ARTICLE NO.1
Names and Objects
SECTION 1. This Union shall consist of at least three (3) or more active members, and shall be called “CHARLOTTE FIRE FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, LOCAL NO. 660, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, and hereafter referred to as the International Association of Fire Fighters.
SECTION 2. The objects of this Association shall be to unite fraternally; to protect and better the working and living conditions of its members; to act as a bargaining agent for its members, to foster the finest traditions of American citizenship; to uphold our sworn oath to protect the LIFE and PROPERTY of our fellow citizens.
SECTION 3. This Local Union, its officers, representatives and members, shall recognize, observe and be bound by the provisions of the Constitution and By-Laws of the International Association and the interpretations rendered by the International President, the resolutions, decisions and directives of the Executive Board or officers of the Association when made in conformity with the authority granted by the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association, and the resolutions adopted and policies established by the delegates conventions. Article 13 of the Constitution and By-Laws of the International Association of Fire Fighters is recognized as providing the basic rules governing this local.
SECTION 4. This Association shall be at all times loyal to the National Government and shall adhere to the Constitution of the United States of America. The American Flag shall always be in evidence in a prominent place in the meeting hall of the local whenever a meeting is in session.
SECTION 5. This fiscal year of this Local shall begin February 1st of each year.
ARTICLE NO. 2
Jurisdiction
SECTION 1. The jurisdiction of this local shall be as follows: All persons engaged in firefighting or fire prevention, and support facilities that are permanent and paid employees of the Charlotte Fire Department. The Chief of the department is excluded from this membership, only if he is not a member upon appointment to Chief.
SECTION 2. The jurisdiction may be expanded to include any new classifications within the department.
ARTICLE NO. 3
Membership
Qualification
SECTION 1. Active: Any person of good moral character who at the time of making application is engaged in service within the jurisdiction of this Local, as given in Article 2, will be eligible for active membership. Anyone eligible for membership in this Association shall not be refused membership or, upon acceptance, be discriminated against because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, or by reason of being handicapped.
Application
SECTION 2. All applications for membership shall bear the name of the person so proposed, together with his residence and date entering the department. The application must be accompanied with the first quarter’s dues or dues check off with the CFD Credit Union, which entitles him to full benefits and privileges of this Union. All candidates for membership must be voted upon by the membership at a regular meeting of this Union.
Rejected
SECTION 3. When a candidate for admission has been rejected, notice thereof shall be sent to him immediately and the person so rejected shall not be given sponsored for a period of six (6) months.
Fail to pay dues
SECTION 4. Members who fail to pay their dues or assessments within the periods prescribed by the I.A.F.F. Constitution or by the By-Laws of this Local, shall be notified, by certified mail, by the proper Local Officer, by certified mail, that they are delinquent and will be automatically suspended and lose their good standing if payment is not made within sixty (60) days following such notification. Delinquent and suspended members are not entitled to voice or vote in the affairs of this Local Union.
SECTION 5. A member suspended for non-payment of dues or assessments, may be re-admitted upon making application and paying all monies owed by him to this Union on the date of his suspension, up to the date of his re-election to membership, plus an additional reinstatement fee of ($35). This proposition shall be considered and acted upon as provided in Article 3, section 2, governing application for membership.
Honorary
SECTION 6. The honorary membership shall consist of those persons who are benefactors of the Local and are recognized by the active membership. Such membership may be revoked for cause by a majority vote of the entire membership. They will be excluded from all meetings except by special invitation. All votes shall be by secret ballots.
Separation
SECTION 7. When any member in good standing becomes separated from the Fire Fighters Service, due to resignation, said member shall not be eligible to retain his active membership in this Local; lieu therof, upon request, said member shall be issued a withdrawal card, however, a member who is duly elected as an officer of the International Association of Fire Fighters, or elected or appointed as a representative of or to an affiliated labor organization, shall retain his active membership in this Local Union. Any member who is terminated by release or expulsion by the Charlotte Fire Department may remain a member pending conclusion of appeals an/or litigation. Upon retirement members no longer contribute to the CFFA Retirement ($3 per month)
Resign, Released or Expelled
SECTION 8. Any member, who may resign, be released or expelled, shall forfeit all rights and title to the funds and property of this Local Union.
ARTICLE NO. 4
Meetings
SECTION 1. Regular meetings of this Local shell be held on the first or second Tuesday of every month alternating between 7:00 pm and 9:00 am monthly unless changed by a majority vote at a previous meeting. Twelve members, exclusive of the Executive Council shall constitute a quorum.
SECTION 2. Special meetings may be called by a vote of a majority of the Executive Board to consider matters of a serious nature, or emergency, but no other business than that for which the meeting is called shall be considered. Such notice shall be posted at least seven (7) days in advance.
SECTION 3. A special meeting shall be called by the President upon written request of twelve (12) members in good standing. The notice shall state the business to be considered at such meeting and no other business than that shall be ordered at such meeting. Such notice shall be posted at least seven (7) days in advance.
SECTION 4. In case of extreme emergency, the President may change the time, the place or the time and place of regular or special meetings. In no event shall a meeting be held within eight (8) hours after the notice of same is posted.
SECTION 5. Every member in good standing shall have the right to attend any meeting and to participate in such meeting in accordance with the recognized rules set forth in the manual of parliamentary proc3dure adopted by this Local. Members shall conduct themselves in such a manner as not to interfere with the legal contractual obligations of the International or of this Local.
SECTION 6. The rules contained in Atwood’s Rules of Order and the manual of common Procedures, shall govern the meetings of this Local in all cases not in conflict with this Constitution, the By-Laws of this Local or the Constitution and By-Laws of the International Association of Fire Fighters or interpretations of these documents.
SECTION 7. The business of this Local shall be taken up in the following named order:
a. Calling the meeting to order
(Invocation & Allegiance to Flag)
b. Roll call of officers
c. Reading of minutes
d. Reading of communications bills and etc.
e. Officer reports
f. Board of Trustee reports
g. Committee reports
h. Unfinished business
i. New business
j. Good and welfare
k. Adjournment
SECTION 8. Any elected officer missing three (3) consecutive scheduled meetings shall automatically be removed and replaced by the Executive Board, unless excused by the Executive Board.
SECTION 9. All elections will be by secret ballot. There shall be no voting by proxy in the election of local officers. Subject to applicable laws, absentee ballots can be used with “out of town” and medical problems for justifiable absence. The candidate receiving the majority of the ballots cast (meaning a number greater than half the total votes cast), a special run-off election may be held as prescribed in Section 8 of this Article.
SECTION 10. The President shall appoint a six (6) Member Election Committee, which shall be responsible for distributing and tabulating the ballots.
SECTION 11. Each candidate for office shall be entitled to appoint one observer, who shall be permitted to witness the manner of distribution and tabulating of all the ballots.
SECTION 12. The ballots and all other records of an election shall be preserved by the Recording Secretary for one (1) year following the election.
SECTION 13. The office of the President shall be filled by the Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, in that order in case the President’s office is vacated. Should no one accept the office then a special election shall be held for the remaining term.
SECTION 14. Vacancies in any office other then the President shall be filled by the President.
SECTION 15. No funds received by this Local through initiation fees, dues or assessments or otherwise, shall be contributed or applied to promote the candidacy of any person in elections of officers. This Section does not prevent the expenditure from union funds for notices, factual statements of issues and any other necessary expenses to conduct elections, so long as they do not involve promotion of any candidate.
ARTICLE NO.6
Duties of Officers
SECTION 1. PRESIDENT. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Local and at meetings of the Executive Board. He shall be the executive head of the Local. He shall be a member ex officio of all committees. He shall appoint such committees as may be authorized by the Local. Together with the Treasurer, he shall sign all orders and checks lawfully properly drawn. He shall enforce strict observance of the Constitution and By-Laws of the International as this document relates to the Local, and the Constitution and By-Laws of the Local. He shall have a general supervision of the activities of the other officers and chairmen of committees.
The President shall discharge on behalf of the Local such duties as may be imposed upon him by applicable law including the execution and filling of any reports to Federal or State authorities and he shall cause to be maintained by the Local such records as the law requires to be kept in support of reports filed by it. The President by virtue of his election, shall be delegate of this Local to the convention of the International.
SECTION 2. VICE PRESIDENT. Shall assist the President in such a manner as the President may determine. In the absence of the President, he shall preside at meetings of the Local and of the Executive Board.
SECTION 3. RECORDING SECRETARY. Shall have custody of all documents, records, books and papers belonging to the Local, except as may be otherwise provided by this Constitution and By-Laws. He shall keep an accurate record of the meetings of the Local and of the Executive Board, of which he shall be the secretary. He shall attest all official documents with his signature and the seal of the Local. He shall conduct the correspondence of the Local promptly. He shall maintain the official list of members in good standing, which shall be kept accurately and on current basis. He shall discharge on behalf of the Local such duties as may be imposed upon him by applicable law including the execution and filing of any reports to Federal and State authorities, and he shall cause to be maintained by the Local such records as the law requires to be kept in support of reports filled by it.
SECTION 4. TREASURER. Shall receive all money due to the Local, from whatsoever source, and shall disburse the same by voucher signed by the President in conformity with a vote of the Local. Such disbursements shall be by check which shall also be signed by the President. He shall maintain and keep a current record of members with their dues payments, assessments and all financial transactions promptly and accurately entered. He shall be prepared to exhibit receipts and vouchers upon the audit of the books. He shall forward the annual audit of the local to the International Secretary – Treasurer, over the seal of the Local, not later than June first of each year.
SECTION 5. TRUSTEES. They shall elect from among themselves at there first meeting a Chairman. They may at any time call for and examine the records of the Treasurer or any officer of the Local and present any irregular findings to the membership for action. It shall be their duty to furnish an annual statement at the end of the fiscal year and if necessary, they shall engage a public accountant to assist in their work.
SECTION 6. EXECUTIVE BOARD. The elective officers of the Local shall constitute an executive board (exclusive of the trustees) and shall transact routine business of the Local which must be completed in the interim between regular meetings. It shall be the duty of the Executive Board to exercise general supervision and control of the invested funds and property of the Local.
SECTION 7. SERGEANT-AT-ARMS (GUARD). May be appointed by the President. He shall enforce order at the meetings, inspect all present before opening the meeting. He shall take a seat near the door and permit no one to enter without being properly vouched for and identified. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall see that each member entering signs the roster. He shall perform such other duties as may be delegated to him by the President.
SECTION 8. All officers and employees of the Local who handles funds or property of the Local shall be bonded in such amounts as may be required by the Board of Trustees and the International Secretary-Treasurer, in compliance with applicable law. The expense for the first $2500 of such bonds shall be borne by the International. Additional bond may be obtained at the Local’s expense through the Internationals bonding company.
SECTION 9. SALARIES OF OFFICERS ARE AS FOLLOWS: President: $1.25/member/month not to go below $500/month. Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer: $0.75/member/month not to go below $400/month.
ARTICLE NO. 7
Delegates and Alternates
SECTION 1. Delegates and Alternates to conventions of the Association, shall be elected by secret ballot of the entire membership in good standing, and the credentials prepared for such delegates and alternates must certify to this method of election, except where otherwise provided in the By-Laws of the Association. All expenses shall be paid by the Association.
ARTICLE NO. 8
Dues, Assessments and Fees
SECTION 1. Membership dues of this Local shall be a minimum of one (1) percent of base firefighters pay as required by Section 5.
SECTION 2. A member who fails to make payment by the fifteenth following the month such dues are payable, shall be notified by Certified Mail, by the Treasurer that he is delinquent and shall be automatically suspended and will lose his good standing if payments is not made within 60 days following such notification.
SECTION 3. Delinquent and suspended members are not entitled to voice or vote in this Local Union, or in the affairs of the Association, such member shall not be permitted to enter any meetings of this Local.
SECTION 4. Special assessments may be made at any time that it becomes necessary in order to meet current or extra expenses, only after approval by a majority vote by secret ballot of the entire membership in good standing after 30 day notice. Such assessments shall be paid to the Local Union Secretary within thirty(30)days.
SECTION 5. Increase in rates of initiation fees, re-instatement fees, dues or assessments, shall require notice of such proposed increase to be given to the members in god standing at least thirty (30) days in advance of the date on which the vote for such increase is to occur. The proposed increase shall become effective upon a majority vote of the entire membership in good standing, by secret ballot at a regular or a special meeting.
ARTICLE NO. 9
Misconduct, Trials and Appeals
SECTION 1. Any officer or member charged with misconduct as defined in Article 15 of the International Constitution and By-Laws, shall be served with written specific charges as required in Article 16 of the Association Constitution and be given a reasonable time to prepare his defense and afforded a hearing as provided in Article 17 of the Association Constitution.
SECTION 2. Appeals may be made in accordance with Article 18 of the International Constitution and By-Laws; such appeal must be filed with the President of the Association within thirty(30)days of the action to be appealed.
SECTION 3. Should any member or members of this Union: mail or distribute, any written, typed, or printed matter in the name of the Union without the Union’s sanction, discuss with any person who is not a member of this Union, any official business, proposed plan or business of this Union, unless so empowered by delegated authority, advocate or encourage membership or participation in any group, organization, or association of fire fighters, deemed by the Executive Board to be detrimental to the principles, operation or business of this Union, he shall be charged, tried, and penalized in accordance with Section 1 Article 9 of this Constitution.
ARTICLE NO. 10
Audit
SECTION 1. The books of this Local Union shall be audited annually, and the last such report of the audit shall be forwarded to the International Secretary-Treasurer over the seal of the Local not later than the first of June annually.
SECTION 2. The money and property of the Local union shall be used solely for the benefit of the union and its members and not for the personal gain or profit of any officer or member. Local union officers, agents, representatives and employees who handle the local’s funds or property shall be held to this standard of conduct and accountable for any breach thereof under this Constitution and By-Laws and as provided by law. Such officers as are given the responsibility under the local union’s constitution or by-laws shall manage, invest and expand its funds and property only in accordance with the applicable provisions of the local’s governing laws of this Constitution and By-Laws and any resolutions properly adopted there under. Otherwise, funds and property may not be invested, used or disturbed except upon approval of the membership at regular or special local union meetings.
ARTICLE NO. 11
Amendments
SECTION 1. All amendments to this constitution and by-laws shall be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire membership of this Local, at regular or special meeting, provided all Notices in writing of the proposed amendments be posted on all FIRE DEPARTMENT BULLETIN BOARDS at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the meeting at which the vote will be taken.
SECTION 2. A proposed amendment to this constitution and by-laws made under its provisions, after being adopted by the membership, shall be submitted for approval to the International President prior to its printing, issuance, or effectiveness.
