CCFT Constitution

WEBMASTER'S NOTE: The Constitution contains amendments. The amendments are noted [in brackets] with a footnote immediately following that links to the amendment. Please click on the footnote number in the text to read the amendment. To return, click on [return to text] or use the back arrow of your web browser.

The name of this organization shall be the Cuesta College Federation of Teachers, AFT/CFT Local 4909, herein referred to as CCFT.

CCFT supports quality education in the San Luis Obispo Community College District and the professional interests of faculty members employed by the district.

CCFT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the California Federation of Teachers, the Tri-County Central Labor Council, and the California Labor Federation. This affiliation necessarily entails mutual obligations and mutual action on behalf of quality education and professionalism at Cuesta College and for community college faculty in California and the nation.

Membership will be open to all permanent and temporary faculty whose work assignments consist of less than sixty percent (60%) managerial duties. Meetings of the membership will be held at least once each semester. A member in good standing is one who pays dues ( II.2).

Dues will be paid at the flat rate of one percent (1%) of base annual salary (not including overloads and summer session) for permanent faculty. Temporary faculty will be assessed at one and one-half percent (1 1/2%) of their gross salary per semester, subject to a minimum of $15.00 per month. [amended to 1%, $10 per month; Click here to see text of amendment] ¹ No dues will be assessed during the summer session. Revenues produced by dues will be distributed between the required per capita payments to the affiliates (I.3) and the CCFT. Dues will be collected from members through payroll deduction (August-May).

Changes in dues assessment may be proposed by the Executive Board (III.2), and must be approved by a three-fifths majority vote of those voting.

All elections will be decided by a simple majority of those voting, with the exception of the ratification of constitutional amendments, changes in dues, and the ratification of the constitution itself.

Only CCFT members are eligible to vote on matters that lie within the bargaining unit's statutory and contractual responsibilities.

The unit officers are nominated and elected by the CCFT membership. The officers include President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. [modified by amendment - Click here to see text of amendment] ² Terms of office are two years. Elections, by secret ballot, will be held in the Fall Semester of 1994 and every Fall Semester thereafter. [modified by amendment - Click here to see text of amendment] ³ For the purpose of the first election only, the Vice-President and Treasurer will serve one-year terms. If there is a vacancy, the President must make an interim appointment with the consent of a simple majority of the Council of Representatives (III.3). If the presidency is vacant, the Vice-President assumes the office. [modified by amendment - Click here to see text of amendment] ⁴ All officers must be permanent faculty and union members in good standing.

The Executive Board will consist of the bargaining unit officers, two representatives elected from and by the Council of Representatives for one year terms (III.3), the chairs of the negotiations committee and the part-time faculty committee (III.4), and the President of the Academic Senate (or his/her designee from the Senate Council) as an ex-officio, non-voting member. [modified by amendment - Click here to see text of amendment] ⁵

The Executive Board is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the union. It may also submit propositions for a vote of the membership as needed. (Contracts must be submitted to the membership.) All decisions of the Board will be by simple majority vote or by consensus.

The Board must meet at least twice each month of the academic year, and it must submit minutes of its deliberations to the membership. These minutes will include votes taken and a listing of the yeas and nays.

All expenditures under $100 must be approved by the Treasurer; between $100-$200 by the President and Treasurer; over $200 by a simple majority of the Executive Board.

Council representatives will be elected annually by secret ballot of union members in each of the divisions ( college units). Representation shall be apportioned on the basis of one representative for each ten (10)--or fraction thereof-- full-time equivalent faculty positions within the division ( college unit). A fraction or more over the basis of apportionment will entitle the division (college unit) to another representative. Representatives and electors must be members of the CCFT.

The areas to be represented include all academic and vocational divisions, the library, DSPS/Learning skills, and counseling.

The Executive Board will meet with the Council of Representatives at least every other month [modified by amendment - Click here to see text of amendment] ⁶ for the purposes of sharing information and of seeking the advice of the council representatives. The membership of the Council of Representatives may call additional meetings by submitting to the Executive Board a petition signed by a simple majority of the Council. Each Fall, [modified by amendment - Click here to see text of amendment] ⁷ the Council will elect by secret ballot two of its members to serve one-year terms on the Board.

The Executive Board will have the power to create standing and ad hoc committees as necessary. Standing committees will include at least the following: Negotiations; Grievance; Part-Time Faculty; and COPE (Committee on Political Education). The chairs and membership of the committees are appointed by the CCFT President, after consultation with the Executive Board, for one-year terms.

The Executive Board will propose to the membership necessary by-laws, which must be approved by a simple majority of the members voting.

Ratification of the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority of those voting.

Amendments may be proposed by simple majority vote of the Executive Board or the Council of Representatives. Amendments may also be proposed by a petition to the Executive Board that includes the signatures of a simple majority of the union membership. (Verification of signatures is the responsibility of the Secretary.)

1. Amended: "Temporary faculty will be assessed at one ~~and one half~~ percent (1 ~~1/2~~%) of their gross salary per semester, subject to a minimum of $~~15.00~~ 10.00 per month." (Ratified October 22, 1999.)
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2. Amended: "The officers include President, Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer" (Ratified March 4, 1997)
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3. Amended: "Elections, by secret ballot, will be held in the Fall Semester of 1994 and every Spring Semester thereafter. (Ratified January 18, 1995) and "The President and Secretary-Treasurer will be elected in the spring semester of even-numbered years; the Vice-President will be elected in the spring-semester of odd-numbered years" (Ratified March 4, 1997)
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4. Amended: "If there is a vacancy in the Secretary-Treasurer position or there is no candidate for that position in a scheduled election, the Executive Board may, by majority vote, separate the position and responsibilities into that of the Secretary and the Treasurer" (Ratified March 4, 1997)
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5. Amended: "The Executive Board will consist of the bargaining unit officers; two representatives elected from and by the Council of Representatives for one year terms (III.3); the chairs of the Negotiations Committee, the Part-Time Faculty Committee (III.4), and Committee on Political Education (COPE); the Grievance Officer; and the President of the Academic Senate (or his/her designee from the Senate Council) as an ex officio, non-voting member." (Ratified March 4, 1997)
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6. Amended: "The Executive Board will meet with the Council of Representatives at least once each semester and will call for other meetings as needed..." (Ratified April 8, 1998)
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7. Amended: "Each ~~Fall~~ spring semester, the Council will elect by secret ballot two of its members to serve one-year terms on the Board." (Ratified April 8, 1998)
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