(Revised 2023 Conference – Board Meeting, August 2023; 2026 Conference-Board Meeting August 2026)
1801 – National AFT Delegate Election Process (Board Meeting, February 2008; 2008 Conference)
OSEA delegate representation to the biennial AFT National Convention shall be determined by the OSEA Board of Directors and shall not exceed the maximum number of delegates allowed by AFT. The Board of Directors shall determine the actual number of delegate positions based on available funding and resources in any election cycle. (Revised Board Meeting, March 2014)
The OSEA State President, State Vice President, State Secretary and State Treasurer shall be automatic delegates to the AFT National Convention based upon their elected duties as State Officers. In the event a delegate position held by a State Officer becomes vacant, it shall only be filled by another eligible member of the Board of Directors, as determined by the Board of Directors. (2026 Conference-Board Meeting August 2026)
All other delegate and alternate positions to the AFT National Convention shall be elected from among active members in good standing as defined in the OSEA Constitution, Article III, Section 2, Active Membership.
A notice of nomination, eligibility criteria, and election notice shall be sent to all OSEA members in the March issue of OSEA’s official publication, the Journal. All eligible members must submit their letter of nomination to the OSEA State Office no later than the deadline prescribed in the notice of nomination. Nominations postmarked after the deadline shall not be considered. (Revised 2011 Conference-Board Meeting, October 2011)
All candidates shall be notified of the election results via e-mail. A listing of all delegates and alternates shall be published in the June issue of the Journal. (2011 Conference-Board Meeting, October 2011)
Election of delegates and alternates shall be by electronic ballot. Upon verifying the eligibility of all candidates, an electronic ballot with each candidate listed in alphabetical order shall be e-mailed to all OSEA members. All ballots must be cast during the time determined for the election to be open. Ballots will not be accepted in person.
It shall require a plurality vote to elect. In the event of a tie vote, determination shall be by lot.
All nomination forms, tabulations, and other materials related to the election shall be kept on file for two years.
All candidates not selected as delegates shall be designated as alternates and ranked in descending order based on the number of votes received. An alternate will be called upon to fill a delegate vacancy based on this ranking.
All candidates shall be notified of the election results via e-mail. A listing of all delegates and alternates shall be published in the June issue of the Journal. (Revised 2011 Conference)
OSEA shall provide all delegates with travel, housing, meals, Time Release, and incidental expenses as provided for in OSEA Board Policy.
1805 – Oregon AFL-CIO Convention Delegate Elections (Board Meeting, April 2009; Revised 2018 Conference – Board Meeting, January 2019)
1. Delegate Representation
a. The OSEA Board of Directors shall determine the number of delegate positions based on available funding and resources in any election cycle, which shall not exceed the maximum number of delegates allowed by the Oregon AFL-CIO.
b. The OSEA Board of Directors shall be automatic delegates to the convention based upon their duties as elected officers.
c. All other delegate positions, if any, shall be elected on a statewide, at-large basis at the OSEA Annual Conference held in odd-numbered years.
2. Eligibility Criteria – Eligibility to run for and hold a delegate position is enumerated in Article XIV of the OSEA Constitution.
3. Nomination and Election Procedures
a. A notice of nomination and election shall be sent to all active OSEA members and all active ROSE members in good standing via an OSEA Journal issue published prior to the applicable Conference. The notice shall include:
1) The number of delegate positions available;
2) The eligibility criteria for election to delegate positions;
3) Delegate duties and requirements;
4) Nomination and election timelines and procedures.
b. All eligible members must submit their letter of nomination to the OSEA State Office no later than the deadline prescribed in the notice of nomination. Nominations shall also be taken from the Conference floor during the year of the election process. Candidates do not have to be present to be nominated and/or elected, however, write-in candidates shall be prohibited.
c. Each candidate shall be required to complete a questionnaire which shall include the candidate’s applicable background and experience in OSEA, the labor movement, political activities and community activities, which may include:
• Offices/positions held at the chapter, zone, state or national levels;
• Committee service at the chapter or state levels;
• Serving as an OSEA Conference delegate or representing OSEA at affiliate conventions;
• Attendance at Legislative Education Day or participation in local or state elections;
• Community activities that raised awareness of OSEA and the labor movement.
1) The questionnaire will be available on the OSEA website or, upon request, may be mailed/emailed to potential candidates prior to Conference. In addition, the questionnaire will be available at Conference.
2) The questionnaire must be completed and submitted to the Election Committee chair no later than the end of the second business session at Conference.
3) Copies of completed questionnaires shall be made available to the delegate body prior to balloting.
d. Election of delegates shall be by secret ballot. It shall require a plurality vote to elect. In the event of a tie vote, determination shall be by lot.
e. All vacancies shall be filled by the elected alternates in descending order. If no alternates are available, the delegate position shall remain vacant.
4. Delegate/Alternate Duties and Responsibilities
a. Any information related to the convention, to include resolutions and issues being brought forth, shall be provided to all delegates/alternates prior to the convention for study and review.
b. Delegates/alternates shall be required to attend a pre-convention OSEA orientation meeting as scheduled by the President to review convention procedures, committee assignments, issues to be addressed and delegate expectations.
5. Expense Reimbursement
a. Delegate expenses, to include registration, meals, lodging and travel, shall be reimbursed pursuant to Board Policy 900.
b. Delegates shall be eligible for State Association Time Release.
1807 – Central Labor Council/Chapter Delegate Seats (Board Meeting, September 2013; Revised Board Meeting, December 2015; Revised 2018 Conference-Board Meeting, January 2019)
1. Delegate Representation
a. The OSEA Board of Directors shall determine the number of delegate positions, which shall not exceed the maximum number of delegates allowed by the Oregon AFL-CIO.
b. Delegate representation shall be by zone. Where the CLC’s jurisdiction includes multiple zones, whenever possible every attempt will be made to have an equal amount of delegates from each zone.
2. Eligibility Criteria—Any active member in good standing as defined in Article III, Section 2, of the Constitution 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 are eligible for appointment as a delegate to the CLC.
3. Appointment Procedures
a. Appointment to a CLC delegate position shall be determined by the OSEA President with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors.
b. The OSEA President shall provide the CLC president and each OSEA delegate written notice of any delegate appointments or removals.
c. Candidates to fill CLC delegate positions shall be solicited by the applicable zone director from among eligible members who either work or reside within the jurisdiction of the CLC for which the appointments are being made. The names of such candidates shall be forwarded to the OSEA President for the president’s consideration.
d. There are no term limits for CLC delegate appointments.
e. If a seated delegate fails to attend two (2) successive meetings without sufficient cause, the position will be considered vacant. This vacancy shall be reported to the OSEA President and applicable zone director.
4. Delegate Duties and Responsibilities
a. Delegates shall convene in September of each year and identify one (1) individual to serve as the chair for the OSEA delegation.
1) The chair serves as the reporting delegate at all CLC meetings.
2) The chair shall ensure all CLC meeting agendas, minutes and other related documents are provided to the OSEA President, applicable zone director and the OSEA delegates.
b. Prior to each CLC meeting, members of the OSEA delegation will meet to confer on pending issues.
c. Delegates do not have the authority to commit OSEA resources. Such requests must be submitted by the OSEA chair to the OSEA Board of Directors for approval.
d. Delegates shall not endorse, support or oppose any candidate for local, state or federal office nor take a position on any legislation in the name of OSEA, AFT or any affiliated chapter without prior written approval of the OSEA Board of Directors.
5. Expense Reimbursement – Delegate expenses shall be reimbursed in accordance with Board Policy 905.10.
1810 – Governance Seats (Board Meeting, May 2008)
Whenever appropriate, appointees to affiliate governance seats shall be determined by the OSEA Board of Directors. For those governance seats calling for organizational decision-makers, OSEA’s State President and/or designee shall be the considered appointee with the advice and consent of the OSEA Board of Directors.
Appointments to national and/or state affiliate committees shall be determined by the OSEA State President with the advice and consent of the OSEA Board of Directors.
Appointments of staff to various national/state affiliate committees and/or task forces that are functions of staff operations to OSEA. These appointments shall be determined by the OSEA Executive Director.
1815 – Affiliate-Selected OSEA Representative (Board Meeting, April 2024)
Any OSEA member, ROSE member or OSEA State Officer/Zone Director who is selected by any affiliate organization to represent OSEA at an affiliate function must notify the OSEA President prior to such attendance. “Affiliate function” may include, but not be limited to, trainings, rallies and testifying at legislative hearings,
1. Without prior approval by the OSEA President, all expenses incurred by the member shall be borne by the affiliate organization or the individual member.
2. Members shall not have the authority to commit OSEA resources. Such requests must be submitted to the OSEA Board of Directors for approval.
3. Members shall not have the authority to take a position on any issue at the affiliate function on behalf of OSEA without prior approval and direction of the OSEA President.
4. Failure to adhere to this policy may result in disciplinary action in accordance with OSEA Board Policy 448.