Pertinent AaNA Bylaws :: Alaska Nurses Association





	Pertinent Alaska Nurses Association Bylaws Amended October 1, 2006 Article VIII Labor Council Section 1. Purpose The purpose of this council shall be to study and take action to promote the economic and general welfare of registered nurses employed in the State of Alaska. This article of the Bylaws of the AaNA shall control the Labor Program. This Article shall supercede other inconsistent provisions of the AaNA Bylaws. The program shall be administered by the AaNA Executive Director through the Labor Program Director within the policies established by the Labor Council which is elected by AaNA bargaining unit members to deal with issues related to the economic and professional security of individual registered nurses or groups of nurses through the process of collective bargaining and other related activities. “Bargaining Unit Members” shall be defined as the RNs who are members of AaNA and their AaNA Local Bargaining Unit. All collective bargaining agreements negotiated by AaNA on behalf of local bargaining units that have been ratified by the local bargaining unit, in accordance with its bylaws, will be adopted by the Alaska Nurses Association, in the manner set forth, without revision, provided that the provisions of such agreements are in conformity with all applicable provisions of the law and this article of the Alaska Nurses Association Bylaws. Upon ratification as approved by the local bargaining unit, the collective bargaining agreements shall be signed by the President of such unit, the Labor Program Director of AaNA and members of the local bargaining unit negotiations team. When so signed, these agreements shall be considered adopted by the Alaska Nurses Association. Section 2. Representation AaNA Labor Program will represent units made up entirely of registered nurses. Section 3. Duties of the Council The Council shall have full authority and responsibility for the program, including: Establish and maintain liaison with other AaNA committees. Establish and maintain liaison with other Constituent Member Associations, Labor Council Committees and E&GW Committees. Set priorities for all AaNA labor relations, functions, and activities. Prepare educational offering and materials regarding the Labor Program and collective bargaining for program members. Collaborate with AaNA committees on workplace advocacy issues for general membership. Monitor and respond to economic developments and trends in health care and the general economy in relation to the needs of nurses. Monitor and respond to legislative issues related to nursing economic welfare and labor-management concerns through the AaNA Committee on Legislation. Establish a program budget in cooperation with the Executive Director and the Program Director. Appoint special committees as necessary with defined purposes and delegated responsibilities as appropriate. Evaluate the implementation of objectives, policies and procedures developed by the council at least every 2 years or as necessary. Review the bargaining unit bylaws for consistency with this Article. Advise the Executive Director and the Program Director in the hiring, firing and evaluation of Program Staff. Provides direction for UAN Representative. Review funding of arbitration requests from local bargaining units with all council members empowered to vote. Set guidelines for establishing new bargaining units. Section 4. Labor Council Composition The Council shall be composed of AaNA bargaining unit members 7 elected members at large. one representative from each local bargaining unit. These representatives shall be elected by their respective local bargaining unit. Candidates for Labor Council will also be candidates for the office of UAN Alternate. Terms of office on the Council will be two (2) years staggered and no member may serve more than six (6) consecutive two year terms. The Chairperson and other officers of the Council will be a member of the Council elected by the Council members at the first meeting held with the newly elected members. No officer may serve more than eight (8) consecutive years in an office. Vacancies on the Council will be filled by appointment by the Council to serve until the next general election. Vacancies of the local bargaining unit representative will be selected by that local bargaining unit. Section 5. Qualifications Members of the Labor Council must be members of the Alaska Nurses Association and the AaNA local bargaining unit. The representative from the local bargaining unit(s) must be a member of the AaNA and of that local bargaining unit. Section 6. Nominations and Elections Nominations and Elections for members of the AaNA Labor Council will be conducted in accordance with local and federal labor laws, and the provisions Article 3.0, Composition and Qualifications for Labor Council Membership, of the Labor Council Policies and Procedures Manual. Only AaNA members who are in AaNA collective bargaining units may vote for Council members. Section 7. Accountability The Council shall be autonomous with respect to collective bargaining activities including positions, policies, procedures and all other matters related to the collective bargaining program. The Labor Council shall be accountable to eligible members of the labor program. The Council shall make a general report annually to the Board of Directors and to the membership of the AaNA at the annual General Assembly meeting. The Labor Council members are required to attend Labor Council meetings unless excused. The Labor Council may remove a member who has three or more unexcused absences. Section 8. Council Officers and Responsibilities a. The Chairperson shall: serve as the official representative of the Labor Council and as the spokesperson on matters of Labor policy and position. chair all meetings of the Council. represent the Labor Council at the Regional Labor Councils and the Alaska AFL-CIO. b. The Vice Chairperson shall: assume the duties of the Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson. assume other duties as assigned by the Labor Council. in the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of the Chairperson, serve until the next Chairperson takes office. c. The Secretary shall: record the minutes of meetings, maintain the records of the Council and forward a copy of all minutes to the AaNA Executive Director. notify all members of special meetings of the Program Membership. d. The Treasurer shall: be responsible for monitoring the fiscal affairs of the Program, managing the strike fund and helping prepare the budget projections for the following year. receive reports from the Executive Director concerning the financial condition of the program. Section 9. Business Meetings The Council will conduct separate business meetings at times to be determined by the Labor Council. Only AaNA bargaining unit members and AaNA staff may attend the business meetings unless invited by the Labor Council. A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum. All elected members of the Labor Council are entitled to vote. Section 10. Program Funding The Labor Program shall be funded by a bargaining unit assessment in a manner provided by law and payable by all local unit members to the Labor Council through its designated agent, AaNA. The amount of this assessment shall be recommended by the Labor Council and approved by a vote of the members of the affected Collective Bargaining Unit. This provision shall not apply to the annual adjustment for Agency Fee payers based on the annual federally-mandated “Beck” audit. Article IX Representation to United American Nurses Section 1. AaNA collective bargaining unit members shall elect a representative(s) to the United American Nurses (UAN). Elections shall be held in even years and conducted in the same manner as those for Labor Council members in accordance with Article VIII, Section 6, above. Section 2. Qualifications Be a member of the constituent member (AaNA) and its collective bargaining program. Be a member of a bargaining unit represented by the constituent members or their collective bargaining programs throughout the term of office as delegates to the UAN National Labor Assembly. Section 3. Duties of the UAN Representative Act as liaison between UAN, AaNA Labor Council and the local bargaining units. Communicate information to all bargaining units and AaNA leadership regarding UAN activities. Section 4. Terms Serves a term of two years. Delegates to the UAN National Labor Assembly shall serve as delegates for no more than four consecutive terms. If the elected UAN delegate is unable to fulfill his or her duties the elected alternate will fulfill the term.