CONSTITUTION
of the
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this Association shall be UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (hereafter referred to as UNKEA).
ARTICLE II. PRINCIPAL PLACE OF ACTIVITY
The principal place of activity of the Association shall be 24th & 9th Avenue, Kearney, Nebraska 68849.
ARTICLE III. PURPOSES
Section 1. The Association is formed for the purpose of representing its members in the negotiation and administration of terms and conditions of employment with the Board of Regents of' the University of Nebraska, the governing Board of the Nebraska University System.
Section 2. The Association may carry on any other activity not in conflict with its primary purpose.
Section 3. In its activities, the Association shall have all of the powers and authority granted to public employee labor organizations by applicable law, and that which is necessary and appropriate to the attainment of its purposes.
ARTICLE IV. AFFILIATION
The Association shall be affiliated with the Nebraska State Education Association and the National Education Association. Nothing in this constitution shall conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Nebraska State Education Association or the National Education Association.
ARTICLE V. MEMBERS AND DUES
Section 1. All full-time ranked faculty members at the University of Nebraska at Kearney shall be eligible for membership in the UNKEA.
Section 2. Annually, on or before September 1, the UNKEA Executive Committee shall establish the membership dues.
Section 3. Membership in the University of Nebraska at Kearney Education Association, the Nebraska State Education Association and the National Educational Association shall be continuous. Initial enrollment in the University of Nebraska at Kearney Education Association, the Nebraska State Education Association, and the National Education Association shall constitute authorization for continuous membership and authorization shall be continuing, unless or except that during the period September 1 through September 30 of any year, a member may revoke such authorization to become effective in September by providing written notice during said period to the University of Nebraska at Kearney Education Association President.
Members who retire (except early retirement), resign or otherwise cease employment with the University of Nebraska at Kearney will automatically be removed from the membership list at the start of the next membership year and any continuing dues obligation will cease at that time.
ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular meetings will be held at least once during each semester. One of the meetings shall be held on or before October 1st for organizational purposes.
Section 2. Special meetings shall be called by the UNKEA President or upon written request of one-fourth of the members, provided all members receive written notice of such meeting at least twenty-four hours in advance of the time of the meeting.
Section 3. A quorum for conducting business of the UNKEA shall consist of ten percent of the membership.
ARTICLE VII. OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of UNKEA with the exception of the negotiators shall be elected biannually by the membership. Such election shall be held prior to October 1 in each odd numbered year. Elections for the negotiator positions shall be held prior to May 15 each even numbered year.
Section 2. The officers shall consist of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and three negotiators. With the exception of the negotiators officers shall serve for two (2) years from October 1 to September 30. Negotiators will be elected for four (4) year terms from May 15 to May 14 with each negotiator term beginning at alternate elections.
(Negotiator 1 shall be elected in Spring, 2021 to serve 2021 to 2022; Negotiator 2 shall be elected in Spring 2021 to serve to 2023; Negotiator 3 shall be elected in Spring 2021 to serve to 2024. The negotiator terms will then continue with four-year terms such that Negotiator 1 will then serve2022 - 2026; Negotiator 2 will serve 2023 – 2027; and Negotiator 3 will serve 2024 – 2028 and the sequence shall continue with annual spring elections for Negotiators.)
Section 3. The president shall preside over meetings, appoint standing, special, and ad hoc committees, and shall oversee and direct the activities of the Association during the term of office, and maintain the UNKEA archive of essential documents.
Section 4. The vice-president shall serve as president in the absence of the president and shall become president in the case of vacancy. The vice-president will also be responsible for carrying out such other duties as assigned by the president and/or the Executive Committee.
Section 5. The secretary shall keep the minutes of regular, special and executive committee meetings, shall be responsible for correspondence on behalf of the Association, and shall give notice of all meetings to the members.
Section 6. The treasurer shall handle all money of the Association, pay all bills authorized by the Association or by the Executive Committee and shall make a financial report at each meeting or upon request of the President.
Section 7. The membership team (2 members) shall maintain an accurate membership roster, coordinate the annual membership drive in August, maintain the presence of UNKEA on appropriate Internet sites, including but not limited to the UNK web site and Facebook.
Section 8. The Negotiators are responsible for representing the membership in contract negotiations and in issues that might arise in interpretation of the contract.
Section 9. Vacancies arising in any office except that of President, shall be filled by election by the membership at the next regular meeting. Nominees will be recommended by the nominating committee with opportunity given for nominations from the floor.
ARTICLE VIII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice -President, Secretary, Treasurer, the Membership team, Negotiators and immediate past President.
Section 2. The authority of this committee shall extend to care for such problems as may arise and demand immediate attention, which in the opinion of the president do not justify calling a special meeting of the Association.
Section 3. The Executive Committee may not obligate the association beyond $300 without approval by the Association membership. Such expenditures as the Executive Committee does authorize are to be paid by the Treasurer of the Association.
ARTICLE IX. MEMBERSHIP & VOTING
Section 1. Each member shall be entitled to vote on all issues submitted to the members for their determination.
Section 2. The President and/or Executive Committee may submit issues to the members for their approval at a regular or special meeting or by mail ballot. Those present at a meeting may decide by majority vote to have any issue, except the negotiated contract, decided by mail ballot.
Section 3. There shall be no voting by proxy.
Section 4. On all matters submitted to a vote of the members, a simple majority of the votes cast shall be required to declare the-issue passed or accepted.
ARTICLE X. ASSOCIATION YEAR
The Association year shall begin on September 1 of each year.
ARTICLE XI. COMMITTEES
Section 1. The standing committees of the Association shall be appointed by the President and shall serve for the same two (2) year term as the officers, from October 1 to September 30 of odd numbered years. Standing committees are Membership/Nominating, Budget/Auditing, Scholarship, and any other committee(s) required for affiliation with the Nebraska State Education Association and the National Education Association. Other committees may be appointed by the President.
Section 2. The Membership/Nominating Committee shall consist of five (5) members, one for every undergraduate college, and one from the library, shall be responsible for enlistment of members in this Association and shall nominate one or more nominees for each of the offices of president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and for negotiating team members and report the names of those nominees at the regular meeting for election of officers.
Section 3. The Budget/Auditing Committee shall consist of five (5) members, one for every undergraduate college, and one from the library, and one of whom shall be the Treasurer. The Committee shall prepare an annual report and budget to be presented at a regular fall meeting. Proposals for spending over $300 shall be referred to this committee before being voted upon by the membership.
Section 4. The Scholarship Committee shall consist of five (5) members, one for every undergraduate college, and one from the library. One of the members shall be the Treasurer of UNKEA, who will be responsible for the financial record keeping of the scholarship and the endowed funds. The Committee will have the responsibility of the oversight of the UNKEA Scholarship. The Committee will establish the guidelines for awarding the scholarship to an undergraduate student at UNK. It will have responsibility for oversight of the invested funds used to endow the scholarship. The intent of UNKEA is that the scholarship will be permanently endowed, however, in the event of financial exigency, as determined by the UNKEA Executive Committee, the principle may be withdrawn by the Treasurer of UNKEA.
ARTICLE XII. NEGOTIATIONS
Section 1. To carry out the purpose of representing its members in the negotiation of terms and conditions of employment, the Association shall exercise all the rights and authority granted to it by applicable law.
Section 2. Annually there shall be established a Negotiations Team consisting of the UNKEA President and the three elected Negotiators to represent the membership in collective bargaining.
Section 3. The Negotiations Team shall hold an organizational meeting to elect a Chief Negotiator. The UNKEA President will not serve as the Chief Negotiator. The Negotiations Team shall select items to be submitted to negotiations.
Section 4. All positions taken by the Negotiations Team in the process of negotiations shall be subject to approval of the Executive Committee and to the final ratification by the vote of the members of the Association. During the period of bargaining with the Board of Regents the Negotiations Team shall periodically update the membership on the progress of the negotiations. The Negotiations Team will distribute a summary of the key issues of the proposed contract by e-mail to bargaining unit members at least 2 days prior to the contract ratification meeting. A simple majority of the votes cast shall be required for ratification. The negotiated contract may be ratified by an electronic ballot.
ARTICLE XIII. POLITICAL ENDORSEMENT
UNKEA will not endorse any candidate(s) for political office without the approval of the membership determined by a simple majority from a written ballot.
ARTICLE XIV. AMENDMENTS
Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members voting on such amendments.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall first consider any proposed amendment, and if it approves such amendment, it shall be submitted in writing to all members two weeks prior to a regular meeting of the Association. Upon approval, the proposed amendment shall become a part of this Constitution.
ARTICLE XV. RATIFICATION
This Constitution, when ratified by an affirmative vote of the majority of members of the Association voting, shall become immediately effective.
Ratified September 17, 1991
Amended April 28, 1995
Amended November 10, 1997
Amended September 30, 1998
Amended September 23, 2005
Changes Proposed May, 2017
Amended September 2, 2020
