THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
MASSACHUSETTS RURAL LETTER
CARRIERS’ ASSOCIATION
Revised May
15, 2011
Table of Contents
PREAMBLE..........................................................................................................................
ARTICLE 1 NAME..............................................................................................................
ARTICLE II PURPOSE.......................................................................................................
ARTICLE III MEMBERS....................................................................................................
SECTION 1. CLASSIFICATIONS......................................................................................
SECTION 2. DUTIES OF
MEMBERSHIP..........................................................................
SECTION 3. RESTRICTIONS............................................................................................
SECTION 4. DUES ............................................................................................................
SECTION 5. ASSESSMENTS.............................................................................................
SECTION 6. DISCIPLINE..................................................................................................
ARTICLE IV SUBORDINATE UNITS...............................................................................
SECTION 1.
SUBORDINATE UNITS................................................................................
SECTION 2. OFFICERS.....................................................................................................
SECTION 3. MEETINGS....................................................................................................
ARTICLE V OFFICERS......................................................................................................
SECTION 1. OFFICERS.....................................................................................................
SECTION 2. DUTIES.........................................................................................................
SECTION 3. ELECTION....................................................................................................
SECTION 4. SALARIES.....................................................................................................
SECTION 5. EXPENSES....................................................................................................
SECTION 6. REMOVAL....................................................................................................
SECTION 7. ASSOCIATION PROPERTY.........................................................................
ARTICLE VI MEETINGS...................................................................................................
SECTION 1. STATE
CONVENTION..................................................................................
SECTION 2. SITE SELECTION.........................................................................................
SECTION 3. QUORUM......................................................................................................
SECTION 4. ORDER OF
BUSINESS.................................................................................
SECTION 5. SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING...........................................................................
SECTION 6. SPECIAL
MEETINGS....................................................................................
ARTICLE VII NATIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATES..............................................
SECTION 1. ELIGIBILITY................................................................................................
SECTION 2. NOMINATION..............................................................................................
SECTION 3. ELECTION....................................................................................................
SECTION 4. DUTIES OF NATIONAL DELEGATES........................................................
SECTION 5. COMPENSATION OF STATE-PAID NATIONAL DELEGATES.....................
ARTICLE VIII STATE BOARD..........................................................................................
SECTION 1. MEMBERS....................................................................................................
SECTION 2. MEETINGS....................................................................................................
ARTICLE IX COMMITTEES.............................................................................................
SECTION 1. COMMITTEES..............................................................................................
SECTION 2. CHAPLAIN...................................................................................................
SECTION 3. SPECIAL COMMITTEES..............................................................................
ARTICLE X STEWARD SYSTEM......................................................................................
SECTION 1. SELECTION AND COMPENSATION OF STEWARDS................................
SECTION 2. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STEWARDS....................................
ARTICLE XI APPEALS.......................................................................................................
SECTION 1. STATE...........................................................................................................
SECTION 2. NATIONAL...................................................................................................
ARTICLE XII PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY............................................................
ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION......................................................
ARTICLE XIV JUNIOR AUXILIARY...............................................................................
ARTICLE XV CONTRACT RATIFICATION...................................................................
BINDING RESOLUTION AS OF 5/5/02.............................................................................
PREAMBLE
The Massachusetts Rural
Letter Carriers' Association will uphold the appropriate agreement between the
United States Postal Service and the National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association pertaining to non-discrimination of its membership and also, any
words used in the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association Constitution
and By-Laws in the masculine gender shall be interpreted to include the
feminine gender.
ARTICLE I
Name
This organization shall be
known as The Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, also referred to
herein as the MARLCA. The Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, by
its Secretary-Treasurer, maintains custody and control of the State Association
name as well as any State Association logo or symbol. Unauthorized use of the
State Association name, logo, or symbol shall be addressed by the filing of an
internal union charge or legal action or both.
The following abbreviations,
when used in reports, in other documents, and herein shall denote:
NRLCA........National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
MARLCA........Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
RFDS.........Rural Free Delivery Service
USPS.........United States Postal Service
Association...Either MARLCA or District,
as applicable.
ARTICLE II
Purpose
The object of the
Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association shall be:
To organize
all carriers performing in the Rural Free Delivery Service of the United States
Postal Service;
To study and
promote the adoption of the best methods of performing the duties of the Rural
Free Delivery Service;
To settle
disputes between management and the membership if possible, by arbitration;
To secure
adequate remuneration and compensation for services rendered;
To promote the
adoption and maintenance of rural routes for the continuance of
complete communication in rural areas;
To seek
security for the individual rural carrier;
To cultivate
fraternalism among those in and associated with the Rural Free Delivery Service;
And by all
legal and proper means to endeavor to improve the moral, intellectual, and
social standing of the United States Postal Service members, their families and
dependents in the interest of a higher standard of citizenship.
ARTICLE III
Members
Section
1. Classifications.
A. Membership in the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers'
Association shall be as provided in the National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association Constitution, Article III.
B. The active membership of this Association shall be
composed of regular, substitute, auxiliary, retired, rural carrier associate,
rural carrier relief, and former rural carriers if annual dues required by this
Association has been duly paid.
C. All rural carriers in good standing at retirement
shall be honorary members of the Association, unless they elect to remain
active or associate members by the required dues. Honorary membership may be bestowed upon
others by this Association at its regular meetings, but no honorary member
shall be entitled to vote or hold office in this Association. All rural carriers in good standing at the
time, if inducted into military service, shall be honorary members of the
Association, unless they elect to remain active members by payment of annual
dues.
Section 2. Duties of the Membership.
A. It shall be the duty of all members to be present at
each meeting, to preserve proper decorum, and in debate to refrain from
improper and abusive language.
B. When the presiding officer takes the chair, the
officers and members shall take their respective places and at the sound of the
gavel there shall be general silence.
C. Members shall at all times be ready to serve on
committees and assist the officers in the discharge of their duties.
D. No member shall be entitled to vote or hold office who does not hold a current dues card.
Section
3. Restrictions.
A. No person shall be refused membership
because of nationality, race, color, sex or religious beliefs. However, membership is expressly denied to
any individual who is a member of any communist or fascist organization or who
advocates the overthrow of the Government by force or violence.
B. Members of the Massachusetts Rural
Letter Carriers' Association who currently hold a full time position in
management or in another craft in the United States Postal Service shall not
have voting rights, nor shall they have eligibility to hold Association office,
nor shall they be a voting delegate to either the Massachusetts Rural Letter
Carriers' Association or National Convention.
Section
4. Dues.
A. All dues paying members shall pay their dues in
advance of July one (1) of each year unless dues are paid by the check-off
method. The Massachusetts Rural Letter
Carriers' Association Secretary/Treasurer shall notify all unpaid members of
such arrears, and if not paid by August one (1) the unpaid member shall lose
all benefits of membership in the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers'
Association.
B. The rate of dues payable by the membership of the
Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association shall only be changed after
due notice to the membership, of the intent to vote on a change of dues
structure at a regular meeting, or at a special meeting called for that
purpose. This vote must be approved by a
majority vote by secret ballot of the membership in attendance.
C. The annual rate of dues for each Regular Rural Carrier
shall be One Hundred and Nintey-Six ($196.00) Dollars
plus the current National Per Capita rate. The annual rate of dues for each PTF
carrier shall be One Hundred twenty-nine ($129.00) Dollars plus the current
National Per Capita rate. This entitles
the member to full voting privileges.
D. The annual rate of dues for each leave replacement
shall be Fifty-Nine ($59.00)
Dollars plus the current National Per Capita rate. This entitles the member to full voting
privileges.
E. Retired Membership:
Membership is available to Retired Rural Carriers. The annual rate of dues for retired
membership shall be eighteen ($18.00) Dollars plus the current National Per
Capita Amount. This entitles the member
to full voting privileges.
F. Associate Membership:
Associate Membership is available to any actively employed member of the
United States Postal Service. The annual
rate of Associate Membership dues shall be One Hundred and Nintey-Six
($196.00) Dollars plus the current National Per Capita rate. This member is not entitled to voting
privileges nor to hold any Association office.
G. District Per Capita:
Regular Carriers and PTFs Seven ($7.00) Dollars per year; Substitute,
Auxiliary, Rural Carrier Relief and Rural Carrier Associates Two ($2.00) Dollar
per year; Retired Members Two ($2.00) Dollar per year; Associate Members Seven
($7.00) Dollars per year.
H. Regular members participating in the dues withholding
plan shall have the appropriate pay period deductions made from their pay
checks.
I.
The annual
settlement of the District Association per capita shall not be later than the
close of the Semi-Annual Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association
Meeting in November.
Section
5. Assessments
A. No assessment shall be levied against the membership
of the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association by the Association
except after due notice of the intent to vote on assessment of the membership
at a regular meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose, and by
secret ballot with a majority vote of the membership present. No assessment shall be ordered on the date of
its introduction, but must be laid over for at least two (2) weeks for
reconsideration by the Board of Directors.
B. All assessments must be paid to the Massachusetts
Rural Letter Carriers' Association Secretary/Treasurer. Any member who has not paid assessments by
the date that the annual dues are due and payable shall be considered in
arrears and will lose the right to full membership in the Massachusetts Rural
Letter Carriers' Association. Such
assessments are to be considered dues.
Section 6. Discipline. Any member may be penalized for committing any act or
acts against the best interests of the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers'
Association. The accused member shall
have the right to a full hearing before the Board of Directors at a special
meeting called for that purpose. A
majority of the Board of Directors shall be sufficient for decision and
sentence.
ARTICLE IV
Subordinate Units
Section 1. Subordinate Units. The Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association
membership shall be divided into five District Associations, as follows:
District
1...Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties.
District
2...Bristol, Norfolk, and Plymouth Counties.
District
3...Essex, Middlesex, and Suffolk Counties.
District
4...Worcester County.
District
5…Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket Counties
Section
2. Officers.
A. The Officers of the District Association shall consist
of: President, Secretary, Treasurer, (or
Secretary/Treasurer) and up to three (3) District Association Executive
Committeemen at the District Board's discretion. The District Association shall
have the option to combine the offices of Secretary and Treasurer. The District
Association shall have the option to have a Vice-President of the District.
B. All District Association officers shall be elected by
secret ballot at the Annual District Association Meeting held after a minimum
of fifteen (15) calendar days notice, and shall hold office for one (1)
calendar year or until their successors are duly elected and sworn into
office. The District Association
Secretary shall notify each district member at his last known address regarding
the nomination and election of officers and shall state the date and place of
the District Association Meeting and the hours that the polls will be opened
and closed. All duly elected District
officers will take the oath of office at the annual State meeting of the
MARLCA.
Section
3. Meetings.
A. The District Association meetings shall be held prior
to the Massachusetts Rural Letters Carriers' Association meetings and shall be
cleared through the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association State
President so that there will be no conflict of dates. All Districts will hold a minimum of two (2)
meetings per year. The Districts shall
adhere to all notice requirements set forth for the Massachusetts Rural Letter
Carriers' Association.
B. All District Associations shall hold their Annual
District Meeting at least forty (40) days prior to the annual Massachusetts
Rural Letter Carriers' Association Convention.
C. Seven (7) members shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business at a District meeting.
ARTICLE V
Officers
Section
1. Officers.
The
Officers of the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association shall consist
of: President, Vice President,
Secretary/Treasurer, State Steward and one State Committeeman from each
District.
Section 2. Duties.
A. President
1. It shall be the duty of the President to call the
meeting to order at the appointed time.
If a quorum is present he shall conduct the business of the meeting in
the order laid down by the Order of Business, providing that no transposition
is demanded by a majority vote of the members present.
2. The President shall maintain order at all meetings and
at all times exercise the prerogative of the executive office of the
Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association.
3. The President shall make a written report of the
activities of his office at each meeting of the Massachusetts Rural Letter
Carriers' Association or the District Association.
4. The President shall fill any vacancy in the
Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association or the District Association
offices, with the approval of the Board of Directors, by appointment. Such appointment shall be only until the next
regular election is held.
B. Vice President
It shall be the duty of the Vice
President to preside at all meetings in the absence of the President, subject
to the same rules, and in case of reports or debates in which the President
takes part, he shall take the chair and perform the duties of his office. Should a vacancy occur in the office of the
President, the Vice President shall serve until a successor is duly elected and
sworn into office.
C. Secretary/Treasurer
It shall be the duty of the
Secretary/Treasurer to keep a just and true account between the Massachusetts
Rural Letter Carriers' Association and himself, between the Massachusetts Rural
Letter Carriers' Association and its members to receive all dues and other
monies of the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association giving his
receipt thereof and to pay all bills by the voucher system, to conduct all
correspondence of the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association, to
present a written report at each regular meeting as to the standing of his
books, via, number of members in good standing, members in arrears, new
members. He shall also give a true and
accurate account of the financial position of the association. He shall notify all members of the time,
place, and date of all meetings, purchase all supplies required, presenting
bills thereof to the Board of Directors, keep a true and accurate account of
the Stewards expenses. He shall record
the proceedings of each meeting and perform the duties usual to this office,
turning over all books to the Executive Committee at the expiration of his
office for inspection and audit. He shall utilize an assistant
secretary/treasurer to be appointed by the state president and approved by the
board of directors.
D. Executive Committee
It shall be the duty of the Executive
Committee to act as an auditing committee to
see that all the provisions of this Constitution are complied with by the
officers and members, to assist the officers and members in the discharge of
their duties, and in the absence of the President and the Vice President to
appoint a chairman to preside over the meeting.
Section
3. Election.
A. All Officers of the Association shall be elected by
secret ballot at the Annual Meeting of the Association, and shall hold office
for one (1) year or until their successors are duly elected and sworn into
office. No member may be elected to more than one Massachusetts Rural Letter
Carriers' Association office each term.
The membership shall be duly informed of any election by due notice
thereof mailed to each member at their last known home address, not less than
fifteen (15) calendar days prior to date of election.
B. Nominations for candidates for Massachusetts Rural
Letter Carriers' Association offices will be officially opened with the call to
order of the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association semi-annual
meeting in November, and shall be closed forty (40) calendar days prior to the
opening session of the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers Association Annual
Convention. The District Association
Secretary of each District will notify the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers'
Association Secretary/Treasurer in writing of all candidates nominated for Massachusetts
Rural Letter Carriers' Association office at the meeting. A member may be nominated for Massachusetts
Rural Letter Carriers' Association office upon timely receipt of a letter to
the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association Secretary/Treasurer,
signed by the member nominated.
C. Nominations for candidates for Massachusetts Rural
Letter Carriers' Association offices and National Delegates shall be in the
office of the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association
Secretary/Treasurer at least forty (40) calendar days prior to the
Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association Annual Meeting.
D. No member shall be nominated for any office unless he
is present or signifies in writing his willingness to accept the office for
which he is nominated. No member shall
be eligible for election to any state office or as a delegate to the National
Convention unless he or she has attended at least two of the ten Association
meetings per year (i.e. one District plus one State meeting, two District meetings,
or two State meetings).
E. It shall be the duty of the Elections Committee to
prepare and mail a ballot listing all candidates for Massachusetts Rural Letter
Carriers' Association office as provided by the Massachusetts Rural Letter
Carriers' Association's Secretary/Treasurer.
Said ballot will be mailed to all members eligible to vote, at their
last known home address, at least twenty (20) days prior to the opening of the
Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association Annual Meeting. The ballots for Massachusetts Rural Letter
Carriers' Association offices will be returned to an address designated by the
Chairman of the Elections Committee.
F. Each member will be provided
a plain envelope marked "BALLOT" in which
to seal his ballot, for mailing to the address designated by the Chairman of
the Elections Committee. This sealed
envelope will be placed in another envelope also marked "BALLOT" and
supplied by the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association
Secretary/Treasurer on which the member's name, address, and local unit will be clearly marked for
official identification.
G. At the discretion of the Elections Committee and with
the approval of the Board of Directors
the ballots stipulated in Sections a. and b. above may be combined. The Secretary/Treasurer will provide the
Elections Committee the envelopes as required above.
H. The polls will be closed on a date set by the
elections Chairperson. The Elections
Committee will take charge of all ballots and will count and tabulate said
ballots. The Elections Committee shall
resolve all elections complaints. Any
candidate or their representative may observe the ballot tabulation. The Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association
Secretary/Treasurer will provide the Elections Committee with a current list of
all members eligible to vote.
I.
All ballots and
materials pertaining to any election will be kept on file for a period of one
(1) calendar year.
Section
4. Salaries.
A. The Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association
President shall receive an annual salary of Twenty Five Hundred ($2500.00)
Dollars. The Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association Vice
President shall receive an annual salary of Fifteen Hundred ($1,500.00)
Dollars. The Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association Secretary/Treasurer
shall receive an annual salary of Five Thousand Five Hundred ($5,500.00)
Dollars. The Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers’ Association Assistant State
Secretary/Treasurer shall receive an annual salary of One Thousand Five Hundred
($1,500.00) Dollars. The
Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association State Steward shall receive an
annual salary of Seven Thousand ($7,000.00) DollarsThe
Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association Assistant State Stewards shall
receive an annual salary of Two Thousand ($2,000.00) Dollars. The Massachusetts
Rural Letter Carriers' Association Area State Stewards shall receive an annual
salary of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250). The Massachusetts Rural
Letter Carriers’ Association Editor shall receive an annual salary of Five
Hundred ($500.00) Dollars. Each duly elected District President shall
receive an annual salary of Three Hundred Fifty ($350) Dollars. Each duly
elected State Committeeman shall receive an annual salary of Two Hundred Fifty
($250) Dollars. Each duly elected District Secretary/Treasurer shall receive an
annual salary of One Hundred ($100) Dollars.
B. No member or officer of the Association shall be
allowed compensation for his services or expenses by the Massachusetts Rural
Letter Carriers' Association who is receiving compensation for the same duties
from any other source, unless approved by the President, State Steward or the
Board of the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association.
Section
5. Expenses.
A. This Association shall compensate all Executive
officers, State and Asst. State steward and Board Members on official business
for the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association who hold proper
authorization as follows: sub-hire; Mileage at a rate equal to the
IRS reimbursement. Lodging at a
rate equal to NRLCA reimbursement, or as otherwise authorized. Communications as per itemized
statement. Meals at a rate equal to
NRLCA reimbursement, or as otherwise authorized.
B. The word (sub-hire) in Section 2 of this article shall
mean an amount equal to the maximum daily rate of salary payable in the top
step of the Heavy Duty Compensation Schedule, exclusive of equipment allowance
or any other special allowance.
Section
6. Removal.
A. Should an officer prove
unfaithful to the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association he may be
impeached by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership at a regular or a
special meeting.
B. The aggrieved officers or
members shall exhaust all remedies provided for in this Constitution and
By-Laws before appealing to the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association
under the provisions of Article XI of the National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association Constitution and By-Laws.
Section
7. Association
Property. All officers, at the
expiration of their terms of office, when removed from office, or when their
office is declared vacant shall deliver to their successors or the Association
all books, records, monies and other property in their possession belonging to
the Association, within 30 days.
ARTICLE VI
Meetings
Section 1. State Convention. The annual meeting of the MARLCA shall be held no
sooner than the fifteenth (15 )of April and no later
than the thirty-first (31) of May. Notice of the annual meeting for the purpose
of election of Association Officers, meetings in which Constitution and By-Law
changes may be discussed, or special meetings, shall be given in writing to
each member in good standing not less than ten (10) calendar days prior to the
meeting date. The meeting notice shall
be mailed to each member at his last known home address and shall indicate
date, place and time of meeting.
Section 2. Site Selection. The State President and the board of directors will
decide the time and place.
Section 3. Quorum.
At all Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers'
Association meetings, seven (7) members plus a majority of the State Board
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 4. Order of Business. Business at all
meetings shall be taken up in the following order:
1. Invocation and Salute of the colors.
2. Roll Call of Officers.
3. 3. Naming of Members of Committees and the naming of
the Chaplain for the ensuing year.
4. Reading of the Minutes.
5. Report of the Officers.
6. Report of the Executive, Standing, and Special
Committees.
7. Unfinished Business.
8. New Business.
9. Bills and Accounts
10. Good of the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers'
Association.
11. Closing.
The Order of Business may be transposed at any time by
a majority vote of the membership present.
Section
5. Semi-Annual Meeting. The semi-annual meeting will be held on or after the
first Sunday in the month of November.
Section 6. Special Meetings. Special
meetings may be called by the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association
President or a majority of the Board of Directors whenever the interests of the
Association requires or by a petition containing the signatures of a minimum of
twenty-five (25) paid members. No
business other than that for which the Special Meeting is called shall be
transacted.
ARTICLE VII
National Convention Delegates
Section
1. Eligibility.
No member shall be eligible for
election to any state office or as a delegate to the National Convention unless
he or she has attended at least two of the ten Association meetings per year
(i.e. one District plus one State meeting, two District meetings, or two State
meetings).
Section 2. Nomination.
A. Nominations for Delegates to the National Convention
may be made on a nominating ballot to be published in the first issue of the
National Rural Letter Carrier magazine printed in March. Members may nominate themselves on this
ballot. Nominations may also be made at
the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association semi-annual or District
meetings. These names must be submitted
in writing to the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association
Secretary/Treasurer.
B. Nominations for candidates for Massachusetts Rural
Letter Carriers' Association offices and National Delegates shall be in the
office of the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association Secretary/Treasurer
at least forty (40) calendar days prior to the Massachusetts Rural Letter
Carriers' Association Annual Meeting.
Section
3. Election.
A. An elections committee shall
be appointed by the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association President. It shall consist of one (1) member from each
district plus a chairman. No member of
this committee may be a candidate for any Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers'
Association office or Delegate to the National Convention.
B. The Massachusetts Rural
Letter Carriers' Association Secretary/Treasurer will prepare a ballot listing
all candidates for Delegate to the National Convention. All names of
nominations for Delegates to the National Convention shall appear on the
prepared ballot in randomly drawn order. Said ballot will be mailed to all
members eligible to vote, at their last known home address, at least twenty
(20) days prior to the opening of the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers'
Association Annual Meeting. The ballot shall be clearly marked, stating the
number of National Delegates for which a member may vote. The ballots will be returned to the address
designated by the Chairman of the Elections Committee.
C. Each member will be provided
a plain envelope marked "BALLOT" in which
to seal his ballot, for mailing to the address designated by the Chairman of
the Elections Committee. This sealed
envelope will be placed in another envelope also marked "BALLOT" and
supplied by the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association
Secretary/Treasurer on which the member's name, address, and local unit will be
clearly marked for official identification.
D. At the discretion of the Elections Committee and with
the approval of the Board of Directors the ballots stipulated in Sections a.
and b. above may be combined. The
Secretary/Treasurer will provide the Elections Committee the envelopes as
required above.
E. The polls will be closed on a date set by the
elections Chairperson. The Elections
Committee will take charge of all ballots and will count and tabulate said
ballots. The Elections Committee shall
resolve all elections complaints. Any
candidate or their representative may observe the ballot tabulation. The Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers'
Association Secretary/Treasurer will provide the Elections Committee with a
current list of all members eligible to vote. All ballots and materials
pertaining to any election will be kept on file for a period of one (1)
calendar year.
F. The Delegate-at-Large shall be the Massachusetts Rural
Letter Carriers' Association President, or Designee. If the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers'
Association President is unable to attend the National Convention, the duly
elected delegates assembled there present shall be empowered to elect the
Delegate-at-Large from their number.
G. The Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association
Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer and the State Steward by virtue of being
elected to their offices by the general membership shall be delegates to the
National Convention. Delegates to the
National Convention will be seated according to the National Constitution and
By-Laws.
Section
4. Duties of National Delegates
A. All delegates shall support and seek to adopt all
resolutions that are passed at the Annual Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers'
Association Meeting. The
Delegate-at-Large shall resubmit all Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers'
Association resolutions that do not come out of the Resolutions Committee.
B. All delegates shall report their votes on binding
resolutions at the national convention.
The State Board will establish a tracking form that delegates will use
to report their votes. This report shall
be printed on the MaRLCA web site with a summary printed in the Backroads
Journal.
Section
5. Compensation
of State-Paid National Delegates.
A. The Delegate-at-Large to the National Convention shall
be paid by the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association.
B. The Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association
will pay the Association delegates to the National Convention an amount of
money comparable to, but not necessarily equal to the amount of money
paid by the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association to the
Delegate-at-Large from the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association. The
state Board may authorize reimbursement of up to One Hundred Twenty Five
($125.00) for hotel expenses. Any reimbursement in excess of $125.00 will
require two-thirds of the members attending a state meeting to authorize a pay
revision for delegates attending a specific National Convention.
C. Each Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association
delegate shall present his credentials to the National Convention Credentials
Committee by noon of the first (1) day of the convention unless he is
unavoidably delayed, and must remain until the close of the convention unless
unavoidably prevented, in order to receive his delegate allowance.
ARTICLE VIII
State Board
Section
1. Members.
The Board of Directors of the Massachusetts
Rural Letter Carriers' Association shall consist of the Officers of the
Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association and shall include the District
Association Presidents and the immediate past Massachusetts Rural Letter
Carriers' Association President.
Section
2. Meetings.
The Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association
President, or a majority of the Board of Directors, shall call a meeting of the
Board of Directors as is necessary to resolve or to authorize emergency
measures, to resolve any problems authorizing immediate resolutions or to set
policy.
ARTICLE IX
Committees
Section 1. Committees. All committees shall consist of a minimum of three (3)
members.
Section 2. Chaplain. It shall be the duty of the Chaplain to conduct the
religious services of the Association and other such duties as may be assigned
by the President.
Section 3. Special Committees. Special committees may be appointed by the Association
should the interest of the Association so require.
ARTICLE X
Steward System
Section
1. Selection
and Compensation of Stewards.
A. The State Steward shall be a
duly elected Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association officer.
B. Area, and Assistant State Stewards and senior
Assistant State Steward shall be appointed and assigned duties by the
Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association President upon the
recommendation and under the direction of the State Steward.
C. Local Stewards will be elected for each office by the
members of the Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association in that
office. Local Stewards shall be under
the direction of the State Steward.
Section
2. Duties
and Responsibilities of Stewards. It shall be the duty of the State Steward to keep the
Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association President and the
Secretary/Treasurer informed of all actions and the cost of cases pending and
consummated against any of the membership, to see that all stewards are
properly trained, certified and capable of handling the duties of their office,
to authorize the expenditures of the funds of the Massachusetts Rural Letter
Carriers' Association in all matters pertaining to the proper operation of the
steward system, and for the adequate representation of the membership subject
to the approval of the Board of Directors.
The State Steward shall make a semi-annual and annual report to the
general membership. All expenses of any
steward shall require the approval of the State Steward.
ARTICLE XI
Appeals
Section 1. State
A. Any member aggrieved by any
action of a State Association, or Officer thereof, shall have the right to
appeal to the State Board. Such appeal
must be in writing and must be filed with the State President within thirty
(30) days of the action. Within ten (10)
days of receipt of such appeal, the State President shall cause to be notified
all members of the State Board and the NRLCA assigned Executive Committee
representative and, also, request that the charging party provide a letter
outlining the specific charges, complete documentation and relief sought. The letter outlining the specific charges,
complete documentation and relief sought must be returned within twenty (20)
days of receipt of such request. Upon
receipt, the State President shall cause a copy to be forwarded to the charged
party for response. The charged party
will have twenty (20) days to respond in writing and provide documentation to
the State President. The State Board
will review the charging party’s letter of specificity, documentation, relief
sought and the response of
the charged party. The
State Board is authorized, in consultation with the NRLCA assigned Executive
Committee representative, to take the necessary action to resolve the issue
within thirty (30) days, unless extensions of time limits are necessary, not to
exceed an additional fifteen (15) days.
If the State Board resolves or is unable to effect the relief sought,
all parties must be notified in writing.
B. Any member not satisfied
with this decision, or any action of the State Board on said appeal, shall have
the right to appeal to the National Board.
This appeal must be in writing and must be filed with the President of
the National Association within thirty (30) days of receipt of the State
Board’s decision.
C. Charges against a State,
Assistant State, Area, or Local Steward must be in writing and filed with the
State President of the NRLCA by a member within thirty (30) days of the time
that knowledge of the alleged offense comes to such members. Within ten (10) days of receipt of such
appeal, the State President shall cause to be notified all members of the State
Board and the NRLCA assigned Executive Committee representative and, also,
request that the charging party provide a letter outlining the specific
charges, complete documentation and relief sought. The letter outlining the specific charges,
complete documentation and relief sought must be returned within twenty (20)
days of receipt of such request. Upon
receipt, the State President shall cause a copy to be forwarded to the charged
party for response. The charged party
will have twenty (20) days to respond in writing and provide documentation to
the State President. The State Board
will review the charging party’s letter of specificity, documentation, relief
sought and the response of the charged party.
The State Board is authorized, in consultation with the NRLCA assigned
Executive Committee representative, to take the necessary action to resolve the
issue within thirty (30) days, unless extensions of time limits are necessary,
not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days.
If the State Board resolves or is unable to effect the relief sought,
all parties must be notified in writing.
Section 2. National. Any member
not satisfied with this decision, or any action of the State Board on said
appeal, shall have the right to appeal to the National Board. This appeal must be in writing and must be
filed with the President of the National Association within thirty (30) days of
receipt of the State Board decision.
Within fifteen (15) days of receipt of such appeal the National Board
will notify the National Appeals Commission of such appeal. Additionally, within this same fifteen (15)
day time frame the President of the National Association shall cause to be
notified the State President, the charging party(s) and the charged party(s)
notifying them that the appeal has been received and forwarded to the National
Appeals Commission.
ARTICLE XII
Parliamentary Authority
Unless otherwise provided, Robert's Rules of Order,
revised, will be used for the conduct of meetings.
ARTICLE XIII
Amendment of Constitution
This
Constitution and By-Laws and any future amendment shall take effect immediately
upon adoption unless otherwise stated.
This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended at any Massachusetts Rural
Letter Carriers' Association meeting or at a special Massachusetts Rural Letter
Carriers' Association meeting called for that purpose. Due notice shall be given to the membership
and a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present shall be required to
carry an amendment. "Due
Notice" shall include the number of the article, the section, additions or
deletions, and specific wording of all proposed changes.
This
Constitution and By-Laws shall in no way alter or conflict with the
Constitution and By-Laws of the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association. This Constitution and all acts and
proceedings which in the future and in due course may be enacted, shall be
absolutely binding on all officers and members.
ARTICLE XIV
Junior Auxiliary
A
juniors organization shall be founded consisting of
the minor dependents of Rural Carriers.
Said juniors shall be funded by the general body, and shall be under the
direction and supervision of the State Board.
A member of the general body and a member of the auxiliary shall be
appointed to act as sponsors each year.
ARTICLE XV
Contract Ratification
The
Massachusetts Rural Letter Carriers' Association President shall call for a
special contract ratification meeting.
Contract Ratification will be carried out according to the NRLCA's
National Constitution and By-Laws.
Binding Resolution as of 5/5/02.
Be
it resolved that the MARLCA make available column space in a special edition of
the Back Road Journal. This special
edition will be published for the purpose of informing the general membership
of the qualifications and views of any candidate for National delegate or State
office. The State Board of the MARLCA will determine space limitations and the
date of publication. Participation in
the special edition will be on a voluntary basis.