Committees

The General Council

1. The General Council shall be the governing authority of the Union between one Biennial Conference and the next. It shall be subject to the authority of the Biennial Conference and any special conference which may be convened.
2. The General Council shall be comprised of
   1. The Central Executive
   2. The President, Secretary and one other elected officer of each branch;
   3. The President and Secretary of the Women’s Committee;
   4. The Secretary of the Shop Stewards Council and
3. The General Council shall meet at least once every three (3) months.
4. The General Council shall have the authority to fine, suspend, dismiss or expel a member.
5. The decisions of the General Council shall be binding on all members of the Union.
6. An emergency meeting of the General Council may be called by anyone of the following:-
   1. The Central Executive
   2. One third (1/3) the total number of branches by resolutions to the General Secretary
   3. The President of the Union
   4. In the case of (ii) and (iii) above, the request for such a meeting shall be in writing to the General Secretary and shall state the issue or issues for which the meeting is to be convened.
7. The quorum for meetings of the General Council shall be one third (1/3) of the members thereof.
8. Any member of the General Council who absents his/herself from three consecutive meetings without written excuse acceptable to the General Council shall have automatically forfeited his/her seat thereon, and also his/her office as a Branch Official and shall be deemed to have resigned.
9. The agenda for meetings of the General Council shall be settled by the Central Executive; except that in the case of an emergency meeting called by the President it shall be determined by him; excepting also, that in the case of an emergency meeting requested by one third (1/3) of the total number of branches, the agenda shall be formulated by the General Secretary on the basis only of the specific issue or issues contained in the written request, as outlined in Section 6(b) of this Rule.
10. The General Council shall have power between Biennial Conference of Delegates to determine all matters on which these rules or any other rules made hereunder are silent and any ambiguity arising in the interpretation of the said rules, and its decision on any such matter shall be final.
11. The General Council shall have power generally to take all such steps and to do all such things as it shall deem necessary and proper for furthering and/or carrying into effect the objects and purposes of the Union including power to control and/or appropriate and/or expend the funds of the Union and to make and issue Standing Orders relating to, or for the purpose of regulating any matter, exercise or operation not provided for in these rules.

The Central Executive

1. The Central Executive shall be responsible for direction and supervision of all aspects of the Union’s activities; its day to day conduct, including the management of the business of the Union; and, its general administrative functions.
2. The Central Executive shall be responsible to the General Council and all Conferences of Delegates.
3. The Central Executive shall meet at least once per month on a scheduled date and time, or as otherwise determined by the Central Executive.
4. The Central Executive shall be comprised of the National Officers who shall be:-

   President
   General Secretary
   Deputy President
   1st Vice President
   2nd Vice President
   3rd Vice President
   Deputy General Secretary (Administration)
   Deputy General Secretary (Finance)
   Assistant General Secretary (Ind. Relations)
   Assistant General Secretary (Organising)
   Trustee
   Trustee

5. 
   
   1. The National Officers of the Union shall each be elected by a secret ballot vote by the members of the Union in accordance with (Elections Rules made by the General Council) and shall serve for a period of four (4) years and shall be eligible for re-election.
   2. In the event of a vacancy occurring on the Central Executive within the four (4) year period, the General Council shall decide whether or not it shall be filled by a bye-election. In the event that the decision is in the affirmative, then the vacancy shall be filled by a bye-election in the same manner as in e (i) of this rule, but the incumbent shall hold office for the remainder only of the term of the former incumbent.
6. The quorum for meetings of the Central Executive shall be one-half (1/2) of its membership.
7. The agenda for meetings for the Central Executive shall be as follows:-

The Communications Committee

There shall be established a committee to be known as the Communications Committee which shall be comprised of four (4) members of the General Council, including the Editor. This committee may meet as often as is considered necessary. Its chairperson shall be named by the General Council who shall be empowered to convene such meetings. This committee shall be responsible, for the formulation of policy and other guidelines designed to assist the Editor in the presentation of the Union’s Journal / website / and other communications media.

Branch Committees

1. The membership of the Union shall be organised into branches.
2. Branches of the Union shall be established on the basis of membership in the Union obtaining in a given place of employment.
3. 
   
   1. Each branch of the Union shall be governed by a Branch Committee comprising the following Branch Officers: Branch President; Branch Vice President; Branch Secretary; Branch Education Secretary; one (1) Shop Steward and one (1) Committee Member.
   2. ) In the event of a branch having more than one Shop Steward it shall be decided amongst them which of their number shall be the member on the Branch Committee, and such decision shall be communicated to the General Secretary. Members of the Branch Committee and other Shop Stewards shall be enacted to hold office for two years. They shall generally assist in the recruitment of new workers into the Union.
4. Branch Officers shall be elected by the members of the Branch provided however that in default of such election the incumbent officers shall continue to hold office. In the event of a vacancy on a Branch Committee, a bye-election shall be held.
5. 
   
   1. A Branch of the Union shall meet at least once in every six (6) months on a date appointed by he Branch Committee. The quorum for meetings of a Branch shall be 1/5 of its number. In Branches with membership of 500 or more the quorum for meetings shall be a minimum of 50.
   2. A Branch Committee shall meet at least once monthly on the summons of the Branch Secretary at the direction of the Branch President. The quorum for Branch Committee meetings shall be three (3) members. The agenda for meetings of a Branch shall be determined by the Branch Committee, but must include:
      1. President‘s Opening Remarks
      2. Report on the last General Council Meeting
      3. Correspondence
      4. Shop Stewards Report: questions and debate
      5. General Business
         The Agenda for meetings of a Branch Committee shall be settled by the Branch Secretary in consultation with the Branch President or vice versa.
6. The Branch President shall be the Head of the Branch and shall have general supplemental responsibility for the conduct of the Union in so far as it concerns the Branch and for defending and promoting the particular interests of Branch members. He/ She shall preside at meetings of the Branch and shall be responsible for the orderly conduct of such meetings and must ensure that the agenda is strictly followed. It shall be the duty of the Branch Vice President to assist the Branch President generally and, in particular, to preside at meetings of the Branch committee or the Branch in the absence of the Branch President.
7. The Branch Secretary shall be responsible for recording the minutes of the Branch Committee and the Branch and to ensure that the records of the Branch are up to date and kept in proper condition. He/She shall establish direct communication with the General Secretary to ensure prompt receipt of correspondence and other documents relevant for the effective performance of his/her duties. He/She shall ensure membership status is advanced and maintained.
8. The Branch Education Secretary shall establish direct communication with the Education and Research Officer and attend meetings of the Education Committee, shall be responsible for carrying out the work of that Committee among members of the Branch including the dissemination of educational material; and for the preparation and distribution of bulletins and pamphlets relating to the interest of Branch members.
9. The appropriate Shop Steward shall be responsible for initiating and/or making and/or pursuing representations at or up to the appropriate state relating to grievances of members of the Branch. At least once every four (4) months, he/She shall submit in writing to the Chief Grievance Officer a report of his / her activities.
10. Shop Stewards at their various places of employment shall also be charged with the responsibility for recruiting workers into the Union and in particular new workers.
11. Branches of the Union shall not merge or affiliate or sponsor or participate or use the name of the Union in any fundraising function or other functions unless they obtain the prior and specific approval of the Central Executive.

Education Committee

There shall be an Education Committee headed by the Education and Research Officer and comprising the branch Education Secretaries.

Women‘s Committee

1. There shall be established a Women‘s Committee whose objects shall be the furtherance of the Union objectives. It shall organise Units and Committees, and elect its own officers and shall also carry out such functions as approved by the Central Executive, General Council, Biennial Conference and/or Special Conference.
2. It shall engage in advocacy for equal rights for and on behalf of female members and other women and shall also be empowered to make representation on behalf of its members.
3. There shall be no fee to join the Women‘s Committee but the Committee is free to engage in fund raising exercises approved by the Central Executive.
4. The officers of the Women‘s Committee shall be elected by ballot on a biennial basis and shall be as follows:-

   President
   Vice President
   Secretary Assistant Secretary
   Three (3) Committee Members

5. The Women‘s Committee shall meet at least once in every quarter or as often as necessary.

6. It shall also engage in any other affairs which can further improve the welfare and interest of its members and the Union.

7. There shall be a conference of the Women‘s Committee once each year as maybe decided by the Committee.