Campaign Guidelines for the OSEA Conference as specified in Board Policy, Section 103
For the purposes of these guidelines, campaigning shall be defined as any activity that may assist a candidate in becoming elected to an OSEA office.
“Active campaigning” shall be defined as advocating, verbally or in writing, for the election of a candidate, either by the candidate themselves or on behalf of a candidate.
Examples: Handing out campaign materials/flyers/buttons while engaging in conversation about the candidate with potential voters.
“Passive campaigning” shall be defined as the wearing of campaign materials (buttons, ribbons, hats, shirts or other campaign apparel) on behalf of a particular candidate.
1. Candidates will become familiar with the OSEA Constitution, OSEA Board Policy and the Campaign Guidelines of OSEA.
All OSEA members involved in the election process are encouraged to conduct themselves in a positive manner. All activities should promote goodwill, unity and solidarity before, during and after the election.
2. No candidate or supporter of a candidate shall engage in any manner intended to physically threaten, bully or intimidate a challenger or supporter of a challenger.
3. Campaign Expenses
a. In accordance with federal law, all campaign costs, including materials and transportation, are an out-of-pocket expense for the candidate.
b. OSEA, employer, or affiliate funds and resources of any type may not be used to support the candidacy of any person in an OSEA officer election.
“Employer funds and resources” shall include employer-provided email addresses and use of reproduction equipment/materials.
4. Campaign Literature
Upon making a reasonable request, each candidate is entitled to have their campaign literature distributed to members by OSEA at the candidate’s expense.
a. Election officials shall notify all candidates in advance of the conditions under which OSEA will mail campaign literature, including to whom candidates should direct a request for distribution, the payment required, and any other rules which apply.
b. Each candidate shall be treated equally with respect to the cost of distributing campaign literature.
c. No campaign literature shall include the OSEA or AFT logo.
5. Access to Membership Information
a. All candidates for office will be provided exactly the same information.
b. Candidates may request a copy of the OSEA annual officer directory through the OSEA Director of Office Administration.
c. Candidates may request to inspect the OSEA membership list once within thirty (30) days of the election but are not entitled to a copy of the list.
d. Candidates may request to inspect the list of registered Conference delegates once within fifteen (15) days of the election but are not entitled to a copy of the list.
e. Any incumbent officer who, in the course of performing their duties as officer has access to the list of registered Conference delegates, are prohibited from using that list for campaign purposes.
6. Equal Access
General rule of fairness: If one candidate is given a certain opportunity or privilege, then all other candidates must be given the same opportunity or privilege. (Office of Labor-Management Standards-OLMS, U.S. Department of Labor)
a. If one (1) candidate is invited to speak at a union meeting (chapter meeting, ROSE meeting, committee meeting, etc.), all candidates for the same position must be invited to speak at the meeting for the same length of time.
b. A local chapter or ROSE cannot allow one (1) candidate to place a campaign article in the union newspaper or website without first notifying other candidates that they too may campaign in this way.
7. Campaigning Prior to Conference
Candidates who campaign while attending any OSEA-sponsored meeting or event before Conference must do so at their own expense.
a. Expenses shall include meals, lodging and transportation costs.
b. Candidates may not use employer or OSEA paid release time or OSEA-provided vehicles.
8. Campaigning at Conference
a. Campaign Displays
1) Candidate designated areas and tables will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis by the Election Committee.
2) Campaign displays must remain in the candidate’s designated area.
3) Candidates must keep their table in an orderly fashion.
b. Campaign Materials
1) Campaign materials shall not be attached to the walls.
2) There will be no campaign materials allowed on the delegate tables.
3) All campaign materials must be removed from candidate tables prior to commencement of voting.
c. Active Campaigning Restrictions
Candidates and/or their supporters are prohibited from active campaigning:
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- at or near the voting location.
- during business sessions.
- during Zone meetings.
- during standing committee meetings held at Conference.
- on the Conference floor.
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d. Passive Campaigning Restrictions
Candidates and/or their supporters are prohibited from passive campaigning (wearing campaign buttons, etc.) while performing any official duties on behalf of OSEA such as presiding over a meeting, participating as an elected or appointed committee member, or otherwise speaking or acting on behalf of OSEA. This does not include any speech or activity performed in a personal or individual capacity that all other members or delegates in attendance have equal opportunity to engage in, such as commenting on a resolution from the Conference floor.
9. Nominations
All candidates for a specific office will be entered into nomination by the Election Committee chair. There will be no introduction/nomination speeches.
10. Candidate Presentations / Q & A
a. Each candidate shall be limited to a five-(5-) minute candidate speech to the delegates.
b. Once all candidate speeches for a particular office/position have been made, delegates shall have the opportunity to ask the candidate(s) questions.
1) Each candidate shall have the opportunity to answer the same question presented by a delegate before any other question is asked.
2) Each subsequent question shall be answered on a rotating basis between candidates.
3) Time limit for asking a question shall be one (1) minute.
4) Each candidate shall have two (2) minutes to respond to each question.
5) No more than one (1) question may be asked by a delegate unless all delegates have had an opportunity to speak.
6) The Q & A period for each office shall be limited to thirty (30) minutes. This time limit may be extended by a majority vote of the delegate body.
7) No electronic devices are permitted on stage during the Q & A period.
11. Contact the Election Committee Chair to report any alleged violation of these guidelines or if you have any questions.
Publication in the OSEA Journal
If you met the March 1 nomination deadline, please send a color photo and a campaign statement of 150 words or less for publication in the spring issue of the Journal by the second Monday of March.
Send the statement and photo by email to Communications or mail to 4735 Liberty Road S., Salem, OR 97302. Direct questions regarding the Journal to our OSEA Communications Specialists at (800) 252-6732.
Candidate speeches
Each candidate will be introduced by the Election Committee chair and afforded up to five minutes to address the delegate body. A question and answer period will be allowed when all candidates for a particular office have spoken.
Campaign tables and materials
Declared candidates have the option to bring boards and/or other campaign materials to display. Each candidate will be assigned a table for their materials; tables will be shared by candidates. Materials will be unsecured when on the tables. No materials may be attached to the walls or doors of the site. No campaigning is allowed on the Conference floor. Campaign materials may not be placed on delegate tables.
Nominations
Candidate nominations may be made from the Conference floor on Friday prior to the conclusion of the first business session.
If elected to the OSEA Board of Directors:
- Newly elected Board members will be installed at the end of the final business session. Dress in professional attire.
- Please note, if elected and installed, you will become a member of the OSEA Board of Directors immediately. There will be an Executive Board meeting immediately following Conference at a time and location to be announced.
- It is important you set aside time to attend the Board retreat, which is usually scheduled for summer. The exact dates will be set at the Board meeting immediately following Conference.