Saskatoon and District

Area Council

BY-LAWS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents       

By-Law 1:  Name            

By-Law 2:  Objectives

                   Sections 1 - 4             

By-Law 3:  Membership

                   Section 1 

                   Sections 2 - 4             

By-Law 4:  Officers            

By-Law 5:  Election of Officers

                   Sections 1 - 4            

                   Sections 5 - 8             

By-Law 6:  Duties of Officers           

                   Section 2 - Vice-President            

                   Section 3 - Secretary-Treasurer   

By-Law 7:  Executive Committee

                   Sections 1 - 7             

By-Law 8:  Committees    

By-Law 9:  Meetings

                   Sections 1 - 4             

By-Law 10:                                                                                      

Finances

                   Sections 1 - 5              

                   Sections 5 - 9              

By-Law 11:                                                                                      

Auditors

                   Sections 1 - 2            

By-Law 12:                                                                                      

Amendments

                   Section 1            

.

By-Law 13:                  

Discipline             

By-Law 14:                                                                                      

Council - General                   

Appendix 1:                                                                                     

Oath of Office

BY-LAW 1:    NAME

The name of this Council shall be the Saskatoon and District Area Council.

BY-LAW 2:    OBJECTIVES

Section 1

The Saskatoon & District Area Council is established in accordance with Sub-section (5) of Section 11 of the Constitution of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.      The Area Council shall maintain liaison with the Alliance through the office of the designated Regional Executive Vice-President of the Alliance.

Section 2

The Area Council shall be governed by the provisions set forth in Section 11 “Area Councils” of the Constitution of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Section 3

The Area Council will serve as a liaison body for Component Locals in the Saskatoon and District area for the exchange of information on matters of common interest.

Section 4

The Area Council shall concern itself with area problems, which are ofconsequence to Alliance employees and it shall endeavor to promote better understanding and image of the Alliance employees in the mind of the general public.

BY-LAW 3:    MEMBERSHIP

Section 1  

Area Council meetings shall be open to all members in good standing from Locals or Branches of Components within the area of jurisdiction. 

Locals not affiliated with the Area Council shall have full voice on all discussions at Area Council meetings.  Locals affiliated with the Area Council shall have full voice on all discussions at Area Council meetings plus voting rights. 

Each affiliated Local shall be entitled to two delegates for the first 500 members and one additional delegate for each additional 500 members or part thereof.  Voting rights at Area Council meetings shall be vested in the delegates from the affiliated Locals and the elected officers of the Area Council.    

Section 2

PSAC and Component National Officers, who are not delegates from their Local, have full voice in all debates and discussions of the Area Council but no vote.

Section 3

The Regional Women’s, Equity and Human Rights Committees shall have the right to one representative to the Area Council to act as a liaison officer between the Area Council and their respective committee.  The representative shall have voice but no vote.

Section 4

Locals wishing to affiliate with the Area Council must provide a copy of their Local’s minutes showing a carried motion to affiliate.  Affiliated Locals must provide written documentation to the Area Council naming their delegates to the Area Council in order to have voting rights.

BY-LAW 4:    OFFICERS

The Officers of the Area Council shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary-Treasurer; all of whom shall be elected from voting accredited delegates and officers in attendance at the Annual Meeting, and shall comprise the Executive Committee.

BY-LAW 5:    ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1

The election of officers shall be by secret ballot.  A ballot shall be distributed to all members entitled to vote for each office.  Each member in attendance entitled to vote shall write on the ballot the name of his or her choice for the office called.

Section 2

Election to any office shall be declared only on receipt of a clear majority of the vote cast.

Section 3

Only accredited delegates of the Area Council shall be eligible for any office.

Section 4

Only accredited delegates of the Area Council shall have the right to vote at any election of the Area Council.

Section 5

Any officer or delegate absent for just cause may stand for election with the approval of the majority of the delegates attending a meeting, provided that the delegate submits a written statement indicating the reason for being absent and willingness to stand for office if nominated.

Section 6

Officers-Elect of the Area Council shall take office at the end of the meeting at which they were elected.

Section 7

As the election for each office is called, the nominee or his/her nominator or seconder may speak to the assembly on behalf of the nominee for a period of not more than three minutes.

Section 8

The Oath of Office shall be administered to all elected officers immediately upon taking office.

BY-LAW 6:    DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1 - President

• The President shall preside at meetings of the Area Council  and its Executive Committee.

(2) The President shall uphold the PSAC Constitution and Regulations and the Council By-

Laws and Regulations.

(3) The President shall oversee the work of all officers of the

     Area Council and shall be a member ex-officio of all  

     committees of the Area Council.

(4) The President shall report to the Executive Committee and meetings of the Area Council on his/her activities and perform other duties as pertain to that office.

(5) The President shall be responsible for the efficient and proper      conduct of the affairs of the Area Council.

• The President shall vote only in case of a tie vote on any matter.
• The President shall with the assistance of the Regional Executive Vice-President, bring to the attention of the appropriate segment of the PSAC, the policies and views adopted at Area Council meetings.
• The President shall, with the assistance of the Regional Executive Vice-President, carry out an active liaison with the various Component Locals in the Saskatoon and District area.

Section 2 - Vice-President

• The Vice-President shall assist the President in the carrying-out of  the duties of that office as requested.
• The Vice-President shall in the absence of the President, assume the duties of the President.

Section 3 - Secretary/Treasurer

• The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for notifying all Area Council Officers and delegates and Component Locals of all meetings.
• The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping accurate records of all meetings.
•   The Secretary/Treasurer shall forward to the Regional

       Executive Vice-President, minutes of all meetings no later

       than thirty (30) days following the date on which each   

      meeting is held.

• The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for receiving all                correspondence and referring it to the appropriate Executive Officer or appropriate meetings for action 
• The Secretary/Treasurer shall prepare correspondence as may be directed by the President, Executive Committee or the Area Council.
• The Secretary/Treasurer shall have available and read at regular meetings, copies of all correspondence of interest received or dispatched since the previous general meeting for perusal by the members.
• The Secretary/Treasurer shall receive all monies and ensure that they are properly recorded and deposited in a chartered bank or as directed by the Area Council to the credit of the Saskatoon and District Area Council, PSAC.
• The Secretary/Treasurer shall be one of the designated signing officers.
• The Secretary/Treasurer shall present a written statement to the Executive Committee and to the regular Area Council Meetings detailing the receipts and expenditures for the previous period.
• The Secretary/Treasurer shall submit a detailed and audited financial statement at the annual meeting of the Area Council.
• The Secretary/Treasurer shall expend funds only as directed by the Area Council.
• The Secretary/Treasurer shall cooperate fully with the auditors and shall provide such explanations and records as they may require.

BY-LAW 7:    EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1

The Executive Committee shall be composed of the elected officers provided in By-Law 4.

Section 2

Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President, or the PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President, or on written request to the President by members of the Executive Committee.

Section 3

If a member of the Executive Committee is absent for more than three consecutive meetings for other than valid reasons, he/she automatically be relieved of his/her duties.

Section 4

When a vacancy in the Executive Committee occurs, a notice to fill such vacancy shall be given at the next regular meeting of the Area Council.  An election will be held at the following regular Council meeting.

Section 5

A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be the majority of the elected officers present at a duly called Executive meeting.

Section 6

The actions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to each regular Area Council meeting.

Section 7

On vacating their respective positions, all officers of the Area Council shall return all funds, documents or other properties of the Area Council.

BY-LAW 8:    COMMITTEES

The Saskatoon & District Area Council shall have the authority to establish subcommittees as required.  These subcommittees shall conduct their affairs in accordance with these By-laws.  The Saskatoon & District Area Council President shall be an ex-officio member of any subcommittee.

BY-LAW 9:    MEETINGS

Section 1

The Area Council shall convene regular Council meetings at least 4 times a year.

Section 2

Special meetings of the Area Council shall be held at the call of the President, or the PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President, or on request in writing by three delegates from separate Component Locals to the Council President or the PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President.

Section 3

For the introduction of any additional business at a special meeting other than that for which the meeting was called, a two-thirds majority vote shall be required.   

Section 4

All decisions of the Saskatoon & District Area Council shall be by consensus.  Should consensus not be possible, the President shall have the authority to request a vote of the accredited delegates.

BY-LAW 10:  FINANCES

Section 1

The expenditure of Area Council funds shall be vested in the Area Council.

Section 2

All expenditure of Council funds shall be approved in accordance with By-law 9 Section 4.

Section 3

The Area Council may delegate to the Executive Committee authority to expend funds up to the amount shown in the annual budget subject to the limitation of section 4.

Section 4

No individual expenditure unless otherwise specifically authorized  by the Area Council shall exceed $100.00.

Section 5

The fiscal year shall be January 1 to December 31.

Section 6

A proposed budget shall be presented at the first monthly meeting following the Annual General Meeting of the Area Council.

Section 7

Changes to the budget may be submitted by the Executive Committee should it be necessary during the year.

Section 8

The following officers are the signing authorities for the Area Council: President, Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 9

All cheques shall be signed by the Secretary-Treasurer and one other authorized Executive Officer.

BY-LAW 11: AUDITORS

Section 1

A committee of two shall be appointed by the Area Council at a regular Area Council meeting prior to the Annual Meeting to perform the audit.

Section 2

The report of the auditors shall be presented in writing to the AnnualMeeting of the Area Council and shall be signed by both members of the audit committee.

BY-LAW 12:  AMENDMENTS

Section 1

By-laws of the Area Council may be amended by a 2/3 majority of those accredited voting delegates in attendance at the Annual Meeting, except   such changes as may be necessary by reason of amendment of the   PSAC Constitution by Convention.

Section 2

To repeal, amend or add to these by-laws, a notice shall be posted 30 days in advance and shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those accredited voting delegates at a special meeting.

BY-LAW 13:  DISCIPLINE

The Council shall have the authority by a majority vote at a regular meeting to suspend or expel from the Council any member for contravening a provision of the PSAC Constitution or the By-Laws of the Council.

BY-LAW 14:  COUNCIL

Nothing in these By-Laws shall be construed to conflict with the Constitution of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Appendix 1

       OATH OF OFFICE

“I,                                      having been elected an Officer of the Saskatoon and District Area Council of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, solemnly declare that for my term of office, I shall fulfill the duties of such office, will maintain and uphold the dignity of the Union and will always keep confidential all matters concerning the affairs of the Union that are brought to my attention.”