BY-LAWS
Effective May 8, 2000
Revised May 1, 2001
Revised April 3, 2002
Revised February 25, 2004
( 2004 REVISIONS ARE INDICATED BY
BOLD )
INDEX
PREAMBLE
ORDER OF BUSINESS
ARTICLE I. NAME OF ORGANIZATION
ARTICLE II. AUTHORITY
ARTICLE III. OFFICERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE BOARD
ARTICLE IV. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
ARTICLE V. DUTIES OF THE CHAIRMAN
ARTICLE VI. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY-TREASURER
ARTICLE VII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
ARTICLE VIII. COMPENSATION
ARTICLE IX. AFFILIATIONS
ARTICLE X. LEGISLATION
ARTICLE XI. ROBERTS RULE OF ORDER
ARTICLE XII. MEDIA
ARTICLE XIII. OFFICE EQUIPMENT
PREAMBLE
The State Legislative Board of the State of
Louisiana is organized to promote legislation for the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers and Trainmen and other labor organizations for the
benefit of labor and the protection of the traveling public in the State of
Louisiana.
ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. Call to order by Chairman.
2. Opening Prayer
3. Examination of credentials.
4. Roll call of Officers and Delegates.
5. Reading of minutes of previous meeting.
6. Reports from Officers, committees and chairman.
7. New business (election of officers, if necessary).
8.
Old business.
9. Reading of minutes for correction.
10. Closing Prayer
11. Adjournment.
ARTICLE
I. NAME OF ORGANIZATION
This
organization shall be known as the:
LOUISIANA STATE
LEGISLATIVE BOARD
BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS AND TRAINMEN
ARTICLE II. AUTHORITY
Section 1. The legislative Board shall be
convened in conformity with the constitution and by- laws of the International
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the
by-laws of the Louisiana State Legislative Board of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
Section 2. The Board will meet every other year
prior to convening of the Louisiana Legislature; the Executive Committee shall
determine the date and place.
Section 3. The purpose for convening the
Legislative Board shall be to elect officers beginning with the 2004 Legislative
Board meeting, revise the by-laws, and to handle other important matters that
have been properly presented to the Board.
Section 4. The official seal of the Board shall
be circular in form with a star and the word “LOUISIANA” in the center and
Legislative Board B. of L. E. & T. around the edges.
Section 5. Each subordinate division in the State
shall be required to send one delegate to each regular meeting and special
meeting when properly called, provided said division is in good standing.
Section 6. The amount of the dues for assessable
members shall be determined by a majority of the Board and collected
monthly from each division by the Secretary-Treasurer.
ARTICLE III. OFFICERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE BOARD
Section 1. The officers of the legislative Board
shall consist of:
Chairman
First Vice-Chairman
Second Vice-Chairman
Secretary-Treasurer
Alternate Secretary-Treasurer
Chaplain
The Executive Committee (consisting of three members).
The Audit Committee (consisting of three members).
The Election Committee (consisting of three members).
Section 2. Officers need not be delegates to the
Legislative Board, but must not hold office in any other Labor Organization
purporting to represent Locomotive Engineers or Trainmen
except the Louisiana AFL-CIO.
Section 3. All officers will hold office
until their successors have been elected and qualified.
Section 4. Neither the Chairman nor
Secretary-Treasurer can serve as members of the Audit Committee.
Section 5. Any Officer may be removed from
office by a majority vote of the Delegates to the Board, convened at a regular
meeting or per Article V, Section 6, after having been served with written
specific charges, given a reasonable amount of time to prepare a defense and
afforded a full and fair hearing. If the Chairman is the charged Officer, the
next ranking Officer shall preside at the meeting. When the Board is convened
under this Section it shall stay in session until the matter is finalized.
ARTICLE IV. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section 1,
The Election of officers
for the Legislative Board will be held every four years starting in the year
2004. (Note: this does not eliminate the elections for the 2000 meeting).
Section 2. Notice of election must be mailed to
each Delegate at their last known address, not less than thirty (30) days prior
to the election.
Section 3. The Delegates attending a regular
meeting of the Legislative Board shall submit nomination of candidates for
office orally from the floor, or by written petition from any delegate of the
Louisiana State Legislative Board.
Section 4. Voting will be by secret ballot,
prepared and counted by the Election Committee.
Section 5. In case of a tie vote, the two
candidates with the highest number of votes will be on a second ballot. Should
the vote remain tied the winner will be determined by coin toss.
ARTICLE V. DUTIES OF THE CHAIRMAN
Section 1. The Chairman shall preside at all
meetings of the Legislative Board, to preserve order and to appoint committees.
He shall act as Chairman of the Executive Committee. The Chairman shall be
empowered to convene the Executive Committee at any time he deems it necessary.
Section 2.
The Chairman shall be empowered to select the attendance of any member of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
and Trainmen
in the State of Louisiana to facilitate the business of the
Legislative Board.
Section 3. The Chairman shall notify all
Divisions within the State of Louisiana of any legislation that is favorable to,
or detrimental to, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
Section 4. The Chairman shall not convene the
entire Legislative Board between regular sessions of the Board without the
written sanction of two-thirds (2/3) of the divisions within the State. Upon
receiving the two thirds (2/3) sanction the Chairman must convene the Board
within twenty (20) calendar days.
Section 5. The Chairman will serve as the BLE&T
State Legislative Representative and shall attend the sessions of the State
Legislature as needed.
Section 6. The Chairman shall submit quarterly
reports in either printed or an electronic format, to be mailed
or made available via the internet to all division Legislative
Representatives. This report shall include a copy of business originating with
the Chairman or the Secretary-Treasurer, relative to matters between them and
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen within
the State of Louisiana, he will see that proper attention is given to the
matter.
Section 7. The Chairman will attend the annual
meeting of the National Legislative Board Chairmen’s Association (NLBCA).
ARTICLE VI. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY-TREASURER
Section 1. It shall be the duty of
the Secretary-Treasurer to keep a correct record of the proceedings of all
meetings of the Legislative Board. Prepare such documents as may be necessary.
Levy all assessments by order of the Chairman. Receive all money, and deposit it
in fully insured accounts in a Bank or Savings and Loan Association. The
accounts must be in the name of the Louisiana State Legislative Board of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
Institutions used for banking shall be at the
discretion of the Secretary-Treasurer, with institutions having statewide
locations being given priority. He shall disburse no funds except on a written
order signed by the Chairman, or the First Vice-Chairman, in the absence of the
Chairman, and to furnish statements of the same in his annual report to the
Legislative Board and to the Division Legislative Representatives.
Section 2. Should the
Secretary-Treasurer, for any cause, be unable to attend to his duties as
specified, he shall at once notify the Executive Committee.
Section 3. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be bonded
in an amount not less than the ten percent (IO%) of the funds handled by him or
his predecessor, if any, during the preceding fiscal year, but in any event, an
amount as may be required by civil law.
Section 4. The Secretary-Treasurer shall inform
the President and the Secretary-Treasurer, and Legislative Representative, of
each division with-in the State, not less than thirty (30) days prior to the
meeting of the Legislative Board, the purpose of the meeting, the date, and
place of the meeting.
Section 5. At the close of the calendar year, he
shall furnish the Secretary-Treasurer of each division within the State an
itemized statement of receipts and disbursements of all moneys of the Board. He
shall have his books and accounts ready to be audited at the close of the fiscal
year and prior to leaving office.
Section 6.
The Secretary-Treasurer
will act as Secretary to the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. The three- (3) members of the Executive
Committee will be the Chairman, First Vice-Chairman and the
Secretary-Treasurer. The Second Vice-Chairman will fill a vacancy created by
the absence of the First Vice-Chairman.
Section 2. A majority of the Executive Committee,
when convened shall constitute a quorum to attend to any business that may
legally come before the Committee.
Section 3. The Executive Committee shall be
empowered to select the attendance of any member of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen within the State
of Louisiana for facilitating the business of the Legislative Board.
Section 4. The Chairman and one member of the
Executive Committee are authorized to attend the Southwestern Convention Meeting
of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen,
and the Louisiana AFL-CIO Convention, The number of days allowed not exceeding
six, (6).
Section 5. When a member attends a meeting at the
expense of the Board, a written report will be rendered to the Chairman, who
will include it in his quarterly report.
Section 6. Vacancies on the Executive
Committee shall be filled as follows:
a.
Temporary Vacancy; In case any Executive Committee member, on a
temporary basis, which shall be defined as less than thirty (30) calendar days,
be unable to serve, the next ranking member of the Executive Committee shall
assume the office to fill the vacancy. Vacations and planned absences are
excepted.
b.
Permanent Vacancy; In case any Executive Committee member, on a
permanent basis, including but not limited to death or resignation, be unable to
serve, The Executive Committee shall be made whole according to (a) of this
Section for a period not exceeding thirty (30) calendar days. During said time
the Executive Committee shall meet and fill the vacancy by appointment. Except
that if an Alternate protects the vacant office, said Alternate shall
immediately assume the office.
Section 7. A meeting of the Executive Committee
may be called by a majority of Executive Committee members provided that the
Chairman be given twenty (20) days written notice of the date, time, location
and subject matter of the meeting. Nothing in this Section supersedes the
provisions of Article V, Section 1 of these by-laws.
ARTICLE VIII. COMPENSATION
Section 1. All compensation for board
business will be at the BLE ID Special Representative daily salary, Compensation
to include one (1) day prior to and one 1
day after if travel outside of a 100 mile radius of the members
home is necessary or lost time is incurred.
Vehicle mileage and per diem expenses will be paid at the IRS allowable rate
applicable for Baton Rouge, or actual receipted expenses.
Per Diem
shall only be paid when the member actually incurs out of town expenses per IRS
rules and regulations.
Section 2. The members of the Executive Committee, when convened
shall be compensated as set forth in Article VIII, Section 1.
Section 3. Members from any Division within the
State of Louisiana, whose attendance has been required by the Chairman or the
Executive Board to facilitate the business of the Legislative Board, shall be
compensated at the same rate of pay as set forth in Article VIII section 1.
Section 4.
The Secretary-Treasurer will be allowed one-day
salary per month, as per Article VIII, Section 1.
Section 5. If attorney fees shall be deemed
necessary, the Executive Committee must give approval.
Section 6. Any member of this board who
performs compensated service on behalf of the board which exceeds Ten Thousand
Dollars ($10,000.00) in salary and as such looses actual time from his/her
employing carrier resulting in a loss of accrued vacation compensation shall be
reimbursed as follows:
·
No later than March 1st of each year it shall be the
members responsibility to forward to the Chairman his/her computation of
vacation compensation lost due to service to the board in the previous year.
This computation shall include all supporting documents applicable to the
employing carriers methods of vacation compensation and proof of actual time
lost.
·
The computation of reimbursement shall be as follows: The actual
number of work days lost multiplied by the rate of pay stated in Section 1 of
this Article divided by fifty-two (52) and multiplied by the number of weeks
that the member is or would have been eligible to receive.
·
The Executive Committee shall determine the amount of lost
compensation to be reimbursed to the member and notify the member no later than
May 1st of its determination and instruct the Secretary-Treasurer to
pay the member no later than July 1st of the current year. The
Executive Committee may require the member to provide to the Executive Committee
all supporting documentation that it deems necessary. Failure to provide the
requested documentation shall render the claim null and void. The decision of
the Executive Committee shall be final.
ARTICLE IX. AFFILIATIONS
Section 1. The Louisiana State Legislative Board of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen shall be affiliated
with the LOUISIANA AFL/CIO.
ARTICLE X. LEGISLATION
Section 1. At any meeting of the Legislative
Board, Or the Executive Committee, all measures pertaining to legislation
desired by any subordinate division within the State shall be presented in
writing and acted upon as it may be deemed proper and just to the interests of
all concerned.
Section 2. All legislative measures and
resolutions shall be read on the floor at board meetings and referred by the
Chairman to the proper committees.
Section 3. Legislative Boards and Representatives are prohibited from
interesting themselves in the passage of, or the opposition of, any legislation
until such legislation has had the endorsement and approval of the State
Legislative Board, or the National Legislative Representative. When bills
affecting our Brotherhood require immediate action, the Chairman of the State
Legislative Board is hereby empowered to take immediate action upon it.
ARTICLE XI ROBERT’S RULE TO GOVERN
Section 1. Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all points of order
not specified herein.
Article XII. Media
Section 1. The Chairman, or his designee, shall be the sole source of
communication with any type of public or private media. All media inquiries as
to the matters or concerns of the Board shall be referred to the Chairman or his
designee.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall approve any form of public or
private dissemination of Board matters or concerns. Content to be approved by
the Chairman prior to dissemination, (Web site, newsletter, etc).
Article XIII. Office Equipment
Section 1. To encourage the use of current and emerging means of
communication the following shall govern:
A. Legislative Board Members may submit as an
expense, the cost of a second telephone line and / or Internet access, not to
exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per month, payable no less than quarterly.
Payments shall be considered non-payable when submitted more than ninety (90)
days after the close of the previous quarter.
B. The purchase of other office or communication
equipment must be approved
by the Executive Committee and shall become property of the Board. Any such
equipment shall be immediately surrendered, in working order, to the
Secretary-Treasurer, who will act as equipment custodian, when the current
custodial member ends his official relationship with the Board.
E. The Executive Committee shall approve repair or replacement of any
Board owned equipment.
