American Federation of Teachers
Section 1. Recognition — Effective February 2008, the Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA) shall be affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT/AFL-CIO) and shall be chartered as OSEA, AFT Local 6732.
Section 2. National Convention — OSEA delegates and alternates to the AFT Biennial Convention, except as provided herein, shall be nominated and elected by secret ballot plurality vote of the members in good standing, on an at-large basis.
The OSEA State President, OSEA State Vice President, OSEA State Secretary and OSEA State Treasurer shall be designated as automatic delegates based on their duties as elected officers.
The OSEA Board of Directors solely on the basis of available funding shall determine the remaining number of delegates for any election cycle.
The total number of delegates for any election cycle shall not exceed the maximum number of delegates allowed by AFT.
Prior to each nomination/election cycle, OSEA shall notify all members of the available delegate positions. To be eligible for delegate/alternate status, candidates must be active OSEA members in good standing as defined in Article III, Section 2, of the OSEA Constitution.
In the event a delegate position held by an OSEA state officer becomes vacant, another eligible member of the OSEA Board of Directors, as determined by the Board of Directors, shall fill it.
In the event an at-large delegate position becomes vacant, alternates, in descending order of votes cast, shall fill the vacant position.
In the event of a tie vote, pursuant to this section, determination shall be by lot.
All candidates for delegate/alternate positions provided herein shall comply with the OSEA Campaign Guidelines, as set forth in OSEA Board Policy.
Regulations governing nominations, required notice, remuneration and other regulations governing the election of AFT Convention delegates/alternates shall be prescribed in OSEA Board Policy.
Section 3. Per Capita — OSEA shall remit all required per capita dues to AFT as prescribed in the AFT Constitution and Bylaws. OSEA shall increase its payment of per capita dues equal to any increase in per capita payments that are required to be made to AFT.
An accounting of all per capita dues cost, both current and future, shall be placed within the OSEA proposed budget each fiscal year.
Section 4. Oregon AFL-CIO — As a result of affiliation with the AFT, OSEA shall be recognized as an active local of the Oregon AFL-CIO and Oregon central labor councils/ chapters.
a. Oregon AFL-CIO Convention — OSEA shall be entitled to delegate representation at each biennial Oregon AFL-CIO Convention. The maximum number of delegates allowed shall be determined by the Oregon AFL-CIO.
1) Pursuant to Article X of the Constitution, all elected members of the OSEA Board of Directors shall be designated as automatic delegates.
2) The Board of Directors shall determine the number of any additional delegates based solely on available funding. Such additional delegates, if any, shall be elected on a statewide, at-large basis by secret ballot plurality vote at the OSEA Annual Conference held in odd-numbered years.
a) Candidates not elected as delegates shall be designated as alternates and ranked in descending order based on the number of votes received.
b) In the event of any tie votes pursuant to this section, determination shall be by lot.
3) Prior to each nomination/election cycle, OSEA shall notify the membership of the number of available delegate positions and eligibility criteria via the OSEA Journal and the official OSEA website.
4) To be eligible for delegate/alternate status, nominated candidates must be active members in good standing as defined in Article III, Section 2, of the Constitution for at least one (1) year prior to the election or active ROSE members in good standing as defined in Article VI, Section 4, of the Constitution who were active OSEA members at any time prior to their retirement. Attendance at the Annual Conference is not required for nomination/election; however, write-in candidates shall be prohibited.
a) Members elected as delegates/alternates shall be considered ambassadors for OSEA and, therefore, should be knowledgeable about OSEA programs, issues and its political agenda. Candidates shall be expected to submit a questionnaire for the delegates’ consideration prior to balloting itemizing the candidate’s applicable background and experience in OSEA, the labor movement, political activities and community activities.
b) In order to become informed on Oregon AFL-CIO issues, resolutions and committee assignments, delegates/alternates shall be required to attend a pre-convention OSEA orientation meeting at a time and place determined by the OSEA President.
5) In the event a delegate position held by a state officer, zone director or at-large member becomes vacant, or the delegate cannot attend the convention, an alternate in descending order of votes received shall fill the vacancy.
6) Procedures and requirements for nomination, election, duties and expense reimbursement shall be set forth in OSEA Board Policy.
b. Oregon AFL-CIO Central Labor Councils/Chapters (CLCs) — OSEA shall be entitled to delegate representation in each council/chapter in such numbers as is determined by the Oregon AFL-CIO.
1) Appointments to CLC delegate positions shall be made by the OSEA State President with advice and consent of the Board of Directors.
2) Whenever possible, appointments shall be made from each zone within the jurisdiction of a CLC from among active members in good standing and/or active ROSE members in good standing who were active OSEA members at any time prior to their retirement.
3) Procedures for application, appointment, duties and expense reimbursement shall be set forth in OSEA Board Policy.
American Association of Classified School Employees
The American Association of Classified School Employees (AACSE) has currently ceased its active operations. OSEA maintains its authority to reinstate operations at any time, pending appropriate legal filings and OSEA delegate approval of an amendment to the OSEA Constitution itemizing the AACSE’s new organizational structure and procedures. Therefore, the AACSE shall continue to be considered an affiliate organization of this Association.
Termination of Affiliations
In the event it is necessary for either the OSEA Board of Directors or the membership to consider terminating an affiliation with another organization, OSEA Board Policy shall outline provisions for all OSEA members in good standing to either sustain or withdraw from affiliation with the affected organization by a secret ballot vote determined by a majority of ballots cast.