, the number of Coordinating Committee members corresponding to the quorum of the Coordinating Committee meeting may obtain the calling of a Special Coordinating Committee meeting by submitting to the President a request indicating the purpose(s) or subject(s) of the meeting.

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5.37 The President must call a Special Coordinating Committee meeting when so requested by an executive committee of the Affiliates, whereupon the reasons are serious and judged to be in the interest of the Unions members and the labour movement in general. Quorum 5.38 The quorum of the Coordinating Committee meeting is 50% of the voting positions that are filled. Binding Vote 5.39 The decisions of the Coordinating Committee shall be made by a majority vote of the voting members present. Members must be physically present to cast a vote and to count for quorum. As per 5.06, representatives from units that receive solidarity grants are not entitled to vote. Suspension and/or Recall from Office Justification 5.40 Any elected member of the Coordinating Committee may be temporarily suspended from their duties (pending removal from office) for any of the following reasons: intentionally participating in or instigating any activity that compromises the ability of the Union to fulfill its obligations to its members; unauthorized use of union funds; disclosure of confidential information except as provided by law; misrepresentation or breach of trust causing demonstrable harm to the Union or its members; neglecting the duties of the office as defined in the Constitution (5.08/5.09/5.10 and 5.11). Procedure 5.41 Any suspension under 5.40 shall take effect immediately upon a unanimous vote by the other sitting members of the Coordinating Committee. The chair shall also be required to cast a vote and there shall be no abstentions. The member subject to suspension or exclusion shall neither have a vote nor chair the meeting; the Coordinating Committee members shall be informed of the vote to suspend and the time and place of the meeting within a reasonable amount of time given the nature of the offence; the vote shall take place in open session and the meeting minutes must include the reason(s) for suspension; the committee member subject to the suspension vote shall have the opportunity to present a rebuttal to the other members of the Committee. 5.42 - Any suspension under 5.40-1 shall expire after six months, unless a General Assembly has voted to extend the suspension or to remove the individual from office. 5.43 Following suspension under 5.41, the committee member shall relinquish all keys and other union property in her possession. She shall be paid for any hours worked up to the moment of suspension, unless the hours worked are linked to the reason(s) for suspension from office. 17

Limitations 5.44 Only Coordinating Committee Officers (Chair, Secretary-General, and Treasurer) may be suspended by the Coordinating Committee. Suspension of Unit Officers from Coordinating Committee 5.45 Unit-level officers who sit on the Coordinating Committee by virtue of their unitlevel position may be suspended from their duties on the Coordinating Committee upon a unanimous vote of the other Coordinating Committee members. Unit-level officers suspended from the Coordinating Committee shall be automatically referred to the removal procedure outlined in the appropriate unit bylaws. The suspension expires upon the conclusion of the unit-level removal procedure. 5.46 If a unit level officer is removed from the Coordinating Committee but remains in office at the unit level, the appropriate unit Executive Committee shall designate a new representative for the unit on the Coordinating Committee. Unit-Level Suspension Procedure 5.47 Suspension or removal from unit-level positions shall be established in the units bylaws and shall be the same as provided for in this article, except they shall refer to the appropriate unit-level instance(s). Chapter Six: The Units General 6.01 To promote union solidarity, the Coordinating Committee, unit Executive Committees, and Unit Chairs shall meet at least once a year to discuss issues of mutual concern and plan joint events. 6.02 Unit Executives and Officers must explicitly identify the unit that they represent in any public communication. The name of the relevant unit must appear alongside the individuals position title. Restrictions 6.03 The units shall not create a position on the unit Executive Committees (or any other unit-level instance) with the same title as any of the officers of the Coordinating Committee. 6.04 The units shall not create a position on the unit Executive Committees (or any other unit-level instance) with exclusive responsibility over any matter already delegated to another instance or officer of the Union by this Constitution. Bylaws 6.05 The units shall govern themselves autonomously, subject only to the restrictions in the Constitution. 6.06 Each unit of the Union shall function according to its bylaws. The bylaws of each unit shall appear with the Constitution. Bylaws shall not conflict with the Constitution, and where that occurs the Constitution shall prevail. 6.07 The unit may establish any committees or instances it deems necessary in its bylaws. 6.08 Each unit may establish a Unit Executive Committee in its bylaws. The chair of a unit Executive Committee shall be referred to as the Vice President of the unit. For 18

a unit that does not have an Executive Committee, the presiding officer shall be referred to as the Unit Chair. 6.09 By-laws governing the decision-making protocol of the Executive Committee shall be enacted, amended or abrogated by the appropriate Unit Assembly. 6.10 Notice shall be given at least five (5) working days in advance, to the appropriate body, by the best means possible, of any motions concerning bylaw modification or enactment.

Chapter Seven: Rules of Order Jurisdiction 7.01 The following chapter shall apply to the General Assemblies, plus any other union structure where no bylaws determine its procedures. Calling the Meeting to Order 7.02 The appointed chair shall call the meeting to order at the prescribed time and chair the meeting. Agenda 7.03 The chair shall not depart from the agenda unless a majority of present members so decide. Any amendments to the agenda must be passed by a majority vote. Members who wish to have an agenda item modified or added must notify the chair at least five (5) days in advance. Vote 7.04 When a vote is called, all discussion shall cease; the question shall be put to a vote by a show of hands, unless a secret ballot or nominal vote is duly requested. A majority of the members present shall be necessary for a motion to be binding. Only in the case of a tie vote shall the chair have the right to vote. 7.05 A single member may request that a vote be taken by secret ballot, or nominally, as long as she has so requested before the chair of the meeting has called for the vote. Notice of a Motion 7.06 To rescind a motion that has already been duly adopted by the General Assembly one must proceed as follows: 1. A notice of motion must be presented to the General Assembly by a union member. Said notice of motion cannot be discussed at the meeting at which it is presented; 2. At the following General Assembly, the member who has presented the motion must be present. After said member has spoken on the motion, said motion must receive the support of a common majority of the members present so as to put the original motion that is to be reconsidered back on the table. Once the original motion is back on the table a common majority vote of the members present is again necessary. Adjournment

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7.07 A motion to adjourn a meeting can always be received by the chair. However a motion to adjourn can be defeated by a majority vote of the members present. The chair shall adjourn the meeting when the agenda has been completed. Motions 7.08 Every motion must be seconded, written down in the minutes by the SecretaryGeneral and read to the meeting before discussion begins. At this point, the motion belongs to the meeting and it cannot be withdrawn without the unanimous approval of the meeting. 7.09 As long as a motion has not been disposed of, no other motion may be received by the chair except one aiming to amend, to table, to refer to a committee, to put immediately to a vote (previous question) or to adjourn the meeting. Amendments 7.10 An amendment must refer to the subject of the principal motion. 7.11 The amendment cannot bring up a totally new matter. 7.12 The amendment shall be received by the chair even if it altogether changes the nature of the principal motion, without straying from its subject. 7.13 An amendment may simply delete, add or replace certain words in the original motion. Sub-Amendments 7.14 A sub-amendment must only refer to the terms of the amendment. It must aim only to delete, to add, or to replace certain words in the amendment. It must not seek to bring back the terms of the original motion that were modified by the amendment. Previous Question 7.15 The previous question permits discussion to be terminated if at least five (5) people have spoken to the motion, the amendment, or the sub-amendment. 7.16 A successful previous question requires the meeting to immediately vote on the question at hand. 7.17 The member who moves the previous question, must not have spoken earlier on the current question at hand (the motion, amendment or sub-amendment). 7.18 To be carried, the previous question must receive the support of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present. If the previous question is defeated, it may not be presented again until there have been at least five (5) more speakers. 7.19 The person who moves the previous question must indicate whether he or she will permit those inscribed on the speaker's list to speak. Privileged Motions 7.20 Privileged motions are designed to permit a member, at any time during a meeting, to raise any pressing matter dealing with a unique item or a question of widespread interest to the Union. Etiquette 7.21 Once the meeting has been called to order, members must remain seated and strictly quiet.

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7.22 When a member is given the floor, she must stand (if able) and give her name. She must address the chair and must not stray from the subject under study and must avoid insults, contempt, threats, racist or sexist comments, personalizing any comments, as well as swearing. 7.23 When several members ask for the floor at the same time, the chair shall decide who shall be called upon first. Right to Speak 7.24 The chair of the meeting shall give the floor to speakers who so desire, in the sequence that said speakers have indicated their desire to speak. 7.25 The speaker shall not be recognized a second time until all who desire to speak on the first turn have done so. The same shall apply for succeeding turns. 7.26 The chair may require that speakers limit their statements to three (3) minutes on their first turn and two (2) minutes on their second. 7.27 The chair of the meeting should recognize diversity in the speaking order. Call Back to Order 7.28 Any member who strays from the subject, or who uses injurious language shall be immediately called back to order by the chair. In the case of a recurrence, the latter, on the instruction of the meeting, shall no longer recognize the member's right to speak for the duration of the meeting. Point of Order 7.29 When a point of order is raised, all discussion on the motion shall cease. The chair shall dispose of the point of order, unless an appeal is put to the meeting. Procedural Dispute 7.30 Where there is a dispute regarding a procedure not covered by the present Constitution, the rules of order of the CSN shall prevail. Chapter Eight: Amendments to the Constitution Amendments 8.01 Subject to 8.04, the General Assembly has the power to modify the present statutes, within the framework of the statutes of the Affiliates. 8.02 Any modification of the Constitution must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members present. 8.03 A copy of any modifications of the constitution must be forwarded to FNEEQ and the CCM. Restrictions to Amendments 8.04 Articles 1.05-9, 8.01-3, and 8.04 of the present statutes cannot be abrogated without written consent from the Affiliates, except if the union has disaffiliated in accordance to the procedure provided for in 1.06-9. Dissolution of the Union 8.05 When a resolution of dissolution of the Union has been adopted, in accordance to the present statutes, the assets of the Union shall be forwarded to the Professional 21

Defense Fund (FDP) of the CSN, unless the General Assembly has decided otherwise. Annex This constitution will come into effect following both its approval by the General Assembly and the elections of the Coordinating Committee Officers (President, Treasurer, and SecretaryGeneral). Between the time this Constitution is adopted and the Coordinating Committee Officers are elected, the existing Executive Committee, duly elected under the previous constitution, shall serve as the Union Executive until the Coordinating Committee Officers are elected. Until May 1, 2012, the current Teaching Assistant Executive, duly elected according to the previous constitution, will continue to perform their duties as they pertain to unit-level administration. Elections shall be held for the new Teaching Assistant Executive Committee prior to May 1, 2012. The previous Union Constitution shall function as the bylaws for units 1 and 2 until each unit adopts its permanent bylaws; in this interim period, the word union in the previous Union Constitution shall be interpreted as unit and union-wide instances shall be interpreted as the appropriate unit-specific instance. The date listed in Article 21 regarding the Annual General Meeting shall be extended until April 15. Prior to the Annual General Assembly in 2014, there shall be a Constitution Committee that will review the Union Constitution. This committee shall be composed of any members of the Union and shall be chaired by the President. Any recommendations made by this committee shall be drafted as constitutional amendments and circulated to the units and the Coordinating Committee and then presented in the Annual General Assembly for a vote. Transitional Provision 1) There shall be established an Equity Committee to study and make recommendations to union members on the following issues:
Language

proficiency requirements for the President, Secretary-General and Treasurer; and of historically underrepresented groups in all union instances and how representation should be promoted.

Representation

2) The committee shall include bilingual members and members representing the aforementioned historically underrepresented groups. 3) The committee shall produce a report of their findings and recommendations and any amendments they propose to the union's constitution or bylaws shall be presented to and voted on by members in an appropriate union- or unit-level assembly.

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