Bylaws

ARTICLE 1

NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Lower Merion Township Worker’s Association (hereinafter called the “Association”).

ARTICLE II

AFFILIATION

The Association shall be unaffiliated.

ARTICLE III

JURISDICTION

The jurisdiction of the Association shall extend to and include all non-supervisory employees employed by the Township of Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.

ARTICLE IV

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Association are:

To unite within the Association all workers within its jurisdiction.
To improve wages and hours of work, increase job security and better the working and living conditions of its members.

To promote the health, security, economic, cultural, legislative, educational, social, political and recreational interests of workers and others.

To defend and extend democratic institutions and procedures and the civil rights and liberties of its members and others.

To establish peaceful and harmonious relations between its members and their employer.

To assure full employment.
To promote democracy and free unionism.
To give assistance and encouragement to organizations in organizing workers to engage in such other activities as may be necessary or proper to strengthen the labor movement and to extend the processes of collective bargaining wherever it occurs.

ARTICLE V

MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

Section 1

The membership meeting of the Association shall be its supreme governing body whose decision shall be final.

Section 2

The Association shall meet regularly on the second Tuesday of each month, at headquarters of the Association or at such other place as the Association or the Executive Board shall decide, unless otherwise ordered by the Executive Board at any time upon not less than three (3) days notice.Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be given by posting a copy of the notice in the office of the Association and in other places where notices of meetings are customarily posted.

Section 3

At the direction of the Executive Board, or upon the written request of not less than twenty-five (25) members, the President shall call special meetings of the Association upon one (1) week’s written notice to the members.Such notice shall be posted in the office of the Association and in other places where such notices are customarily posted.

Section 4

A quorum for the purpose of transacting business any business by the Association shall consist of not less than fifteen (15) members present in person at any regular or special meeting.No action of any meeting shall be invalid for lack of quorum unless the question of lack of quorum was raised before such action was taken.Any meeting at which a quorum is present may transact any and all business coming before the meeting without prior notice of the business to be transacted at such meeting except as otherwise provided in this constitution.Unless otherwise expressly provided by this constitution,all decisions of a membership meeting shall be by a majority of those voting.

Section 5

The membership meeting shall consider and decide all questions of general organizational policy affecting the Association and its members.The members shall adhere to an be bound by any such decisions.

ARTICLE VI

OFFICERS – ELECTION AND ELIGIBILITY

Section 1

The officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and together with up to two (2) additional Association members shall constitute the Association’s Executive Board.

Section 2

Officers and Executive Board members shall be elected by plurality vote, for a three-year term, on such date during the month of November as the Executive Board may fix.Should the Immediate Past President choose not to run for reelection or loses in the bid for reelection, he may choose to automatically become a member of the Executive Board.In that event, only one (1) other Executive Board member shall be elected.Officers shall hold office until their successors are elected and installed.Installation of officers shall be held at the next meeting after the election.The outgoing officers shall immediately turn over all books, records, property and assets belonging to the Association to the newly installed officers.

Section 3

If there is only one (1) candidate for an office, or candidates only in such number as the constitution provides for such office, as in the case of the Executive Board, the Chairperson of the meeting (who shall be the Chairperson of the Elections Committee) shall cast on ballot for such candidate or candidates and such of those candidates for whom the Chairperson shall cast his ballot shall be declared duly elected.

Section 4

At least fifteen (15) days prior to the election of Association officers, or Executive Board members, notice of such election (which notices may be given in an Association publication) shall be given by mail to each member in good standing at such member’s last known address who is entitled to vote in such election.

Section 5

Write-in or sticker votes shall not be counted.Proxy votes shall only be counted if the member is unable to attend the meeting due to Township work schedule.The proxy vote must be delivered to a member of the Executive Board for presentation at the polls.

Section 6

Nominations of candidates, each of which shall require a second shall be made at a membership meeting held (at least (4) weeks prior to the date fixed for election).Only votes for candidates duly nominated and properly on the ballot shall be counted.No member may be a candidate for more than one (1) office except in the case of outgoing President as defined in Article VI-A-Section 2.

Section 7

All elections shall be conducted under the supervision of the Executive Board.The Board shall safeguard the secrecy and honesty of the election, count the ballots and announce and certify the results of the election in a signed statement.The Board shall preserve all ballots and other records pertaining to the election for one (1) year after the election.Any candidate may have an observer at the polls and at the counting of the ballots.

Section 8

All elections shall be conducted by secret ballot.

Section 9

No person shall be eligible for office in the Association unless he/she has been a member in good standing of the Association for at least three (3) years and an employee of the Township for at least five (5) years.Exceptions to the above may be made in instances where no qualifying candidate is nominated to run for office.

Section 10

Vacancies in any elective office may be filled by a qualified person elected by the Executive Board who shall hold office until his successor is elected and assumes office. The Executive Board may, in its discretion, call a special election to fill a vacancy in any elective office, in which event the person selected by the Executive Board to fill the vacancy shall serve only until the successful candidate at such special election assumes office.Nominations of candidates for special elections shall be made at the meeting at which the election is held, and a successor elected by the plurality vote from among the candidates by secret ballot.The officer so elected shall serve until the next regular election and until his successor is elected and assumes office.

Section 11 – Recall of the Executive Board

Any or all of the Executive Board may be recalled using the following protocol:

A motion to recall the Officer(s) must be made and seconded at a regular or special meeting of the Association.

Notice must be made to all members that a vote to recall one (1) or more of the Executive Board members will take place at the next meeting (regular or special) of the Association.

The vote to recall must be at least two thirds (2/3) of the Association membership in favor.

ARTICLE VI - B

OFFICERS – DUTIES

Section 1 – Duties of the President

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and the Executive Board and shall countersign all checks or other authorization for the withdrawal of funds of the Association when signed by the Treasurer.He shall enforce the provisions of the constitution and shall appoint and be an ex officio member of the Executive Board and all committees not otherwise provided for.He shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Association and shall transact such business as is usual to the Office of President, subject, however, to the disapproval of the Executive Board.Committee members appointed by the President shall continue in their provisions until the next regular election and until their successors have been appointed by the incoming President.The President shall cast a ballot only in case of a tie vote.

Section 2 – Duties of the Vice-President

The Vice-President shall assist the President in the performance of his duties, shall act for the President in the performance of his duties.Shall act for the President in his absence, and, in the event of a vacancy, shall succeed to the Office of President for the unexpired term.

Section 3 – Duties of the Treasurer

Unless otherwise provided in its constitution and/or bylaws, the Treasurer shall receive all monies paid to the local bank or invest them in such securities as the Executive Board may authorize.He shall jointly with the President sign all checks drawn upon the Association.He shall keep true and accurate accounts of all his transactions as Treasurer and shall arrange to have an audit of such accounts made periodically and shall make reports thereon to the Executive Board of which he shall be an ex official member, of the Association, and shall have such further powers as are usual to his office.

Section 4 – Duties of the Secretary

The Secretary of the Association shall keep a record of the names and addresses of all members of the Association.He shall keep correct minutes of all meetings of the Association and shall have charge of its seal, which he shall attach to all documents, requiring authentication.The Secretary shall also be responsible for the timely dissemination of information to the membership and/or Executive Board via the newsletter or other method.

Section 5

Before entering upon his duties, the Treasurer, and every other Association officer or representative charged with the handling or safekeeping of funds shall be bonded in a suitable amount.The premiums of all bonds and insurance shall be paid by the Association.

ARTICLE VII

THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1

The Executive Board shall be the highest governing authority within the Association between membership meetings.It shall exercise general supervision over its property and affairs.

Section 2

There shall be an Executive Board consisting of as many as two (2) members and the following officers: President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary.

The members of the Executive Board who are not officers shall serve for the same term and be elected in the same manner as the officers.

Section 3

The Executive Board shall have power, subject to the provisions of the constitution, to invest the funds and properties of the Association, to authorize the expenditures of the Association or the use of the property of the Association for the effectuation of any of its objectives to borrow money and to pledge any property or securities of the Association as security therefore, and to buy, sell, exchange, rent, lease or otherwise acquire or dispose of real or personal property, and shall fix the salaries, if any of the elective officers.It shall present a report of its activities to each meeting of the Association for its approval.

It shall cause to be preserved for at least five (5) years the financial books, accounts and records of the Association.

The Executive Board shall cause to be preserved for at least one (1) year ballots and records pertaining to the election of officers.

Section 4

The Executive Board shall meet regularly at a time and place fixed by the Board.Special meetings of the Executive Board may be called at any time by the President upon not less than one (1) hour verbal or written notice to the Board members at their home addresses or by posting in the Association office the time and place of the meeting and the business to be transacted thereat.A majority of the members of the Executive Board shall be constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the decision of the board shall be a concurring vote of a majority of all those voting.The Executive Board shall meeting in executive session upon the order of the President.

ARTICLE VIII

Section 1

Except as hereinafter provided, any non-supervisory employee who is employed by Lower Merion Township is eligible for membership in the Association.No person acting on behalf of the employer and having the power to hire and fire shall be eligible for membership.

Section 2

Any person who advocates or engages in activities detrimental to the association as an institution or who engages in or advocates activities which would interfere with the performance by the Association of its legal or contractual obligations may be subject to discipline.

All members in good standing shall have equal rights and privileges to participate in the election of officers, attend membership meetings, participate in the deliberations and voting upon the business of such meetings, to express any views, arguments or opinions on any business properly before such meetings subject to the rules herein continued.

Section 3

Applicants for membership shall file written applications containing such information as the Executive Board may require.

Section 4

As used in this constitution, the term, member in good standing, shall mean a person admitted to membership in the Association.

Section 5

Resignation from Association membership must be submitted in writing individually and by certified registered mail to the Secretary of the Association no less than fifteen (15) days before the effective date of the resignation, provided that no resignation shall be tendered or be effective during the period of any strike against the employer by whom the member purporting to resign is employed.This section shall not apply to, modify, or affect in any way the terms and provisions of any collective bargaining agreement, or the terms and provisions of any dues deduction authorization signed by any member purporting to withdraw from membership in the Association

Section 6

No person who has been suspended or expelled from membership for reasons other than non-payment of dues or assessments shall be eligible for membership in the Association without the written consent of the body, which suspended or expelled him.

Section 7

Every worker who accepts membership in the Association should be deemed thereby to have authorized the Association to act as his or her sole collective bargaining agent in agreements with references to wages, hours and other conditions of employment and such worker shall be bound by the terms and provisions of any such collective bargaining agreements.

Every worker who accepts membership in the Association should be deemed thereby to have authorized the Association exclusively to act as his or her agent to represent and bind him in the presentation, adjustment and settlement of all grievances, complaints or disputes of any kind or character arising out of the employer-employee relationship.

ARTICLE IX

REVENUE AND PROPERTY

Section 1

Each member of the Association shall pay dues of ten ($10.00) per month payable by payroll deduction.

Section 2

The dues shall not be increased unless the amount thereof has first been approved by a majority of the membership of the Association who vote upon the question by secret ballot at a meeting called for that purpose after reasonable notice has been given.

ARTICLE X

Section 1

Any provision of this constitution may be modified, amended or repealed, or new provisions may be adopted, by the affirmative vote of two thirds (2/3) of the members voting on the questions, at a regular meeting, or special meeting called for that purpose, provided, however, that notice of the proposed amendment or modification or repeal as has been given to the members at the previous regular meeting; except as provided in Article IX, Section 2.The Executive Board upon notice thereof to the membership, may submit amendments to this constitution to a special membership meeting upon its own notice, and shall submit any amendment proposed in a petition signed by not less than ten (10) members of the Association and filed with the secretary.