Constitution of the University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association

1. TITLE

The Association shall be known as The University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association, hereinafter referred to as the Association.

2. AIMS

The aims of the Association shall be:

(a) To promote the welfare of the University and the professional interests of the Association.

(b) To protect the freedom of teaching, thought, and research within the University, and to improve their quality.

(c) To cooperate with other bodies whose interest may be similar, in particular with national and international associations of university professors and lecturers, and of research workers.

(d) To deal with other matters considered to be in the interests of the Association or its members.

(e) To engage in bargaining collectively for and on behalf of all persons eligible for membership in the Association.

3. MEMBERSHIP

(a) Regular Membership

All persons employed full-time and/or part-time in the following ranks shall be eligible for regular membership in the Association:

(i) Instructors and Lecturers;

(ii) Special Lecturers;

(iii) Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, Professors;

(iv) Professional Librarians;

(v) Extension Specialists;

(vi) Senior Research Scientists, Research Scientists, Professional Research Scientists.

(b) Associate Membership

Persons employed in the following positions shall be eligible for Associate Membership:

(i) All academic employees of St. Thomas More College, but excluding the President and Dean;

(ii) All part-time academic employees.

All regular members, upon retirement from the University, shall become honorary members for life.

(d) Non-Voluntary Members

Members of the Academic staff who are paying union dues but who are not voluntary members of the Association shall not be entitled to participate in the affairs of the Association.

(e) Rights and Privileges of Regular Members

Regular members shall be entitled to nominate, vote, or be elected to the Executive of the Association and to propose or second motions on any matters relating to Collective Bargaining and vote on any motions dealing with such matters.

(f) Rights and Privileges of Associate and Honorary Members

Associate and Honorary Members shall have all rights and privileges of regular membership in the Association, except they shall not be entitled to nominate, vote or be elected to the Executive of the Association or to propose, second or amend motions or vote on any motions.

(g) Membership Fees

Membership fees shall be as prescribed from time to time by general meetings.

4. GOVERNING AUTHORITY

The governing body of the Association shall be the regular members of the Association in general meeting whether a regular or special general meeting, and all policies, rules and regulations enacted by the general meeting of the Association shall bind all members and officers of the Association.

5. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of twelve (12) members to be chosen from the various ranks as follows:

(a) two (2) from among those members holding the rank of Instructor, Lecturer, Special Lecturer, Librarian I, Librarian II, Librarian III, Extension Specialist I, Extension Specialist II, Extension Specialist III, Assistant Professor, or Professional Research Scientist;

(b) three (3) from among those holding the rank of Associate Professor, Librarian IV, Extension Specialist IV, or Research Scientist;

(d) four (4) from the membership at large.

The proportion of the eight (8) members of the Executive Committee from the various ranks (a), (b), (c), shall be determined upon annual review by the Executive Committee. Any changes will be made according to population changes in the ranks.

6. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE; ELECTIONS

The following rules shall govern the election of the Executive Committee:

(a) An election shall be held each year in April. The term of office is two (2) years beginning on the first (1st) day of July following the date of the election.

(b) Elections shall be held under the direction of the Elections Committee. The Elections Committee shall consist of the Secretary of the Association and the retiring members of the Executive Committee.

The Chair of the Executive Committee shall be empowered to call the Elections Committee together.

(c) A nomination form and a list indicating the ranks of regular members of the Association shall be mailed by the Committee to each regular member, on or before March 7th in each year. Nominations shall be submitted to the Association Secretary in writing before April 1st of each year. Each nomination paper shall bear the signature of not less than three (3) regular members of the Association as sponsors of the nominee, who shall signify his or her consent. On receipt of each nomination the Association Secretary shall post the name of the candidate in a suitable place.

(d) The appropriate ballot shall be mailed by the Association Secretary to each regular member of the Association. The marked ballots shall be returned to the Association secretary by the date indicated on the ballot.

(e) It shall be the duty of the Association Secretary to count and tabulate the votes, assisted by two (2) members to be appointed by the Executive Committee. Each candidate may be present at the counting and tabulation of the votes as a scrutineer, or she/he may appoint a representative to act as scrutineer in his place.

(f) Any vacancy on the Executive Committee resulting from resignation, death or any other cause, shall be filled until the next election by the said Executive Committee from the classification to which the retiring member belonged.

(g) One-half of the Executive Committee shall normally be retired annually.

(h) Members of the Executive Committee shall be eligible for re-election.

7. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE; POWERS AND FUNCTION

The Executive Committee shall be authorized:

(a) To elect each year a Chair, a Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer (or a Secretary-Treasurer) from the Executive Committee membership. Those eligible to vote in these elections shall consist of Executive Committee members entitled to hold office on the first day of July in each year. Officers so elected shall assume their duties as of the first day of July in each year.

(b) To elect each year a Grievance Officer who shall be a regular member of the Association and an ex officio member of the Executive Committee. Those eligible to vote in this election shall consist of Executive Committee members entitled to hold office on the first day of July in each year. The Grievance Officer so elected shall assume her/his duties as of the first day of July in each year.

(c) To carry out the administration and management of the affairs of the Association between general meetings, subject to the provisions of this Constitution.

(d) To set policies, rules and regulations as may be necessary from time to time subject to the approval of the next general meeting.

(e) To formulate and develop general collective bargaining policy subject to the approval of the general meeting.

(f) To engage in bargaining collectively with the Board of Governors of the University of Saskatchewan for and on behalf of all persons eligible for membership in the Association.

(g) To authorize expenditure of the monies of the Association as the Executive Committee may from time to time deem necessary.

(h) To appoint an auditor who shall be a Chartered Accountant to conduct an annual audit of the financial accounts of the Association.

(i) To investigate and report on any matters of interest to the Association.

(j) To request the services of any members of the Association to assist in matters where special or technical knowledge is required.

(k) To appoint or nominate representatives to CAUT.

(l) To establish Association committees as necessary and to appoint members to these committees.

(m) To appoint persons as deemed necessary to carry out the business of the Association.

(n) To retain a solicitor for the Association as necessary.

(o) To appoint persons as officers to sign cheques issued by the Association, provided that each such cheque shall be signed by two (2) such persons.

(p) Act as trustee of the property and monies of the Association.

(q) To remove and replace anyone appointed under this Article.

8. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

(a) The Chair shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Association and shall have duties such as:

(i) To carry out the policies of the Association and enforce due observance of the Constitution.

(ii) Act as chief spokesperson of the Association.

(iii) Preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee.

(iv) Call special meetings of any of the standing or special committees when he/she deems it necessary to do so.

(v) Call a special meeting of the Association when deemed necessary by her/him, or when instructed to do so by the Executive or when petitioned by not fewer than twenty (20) regular members of the Association.

(vi) Present at the regular meetings of the Association a comprehensive report of the activities of the Association during his/her term of office.

(b) The Vice-Chair shall:

(i) Perform all duties of the Chair in her/his absence.

(ii) Assume such other duties as the Executive Committee or the Chair may assign from time to time.

(i) Cause to be maintained full records of minutes of all meetings of the Association, Executive Committee, and such other committees as the Executive may determine.

(ii) Cause to be maintained all membership records, documents and correspondence of the Association.

(iii) Present the minutes of the last general meeting at the next general meeting.

(iv) Assume such other duties as the Executive Committee or the Chair may assign from time to time.

(d) The Treasurer shall:

(i) Supervise the collection of funds of the Association.

(ii) Keep a record of all monies received and disbursed by the Association.

(iii) Be the custodian of all monies received by the Association in a

branch of a financial institution approved by the Executive Committee.

(iv) Pay out such sums as the Executive Committee may direct from time to time.

(v) Arrange for the annual audit of the Association accounts by the Chartered Accountant appointed by the Executive Committee.

(vi) Assume such other duties as the Executive Committee or the Chair may assign from time to time.

(e) The Executive shall:

(i) Carry out the policies of the Association and enforce a due observation of the Constitution.

(ii) Assume such other duties as the Executive Committee or the Chairman may assign from time to time.

9. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE; RECALL

(a) The Executive Committee may by motion suspend a member of the Executive Committee who contravenes the policies, rules, or regulations of the Executive Committee.

(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a member may be removed by the Executive Committee for:

(i) inability to perform duties due to illness,

(ii) dereliction of duty,

(iii) breach of confidentiality.

(c) A motion by the Executive Committee to remove must be supported by a vote of eight (8) members of the Executive Committee.

(d) The decision to remove a member of the Executive Committee must be placed before the membership for acceptance or rejection at a general meeting held within thirty (30) days, pending which the member shall be suspended from the Executive Committee.

10. MEETINGS

(a) Regular General Meetings

Regular General meetings of the Association shall be held twice annually, one early in the fall term, and one as soon as possible after the annual elections to the Executive Committee.

(b) Special General Meetings

Special General Meetings may be held at the discretion of the Executive Committee, or on the request in writing of not fewer than twenty (20) regular members of the Association.

All meetings of the Association shall be called by the Chair of the Executive Committee, who shall preside over such meetings. Ordinarily, one week's notice, in writing of all meetings shall be given to regular members of the Association. An adequate but shorter notice in writing may be necessary in cases of emergency meetings.

(d) Quorum

Thirty (30) regular members of the Association shall constitute a quorum.

(e) Executive Committee meetings

The Executive Committee shall hold regular meetings as necessary for

carrying on the business of the Association.

(f) The parliamentary authority at all meetings of the Association shall be the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order.

11. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

The Constitution of the Association may be amended only in accordance with the following rules:

(a) Notice of Motion concerning such amendment shall be submitted by a regular member in writing to the Chair of the Executive Committee. Such Notices of Motion shall contain explicitly the proposed amendment.

(b) On receiving such Notice of Motion, the Chair shall send copies of it to all regular members of the Association.

(c) Any motion to amend the Constitution shall come into effect only if it is passed by a majority vote of regular members present at a duly called and properly constituted meeting.

(d) A period of not less than one week shall elapse between the submission of the Notice of Motion to the members, and the holding of the meeting at which the motion is voted on.

NOTE: This Constitution was approved by a unanimous vote of the Association at a meeting held on February 19, 1952, and amended at meetings held on April 30, 1953, May 4, 1956, December 3, 1959, November 23, 1961, May 8, 1964, November 19, 1964, May 14, 1965, May 10, 1968, May 26, 1970, May 8, 1975, November 10, 1975, April 21, 1976, May 14, 1979, April 26, 1984, May 18, 1989, November 29, 1989, May 29, 1991, May 19, 1994, January 19, 1995, February 15, 1995, February 14, 2001.