Summary of Proposed Constitutional Amendments
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[III] [IV] [V] [VI] [VII] [VIII] [IX] [X] [XI] [XII]
Article III: General Principles and Guarantees
This article deals with members' guaranteed rights within the organization, including the right to be a member, to hold fair elections, to access accurate information about accounting and organizational finances, and participation in decision-making.
Proposed changes include:
The proposed changes update constitutional anti-discrimination language to be identical to the collective bargaining agreement. Additionally, the article is simplified by combining the "Rights to Membership" section with the "Democratic Elections" section. [full text]Why these changes are recommended:
These changes ensure that we uphold the same standards against discrimination that we advocate for during bargaining.[top]
Article IV: Membership
This article covers membership eligibility and types of membership available within the organization. Significant changes include: Clearly defining full membership and associate membership, as well as the rights given to each.
Proposed changes:
The proposed changes clearly articulate the practice that members are allowed to fully participate in all parts of GEO in addition to clarifying the definition of full and associate membership, and the rights of each type of membership. [full text]Why these changes are recommended:
The changes proposed in this amendment will clarify the definition of types of membership as well as institutionalize the current practice of allowing members to participate in all aspects of GEO by placing them specifically into the constitution.[top]
Article V: Meetings, Referendums, and Elections
This article covers the guidelines for meetings and votes of the membership.
Proposed changes:
Substantial changes are proposed to this article in order to drastically simplify the language regarding meetings and referenda. Many of the specifics from the current language are eliminated. The powers of the membership at membership meetings specified in Section C of the current language were moved to Article IV.A. [full text]Why these changes are recommended:
The current language is so confusing that it is very difficult to follow the underlying "guiding principles" that are spelled out in the proposed revision. Furthermore, the specificity of the current language forces GEO to use very out-of-date methods that are both time-consuming and costly while not meeting the needs of our organization.[top]
Article VI: Officers
This article defines the officers of the union, requirements for holding office and the procedures for filling vacancies and recalling elected officers.
Proposed changes:
The proposed changes to this article make changes to the definitions of officers, the manner in which officers are elected and the process for filling vacancies. [full text]Why these changes are recommended:
These changes were proposed to make the officers more effective by giving them more time to work together and creating a date for the turnover of officer positions. The proposed changes also allow GEO to adapt more quickly to changes by making chairs of standing committees officers and providing for the creation of standing committees according to the changing needs of GEO (see Article VIII).[top]
Article VII: Duties of Officers
This article defines the duties of the officers.
Proposed changes:
The proposed changes create clear definitions of the responsibilities of each of the Officers. [full text]Why these changes are recommended:
These changes redistribute the responsibilities of the officers more equitably and they bring the definitions to current standards suggested by our parent federation, the American Federation of Teachers.[top]
Article VIII: Committees
This article defines standing and ad hoc committees.
Proposed changes:
The proposed create specific procedures for creating standing and ad hoc committees as well as providing for the election of committee chairs. [full text]Why these changes are recommended:
Much of the work that gets done within GEO is done by committees, so the proposed changes suggest concrete ways to create committees as they become necessary for the effective functioning of GEO.[top]
Article IX: Departmental Stewards
This article establishes the Stewards' Council as well as defining the eligibility, role and number of stewards in a department.
Proposed changes:
The proposed changes make the stewards' council the main body that implements the policy of GEO that is established by the membership. The changes also provide for a temporary mechanism for stewards to be appointed until an election can be held in the department. [full text]Why these changes are recommended:
One of the major reasons that changes to the constitution were proposed was to increase the influence of the Stewards' Council because it is more representative than the officers and provides for a stronger connection to member concerns within departments. Accordingly, the proposed changes to this article provide the stewards with the institutional authority to become that body within GEO.[top]
Article X: Dues
This article provides the mechanism for the membership to approve GEO dues.
Proposed changes:
The proposed revision changes the dues structure, the manner in which dues are determined and provides for the notification of dues obligations. [full text]Why these changes are recommended:
The proposed changes put a structure in place to protect the long-term solvency of the union and to ensure that dues increase proportionally to those we pay to our parent federation, the American Federation of Teachers.[top]
Article XI: Amendment
This article establishes the process for amending the constitution.
Proposed changes:
The proposed changes eliminate the requirement of a paper ballot, lowers the number of signatures necessary for a member-initiated constitutional amendment and the number of votes required to constitute a quorum. [full text]Why these changes are recommended:
The proposed changes bring the constitution up-to-date with current web-based technology to avoid the time consuming and expensive process of a paper ballot. Lowering the number of petitions and votes required to change the constitution has the dual purpose of giving members more power to change the constitution and makes it easier for GEO to adapt to changing circumstances.[top]
Article XII: Bylaws
This article establishes process for creating bylaws to govern the functioning of GEO.