ARTICLE XIII- COMMITTEES
Section 1. Ordinary committees are of two types -- standing committees (which have a continuing existence) and special committees (which go out of existence as soon as they have completed a specified task). Generally the term committee implies that, within the area of its assigned responsibilities, the committee has less authority to act independently for the Union than the Board. Thus, if a committee is to do more than report its findings or recommendations to the Board or the General Council, for example, it may be empowered to act for the Union only on specific instructions; or, if it is given standing powers, its actions may be more closely subject to review than the Board's, or it may be required to report more fully. Also, unlike the Board, a committee in general does not have regular meeting times established by rule; but meetings of the committee are called by the chair or two members of the committee.
Section 2. The Standing Committees of the Union are Rules, Member Representation, Union Finance, Stewards and Information Technology.
Section 3. Rules Committee.
(a) The mission of the Rules Committee is to:
(1) Promote the consistency of rules as set forth in the Union's Constitution, Bylaws, and AP&P. The Rules Committee shall make recommendations to the Board regarding issues needing clarification of Union rules.
(2) The Rules Committee shall have the authority to approve local, and committee provisions for self-governance. The criteria for approval shall be consistency within the Union's rules (Constitution and Bylaws) and whether or not the document is effective and complete. All decisions by the Rules Committee may be appealed to the Board.
(b) The Vice President shall be the chairperson of this committee.
Section 4. Member Representation Committee.
The committee shall make recommendations for action to the Board on matters concerning negotiation and representation of employees in the following areas:
(a) Election appeals.
(b) Recall elections.
(c) Allegations of a breach of the Union's duty of fair representation.
(d) Assist in the resolution of internal Union disputes.
(e) Contract ratification procedures.
Section 5. Union Finance Committee.
(a) The Union Finance Committee shall consist of the Secretary-Treasurer, as chairperson, the Vice President, and members as designated pursuant to Article X, Section 1 (d).
(b) The committee:
(1) Shall develop plans for adequately financing the Union and shall, in even-numbered years, present to the Board at their meeting preceding the General Council Board of Directors' meeting, a budget of estimated receipts, expenditures, and budget balances for the ensuing fiscal year. In odd-numbered years, the same information shall be presented to the Board for approval, at their last Board meeting in the fiscal year.
(2) Shall regularly review the fiscal operation of the Union as measured against the budget, report its findings, and make recommendations to the Board.
(3) May perform such other functions regarding fiscal matters as may be directed or authorized by the Board.
(4) Shall review all proposals to be made to the Board that will result in an expense to the Union. The purpose of the review is as follows:
a. To accurately determine the cost of the proposal.
b. To determine the ability of the Union to meet the cost.
c. To judge the overall cost benefit to the Union.
d. To report to the Board their findings and recommendations.
Section 6. Stewards’ Committee.
(a) The committee shall coordinate steward activities statewide.
(b) The functions of the Stewards' Committee are:
(1) Plan and implement a biennial Stewards' Conference.
(2) Supervise publication of the quarterly newsletter.
(3) Monitor implementation and revisions of regular Basic and Advanced Steward Training. Encourage stewards to participate in training. Committee members are encouraged to teach Stewards' Training.
(4) Periodically survey all stewards and contacts to determine accuracy of steward lists, training needs, and ideas for recognition and retention of stewards.
(5) Assist Union Organizers in maintaining steward lists.
(6) Assist locals in development of constitution and bylaws language regarding steward selection and replacement.
(7) Assist locals in developing steward councils or other networks of stewards.
(c) The committee shall work with locals to recognize stewards who have actively participated in the labor movement by awarding service pins for years of service in two-year increments. Chief stewards shall receive a pin recognizing their dedication on an annual basis and stewards that serve for five (5) consecutive years shall be awarded special steward’s jackets.
(d) The committee shall conduct a random drawing of all Union Stewards in good standing whereby one name shall be selected on a quarterly basis to receive a prize of appreciation designated by the committee.
Section 7. Information Technology Committee.
The purpose of this committee shall include but not be limited to:
(a) Explore the use of technology to make the lives of our stewards and activists easier;
(b) Explore the use of technology to make it easier for staff to carry out the program of the Union;
(c) Explore the use of technology to break down the distance between members and their elected leadership; and
(d) Make recommendations to the Board on the use of technology.
Section 8. The Standing Committees of the Board are Member Benefits, Staff Screening, Civil and Human Rights, Member/Local Union Organizing, Hardship, Pension and Thrift, Committee to Protect Injured Workers (CPIW) and Fight Contracting Out Committee.
(a) Member Benefits Committee: The committee shall make recommendations to the Board for action in Membership benefit programs; policy positions on insurance programs in general; maintenance, betterment and promotion of workers’ compensation benefits; in accordance with the Administrative Policies and Procedures.
(b) Staff Screening Committee: The Committee shall announce all openings; collect and review applications; contact applicants and conduct initial interviews; and make recommendations of persons to be hired in accordance with the Administrative Policies and Procedures.
(c) Civil and Human Rights Committee: The Civil and Human Rights Committee will make recommendations to the Board for action in the following areas: Creating public and Union awareness of the Union's commitment to EEO policies; designing a system to monitor state enactment of Affirmative Action plans and policies; developing and providing EEO training programs; promoting of Civil Rights in all areas that affect members in accordance with the Administrative Policies and Procedures.
(d) Member/Local Union Organizing Committee (MOC): The Union will maintain a Member/Local Union Organizing Committee to design and support the structure necessary for members to work on behalf of the Union in accordance with the Administrative Policies and Procedures.
(e) Hardship Committee: The Hardship Committee is maintained for the purpose of setting standards and criteria for local Hardship Committees for providing limited and short-term assistance to members in accordance with the Administrative Policies and Procedures.
(f) Pension and Thrift Committee: The SEIU Local 503, OPEU Retirement Plan and Trust Agreement is a defined contribution 401K plan for SEIU Local 503, OPEU staff members, which includes plan implementation and investment of pension funds. Oversight for the plan is provided by the Plan Administrator, the Union's Executive Director. There will be six (6) Trustees, two (2) members from the Union's Board of Directors, and four (4) staff representatives who are Plan participants: two (2) administrative staff members and two (2) bargaining unit staff members, in accordance with the Administrative Policies and Procedures.
(g) Committee To Protect Injured Workers (CPIW): The committee is formed to organize, educate and mobilize around the issues of workers' compensation, insurance, safety and health in accordance with the Administrative Policies and Procedures.
(h) Fight Contracting Out Committee: This committee is charged with development of expertise in how to fight contracting out; and acting as a rapid response team to assist in fighting any contracting out efforts, in accordance with the Administrative Policies and Procedures.
Section 9. Each Committee shall keep minutes of transactions at each meeting, and these minutes shall be included in the Board packets. Statewide committee members shall be designated pursuant to Article X, Section 1 (d).
Section 10. The chairperson or a designated representative from Standing or Special Committees may present motions to the Board.
Section 11. The Board of Directors may designate Special Committees. The President, with the approval of the Board, shall appoint the members of each such committee from the general membership of the Union and designate the chairperson thereof, and may drop inactive or absent members from such committees and fill vacancies, subject to subsequent ratification by the Board.
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Scott
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"An intractable problem can only be resolved by stepping beyond conventional solutions." — Ozymandias