PALOMAR FACULTY FEDERATION CONSTITUTION
AFT LOCAL 6161

Article I :: NAME

The Name of this organization shall be the

Palomar Faculty Federation (PFF)
Local 6161
American Federation of Teachers

Article II :: PURPOSE

Section 2.01 Representation

PFF shall represent Local 6161 and have jurisdiction of the Local in the Palomar Community College District. PFF shall act as the exclusive bargaining agent for all faculty of Palomar College on all matters subject to collective bargaining.

Section 2.02 Advancement of Educational Standards

PFF supports quality education in the Palomar Community College District, the state, and the nation through the advancement of the economic and professional interests of its members, and the support of expanded educational opportunities for a diverse student body, advocating and working on actions reflecting the professional objectives of the faculty, and initiating and supporting state legislation to benefit students and faculty.

Section 2.03 Affiliation

PFF shall be affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers and the California Federation of Teachers. This affiliation necessarily entails mutual obligations and mutual action on behalf of quality education and professionalism at Palomar College and for college faculty in California and the nation. Affiliation may be entered into with other organizations by action of the Executive Board of PFF.

Article III :: MEMBERSHIP, DUES, AND VOTING

Section 3.01 Membership

Membership shall be open to all permanent and temporary faculties, both full-time and part-time, as defined by the composition of the bargaining unit (i.e., classroom instructors, counselors, coaches, librarians, child care center teachers, department chairpersons, and directors and coordinators not specifically excluded under PERB order).

Section 3.02 Dues

Dues shall be $480 per academic year for full-time faculty and $12 per month during which a regular paycheck is received for part-time faculty and child care center teachers. Dues will be collected from members through payroll deduction.

The monthly dues deduction shall not apply to supplemental paychecks representing retroactive COLAs or raises, office hour pay, or other such pay corrections. Revenues produced by dues will be distributed among the required per capita payments to the affiliates (Section 2.03) and the PFF.

(a) Changes in dues assessments may be made by the Executive Board. Notice to the membership of a proposed change must be given at least one month prior to the Board meeting at which action will be taken. Changes must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board.

(b) Other changes in dues assessments may be mandated by the AFT or other affiliates.

Section 3.03 Voting

Voting is a right of each PFF member in good standings.

(a) Members in good standing: members of the PFF who have submitted validated membership applications and have paid dues for two months prior to the election.

(b) Problems with the payroll deduction system shall not disqualify voting privileges.

(c) All elections will be decided upon by a simple majority of those voting, with the exception of the ratification of the Constitution and constitutional amendments.

(d) Only PFF members are eligible to vote on matters that lie within the bargaining unit’s statutory and contractual responsibilities.

(e) Elections for Executive Board members shall be held, by secret ballot, in the spring semester of 2002, in the spring semester of 2004, and in each spring semester thereafter.

Article IV :: GOVERNANCE

Governance shall be by the Executive Board of PFF. The Executive Board shall be responsible for day to day operations of the PFF.

Section 4.01 Executive Board Composition

The Executive Board shall consist of two officers and eight elected members.

Section 4.02 Officers

The officers of the PFF shall be two Co-Presidents, one PFF member in good standing from the full-time faculty, and one member in good standing from the part-time faculty. The term of Office for the Co-Presidents shall be two years. All PFF members in good standing shall be eligible to vote for the Offices of PFF Co-Presidents.

Section 4.03 Elected Members

(a) The elected members of the Executive Board shall consist of four full-time faculty and four part-time faculty PFF members who are in good standing.

(b) All terms shall be for two years, except that in the election in spring semester 2004, the Board shall identify prior to the election two of the full-time member positions and two of the part-time member positions as one-year terms.

(c) Thereafter, Executive Board members shall be elected in alternate years for two-year terms. The day and month of each election shall be established by the Executive Board.

(d) Only part-time faculty members in good standing shall be eligible to vote for the positions of part-time Executive Board member, and only full-time faculty members in good standing shall be eligible to vote for the positions of full-time Executive Board member.

Section 4.04 Executive Board Eligibility

Any PFF member in good standing is eligible to seek election to an Executive Board position within the requirements stated in 4.02 and 4.03(a).

Section 4.05 Executive Board Responsibilities

(a) The Board shall establish its own meeting time, but shall meet no less than once a month during each academic year.

(b) Minutes of all meetings shall be published to the membership, including the record of votes taken and a listing of the yeas and nays.

(c) The Board may submit propositions for a vote of the membership as needed.

(d) Collective Bargaining contracts must be submitted to a vote of the membership.

(e) A quorum of the Board shall be six members.

(f) All decisions considered a “Passing Vote” of the Board will be made by six “yea” votes.

(g) If a Board member misses three consecutive Board meetings without an acceptable reason, or if a Board member resigns, the seat will be declared vacant. The remaining Board members shall have the power to fill the vacancy.

Section 4.06 Committees

The Executive Board shall have the power to create standing and ad hoc committees as necessary.

(a) The chairs and membership of the committees will consist of PFF members in good standing who have been appointed by the Executive Board for a one-year term.

(b) Standing committees will include at least the following: contract negotiation, grievance, and membership.

(c) The Executive Board shall appoint at least one full-time and one part-time member to the Contract Negotiation Committee.

Article V :: MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

Membership meetings will be held at least once a semester at the request of the Board, upon the verified petition of one-third of PFF members in good standing, or to vote on Constitutional Amendments.

Article VI :: BY-LAWS

The Executive Board shall enact By-Laws as necessary for the operation of the PFF. A two-thirds vote of the Executive Board shall be required to adopt the By-Laws and/or an amendment to the By-Laws. PFF members will be notified of proposed By-Law adoption at least thirty days prior to the Board meeting at which action will be taken.

Article VII :: RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENTS

Section 7.01

Ratification of the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote of those members in good standing (Section 3.03).

Section 7.02

Constitutional amendments may be proposed by a passing vote of the Executive Board or by a petition to the Executive Board that includes a simple majority of the membership. (Verification of signatures is the responsibility of the Secretary.)

Section 7.03

A Constitutional Amendment Election will be held within three months of the aforementioned amendment proposal procedures. Passing an amendment requires a two-thirds majority vote by the membership.

Article VIII :: PROCEDURES

Unless otherwise specified in the By-Laws, Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all meetings.

PALOMAR FACULTY FEDERATION CONSTITUTION AFT LOCAL 6161