CONSTITUTION OF THE FACULTY ASSOCIATION
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS

As revised 12 April 2009

1. ORGANIZATION

The name of the Association is the Faculty Association of the University of St. Thomas, hereinafter referred to as FAUST.

2. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of FAUST are as follows:

2.01 to promote the welfare and professional interests of the Association and its members;

2.02 in accordance with its status as a trade union within the meaning of the Industrial Relations Act, to represent all full-time teaching staff (bargaining unit # 1) and all part-time teaching staff (bargaining unit # 2) of St. Thomas University in collective bargaining in all matters of employer-employee relations;

2.03 to negotiate, obtain and preserve employment conditions such as salary, financial security, and employment for, but not limited to, all members of the bargaining units;

2.04 to monitor and regulate employment relations between members of bargaining units # 1 and # 2 and St. Thomas University and ensure compliance with the collective bargaining agreement;

2.05 to protect academic freedom and tenure;

2.06 to enhance conditions for educational and research activities;

2.07 to work with the Canadian Association of University Teachers, the Federation of New Brunswick Faculty Associations, the National Union of the Canadian Association of University Teachers, and other affiliates in matters of interest to FAUST and its members;

2.08 to deal with any other matters which may be considered in the interest of FAUST.

3. AFFILIATIONS

3.01 FAUST is affiliated with the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT).

3.02 FAUST is affiliated with the Federation of New Brunswick Faculty Associations (FNBFA).

3.03 FAUST is affiliated with the National Union of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (NUCAUT).

3.04 FAUST is affiliated with the New Brunswick Federation of Labour (NBFL).

3.05 FAUST is affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).

4. MEMBERSHIP

4.01 Membership shall be open to members of bargaining unit # 1 and bargaining unit # 2. Membership shall also be open to any other employees of St. Thomas University whom FAUST may invite to join the Association

4.02. Members of bargaining unit # 1 shall be defined as all full-time faculty members so designated under the certification of unionization or as designated under the Collective Agreement in force, from time to time, between FAUST and St. Thomas University.

4.03 Members of bargaining unit # 2 shall be defined as all part-time faculty members so designated under the certification of unionization or as designated under the Collective Agreement in force, from time to time, between FAUST and St. Thomas University.

4.04 Any faculty member who is eligible for membership but who wishes not to become a member of FAUST may elect, in writing, to be exempted from membership. However, the faculty member shall pay dues as a member of the bargaining unit.

5. DUES

5.01 Annual dues shall be in such amount as recommended by the Executive Committee and approved by the members of FAUST.

5.02 The fiscal year of the Association shall end on May 31st.

6. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

6.01 The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the following offices:

i) President
ii) Vice-President
iii) Secretary
iv) Treasurer
v) Past-President
vi) Member-at-Large
vii) Member-at-Large
Each office, excluding that of Past-President, will carry with it a term of 2 years, beginning July 1 of the year of appointment. Efforts should be made to stagger terms where possible in order to ensure continuity. There shall be a minimum of two (2) members from Bargaining Unit #1 and a minimum of two (2) members from Bargaining Unit #2 on any given Executive Committee.

6.01.1 The term of Past-President shall be one year. In those years where no Past-President is serving, a third Member-at-Large position will be activated, and will be elected in accordance with the same procedures as the above members of the Executive Committee. The Past-President will be eligible for this position.

6.01.2 The signing officers for the FAUST Executive shall be the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer.

6.01.3 In the event of any officer of the Executive Committee being unable to act, the Executive Committee shall meet and elect a substitute pro tem.

6.01.4 Save and except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct, the Association shall indemnify and save harmless, every officer and member of the Executive Committee of the Association as well as any other person who has undertaken or is about to undertake any liability on behalf of the Association, and their heirs, executors and administrators, and estate and effects respectively, from and against: (a) all costs, charges and expenses which an officer or member of the Executive Committee or other person sustains or incurs in or about any action, suit or proceeding which is brought, commenced or prosecuted against them, or in respect of any act, deed, matter or thing whatsoever, made, done or permitted by them, in or about the execution of the duties of their office or in respect of any such liability; (b) all other costs, charges and expenses which an officer or member of the Executive Committee or other person sustains or incurs in or about or in relation to the affairs thereof, except such costs, charges or expenses as are occasioned by willful neglect or default.

6.01.5 Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be convened at the request of the President.

6.01.6 The quorum for meetings of the Executive Committee shall be four.

6.02. Executive Committee Recall

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

6.02.1 A motion by the Executive Committee to remove must be supported by a vote of five members of the Executive Committee.

6.02.2 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 days, pending which the member shall be suspended from the Executive Committee.

 

7. ELECTIONS

7.01 On March 1st, the Secretary shall notify the membership in writing that elections for vacant offices shall take place at the Annual General Meeting of FAUST. A call for nominations will be put out at this time.

7.02 The endorsement of 3 members are required to nominate an individual to the Executive Committee.

7.03 On April 1st, the Secretary shall announce the nominees for the vacant positions in writing to the membership. Nominations will remain open until April 15.

7.04 Should there be an insufficient number of nominees by April 15th, nominations will stay open until such time as there are enough nominees to fill the vacant positions. Once the nominees have been put forward, they will immediately be communicated to the membership in advance of the Annual General Meeting.

7.05 There shall be no nominations from the floor at the Annual General Meeting.

7.06 At the Annual General Meeting, to be held no later than 30 April in any given year, two distinct elections, by secret ballot, shall occur for i) the office of President of FAUST, ii) the remaining offices of the Executive Committee. Members of both Bargaining Unit 1 and 2 shall participate in the votes for the Executive Committee.
7.06.1 The candidate for the office of President receiving the largest number of votes shall be declared elected.

7.06.2 The two candidates, from each of Bargaining Unit #1 and #2, for the remaining offices of the Executive Committee receiving the largest number of votes shall be declared elected. The remaining offices shall be determined according to which candidates have received the largest number of votes.

7.06.2.1 If, after the nomination period has expired, the number of candidates from either bargaining unit offering for election does not satisfy the criteria under 6.01, the candidate from the other bargaining unit receiving the next highest number of votes shall be elected to the vacant position and shall hold office until the next annual election date.

7.07 Offices of the Executive Committee, excluding the office of President, shall be determined through consultation among all those elected to the Executive Committee. Should there be disagreement over how the offices shall be assigned, the President—the incoming President in years where a new President has been elected—shall make the final decision.

7.08 Members shall be eligible for re-election to a maximum of 3 terms. Past members of the Executive Committee who serve the maximum number of terms become eligible for election again after the passing of one year.

 

8. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

8.01 The President shall:

8.01.1 supervise general management of the affairs of the Association;

8.01.2 issue notices for meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee at the times and in the manner specified;

8.01.3 preside at meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee of the Association

8.01.4 perform duties incidental to the office. In addition, the President shall have the power to take all necessary steps of an emergency nature for the benefit of the Association when specifically authorized by emergency session of the Executive Committee;

8.01.5 if an emergency session of the Executive Committee can not be summoned, the President shall call an emergency meeting of the Association.

8.02 The Vice-President shall:

8.02.1 fulfil the duties of the President during any temporary absence or disability or refusal of the President to act;

8.02.2 fulfil any duties assigned by either the President or the Executive Committee;

8.02.3 oversee the sound functioning and constitution of all FAUST and Joint committees. This includes reporting on the activities of all FAUST and Joint committees to the FAUST membership at the Annual General Meeting.

8.03 The Secretary shall:

8.03.1 maintain the minute books of the Executive Committee and of the Association. This includes taking minutes at all ordinary and extraordinary meetings of the Executive Committee and the membership;

8.03.2 as per article 7 above, announce to the general membership that elections to the Executive Committee will take place at the Annual General Meeting and issue a call for nominations;

8.03.3 oversee the sound functioning and maintenance of the FAUST-A electronic announcement list. This includes maintaining an accurate list of all members of the association for inclusion on the announcement list.

8.04 The Treasurer shall:

8.04.1 be responsible for the care and custody of the funds and assets of the Association according to the usual practice;

8.04.2 at the Annual Meeting of the Association present an account of the Association's finances;

8.04.3 maintain books of account and make these available for inspection to the members of the Association on request;

8.04.4 submit the books of account to an annual audit by a firm of chartered accountants at the end of the fiscal year, and subsequently, upon receipt of the auditor's report, present it to the membership at the next meeting of the Association.

8.05 The Past-President Shall:

8.05.1 be available to the new President and Executive Committee in an advisory capacity;

8.05.2 review with the new President the most significant issues going forward from the work of the past Executive Committee.

8.06 The Members-at-Large shall:

8.06.1 be at the disposal of the Executive Committee to assist with the work and decision-making of the Executive;

8.06.2 chair all ad hoc committees established by the Executive Committee.

8.07 The Executive Committee thus constituted shall:

8.07.1 carry into effect all resolutions of the Association and generally manage the affairs of the Association;

8.07.2 when necessary, form sub-committees to carry out the business of the Association which will be directly responsible to the Executive Committee;

8.07.3 in the year prior to the beginning of Collective Bargaining, appoint a chief negotiator to represent the union at the bargaining table. Once chosen, the Executive Committee will work with the chief negotiator to assemble a bargaining team;

8.07.4 appoint a Grievance Officer in those years when the position is vacant.

8.07.5 work in the interests of both bargaining units

 

9. GRIEVANCE AND ARBITRATION

9.01 GRIEVANCE

9.01.1 The FAUST Executive Committee retains exclusive carriage rights for grievance proceedings, in accordance with the Collective Agreement. The Executive Committee determines whether or not to carry a grievance in consultation with the Grievance Officer. In advancing a member’s grievance, the FAUST Executive will avail itself of any relevant services offered by legal counsel and its affiliates. Only the President, or her designate, may contact legal counsel regarding FAUST business.

9.01.2 A Grievance Officer is appointed by the Executive Committee, and shall continue in that role for a period of three years, starting July 1 of the year of appointment. Should there exist a conflict between a grievor and the Grievance Officer, the grievance shall be referred to the Executive Committee.

9.01.3 Should the FAUST Executive decline to carry a member’s grievance, the member shall have 10 working days to submit a rebuttal of the FAUST Executive’s decision. Any rebuttal to the Executive’s decision must, for reconsideration, include material and or information not included in the original request for grievance. This rebuttal will be taken under advisement for a period not to exceed 5 working days, after which the FAUST Executive will deliver a final adjudication of the matter, which cannot be appealed.

9.01.3.1 Should there exist conflict between a grievor and a member of the Executive Committee, that member of the Executive Committee shall be recused.

9.02 ARBITRATION

9.02.1 The Executive Committee shall determine which grievances shall advance to arbitration, in accordance with the terms of the Collective Agreement.

 

10. MEETINGS

10.01 At least one meeting of FAUST shall be held in October and one in April; the April meeting shall be designated the Annual General Meeting.

10.02 A meeting of FAUST may be called by the President when deemed necessary by the Executive Committee.

10.03 Should any ten (10) members of FAUST submit, in writing, to the President or the Executive Committee a request for a meeting of FAUST, such meeting shall be held within fifteen (15) working days of the receipt of this request.

10.04 For all meetings of FAUST, other than those called under the appropriate constitutional provision, at least five (5) working days of notice shall be given, unless the Executive deems a shorter period necessary during negotiations for renewal of the Collective Agreement.

10.05 All members, and observers with permission of the Chair of the meeting, may attend meetings of FAUST; the Chair may ask the advice of members as to the attendance and participation in a meeting of any observers.

10.06 The quorum at meetings of FAUST shall be twenty-five (25) members. The quorum is to be determined at the beginning of the meeting.

10.07 The quorum at separate meetings of bargaining unit # 1 shall be twenty (20) members of the bargaining unit.

10.08 The quorum at separate meetings of bargaining unit # 2 shall be ten (10) members of the bargaining unit.

10.09 Meetings of bargaining unit # 2 shall be chaired by the President of the Association.

10.10 If at the time stipulated for the start of a meeting of FAUST or its bargaining units a quorum shall not be present, the Chair may delay the start of the meeting for no longer than one-half (1/2) hour for the purpose of acquiring a quorum.

10.11 Motions may be proposed by notice of motion given three (3) working days before a meeting, or at a meeting without prior notice. A motion for which prior notice has been given must be placed before the meeting. Motions for which prior notice has not been given may or may not be recognized, depending on the discretion of the Chair.

10.12 Voting at meetings of FAUST shall be done by show of hands; a secret ballot shall be held only at the request of a member or when required by the Constitution.

10.13 The Chair of the meeting shall vote only in case of a tie vote.

10.14 When disputes arise over issues of procedure, Bourinot’s Rules of Order shall be consulted.

 

11. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

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

11.01 a petition signed by any ten (10) members of FAUST, or a resolution of the Executive Committee, stating the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the President;

11.02 any proposed amendment shall be stated in such language that, if adopted, may be incorporated directly into the Constitution;

11.03 on receiving such petition or resolution, the President shall send copies of it forthwith to all members of FAUST;

11.04 the Executive Committee shall ensure that such proposed amendment be placed before the next meeting of FAUST, which shall take place at least five (5) working days from date of sending the copies of said amendment to the members;

11.05 any amendment of the Constitution approved by a 2/3 majority of the members present and voting at the meeting at which said amendment is placed before the members, shall come into effect.

11.05.1 An amendment of the constitution which is further amended at a meeting of the FAUST membership cannot be ratified at that meeting. The newly amended amendment must be sent to the entire membership for consideration at least 5 days before a subsequent membership meeting. Any amendment to the constitution can only be amended once, after which it must either be voted upon or withdrawn.

11.05.2 Abstentions and spoiled ballots shall be recorded, but not counted in calculating the required majority.

11.06 unless otherwise provided, an amendment to this Constitution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.

 

12. VOTES UNDER THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT

12.01 Ratification of Collective Agreements

12.01.1 No collective agreement or part thereof shall be executed on behalf of the Association unless the terms have been ratified by the members of the appropriate bargaining unit.

12.01.2 Following arrival at a collective agreement between negotiators for the University and negotiators for the bargaining units, the President of FAUST shall convene a meeting of the appropriate bargaining unit (with at least three working days notice) for the purpose of discussing the agreed terms.

12.01.3 Within one week of the meeting, or at the same meeting, the Executive Committee, having given notice to the membership of the bargaining unit, shall conduct a ratification vote by secret ballot. A majority of the legal votes cast shall decide whether the terms are accepted or rejected by the bargaining unit. In the event of a tie vote, another vote must be held.

12.01.4 Other votes under the Industrial Relations Act shall be conducted by means of a secret ballot vote by eligible members attending a meeting duly convened for that purpose, unless otherwise required by the said Act.

12.01.5 All votes required by the Industrial Relations Act shall be determined by the majority of valid votes cast at that time, unless otherwise required by the said act.

12.01.6 In the case of a strike vote, the vote in favour of a strike of at least 50% plus one of the membership of the bargaining unit shall be required to declare a strike. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any strike vote taken by the Association shall be conducted in a manner that is consistent with, and meets the minimum requirements of, the Industrial Relations Act.