By-Laws

The name of the organization shall be: “Long Beach Association of Engineering Employees”, hereafter known as the Association.

Any employee in the City of Long Beach Bargaining Unit #20 and #22 who pays dues is a Member of the Association.

Employees should sign dues deduction authorization forms indicating they desire membership in the Association. A member may cancel membership by written notice to the Association’s Executive Officers only during the month of July. Any employee who elects not to sign a dues deduction authorization form upon hire or promotion into the bargaining unit, or who elects to cancel membership during the window period, shall complete a form indicating they decline membership in the Association. Non-members are not eligible to vote on Association business or MOU ratification, and are not entitled to Member-only services, such as CEA or group insurance benefits.

The Association is established for the purpose of serving as an “employee organization” and as the “recognized employee organization” as defined in the Meyers Milias Brown Act, California Government Code §3500 et seq. It shall represent the Members in their relations with the City of Long Beach. The Association shall facilitate communications and dispute resolution between the Members and the City of Long Beach regarding wages, hours and all other terms and conditions of employment. The Association shall promote the professional development and interests of the Members, and may obtain group insurance and related services as desired.

The Association was not organized for pecuniary gain and is not affiliated with a local, state, national, or international union. The Association shall not affiliate with or be subsumed by another organization but for a 2/3 vote of all members, voting in secret ballot, conducted by a recognized independent agent.

The management powers of the Association shall be vested in its Governing Board (Board). The Board may delegate powers to individuals and committees, provided that the Board retains ultimate control of its management powers. The Membership shall be organized into Groups, for the purpose of representation and communication. The Board shall establish the member groups with due consideration for City department and work locations, and shall endeavor to achieve equality of group size. The Board shall fairly represent all classifications and work areas represented by the Association. The Board shall be comprised of four Executive Officers and at least six, but not more than eight Group Directors. The Executive Officers shall be President, Vice-President, Executive Assistant to the Board, and Treasurer. They shall be selected by a vote of the Members. The Group Directors shall only be selected by a vote of the Members of their respective Groups. Group Directors and Executive Officers shall serve overlapping or staggered three -year terms. The terms of the President and Vice President and the terms of the Executive Assistant to the Board and Treasurer shall overlap by one year. The President shall be the chief spokesperson for the Association, shall chair meetings of the Board, and propose the annual budget. The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in his or her absence, assist the President, and complete any unexpired term of the vacated Presidency. The Treasurer shall maintain the Association’s financial records and bank account. The Executive Assistant to the Board shall maintain meeting records, member lists, notify Members of meetings, and finalize meeting agendas. The Executive Assistant to the Board shall maintain a Post Office Box for mail addressed to the Association. Group Directors shall represent and communicate with their respective Group Members. All Executive Officers and Group Directors shall volunteer their time and will not be paid by the Association for their time spent on Association business. Vacancies in office may be filled by Board appointment until the next Association election, unless succession is otherwise provided for within these Bylaws. An Executive Officer or Group Director can be removed from office for activities not in the best interests of the Association by a three-quarter vote of the Board and two-thirds vote of the Membership at a membership meeting.

The Board shall meet at least once every three months. Any member may attend a Board meeting. All Members shall be given an opportunity to speak at the meeting, provided they notify the Executive Assistant to the Board prior to the meeting. The President or any other three Executive Officers may call a meeting. A quorum for conducting business shall be one more than one-half of the Board members. Decisions shall be by majority vote of the quorum. The meeting chairperson only votes in the case of a tie. An Executive Office and Group Director may appoint an alternate who may attend the meeting and vote in lieu of the member by providing a written notice to the Board. This may be done for one-third of the Board meetings in a calendar year.

If an Executive Officer or Group Director is absent without authorization from three (3) consecutive Board meetings, or is not current with his or her dues, then the Board may declare that position vacant.

The Executive Assistant to the Board shall distribute Board meeting minutes to the Group Directors, who may post and distribute them at the worksites they represent. Notices of regular Board meetings may be distributed at least five working days prior to the meeting. Only two days notice may be required for Special Board meetings.

There shall be two types of membership meetings: Annual and Special. At an Annual Meeting of the Members, the incumbent Board members shall report on the activities and plans of the Association, and new Executive Officers and Group Directors may be elected. Changes in dues, fees, and bylaws may be presented to the Membership for approval. Roberts Rules of Order may be followed at the meeting. Normally, the President shall chair the meeting and appoint a parliamentarian. The Board may call a Special Membership Meeting for any purpose or upon receipt of a petition signed by ten percent (10%) of the Members. The petition shall state the purpose of the meeting. Written notice of the time, place and agenda of an Annual Meeting or a Special Membership Meeting shall be distributed to all Members at least fourteen (14) days before the meeting. Where practical, notices may also be posted at the worksites.

All elections shall occur at a membership meeting. The Board shall set the date of elections. The Board may by a three-fifths vote delay the annual election up to six months and extend the terms of office of Executive Officers and/or Group Directors. Only Members whose dues payments are current may vote in Association elections. Members may request to vote by absentee ballots at all elections. Fifty-one (51) percent of the Members of the Association shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business at a membership meeting. The fifty-one (51) percent includes all those who voted and all the absentee ballots for the current election. A majority of votes cast by the quorum shall constitute approval in an election. A majority of votes shall be defined as whoever receives the most votes. All elections shall be administered by secret ballot. The actual number of votes cast for any candidate, MOU, or other issue voted upon at any election shall be recorded and reported to the Membership. Elections shall be supervised by an Elections Committee of at least three (3) Members. The Board shall appoint the members of the Elections Committee. Candidates may not serve on the committee. Committee meetings and vote counting shall be open to the Membership. The Elections Committee shall recommend a slate of candidates, as nominated by the membership, for all offices to be filled at each election. All elections shall allow for write-in candidates. No Member shall be a candidate for more than one (1) office. Members may request an absentee ballot from the Elections Committee prior to an election day. The newly elected Board member(s) shall be inducted into office at the beginning of the first Board meeting following the election certification.

The following list specifies several of the more important member rights. There are additional unlisted rights that are provided by law.

1. Individual Representation

Each Member has the right to appear on his or her own behalf in their employment relations with the City. A member may request the Association to represent him or her in a grievance or disciplinary action with the City. Members retain the right to hire their own attorney. If, in the opinion of the Board, a particular grievance or disciplinary proceeding may affect its members, the Board may use available funds to hire an attorney to represent the member and the Association.

2. Inspection of Records and Parliamentary Procedure

Any Member has the right to inspect the Association records or demand the use of parliamentary procedure at a meeting.

3. Membership Approval

The following must be approved by a majority vote of the membership at a membership meeting:

• Any MOU between the Association and the City after having been recommended for approval by the Board/Negotiation Team.
• Any revision of the Association’s Bylaws.
• Any changes in the Association’s dues.
• Any election of General Executive Officers and Group Directors.

Non-members are not entitled to vote on any Association matters, including those listed above, and do not have a right to inspect Association records, attend meetings, or demand the use of parliamentary procedures.

Association dues may be changed as deemed necessary by a majority vote at a membership meeting. User fees to cover costs for special services may be changed by a majority vote of the Board.

Non-members may not be charged a fee to cover the cost of collective bargaining but may be charged a service fee as determined by a majority vote of the Board to cover the cost incurred for services provided for individual representation of the non-member, if any.

Funds of the Association shall be maintained in a financial institution account that is FDIC insured. The signature of at least two Executive Officers shall be required for all withdrawals or checks. No funds may be expended unless it is included in the annual budget or specifically approved by the Board. All Executive Officers and Group Directors may be reimbursed personal expenses incurred on behalf of the Association upon the approval of the President. A listing of all Association assets shall be available to the Membership for review at the Annual Meeting.

Amendments may be proposed by the Board or by a petition signed by ten percent (10%) of the members. The Bylaws shall be amended by a majority vote of the membership.

In the event of any ambiguity in these Bylaws, they shall be interpreted to conform to law.

In the event that the Association elects not to be a “recognized employee organization” the organization is dissolved and all business shall be concluded within 180 days. Upon the dissolution of the Association, the Board shall vote to donate the assets of the Association to a non-sectarian charitable organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service and active in the City of Long Beach, or a succeeding employee organization.