Our Constitution

Our constitution acts as our guiding document. You can download a copy of our constitution in PDF form here.

Index

ARTICLE I – Name

The name of this organization shall be the American Federation of Teachers 6297 Local UIC Graduate Employees Organization IFT-AFT.

ARTICLE II – Objectives

The primary objectives of the UIC GEO shall be to serve as the bargaining agent for all graduate employees at the University of Illinois – Chicago and to create a culture of labor organizing among those graduate employees. The UIC GEO believes in and will bargain for the idea that all graduate employees should be paid a fair living wage, should receive comprehensive health care and retirement benefits, and should be free from unfair, unreasonable, or dangerous work conditions. The UIC GEO is also committed to promoting quality teaching and research at UIC, and, therefore, to fostering a sense of community among UIC graduate students. In addition, the UIC GEO is committed to the principles of labor solidarity, social justice, and participatory democracy, and will give support to and work in coalition with labor or social justice groups on campus, throughout the Chicago area, statewide, or internationally.

ARTICLE III – Membership

Eligible Members
- Voting Members
  - Voting Members shall be defined as Graduate Assistants (GAs), Teaching Assistants (TAs) currently employed at UIC. These Members shall have the right to vote and shall pay dues. Research Assistants shall have the right to vote.
- Non-voting Members
  - Graduate students employed as lecturers, and graduate students on fellowship or otherwise without appointment, shall be eligible to become non-voting Members. These Members shall not have the right to vote, nor shall they pay dues.
Good Standing
- A member in good standing shall be defined as a Voting Member who is current in payment of dues.
Ineligible as Members
- Faculty, support staff, university administration, and those holding supervisory or managerial positions are not eligible to become Members of the UIC GEO.
Non-discrimination
- The UIC GEO shall not discriminate in any way on the basis of race, ethnicity, religious belief, national origin, citizenship, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, social, political or economic status, occupation, or disability status.

ARTICLE IV – Officers

The UIC GEO shall at least consist of the following officers: two Co-Presidents, a Treasurer, a Secretary, a Grievance Chair. The Steering Committee may open nominations for one or more Officers-At-Large to coordinate specific Local functions such as Bargaining, Organizing, Communications, and Outreach.

Officer Requirements
- All officers must be Members of the UIC GEO.
- All officers must be elected by a majority vote of the Membership attending a designated election meeting, as per ARTICLE V.
Officer Elections
- Officer elections shall be held no earlier than one month before the last day of the instruction of the Spring semester.
Resignation and Vacant Office
- If an officer wishes to resign from their office, a formal written resignation must be submitted to the Co-Presidents.
- In the event that an officer position remains vacant after an election or due to resignation, then the Steering Committee may at any time appoint an officer meeting the requirements for office by a unanimous decision to fulfill the duties of the office;
- Appointed officers are subject to the terms of office as described in the Constitution;
- Appointed officers shall have no voting power on the Steering Committee until being confirmed by a majority of attendees at a Membership Meeting.
Term of Office
- Office shall commence upon May 15th and shall last no longer than one (1) year.
Officer Duties
- The Co-Presidents:
  - Shall share full responsibility for the execution of the Membership’s goals and desires;
  - May divide these duties between them however they determine;
  - Shall be members of the Steering Committee and attend all Steering Committee Meetings;
  - Shall preside over all Steering Committee Meetings, either together or in alternation;
  - Shall be ex officio members of all standing committees;
  - Shall serve as liaisons to the Bargaining Committee and the Stewards Council;
  - Shall attend and preside over all Membership Meetings and Special Membership Meetings, either together or in alternation;
  - Shall make reports to the Membership on the status of the Union;
  - Shall meet regularly with UIC GEO and IFT staff members;
  - Shall serve as the primary contacts for organizations in the labor community and groups in higher education;
  - Shall recruit activists and work with undergraduate activists;
  - Shall generate organizing assignments for activists and ensure that accountability structures are in place;
  - Shall foster and promote accountability among stewards, Steering Committee members, and staff;
  - Shall be charged with oversight of any hired staff person(s) and/or paid work;
  - Shall work with others to secure Grievance Committee members and to ensure that Grievances are handled appropriately;
  - And shall serve as spokespeople in the press and other venues.
- The Treasurer:
  - Shall keep all financial records of the UIC GEO;
  - Shall be responsible for the receipt and disbursement of all Union funds in accordance with the adopted Budget;
  - Shall ensure that the ledger on the computer desktop is updated regularly and contains the most current information;
  - Shall add new Members and remove old Members from the primary account;
  - Shall pay all bills;
  - Shall maintain and keep available the checkbook;
  - Shall advise the Office Manager with sufficient advance notice when it is necessary to order new checks;
  - Shall change, update, or otherwise alter accounts if necessary and if directed by the Steering Committee;
  - Shall be a member of the Steering Committee and attend all Steering Committee Meetings;
  - Shall attend all Membership Meetings;
  - Shall be responsible for keeping the UIC GEO in good standing with AFT by forwarding all per capita dues to the National Office of AFT by the appropriate dates;
  - Shall be responsible for submitting a financial statement of assets and liabilities and a statement of income and expenses to the AFT Secretary-Treasurer as per Article IX, Section (9) of the AFT Constitution;
  - Shall serve as chair of the Budget Committee;
  - And shall participate in and cooperate with any necessary financial audits.
- The Secretary:
  - Shall keep records (minutes) of all Meetings, including Steering Committee Meetings and Membership Meetings;
  - Shall prepare agendas for Meetings;
  - Shall create and maintain files of agendas and minutes, and shall distribute these agendas and minutes as necessary;
  - Shall be a member of the Steering Committee and attend all Meetings of the Steering Committee;
  - Shall attend all Meetings of the standing committees;
  - Shall find a replacement to take minutes in the event that they cannot attend a particular Meeting;
  - Shall issue all notices and handle correspondence at the direction of the Co-Presidents;
  - Shall keep records of the Membership;
  - Shall be responsible for keeping the UIC GEO in good standing with the AFT by forwarding current Membership lists to the National Office of the AFT by the appropriate dates;
  - Shall serve as liaison to the Outreach Committee;
  - And shall keep all non-financial records of the UIC GEO.
- The Grievance Chair:
  - Shall meet regularly with the Steering Committee to inform them of potential grievances;
  - Shall meet regularly with the Stewards Council to evaluate potential grievances or find a replacement in the event that they cannot attend a particular meeting;
  - Shall work with the Stewards Council to meet with all potential grievants;
  - Shall interview and investigate the cases of all grievants;
  - Shall bring the findings of interviews and investigations to the Steering Committee for approval by majority vote of a quorum of Steering Committee members;
  - Shall coordinate the filing of grievances per the contract;
  - And shall take the direction of the Steering Committee in pursuing grievances at each step (per the contract), including arbitration.
Officers-at-Large may include Bargaining Chair, Communications Chair, Outreach Chair, and Organizing Chair, and Chief Steward. These Officers shall oversee the functions of their respective committees (e.g., Bargaining, Communications, Outreach, Organizing, Stewards) as listed in ARTICLE VI below.
All officers elected by the general membership of the organization shall serve as members of the Steering Committee.

ARTICLE V – Elections

Eligibility to Vote
- All members in good standing per Article III.B shall be eligible to vote in any UIC GEO election.
Offices Subject to Election:
- Co-President,
- Treasurer,
- Secretary,
- Grievance Chair,
- Officers-At-Large,
- IFT Convention Delegate(s),
- AFT Convention Delegate(s).
Election Dates
- The Steering Committee shall schedule election dates for officers per ARTICLE IV.B.
- The Steering Committee shall schedule election dates for Convention delegates no less than thirty (30) days prior to Convention.
Election Procedures
- All elections shall be carried out in a manner consistent with Title IV of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (Landrum-Griffin).
Election Committee
- An Election Committee of the membership shall be convened no later than sixty (60) days prior to the scheduled election date;
- The Election Committee shall be convened per ARTICLE VI;
- The Election Committee shall designate a Chair;
- The Election Committee shall notify the membership of open offices, deadlines for nominations, and election dates;
- The Election Committee shall develop ballots, supervise voting, tally votes, and announce election results to the membership;
- The Election Committee shall keep all Election records, including ballots.
Nominations
- All members shall be notified of the procedures and deadlines for nominations no later than fifteen (15) days before nominations open.
- Nominations shall be closed no more than two (2) days in advance of the scheduled election. Nominations may be held open through the date of the scheduled election at the discretion of the Steering Committee.
- If two members would like to run as a team to fill a role as Co-Officers then they shall be nominated and voted on as a team.
- A member can be nominated to more than one office, but can only accept the nomination to two offices for the purpose of the election, with the exception for the role of Bargaining Chair.
Notice of Election Dates
- All members shall be notified of scheduled election dates no later than fifteen (15) days prior to the election.
Election Venue
- Voting shall take place through ballot voting. Ballots may be collected through any combination of in-person voting, drop boxes, and remote/online balloting. Drop boxes must be supervised by those on the Elections Committees or any designated by the Elections Committee to do so. At least two days must be provided to members who wish to vote.
Balloting
- All contested elections shall be conducted by secret ballot.
Tallying and Announcement of Results
- Election results shall be tallied and announced to the membership no later than two (2) days after the election.
Records
- All records, including ballots, shall be kept on file in the UIC GEO office for one (1) year.

ARTICLE VI – Recall Election

All elected officials of the SC may be recalled, subject to the conditions and procedures below.
- Any member in good standing may circulate a petition requesting recall of a particular officer. Anyone desiring to recall more than one officer must circulate a petition for each officer they seek to recall.
- The Steering Committee may suspend an elected officer by unanimous decision with exception to the individual in question for inappropriate, unprofessional, dangerous behavior until a formal recall election can be held.
- A recall cannot be requested during the months of May, June, or July.
- A petition that has received the official endorsement from at least 10% of all members in good standing may then be submitted directly to any member of the Steering Committee.
  - An official endorsement must include name, signature, and UIC email.
- All action pertaining to a petition to recall and all action regarding sustaining recall shall be conducted at a special meeting of the membership called for that purpose. This meeting shall occur no more than two weeks after receipt of a petition to recall and membership shall receive due notice of the meeting.
- Voting shall be in secret. Two-thirds of members present and voting are required to support the motion to recall in order for it to succeed.
- If a recall is successful, a special election must be held for the recalled seat(s) in accordance with ARTICLE V with the relevant changes.
  - Members must be notified within 24 hours of a successful recall election and the date of the special election.
  - The election to fill the recalled seat must be held within seven (7) days of the successful recall election
  - The term for the newly elected seat will end on the same date it would have without the recall election.

ARTICLE VII – Committees

Standing Committees:
- The UIC GEO shall have the following standing committees: the Steering Committee, the Bargaining Committee, the Communications Committee, the Outreach Committee, and the Stewards Council.
The Steering Committee:
- Shall guide the UIC GEO by serving as an executive decision-making body;
- Shall be composed of the two Co-Presidents, the Treasurer, the Secretary, the Grievance Chair, and any elected Officers-At-Large;
- Shall administer the policies of the UIC GEO;
- Shall be empowered to make all decisions regarding organizing, the planning and execution of actions, the endorsement of other organizations, coalition work, literature production and distribution, publicity, social functions, hiring recommendations to the IFT, and day-to-day operations of the organization;
- Shall be empowered to create ad hoc committees;
- Shall be empowered to name Alternates to elected standing or ad hoc committees;
- Shall be empowered to make contracts and incur liabilities appropriate to the accomplishment of its purpose;
- Shall be empowered to take emergency actions when policy cannot be set by the Membership;
- Shall regularly report its progress and activities to the Membership;
- Shall be empowered to call Membership Meetings and Special Membership Meetings;
- Shall determine the agenda for all Membership Meetings;
- Shall employ all professional, technical, clerical and support staff of the organization;
- Shall establish the salary, benefits and expense guidelines of any general officer who is employed by the organization;
- Shall be empowered to make contracts and incur liabilities including the purchase of services, equipment and real property, to borrow money, to secure such obligations by mortgage or other instrument, and to otherwise engage in financial transactions to the extent permitted by applicable law or statute.
- The Steering Committee shall have the power to sue, complain and defend on behalf of the membership;
- Shall approve the chairperson and membership of all standing and special committees of the organization, except the Elections Committee, and receive regular reports from such committees;
- Shall be responsible for adherence to and enforcement of the Constitution and By-Laws of the organization;
- Shall issue regular reports, including an annual report, to the membership;
- Shall meet biweekly.
The Bargaining Committee:
- Shall serve as the main bargainers in contract negotiations with the University Administration;
- Shall be composed of a Chief Negotiator, a number of Tactical Negotiators, a number of Note-Takers, and a number of Alternates, with these roles being determined by members of the committee;
- Shall be elected by a majority vote of the Membership;
- Shall meet regularly.
The Communications Committee:
- Shall serve to facilitate communication of the activities and issues of the UIC GEO with the Membership and with the larger community;
- Shall be composed of Members who volunteer to participate;
- Shall concern itself with print and electronic communication, campaign communication, and media relation, and shall meet regularly.
The Outreach Committee:
- Shall serve to increase goodwill towards the UIC GEO, ally with other organizations, and improve the image of the UIC GEO;
- Shall be composed of Members who volunteer to participate;
- Shall concern itself with planning and staging UIC GEO events, organizing caucuses, building coalitions of campus organizations, and maintaining relationships with labor and community organizations;
- Shall meet regularly.
The Stewards Council:
- Shall serve as a forum for Departmental Stewards for the purposes of strategy, solidarity, and accountability;
- Shall be composed of Departmental Stewards of all departments;
- Departmental Stewards shall be defined as Members elected/selected by their departments to represent the department to the UIC GEO.
- The goals and responsibilities of Departmental Stewards shall be to build Membership, to promote participation in UIC GEO events and actions, to facilitate two-way communication between the Members and the Steering Committee, to take grievance information, and to represent their departments to the UIC GEO Membership;
- and shall meet regularly.
Ad Hoc Committees
- The Steering Committee shall be empowered to create ad hoc committees. These committees may include, but are not limited to, the following: the Budget Committee, the Constitution Committee, the Election Committee, and the Audit Committee.
  - The Budget Committee:
    - Shall prepare a Budget for the UIC GEO;
    - Shall present this Budget to the Membership for approval by a majority vote;
    - Shall maintain or revise this Budget as deemed necessary;
    - Shall be chaired by the Treasurer;
    - Shall be composed of the Treasurer and Members who volunteer to participate;
    - Shall meet as needed.
  - The Constitution Committee:
    - Shall concern itself with the writing and maintenance of the UIC GEO Constitution;
    - Shall be composed of Members who volunteer to participate;
    - Shall meet as needed.
  - The Election Committee:
    - Shall oversee elections as per ARTICLE V;
    - Shall be composed of Members who volunteer to participate;
    - Shall not include any Member of the Steering Committee or those wishing to run for the upcoming Steering Committee;
    - Shall meet as needed.
  - The Audit Committee:
    - Shall work to ensure that any necessary financial audit goes smoothly;
    - Shall be composed of Members who volunteer to participate;
    - Shall not include any Member of the Steering Committee;
    - Shall meet as needed.
  - The Grievance Committee:
    - Shall work to assist the Grievance Chair in the handling of any potential grievances;
    - Shall be composed of Members who volunteer to participate;
    - Shall meet as needed to discuss the handling of any potential grievances;
    - Shall work to investigate grievances in a timely fashion;
    - Shall work to assist members when they encounter potential grievances.
  - The Organizing Committee:
    - Shall work to organize and engage membership;
    - Shall work to maintain and increase union membership;
    - Shall be composed of Members who volunteer to participate;
    - Shall work to educate the membership of their contractual rights;
    - Shall work to increase turnout to union events;
    - Shall help in the planning of any union events;
    - Shall meet as needed.

ARTICLE VIII – Affiliations

Affiliations
- The UIC GEO shall be affiliated, and remain in good standing, with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
- The UIC GEO shall be affiliated, and remain in good standing, with the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT).
- The UIC GEO shall be affiliated, and remain in good standing, with the American Federation of Labor – Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), as well as relevant state and local organs thereof.
Delegates
- The UIC GEO shall send delegates to the above-named organizations in accordance with their respective constitutions.
- The UIC GEO shall elect said delegates according to ARTICLE V.

ARTICLE IX – Meetings

Membership Meetings
- The Membership of the UIC GEO shall meet at least once per academic semester.
- The Steering Committee shall have the power to call Membership Meetings.
- All Members may attend and speak at Membership Meetings.
- All Members in good standing may vote and propose business at Membership Meetings.
- Membership Meetings may be governed by Roberts’ Rules of Order (Revised) in cases not covered by this Constitution or the By-Laws.
- Membership Meetings shall be called with at least ten (10) days’ notice.
- Membership Meetings shall have a posted agenda.
- Members wishing to add items to the agenda may do so by contacting the Secretary.
- The Co-Presidents shall preside at Membership Meetings as per ARTICLE IV.
- Membership Meetings shall be scheduled with the maximum possible reasonable accommodation to the varied schedules of the Membership.
- In the event that a Membership Meeting is called on two consecutive days, it shall count as one Meeting for purposes of voting.
Committee Meetings
- Steering Committee Meetings
  - The Steering Committee shall meet biweekly, as per ARTICLE VI.
  - The Co-Presidents shall preside at Steering Committee Meetings, as per ARTICLE IV.
  - A majority of voting members is necessary for making a decision with conflicting viewpoints.
  - Steering Committee meetings will be open to the membership to attend and observe on a non-voting basis.
- Other Committee Meetings
  - Other Committees shall meet as defined in ARTICLE VI.
Special Meetings
- A Special Membership Meeting shall be called at the discretion of the Steering Committee or by petition of 5% of the Membership.
- No less than three (3) days’ notice shall be given for Special Membership Meetings.
- The agenda for Special Membership Meetings shall be included in the notice given.
- Only items included on the published agenda for a Special Membership Meeting shall be considered at that Meeting.
- Special Membership Meetings shall be governed by Roberts’ Rules of Order (Revised) in cases not covered by this Constitution or the By-Laws.
- The Co-Presidents shall preside at Special Membership meetings as per ARTICLE IV.

ARTICLE X – Finances

Dues
- Local Dues
  - Local dues shall be defined as dues collected in excess ofIFT and AFT per capita dues for the purpose of carrying out the day-to-day functions of the Local, including but not limited to administering and enforcing the collective bargaining agreement, hiring Local staff, funding member education initiatives and programming, and catering Local functions.
  - Local dues shall be determined by a majority vote on a ballot of members present at a meeting or meetings called for that purpose.
Per Capita Dues
- Per Capita Dues shall be defined as dues collected for the purpose of affiliation with the IFT and the AFT.
- The UIC GEO shall be considered to have elected to pay Per Capita Dues by retaining its affiliation with the IFT and the AFT.
The IFT and the AFT
- The UIC GEO shall pay per capita to the IFT and the AFT no later than the 15th of each month for the preceding month.
- The UIC GEO shall ensure that per capita is paid through the two (2) months immediately preceding the convention dates of the IFT and the AFT.
Dues Pass-Through
- The UIC GEO shall increase Local and Per Capita dues by action of the Steering Committee when IFT and/or the AFT increase per capita dues.
Financial Review
- The UIC GEO shall submit to the AFT annually, and within six months of the close of its fiscal year, a financial review of the affiliate’s financial statements conducted by an internal audit committee.
- The internal audit committee shall follow AFT guidelines for audit committees.
- The UIC GEO shall append to the financial review a signed certification by the Co-Presidents that the financial review has been presented at a specified regular or special meeting of the affiliate’s governing body and published and made available to the members.
Fair Share Notice
- The UIC GEO shall adopt procedures for Fair Share payers to receive annual notice of the fees charged, the basis for the calculation of the fees and the opportunity to contest the fee levels.
- These procedures should comply with the requirements of federal and state law.
- These procedures shall be adopted into the By-Laws.

ARTICLE XI – Amendment

This Constitution may be amended by a vote of the Membership at a Membership Meeting or Special Membership Meeting.
A proposed Amendment shall be presented to the Steering Committee no less than twelve (12) days before the Meeting at which it is to be considered; the Steering Committee shall distribute the Amendment to the Membership no less than ten (10) days before said Meeting.
A proposed Amendment shall be accepted and shall become part of this Constitution if 2/3 of the Membership present vote in favor of it.

ARTICLE XII – Availability of Constitution

This Constitution shall be kept on file and available in both electronic and paper form in the UIC GEO Office.
This Constitution shall be available to all Members of the UIC GEO upon request.
A Member may request a copy of the Constitution from any Steering Committee member, who shall provide it promptly.
A Member may request a copy of the Constitution from the IFT representative, at the following address:

1901 W Carroll Ave , Ste. 200
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 614-4380
This Constitution shall be distributed electronically to the Membership by the Secretary after any revision, change, or Amendment.
Three copies of this Constitution and By-Laws shall be submitted to the AFT National Office, and shall be available to all other affiliated organizations.

ARTICLE XIII – Ratification

This Constitution shall be Ratified by a majority vote of the Membership at a Membership Meeting called for the purpose of Ratification.

ARTICLE XIV – By-Laws

The UIC GEO may create By-Laws to this Constitution.
By-Laws or Amendments to the By-Laws shall be proposed either by the Steering Committee or the Membership.
Proposed By-Laws or Amendments shall be placed on the agenda for a Membership Meeting.
A majority vote of the Membership at a Membership Meeting shall approve a proposed By-Law or Amendment to the By-Laws.

ARTICLE XV – Miscellaneous

Legitimate forms of mailing, notifying, publishing, giving notice, and distributing shall include paper mail and electronic mail.