Wetaskiwin Local No 18 Constitution

**Updated 2021

1. Name

The name of this local shall be Wetaskiwin Local No 18 local association of The Alberta Teachers’ Association (the Association or the ATA).

2. Boundaries

The area served by this local association shall include The Wetaskiwin School Division.

3. Membership

3.1 All active members of The Alberta Teachers’ Association employed within the boundaries listed in section 2 are members of this local.

3.2 Subject to approval by the Provincial Executive Council of The Alberta Teachers’ Association, associate members of The Alberta Teachers’ Association who hold the highest category of membership available to them and who pay the prescribed local association fee may become members of this local association with all rights and privileges of active members.

4. Objects

The objects of this local association shall be to further the objects of The Alberta Teachers’ Association as set out in Section 4 of the Teaching Profession Act and the General Bylaws of The Alberta Teachers’ Association.

5. Fees

This local association shall have the power, subject to approval of the Provincial Executive Council of The Alberta Teachers’ Association, to levy fees for membership in this local association such as are determined from time to time in a general meeting of the local association. Such fees shall be additional to the fees prescribed by the Annual Representative Assembly.

6. Rules of Procedure

The proceedings of all meetings—general, special, local council and executive committee—shall be regulated by the official Rules of Order and Procedure as published in the Members’ Handbook.

6.1 Officers of the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the district representative(s) of whose geographic district this local association forms a part shall be entitled to attend all meetings of the local association referenced in Section 6 and any other meetings of local committees, including those portions of any meetings declared to be in camera.

7.Organization

The governing body of this local shall be a general meeting of its members, 25 of whom shall constitute a quorum.

7.1 In the event that a quorum is not obtained at a duly called general meeting, the general meeting may be adjourned to a later date or the business of the general meeting shall be conducted at the next local council meeting.

7.2 In the event that the business of the Annual General Meeting is referred to a local council meeting, that local council meeting shall have the authority to deal with such business as though it were a general assembly.

7.3 A general meeting of this local shall be held at least once a year to hear reports and deal with same, hold elections, approve and set policy, and deal with such other matters as may arise.

8.Local Council

8.1 There shall be constituted a local council of this local consisting of

(a) all members of the executive committee;

(b) chairs of standing committees;

(d) local communications officer;

(e) convention representative;

(f) school representatives, other than executive committee members, elected in September by each school staff according to the following schedule: 1 representative from each staff of 29 or

(g) one representative of the substitute teacher committee;

(h) presidents of sublocals who shall be excluded from becoming school representatives; and

(i) a representative of the school-based administrators elected annually by the school-based administrators.

8.2 Members of this local other than members of the local council may attend council meetings and may speak with approval at the meeting, but may not vote.

8.3 The duties of the local council shall be

(a) to administer the affairs of the local association, including adoption of an audited annual financial statement and preparation of an annual budget;

(b) to appoint all ad hoc committees;

(d) to elect or appoint representatives to the Joint Health and Safety Committee

(e) to hear reports from committees and decide on action to be taken, if any; and

(f) to deal with other matters not inconsistent with this constitution or the General Bylaws of The Alberta Teachers’ Association.

8.4 The local council shall meet monthly or when special need arises or at the president’s discretion.

8.5 A majority vote of those present shall govern the decisions of the local council unless rules and regulations otherwise decree. Fifty per cent of local council members are required to constitute a quorum.

9. Executive Committee

9.1 The executive committee of this local shall consist of the president, vice-president, past president, secretary, treasurer, chair of the Teacher Welfare Committee economic policy committee, chair of the Professional Development Committee and a communications officer, political engagement officer. All members of the executive committee shall have voting privileges. the communications officer shall be appointed but shall have no voting privileges.

9.2 It shall be the duty of the executive committee to prepare the agenda of business for all meetings; to exercise general supervision of the affairs of the local association; to prepare and transmit to the head office of The Alberta Teachers’ Association such reports and statements with reference to the affairs of the local association as may be required by the Provincial Executive Council of The Alberta Teachers’ Association; to ensure that all Association moneys are used to further the objects of the Association as set out in the Teaching Profession Act; to ensure that there is liaison between the local and all employing boards; to supervise the allocation of funds as approved in the budget; and, when time is of the essence, to assume the functions of the local council.

9.3 The executive committee shall meet as often as local business requires.

10. Notice of Meetings

10.1 Notices of intent to hold a general, special, local council or executive committee meeting shall be provided to an authorized representative at each school or worksite and the district representative(s) by the secretary at least seven days before such meeting is to be held, and such notices shall include an outline or agenda of business to be discussed at the meeting, provided, however, that any meeting may, by a two-thirds vote of the total number of members on the roster, waive notice of a meeting or of any motion brought before the meeting.

10.2 Meetings of this local association or of any bargaining unit(s) within the local shall be called by the president, or on the request of the executive committee or the local council, or on the written request of 10 members of the local, or at the request of the representative(s) to the Teacher Welfare Committee economic policy committee or the chair of the Teacher Welfare Committee economic policy committee, as applicable, or at the request of an ATA officer or of the district representative of whose district this local association forms a part.

10.3 A record shall be kept of all those attending general, special, local council and executive committee meetings of this local.

10.4 An ATA officer or district representative of whose district this local forms a part may attend and participate in any meeting (general, special, local council or executive committee) of this local association.

11. Duties of Officers

11.1 ATA officer shall not vote. A district representative shall not vote except at a general meeting of a local of which the representative is a member.

11.2 President—The duties of the president shall be

(a) to serve as chief executive officer of the local;

(b) to call and preside at all general, special, local council and executive committee meetings of this local association;

(d) to serve as a local representative to representative assemblies; and

(e) to act as the official spokesperson of the local association in matters of concern to its members.

11.3 Vice-president—The duties of the vice-president shall be

(a) to take charge of the affairs of this local association in the absence of the president,

(b) to assist the president in the discharge of duties and

11.4 Secretary—The duties of the secretary shall be

(a) to keep accurate records of all proceedings of this local association;

(b) to bring before the executive committee of this local association all communications received by the local;

(c) to prepare and send to the head office of The Alberta Teachers’ Association such statements and reports as may be required from time to time;

(d) to prepare and send notices calling all meetings, whether regular, special, local council or executive committee; and

(e) to keep a record of attendance at all local council meetings.

11.5 Treasurer—The duties of the treasurer shall be

(a) to keep accurate records of all moneys received and collected and to take charge of same;

(b) to make the necessary disbursements of the funds of this local association as authorized by the executive committee or local council;

(c) to prepare at the direction of the executive committee, an annual budget for the local and chair the budget committee; and

(d) to prepare an annual financial statement for audit purposes.

(e) all accounts must be formally reviewed prior to the handover to the new treasurer.

11.6 Local representatives (ARA)—The duties of each local representative (ARA) shall be

(a) to represent this local association at all representative assemblies of The Alberta Teachers’ Association and

(b) to report the proceedings of all representative assemblies to the local council and to such other gatherings as may be decided.

11.7 Past president—The duties of the past president shall be

(a) to assist the president in carrying out duties,

(b) to act as chair of the nomination and elections committee,

(d) to act as parliamentarian at local and general council meetings and

(e) to be responsible for revisions to the constitution.

11.8 School representatives—The duty of the school representatives shall be

(a) to attend all the meetings of the local council or to ensure than an alternative representative shall be in attendance,

(b) to bring before the local council any matter of concern to the staff represented,

(d) to disseminate information or material from the local or The Alberta Teachers’ Association,

(e) to conduct electoral ballots in the represented school and

(f) such other duties as are requested by the local council or The Alberta Teachers’ Association.

11.9 Communications officer—The responsibility of this officer shall be to carry out a communications program with the teachers in the local and between the local and its various publics. All actions of this officer shall be subject to prior approval by the executive of the local involved.

11.10 Political Engagement Officer - The responsibility of this officer is to work to bring teachers to awareness and action on the Local and provincial political scene. They also seek out and encourage prospective candidates for local school board elections. The officer attempts to influence education-related decision-making when possible and appropriate.

12. Committees

12.1 The duties of the committee chairs shall be

(a) to attend all local council meetings or to ensure that an alternate representative will be in attendance;

(b) to submit an oral and written report at council meetings and general meetings outlining the activities of their committee;

(d) to develop and implement a frame of reference.

12.2 Teacher welfare committee—There shall be a teacher welfare committee for each employing jurisdiction in the local. Each teacher welfare committee shall operate under a frame of reference approved by the local council and subject to ratification by the Provincial Executive Council of The Alberta Teacher’s Association. An amendment procedure shall be specified in the frame of reference.

12.3 Negotiating subcommittee—The negotiating subcommittee shall be chosen from and by the Teacher Welfare Committee economic policy committee. It shall be the duty of this subcommittee to engage in collective bargaining with the board of trustees as per the Teacher Welfare Committee economic policy committee frame of reference.

12.4 Professional development committee—The duty of this committee shall be to assume general responsibility for all professional development activities undertaken by this local association. Three members will be elected to the professional development committee at the June general meeting. Both the chair and co-chair of this committee shall be elected from among its members at the first committee meeting in the fall of each year.

12.5 Nominations and elections committee—The nominations and elections committee shall consist of the past president as chair and one other member from the local. The duties of this committee shall be

(a) to prepare a roster of interested candidates for all offices and committees of the local association and

(b) to prepare the ballots for elections at a general meeting.

12.6 Activities committee—The activities chair shall be

(a) responsible for the organization of the social activities of the local association and to arrange for general dinner meetings and

(b) responsible for the organization of the sports activities of the local association.

12.7 Teacher-board advisory committee—The teacher-board advisory committee shall act as a communication and information vehicle between the board and teachers.

12.8 Political action committee—The political action committee shall keep teachers informed of political happenings.

12.9 Induction/retirement committee—The induction/retirement committee shall be responsible for organizing the annual induction/retirement ceremony.

12.10 Such other committees as the local may elect from time to time.

13. Elections

13.1 The president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, local communications officer, ARA representative(s), political engagement officer, TBAC representatives and standing committees shall be elected annually by a vote of the members of this local at a general meeting of the local.

13.2 All persons elected under subsection (1) shall assume office on July 1 following their election or the day after the election is held in the event that the election is held later in the year than July 1.

13.3 A vacancy on the local council occurring between annual elections shall be filled by election of a member of this local association by the remaining members of the executive committee.

13.4 Should one or more of the local representatives be unable to fulfill his or her term of office, replacements shall be elected by the local council.

13.5 The term of office for all persons elected, except economic policy committee chairs and convention representatives under subsection (1) shall be from July 1 to June 30.

13.6 Convention board representatives will be elected by the local council at the first local council meeting following convention each year, but no later than March of that year. Convention board representatives’ term of office will be from election until the end of the next convention.

13.7 No member of the local shall hold office in any one position for greater than 4 consecutive terms including the following positions: president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, local communications officer, political engagement officer, convention representatives, TBAC representatives, ARA representative(s) and committee chairs. In the case of no candidate for an executive position at an election, the previous executive member may hold office for one additional year until a member can be found. Not to exceed five years in one position.

14. Substitute Teachers’ Group

14.1 At the request of 10 or more substitute teacher’s members, this local shall organize a substitute teacher group.

14.2 Those eligible for participation in the group shall be members who substituted for the employing jurisdictions included in the local for at least one day during the previous twelve-month period.

14.3 An appropriate budget for the group shall be established with approval of local council.

14.4 The frame of reference for the group shall be as follows:

(a) Its objects shall be to advance the professional skills and knowledge unique to substitute teaching and to advance within the local the special interests of substitute teachers.

(b) It shall have at least one general meeting per year.

(c) It shall elect a chair, a vice-chair, a secretary-treasurer and two members-at-large to an executive, which shall be responsible for organizing activities to promote the objects of the group.

(d) Its executive shall present to the local an annual report of its activities and of the disbursement of its funds.

14.5 Each committee shall operate under a frame of reference approved by local council. Chairs and committee members shall be elected according to the frames of reference.

15. Provincial Association Intervention

15.1 In this section

(a) investigated local officer means a local officer whose conduct is under investigation pursuant to subsection (2);

(b) investigator is the individual appointed by the table officers pursuant to subsection (2);

(c) local officer means the president, vice-president, past president or secretary-treasurer (or secretary or treasurer) of a local association or any other officer appointed or elected by a local association;

(d) Provincial Executive Council means the executive council as defined in section 11 of the Teaching Profession Act;

(e) table officers means the Association’s officers as defined in Bylaw 35;

(f) executive secretary means the chief executive officer of the Association or a person designated by the executive secretary; and

(g) executive staff officer means a member of executive staff designated by the executive secretary.

Suspension or Removal from Office of Local Officers

15.2 Where the table officers have or receive information which leads them to believe that a local officer

(a) has neglected his or her duties to the extent that the proper operation of the local association is being negatively affected,

(b) is mentally incapacitated,

(d) is engaging in financial malpractice or

(e) has undertaken activities inconsistent with the principles and policies of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, the table officers may initiate an investigation into the conduct of the local officer by appointing an individual to conduct an investigation and to provide a written report to the table officers within a specified time with respect to the results of the investigation.

15.3 In the course of the intervention under section 26, an investigated local officer is entitled to have access to a staff officer for advice.

15.4 The table officers may, taking into account the nature of the alleged conduct, the urgency of the matter in question and any submission from the investigated local officer, suspend an investigated local officer from office pending the completion of the investigation and may terminate the suspension at any time if the table officers conclude that the suspension is no longer warranted.

15.5 The table officers may appoint another individual to assume the duties of the investigated local officer during the period of the suspension.

15.6 The investigated local officer may appeal a suspension from office under subsection (4) to the Provincial Executive Council by filing a notice of appeal with the executive secretary within 30 days of being notified of the suspension.

15.7 If an investigated local officer appeals his or her suspension, Provincial Executive Council shall, as soon as practicable, consider representations of the table officers and the investigated local officer and shall determine if the suspension should be continued pending the conclusion of the investigation or should be set aside.

15.8 During the investigation the investigated local officer shall be provided with an opportunity to provide a response to the investigator with respect to the concerns about the investigated local officer’s conduct.

15.9 An investigated local officer may, in the course of the investigation, submit his or her resignation to the executive secretary.

15.10 Where an investigated local officer resigns in accordance with subsection (9), the investigation shall be continued with the cooperation of the investigated local officer, and the resignation does not extinguish any liability that the investigated local officer may have with respect to acts which occurred during the period the office was held.

15.11 The investigated local officer has a duty to cooperate during the investigation and the investigator may direct the investigated local officer or any other member of the Alberta Teachers’ Association to

(a) answer any inquiries the investigator may have relating to the investigation;

(b) produce any records or other property in the investigated local officer’s possession or under his or her control that are or may be related in any way to the investigation;

(c) give up possession of any record for the purpose of allowing the investigator to make a copy and return the records within a reasonable time of receiving the records; and

(d) attend before the investigator for the purpose of complying with (a), (b) or (c) of this subsection.

15.12 In the event that the investigated local officer fails or refuses to cooperate with the investigator, the failure to do so shall be noted by the investigator in his or her report to the table officers.

15.13 Upon completion of the investigation, the investigator shall submit a written report to the table officers and a copy of the written report shall be provided to the investigated local officer.

15.14 The table officers, upon consideration of the report of the investigator, may make one or more of the following orders:

(a) remove the investigated local officer from office;

(b) restrict the investigated local officer’s eligibility for office in the future;

(c) if the investigated local officer was suspended during the investigation, reinstate the investigated local officer to office and impose any conditions or restrictions that the table officers consider appropriate in the circumstances;

and shall advise the investigated local officer and Provincial Executive Council of their decision.

15.15 If the table officers remove the investigated local officer from office, then the table officers may appoint another individual to assume the duties of the investigated local officer until a new local officer is elected or appointed to the position in accordance with this constitution.

15.16 The investigated local officer may appeal the decision of the table officers under subsection (14) by filing a notice of appeal with the executive secretary within 30 days after being notified of the decision.

15.17 If an investigated local officer appeals the decision of the table officers, Provincial Executive Council shall, as soon as practicable, consider representations of the table officers and the investigated local officer and shall determine if the decision of the table officers shall be confirmed, varied or set aside.

15.18 In an appeal under subsection (7) or (17), the table officers may make submissions to Provincial Executive Council respecting the outcome of the appeal.

Official Trustee

15.19 Subject to a two-thirds majority vote, Provincial Executive Council may appoint an official trustee to conduct the affairs of the local, subject to any terms and conditions the Provincial Executive Council considers necessary:

(a) when a local council fails to comply with the requirements of section 11;

(b) when the Provincial Executive Council considers it in the interests of the Association to do so.

15.20 The local may appeal the appointment of an official trustee to a representative assembly.

15.21 An official trustee appointed under subsection (19) has the powers and duties conferred by the General Bylaws on a local and conferred by this constitution.

15.22 On appointment of an official trustee to the local association, the officers of the local cease to hold office as officers of the local.

15.23 An official trustee continues in office until the Provincial Executive Council or a representative assembly determines that the official trusteeship is no longer necessary.

16. Governance Emergency

In the event that Provincial Executive Council declares a governance emergency to be in effect, directives issued by Provincial Executive Council under that declaration shall supersede any other provision in this constitution or any related policy or regulation and shall be binding as if the directives formed part of this constitution or any related policy or regulation.

For the duration of the governance emergency and for a period of forty (40) operational school days thereafter, Provincial Executive Council directs:

16.1 That the local may, by a majority vote of its executive committee, extend the terms of office of elected office holders for a duration and subject to conditions acceptable to Table Officers Committee of the Association.

16.2 That the local may, by a majority vote of its executive, extend the terms of appointed office holders, committee members and local delegates to Representative Assemblies of the Association that would otherwise end during the period of the emergency for a period of time not to exceed what would have been their normal term had the office been filled conventionally, during the period of the emergency.

16.3 That, should a vacancy occur in an elected or appointed office or on a committee, the local may, by a majority vote of its executive committee, appoint a member to fill the vacancy to the expiry of its normal term.

16.4 That, absent other relevant provisions in the local constitution or policy, the local may, by a majority vote of its executive committee, authorize meetings and votes (including meetings and votes of the executive committee) that would otherwise be conducted by conventional means at meetings with persons in attendance, to be conducted by mail-out ballots, on-line conferencing, telephone or other means.

16.5 That, for the period of the emergency, the executive committee of the local may exercise the authority of a general meeting of the local.

16.6 That, without restricting the general application of (5), the executive committee of the local may, by majority vote, set a local budget, allocate funds, authorize expenditures and make application to Provincial Executive Council for changes in the local levy for the duration of the emergency.

17. General

17.1 The financial year of this local shall be July 1 to June 30.

17.2 This local association shall reimburse members acting on its behalf for all necessary out-of-pocket expenses.

17.3 This local association shall pay all expenses as determined and authorized by the local council.

17.4 Amendments to this constitution may be made after a two-month notice of motion on recommendation of the executive committee and/or the local council at a general meeting of this local association subject to ratification by the Provincial Executive Council of The Alberta Teachers’ Association and with a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at such meeting.

18. Sublocals

18.1 This local may have sublocals.

18.2 Each sublocal shall operate under a constitution which must be approved by the local council and ratified by the Provincial Executive Council of The Alberta Teachers’ Association.

18.3 The power and duties of each sublocal shall be as shown in its constitution.

Ratified by Provincial Executive Council 1994 12 03

Amendments ratified by TOC on behalf of PEC 1996 02 20, 1997 04 28, 1997 06 26, 2000 09 08, 2006 11 21, 2008 06 12, 2011 10 06

Revised as per 2005 06 PEC requirements; 2007 06 27

Revised as per 2007 09 20–PEC requirements; 2008 05 26

Revised as per 2012 06 14–15 PEC requirements; 2012 10 04

Revised as per 2017 06 08-09 PEC requirements, 2017 07 28;

Revised as per 2020 05 10 PEC requirements