Bylaws

 

ARTICLE I

Name

This organization shall be known as Fight Back Pittsburgh. It shall be hereafter referred to as “Fight Back Pittsburgh” or “The Local Union.”  This organization shall operate as a project of the Organizing Committee of USW Local 3657.

 

ARTICLE II

Purpose

            First. To unite in Fight Back Pittsburgh, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, physical or mental ability, immigration status or nationality, all persons who are within the jurisdiction of Fight Back Pittsburgh.

 

Second. To engage in educational, legislative, political, civic, social, welfare, community and other activities; to advance and safeguard the economic security and social welfare of all individuals in the greater Pittsburgh area, the United States, Canada and the world; to protect and extend our democratic institutions and civil rights and liberties; and to stand in solidarity with all people who struggle for social and economic justice.

 

Third. To encourage the organization and affiliation of all individuals in the greater Pittsburgh area.

 

Fourth. To take all steps and actions consistent with these By-Laws to implement and carry out the objects, rights, activities and responsibilities of this organization.

 

ARTICLE III

Eligibility

            Section 1. All United Steelworkers Associate members shall be eligible for membership in the Fight Back Pittsburgh.

 

Section 2. Persons having membership in other collective bargaining organizations shall be eligible for membership provided their collective bargaining organization does not prohibit said membership.

 

Section 3. No person shall be eligible for membership who is a member, supporter, or activist within the Ku Klux Klan, or any fascist, totalitarian, or other organizations who seek to undermine the principles of Fight Back Pittsburgh.

Section 4. No person shall be eligible for membership who has committed acts that violate Article 8 or who have engaged in what is commonly referred to as SCAB¹ activities are not eligible for membership.

 

¹ SCAB- 1. A strikebreaker, a person who works despite strike action or against the will of other employees. 2. A worker, often temporary, who crosses a strikers’ picket line, going to work in place of the strikers.

 

ARTICLE IV

Election of Officers

Section 1. Officers of Fight Back Pittsburgh shall be: Organizing Chair, Vice Organizing Chair, Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary-Treasurer, two (2) Guards, one Trustee, and two (2) At-large members. These Local Union officers shall serve as the Fight Back Pittsburgh Executive Board.

Section 2. No member shall at the same time be a candidate for or hold more than one of the offices named in Section 1 of this Article.

 

Section 3. The Trustee shall be a member of the Organizing Committee of USW Local 3657 and appointed by the Organizing Committee.  All other officers shall be elected by the membership of Fight Back Pittsburgh for a term of one year at the last meeting in August every year, or on such other day and/or at such other hours in August as the membership shall determine and which will enable all members who so desire to vote. Election shall be by a plurality vote of the members in good standing participating in a secret ballot vote.  Those  elected  in  August shall  be  installed  at  the  first  regular  meeting  in  September and shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified, at which time all money, official records and documents, and all property belonging to Fight Back Pittsburgh shall be turned over to such successors. In any case in which only one eligible member has been nominated for an office, and that member has indicated acceptance of the nomination within the time limits and in the  manner  prescribed  by  the  approved  By-Laws  or  rules  of  Fight Back Pittsburgh,  no  election  need  be  held  for  that  and  the  member  who  has  been  so nominated shall be deemed elected.

 

Section 4. The date of the elections for Officers must be advertised amongst members at least fifteen (15) days previous to the date of the election by electronic mailing notice and posting to Fight Back Pittsburgh’s website of the date, place and hours of the election to each member in good standing at the member’s last known email address. The notice must also specify the offices to be filled.

 

Nominations shall be made at the meeting immediately preceding the meeting where elections are to take place.

 

Notice of the nomination meeting shall be provided to the membership at least one (1) week in advance of the meeting using the same method described.

 

Section 5. No member shall be eligible for election as an Officer in any regular election or election to fill a vacancy unless the member has been in continuous good standing for a period of 12 months immediately preceding the month in which the election is held. 1

 

1 If Fight Back Pittsburgh has been in existence for a lesser period prior to the election, the member must have been in continuous good standing from the time the member joined Fight Back Pittsburgh.

ARTICLE V

Duties of Officers

 

Section 1. Duties of Organizing Chair.

 

(a) The Organizing Chair is responsible for maintaining order at meetings and deciding any questions of order; any decisions of order are subject to appeal.

 

(b) The Organizing Chair must have a working knowledge of these By-Laws and enforce the rules outlined in them; appoint committees if a need for one is determined but not created by the membership; and be a member of all committees. The Organizing Chair shall perform all other duties as assigned by Fight Back Pittsburgh.

 

1. In the event that a vacancy occurs in any official office, during the term of the office, the remaining Fight Back Pittsburgh Officers will hold a vote of the general membership to select a successor for the remainder of that term. When this option is used the Organizing Chair will appoint a member to fill the vacancy until the election can be completed. The Organizing Chair will then call for a special election, which will happen no later than two (2) months following the occurrence of the vacancy. Nominations must be made at the meeting directly before the meeting where the election is held. The membership shall be notified of the nominating period and elections at least one (1) week prior to that date. Elections will follow the same procedures outlined in the Elections of Officers section of these by-laws.

 

1. If the temporary vacancy is in the office of the Organizing Chair, the Vice

Organizing Chair will take over the duties of the Organizing Chair and be known as “Temporary Acting Organizing Chair”. When the temporary period has ended, the “Temporary Acting Organizing Chair” will go back to acting as the Vice Organizing Chair.

3.   In the event of a vacancy, none of the remaining officers, either alone or acting together, may hold another office. Rather, the vacancy must be filled in accordance with the provisions of this section.

 

Section 2. Duties of the Vice Organizing Chair.

 

The Vice Organizing Chair will assist the Organizing Chair in carrying out the duties of the position. If the Organizing Chair is absent, the Vice Organizing Chair will take over for that meeting. The Vice Organizing Chair shall be a member of all committees. In the event that a vacancy occurs in the office of Organizing Chair, the Vice Organizing Chair shall act as Organizing Chair until an election of a replacement can be held.

 

Section 3. Duties of the Recording Secretary.

 

(a) The Recording Secretary shall record the proceedings of the general membership meetings in an electronic document kept for that purpose. The Recording Secretary will read all papers and perform other duties as designated by these By-Laws.

 

(b) The Recording Secretary will read communications to the general membership.

 

(c)The Recording Secretary will make the Proposed Minutes from each meeting available to the general membership within two weeks of each meeting.

 

Section 4. Duties of the Financial Secretary-Treasurer.

 

(a) The Financial Secretary-Treasurer is responsible for money due to Fight Back Pittsburgh and for depositing that money in the bank. The Financial Secretary-Treasurer will issue receipts for any and all deposits and sign all checks, which must be countersigned by the President, Financial Secretary, and Treasurer of USW local 3657. The Financial Secretary-Treasurer must keep accurate accounts of all Fight Back Pittsburgh funds, have the books open for examination by all members at any time, and perform other such duties as required. The Financial Secretary-Treasurer shall make out the various reports required by the International Secretary-Treasurer and forward those reports to the International Secretary-Treasurer in accordance with instructions.

 

(b) All money paid out by Fight Back Pittsburgh from its treasury must be approved by the members at a general membership meeting. Under no circumstances shall Officers or members pay bills, authorize payment of a bill, incur any obligations, use money for activities not authorized by these By-Laws, or use money in any way without the authorization of the general membership. Bills charged to the Local Union shall be submitted to the Recording Secretary, who will submit them to the general membership for approval.

 

(d) The Financial Secretary-Treasurer’s accounts shall be subject at all times to audit by the International Secretary-Treasurer.

 

(e) The Financial Secretary-Treasurer must make a detailed financial report at least once each month at the general membership meeting, which shall cover the receipts and expenditures of all funds of Fight Back Pittsburgh. If the expenses of Fight Back Pittsburgh exceed its current income or impairs its reserves, the Financial Secretary-Treasurer is obliged to bring this to the attention of the membership.

 

(f) Should it be proved that the Financial Secretary-Treasurer failed to report monthly to the full membership and transmit the full amount of dues and other monies, the Financial Secretary-Treasurer shall be suspended from all privileges and benefits until the deficiency is made good and shall be liable to the International Union for the full amount unpaid.

 

(g) Recurring standard bills may be paid by the Treasurer on a single authorization by the general membership to pay such bills when due.

 

Section 5. Duties of Guards.

The Guards will watch the door and make sure that only those allowed to attend the meeting enter the meeting, and that only those entitled to remain in the meeting do so.  Each Guard shall serve on at least one of the Standing Committees as outlined in Article 11.

 

Section 6. Duties of the Trustee.

 

The Trustee will make sure that any property owned by Fight Back Pittsburgh is well maintained. They will audit the books and financial records every three months and give a report at the following general membership meeting. They must also go to the bank with the Organizing Chair and Financial Secretary-Treasurer to verify the current bank statements. They will perform other duties as required.

 

 

Section 7. Duties of At-Large Members

At-Large Members will serve on the Executive Board. Each At-Large Member shall serve on at least one of the Standing Committees as outlined in Article 11.

 

Section 8.

 

It shall be the duty of the Organizing Chair, Vice Organizing Chair, Financial Secretary-Treasurer, and Trustees to insure that the funds and property of Fight Back Pittsburgh are preserved, managed, invested, and expended to carry out the objects, rights, activities, and responsibilities of Fight Back Pittsburgh in accordance with these By-Laws.

ARTICLE VI

Meetings

 

Section 1. Fight Back Pittsburgh shall hold a general membership meeting at least once every month, although Fight Back Pittsburgh may, with the approval of the membership, hold meetings, less often, but in no event less than quarterly.

 

Section 2. Fight Back Pittsburgh general membership meetings shall be held the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. If necessary, however, the meeting time can be changed by a majority vote of the membership.

 

Section 3.  Consistent with Article V, Section 1 (a), the Organizing Chair shall preside at all meetings of Fight Back Pittsburgh, including but not limited to general membership meetings, and shall decide all questions of order subject to an appeal of Fight Back Pittsburgh.  With respect to general membership meetings, the applicable rules of order shall be as follows:

 

1. Any member wishing to propose a particular course of action for Fight Back Pittsburgh, where appropriate according to the Order of Business, must first be recognized by the Chair, preface his or her course of action with the statement “I move to” or “I make the motion that” and then state the proposed action.  Unless otherwise noted under this section, the motion will then require a “second” from another member in attendance before the matter is officially before the body for debate and consideration.

 

1. Once a motion has been made and seconded, the Chair shall manage debate and discussion by recognizing members wishing to speak to the motion.  Following a reasonable amount of discussion from multiple members, and allowing the maker of the motion to speak last, the Chair may call the question for a vote of the body.  A simple majority of those in attendance and voting in favor will be required to pass a motion.  In the event that the vote is too close to call based solely on a voice vote, the Chair or any member from the floor may call for a vote by show of hands.   The Chair or Recording Secretary shall perform the counting.
2. Once a motion is before the body, amendments to the original motion can be made from the floor once the maker of the amendment has been recognized by the Chair, stated the proposed amendment, and then received a “second” from another member in attendance.  The amendment can itself be amended following this same process (recognition, move to amend, and second), however, there can be no third amendment.  All amendments must be consistent with the intent of the original motion, as determined by the Chair, and must be voted on in reverse order of their being made and seconded.
3. A motion before the body may be “tabled,” meaning that it’s consideration is postponed until later in the meeting or in the next regular general membership meeting.  In order to table a motion a member must be recognized by the Chair and move to table the motion currently on the floor, followed by a second from another member and, without debate, a simple majority vote of those in attendance and voting in favor.  To re-consider a tabled motion there must be a motion from the floor to “un-table” or “remove from the table” the previously tabled motion, followed by a second, and, without discussion or debate, a simple majority vote of those in attendance and voting in favor.  A tabled motion that has not been removed from the table by the end of the next general membership meeting shall be deemed untimely and a new motion will be required to place it before the membership.
4. Any maker of a motion is entitled to withdraw the motion from consideration by directing a request to do so to the Chair.  The Chair shall then ask if any member objects to the withdrawal, and if there is no objection, the motion is withdrawn.  If a member does object, then the withdrawal is immediately put to a vote to be decided by a simple majority of those in attendance and voting in favor.
5. At any point during debate and discussion of a motion a member may call for an explanation or clarification of the motion being considered by raising his or her hand and stating “point of information.”  After having recognized the member requesting the clarification or explanation, the Chair shall endeavor to provide the member with requested information.
6. At any point during the general membership meeting a member may call for a ruling from the Chair regarding the procedural appropriateness of any aspect of the Chair’s managing of the meeting.  To do so, the member must raise his or her hand and state “point of order.”  After having recognized the member requesting a ruling from the Chair, the Chair shall provide a ruling, accompanied by his or her arguments for its procedural appropriateness.  If the member requesting the ruling is dissatisfied with the Chair’s arguments, he or she may appeal the Chair’s ruling to the membership present, provided that his or her appeal is seconded by another member.  If seconded, then the member appealing shall present his or her arguments for why the Chair’s ruling is not appropriate.  The Chair shall relinquish temporarily his or her gavel (or chairing of the meeting) to the next ranking Fight Back Pittsburgh officer present, and then restate his or her argument in support of the ruling.  The next ranking officer temporarily chairing the meeting shall then, without discussion or debate, put the member’s appeal to a vote.   A simple majority of those in attendance and voting in favor will be required to overturn the Chair’s ruling.

 

1. In order to expedite matters, the Chair may find it in order to request a motion from the body (for example, by stating, “I’ll entertain a motion to . . .”).  For the same ends the Chair may also seek “consensus of opinion” from the floor with respect to committee reports, in which case following presentation of the committee report the Chair may state, “if there are no objections, the report will be accepted as presented.”  If no objections are made from the floor, then the Chair will state that the report is accepted as presented.

ARTICLE VII

Membership

Section 1.        All members of Fight Back Pittsburgh will commit to pay dues equal to one quarter of one percent of their self-reported monthly income, or commit to one hour of phone banking for Fight Back Pittsburgh per month.

 

Monetary dues and volunteer phone banking are interchangeable. A member shall be able to accumulate hours spent phone banking or monetary dues for a period of up to one year from the date of payment or hours worked.

 

Phone banking shall count towards a member’s obligation to Fight Back Pittsburgh only if performed through the software used by the United Steelworkers International Union.

 

Section 2.        A member who has not lost good standing under other provisions of these By-Laws shall be in good standing if not more than two (2) months in arrears with the obligations laid out in the previous section.

 

Section 3.        Members who lose good standing under Section 2 may regain good standing by fulfilling two (2) months’ worth of their obligations to the organization.

 

Section  4.       A member not in good standing shall not be permitted to vote, nominate for office, hold office, or be a candidate for office.

 

Section  5.       A member whose membership is terminated shall have no right or interest in any property of the Local Union, including any dues, assessments or other financial obligations paid by such member in advance of the effective date of such termination.

 

Section  6.       All persons not in good standing in the Local Union are prohibited from participating in meetings and may attend meetings only when invited to do so by vote of the Local Union.

 

ARTICLE VIII

Conduct

Section 1.        Any member may be penalized for committing any one or more of the following offenses against Fight Back Pittsburgh:

1. violation of any of the provisions of these By-Laws or any rule duly authorized by the membership of Fight Back Pittsburgh while acting as an agent, member, or representative of Fight Back Pittsburgh;
2. obtaining membership through fraudulent means or by misrepresentation;
3. instituting, or urging, or advocating that a member of Fight Back Pittsburgh institute action outside the Union against the International Union, Fight Back Pittsburgh or any of their Officers without first exhausting all remedies through the forms of appeal of Fight Back Pittsburgh;
4. using abusive language or disrupting any meeting in or around any office or meeting place of Fight Back Pittsburgh;
5. using the name of Fight Back Pittsburgh, the Local Union, or the International Union for soliciting funds, advertising, etc., of any kind without the consent of the appropriate body or Officer of the aforementioned parties;
6. furnishing a complete or partial list of the membership of Fight Back Pittsburgh, the International Union, or of any local Union to any person or persons other than those whose official position entitles them to have such a list;
7. deliberately interfering with any official of Fight Back Pittsburgh in the discharge of that official’s duties;
8. deliberately engaging in violation of the responsibility of members towards the organization as an institution;
9. deliberately interfering with the performance of the organization’s legal or contractual obligations;
10. revealing information with the potential to harm Fight Back Pittsburgh or any of its members to any entity or entities in opposition to Fight Back Pittsburgh;
11. behaving as an official representative of Fight Back Pittsburgh without the consent of the membership or Executive Board;
12. revealing the name of a member or members without their consent;
13. advocating or attempting to bring about the destruction, or reduce the power of, any collective bargaining organizing, including the International Union, by soliciting the withdrawal of its members, or by other means;
14. publishing or circulating false reports or misrepresentations about Fight Back Pittsburgh, an ally of Fight Back Pittsburgh, or any union, group, or organization Fight Back Pittsburgh stands in solidarity with, with the intent to harm Fight Back Pittsburgh, or the affected group;
15. working in the interest of, or accepting membership in, any organization in opposition to Fight Back Pittsburgh;
16. slandering or willfully wronging a member of Fight Back Pittsburgh;
17. fraudulently receiving any money due Fight back Pittsburgh, or an allied organization or misappropriating the monies of an organization;
18. intentionally revealing non-public information with the intent to harm Fight Back Pittsburgh, an ally of Fight Back Pittsburgh, or a group or an organization Fight Back Pittsburgh stands in solidarity with, to any entity or entities in opposition to Fight Back Pittsburgh, and/or the affected group;
19. Working during a strike against the will of other employees.

 

Section 2.        It is an offense under these By-Laws to harass a member of Fight Back Pittsburgh for any reason, or to behave in such a way that causes members of Fight Back Pittsburgh, or the community at large, to feel unsafe due to their gender or identity in a marginalized group.

           

Section 3.        Any member convicted of any one or more of the above offenses may be denied the right to be a candidate for or hold office or position in Fight Back Pittsburgh, declared a member not in good standing, or otherwise appropriately disciplined.

 

Section 4.        If any Officer of Fight Back Pittsburgh is convicted of any one or more of the aforementioned offenses, such person may be penalized as herein before described and removed from office or position.

 

Section 5.        If any member is accused of violating any of the above sections, the Executive Board shall appoint a committee of five members to make a recommendation of action to the general membership. Any action must be approved by a majority of the general membership.

 

ARTICLE IX

Finances

 

Section 1.        All money collected for the organization or its committees shall be deposited by the Financial Secretary-Treasurer promptly. True and accurate records shall be kept.

 

Section 2.        All money collected from dues or other funds raised on behalf of the whole organization are considered a part of the general fund.

 

Section 3.        No money may leave the general funds without approval of a majority of the membership at a General Membership Meeting.

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

Delegates to International Convention and Representatives of Fight Back Pittsburgh

 

Section 1. Delegate to International Convention

 

If Fight Back Pittsburgh is invited to attend the International Convention of the United Steelworkers International Union in any capacity, a delegate shall be appointed by a majority vote of the General Membership.

 

Section 2. Representatives of Fight Back Pittsburgh

 

If a member is needed to represent Fight Back Pittsburgh to any outside organization, they shall be appointed by the appropriate committee. If no such committee exists, they shall be appointed by the General Membership.

 

If a representative is needed at such time as the membership or appropriate committee cannot meet to decide the matter, a temporary representative shall be appointed by the Executive Board. This appointment will stand until the membership appoints a representative.

ARTICLE XI

Fight Back Pittsburgh Committees

 

Section  1. The work of Fight Back Pittsburgh shall be carried out by committees.

 

Section  2. The Standing Committees of this organization shall be:

1. The Membership Committee;
2. The Communications Committee;
3. The Fight Back at Work Committee;
4. The Rapid Response Committee;
5. The Neighborhood Action Committee;
6. The Civil and Human Rights Committee

 

Section  3.  The Membership Committee shall responsible for recruiting and maintaining a diverse and active membership.

 

Section  4.  The Communications Committee shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining the various forms of electronic and print communications to publicly promote the events and campaigns of Fight Back Pittsburgh.

Section  5.  The Fight Back at Work Committee shall responsible for providing support, resources, and solidarity to workers in our community to enforce, protect, and improve workplace rights.

 

Section  6.  The Rapid Response Committee shall be responsible for educating and mobilizing the Fight Back Pittsburgh membership and the broader community in support of working class legislative issues.

 

Section  7.  The Neighborhood Action Committee shall be responsible for providing support, resources, and solidarity to grassroots efforts to create socially and economically healthy and safe neighborhoods for working class people.

 

Section  8.  The Civil and Human Rights Committee shall be responsible for promoting diversity and equality among the membership of Fight Back Pittsburgh and identifying issues of social and economic justice directly impacting historically oppressed constituencies in Pittsburgh and around the world.
Section  9. Any additional special committee can be created by the Executive Board of Fight Back Pittsburgh, or its general membership through a motion at the General Membership Meeting.

 

Section 10. Committees shall operate freely. They shall require approval of the General Membership if:

(a) any project of the committee requires resources beyond their abilities, or

(b) they are making commitments on behalf of the greater organization.

 

Section 11. The General Membership shall hold the right to disband any special committee by majority vote.

 

Section 12.  It shall be the responsibility of the Organizing Chair and Vice Organizing Chair to ensure that all committees function effectively according to their stated missions and the objects of Fight Back Pittsburgh.  The Executive Board shall approve all appointments to both standing and special committees.

 

ARTICLE XII

Order of Business for General Membership Meetings

1. Call meeting to order

2. Roll call of Officers – by Recording Secretary

3. Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting

4. Reading of Communications

5. Report of Officers

6. Special Guests

7. Welcome of New Members

8. Report of Special Committees

9. Reports of Standing (or Permanent) Committees

10. Unfinished Business

11. New Business

12. Good and Welfare

13. Adjournment

 

ARTICLE XIII

Effective Date

The provisions of these By-Laws are automatically in full force and effect. Any additions or amendments to additions to such standard By-Laws shall be in full force and effect after their adoption by vote at a regular meeting of Fight Back Pittsburgh in accordance with the form and procedure provided for in Article XV.

 

ARTICLE XIV

Amendments

Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing and read at two (2) consecutive General Membership meetings, and passed by a majority vote of the membership present at the next regular meeting. The subject matter of such amendments must be advertised to the membership through the website or other medium prior to the meeting at which the vote thereon is to be taken.