a) To Act upon matters deemed to be in the best interest of LUSU and its members.

b) To encourage closer liaison and communication among all members of LUSU.

c) To maintain collective bargaining relationships between the employer and LUSU and to benefit LUSU and its members through those relations.

d) To provide prompt and equitable disposition of grievances of its members.

e) To provide integral and professional services necessary to the quality functioning of the University.

a) Membership with LUSU shall be open to all eligible employees with the exception of those employees not eligible for collective bargaining under the Ontario Labour Relations Act.

b) A member in good standing is a person eligible for membership who has complied with the following conditions:

- signed a membership card and paid the approved membership fee;

- abides by the Constitution and By-Laws;

- continues to pay dues as established by LUSU and is not in arrears of dues.

c) A member while on injury or sick leave (compensable or non compensable) or on other leave of absence shall be considered a member in good standing provided he/she was in good standing at the time of the commencement of such leave.

d) A member who is not in good standing may not attend the meetings or vote, discuss or participate in the business of LUSU except as provided by the Ontario Labour Relations Act.

e) The membership fee is to be decided upon by the Executive Committee subject to approval by the general membership.

f) A member who terminates membership with LUSU for whatever reason (ie. contract terminated, moved to a non LUSU position, changed employment, etc) but returns within one year is deemed to be a member in good standing and as having already paid the approved membership fee provided he/she was a member in good standing at termination.

g) Membership with LUSU shall be open to all LUSU retirees, provided that they were members in good standing at the time of retirement. Retired members shall have the right to attend LUSU meetings and be recognized by the Chair, however they shall not be counted for quorum, stand for election or have the right to vote. Retired members must abide by the LUSU Constitution, Bylaws, and Collective Agreement.

h) Honorary members. Special membership status can be appointed to individuals by the Executive Board. Such members shall have the right to attend LUSU meetings and be recognized by the Chair, however they shall not be counted for quorum, stand for election or have the right to vote. Honorary members must abide by the LUSU Constitution, Bylaws, and Collective Agreement.

All academic departments - 3 stewards

All administrative departments - 3 stewards

CTS, E-learning & Instructional media - 1 steward

Library - 1 steward

MPRO - 1 steward

The Stewards and Executive Committee will elect a Chief Steward from the Steward body

a) Election of Officers and Stewards of LUSU will be held in November of every second year by secret ballot.

b) The New Executive shall take office as of January 1, immediately following the elections.

c) The Electoral Committee shall conduct and organize all matters pertaining to all elections of LUSU.

d) The Electoral Committee will call for nominations three weeks prior to the election date set.

e) The Returning Officer is to be chosen by the Electoral Committee preferably a person not associated with LUSU.

f) The President,Vice-Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer will be nominated and elected by and from the whole membership of LUSU.

g) Stewards will be nominated and elected by and from the members working in the area stipulated above in Article XI.

h) Where only one nomination has been received for any/all of the positions of President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer and Stewards, an election shall not be conducted and the position will be deemed filled by acclamation.

i) Only members of LUSU may nominate or cast a ballot for election of LUSU Officers

j) Elections may be held by mail in voting, electronic voting or advanced polls at the agreement of the Committee and the Executive Committee.

k) In the event an office becomes vacant for less than eight months the position shall not be filled by election, but by appointment by the Executive Committee. If the vacancy is for more than eight months the Executive Committee will announce such a vacancy and instruct the Electoral Committee to call for and accept nominations for the position for a three week period. A by-election shall be held in accordance with these procedures. The Executive Committee may fill the office in the interim period except as specified in (i and ii). Should no nominations for an unoccupied office be forthcoming, the office may be filled by the Executive Committee until the next scheduled election of the Officers of LUSU.

i) In the event that the position of LUSU President becomes vacant for any reason the position of the President shall automatically be filled by the First Vice-President the position of the First Vice-President shall be filled by the Second Vice-President and the standard procedure for filling a vacancy shall be used to fill the position of the Second Vice-President. However, should the First Vice-President not accept the position of President it shall be filled by the Second Vice-President. Should the Second Vice-President not accept the position of President, then the Electoral Committee, upon notification from the Executive Committee shall conduct an election for the position of President in accordance with the standard procedures for filling a vacancy.

ii) In the event that the position of the First Vice-President becomes vacant for any reason, the position of the First Vice-President shall automatically be filled by the Second Vice-President; and standard procedure for filling a vacancy shall be used to fill the position of the Second Vice-President. However, should the Second Vice-President not accept the position of First Vice-President the Electoral Committee upon notification from the Executive Committee shall conduct an election for the position of First Vice-President in accordance with the standard procedures for filling a vacancy.

Disciplinary action may be taken against a LUSU member for the following reasons:

a) Violation of any provision of this Constitution.

b) Obtaining membership through fraudulent means or by misrepresentation.

c) Publishing or circulating among the membership, either verbally or otherwise, false statements or misrepresentations concerning LUSU and/or any LUSU members in respect to any matter connected with the affairs of LUSU.

d) Promoting interest of any organization which is in competition with LUSU and in a manner which is detrimental to LUSU.

e) Fraudulently receiving or misappropriating any property or money of LUSU.

f) Using the name of Laurentian University Staff Union (LUSU) for soliciting funds or advertising without proper authority from the LUSU Executive.

g) Furnishing a complete or a partial list of the LUSU membership to any person or persons without the written permission of the LUSU Executive Committee.

h) Entering into any written or verbal agreement with the University or its representatives that conflicts with the terms of the collective agreement.

i) Crosses a legal picket line established by LUSU.

a) Every LUSU member shall be entitled to a fair and impartial review.

b) If it is alleged that a member or officer of LUSU has committed an offence against this Constitution, specific charges must be submitted in writing to the President, signed by the accuser, who must be a member in good standing of LUSU. Such charges shall be submitted within ninety days after the alleged violation has been made known.

c) The President, or the First Vice-President should the accused be the President, shall cause the charges to be delivered to the accused, either personally or by registered mail within ten days after the charges have been laid with the President as aforesaid. Simultaneously with the delivery of the charges to the accused, the President shall also deliver to the accused notice of the time and place of the hearing.

d) A Committee of five shall be appointed by the Executive and the Steward body. All members appointed must be in good standing . The Chair of the Committee shall be selected by and from the five members. The Executive Committee and the Steward body shall appoint a member of the Executive Committee to sit on the Review Committee as a non-voting resource person.

e) The Committee shall proceed to hear the charges in camera within fourteen (14) days from the date of selection of the Review Committee. Quorum shall consist of all five members present.

f) The accused and the accuser shall each have the right to be present and shall also have the right to be represented by a member in good standing of LUSU, a member of the Bar Association, etc.

g) The accused and the accuser shall have the right to call witnesses.

h) Should the accused fail to appear before the Review Committee, without giving a satisfactory explanation, the Review Committee may, if it considers it advisable, proceed to hear evidence and render a decision in the absence of the accused or adjourn the hearing by notice to all parties.

i) Should the accuser fail to appear before the Review Committee, without giving a satisfactory explanation, then the Review Committee may dismiss the charges or adjourn the hearing by notice to all parties.

j) The accuser shall present their evidence first and the accused shall have the right to cross-examine any witnesses called by the accuser.

k) After the accuser has presented their evidence to the Review Committee, the accused may present their evidence and the accuser shall have the same right of cross-examination.

l) The Review Committee shall reach a decision by secret ballot. A majority vote shall decide the outcome.

m) Should the Review Committee find the accused not guilty, the results, with a brief explanation shall be notified to all LUSU members through either a general membership meeting or through a memo from the LUSU President, within 10 working days of the decision.

n) Should the Review Committee find the accused guilty, it shall then recommend a punishment as set out in the LUSU Constitution, to the Executive Committee, who shall implement the decision within 5 working days, unless the Review Committee's recommendation is appealed, in which case that recommendation will be stayed until the hearing of the appeal. The Committee shall outline the reasons for selecting such a punishment to the Executive. The results, with a brief explanation, shall be made known to the LUSU members within 10 working days by either a general membership meeting or by a memo to all members from the LUSU President.

o) The accused has a right to appeal within 5 working days of the notification of the Committee's decision. The appeal will be made in writing to the Executive Committee. The appeal will list the reasons why the accused feels that he/she should not have been found guilty. The accused may request a meeting with the Executive.

p) On appeal the Executive will have the right to enforce the punishment or call a new Review Committee.

This page last modified on September 25, 2007.