Cooley Dickinson Hospital Registered Nurses Unit
of the
Massachusetts Nurses Association
Guidelines
Article I
The name of this unit shall be the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Registered Nurses Unit of the MNA (hereinafter referred to as the Association,), and shall be affiliated with the Massachusetts Nurses Association (hereinafter referred to as the MNA), in accordance with the MNA Bylaws.
Article II
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the Association shall be to improve overall working conditions and to address professional issues and patient care issues through collective bargaining and all other means available to the unit.
Article III
MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING BODY
Section 1.The term “member” shall include all those employees at Cooley Dickinson Hospital who hold titles which are included in the certification or recognition of the bargaining unit and who have signed authorization for the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) to act as their representative for collective bargaining.
Section 2.All Labor Program members in good standing as defined by MNA shall have the privilege of voting on all matters and elections.
Section 3.Only members in good standing may hold office and/or serve on Negotiating Committee and other committees.
Section 4.Officers of the Nurses’ Committee shall not work in any supervisory position or capacity during their term in office.
Article IV
OFFICERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
A.Section 1.The officers of this unit shall be:Chairand a Co-Chair; a Secretary; and a Treasurer and up to twenty (20) Floor Representatives.
Section 2.The officers shall be elected in accordance with Article VI. Elections shall occur no later than every three years and at a time and place designated by the Executive Committee.
B.Section 1.Chair/Co-Chair shall preside at all meetings of the unit and conduct all other business which comes before this unit; appoint members to all committees, with the approval of the Executive Committee, except for the negotiating committee which shall be elected by the membership; and serve as ex officio member of each committee except the nominating committee; and, transact such other duties as are usual to this office.
Section 2.At the request of the Chair or Co-Chair and in collaboration with the MNA AD, the Secretary shall notify officers and members on matters involving the unit; keep the minutes of all meetings; keep the roll of the members; preserve all correspondence and other records of the unit; preserve election ballots for one year; and transact such other duties as are usual to this office.
Section 3.The duties of the treasurer where applicable shall be to receive dues whether directly from local unit members or through MNA collection of all local dues and all other funds of this unit; pay such bills only as shall have been approved by the Chairperson; keep an itemized account of all receipts and disbursements; and give a written report at all regular meetings of the association and transact such other duties as are usual to this office.
Article V
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE COMPOSITION AND DUTIES
Section 1.The officers of the bargaining unit shall constitute the Executive Committee.
Section 2.The Executive Committee shall have general supervision of the affairs of the bargaining unit between its business meetings; fix hours and places of meetings; make recommendations to the unit; and perform other such duties as specified by these guidelines.
Section 3.The Executive Committee and MNA Floor Representatives shall serve on the Negotiating Committee.
Article VI
ELECTIONS
Section 1.Each chairperson, secretary and treasurer shall be elected to serve for two (2) years or until their successors are elected.
Section 2.The Negotiating Committee shall be elected to serve for two (2) years or until their successors are elected.
Section 3.Nominations and elections shall be conducted in accordance with the Nomination and Election Policy adopted by the Executive Committee of the Association, and, and as required under the provisions of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (as amended). All elections for which there is more than one candidate shall be by secret ballot, and shall require a plurality vote from among those present and voting to elect. Tie votes in officer election shall be determined by a special run-off election among the candidates receiving the same number of votes with the time and place of such run-off election to be determined by the Executive Committee. Note: The method of elections shall be by secret ballot, unless all seats are uncontested and the secretary shall be directed to cast one vote for each uncontested candidate for election.
Section 4.In the event of a permanent vacancy in any office, the next highest vote-getter in the election shall fill the vacancy. In the event there was no other candidate, or that member is not available, it shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to appoint a successor for the remainder of the term, provided that at the time of the vacancy more than ninety (90) days remain of the vacated term of office, otherwise, the office shall remain vacant until the next regular election.
Section 5. Absentee ballots must be requested fourteen (14) days in advance. The ballot will be mailed from MNA headquarters and must be received back by the stated deadline. Unit members who request an absentee ballot must provide proof of current membership.
Section 6.Newly elected leadership shall participate in MNA leadership education.
ARTICLE VII
COMMITTEES
Section 1.The standing committees of the Association shall be the Negotiating Committee; the Nominations and Elections Committee; and the Guidelines Committee.
Section 2.Prior to contract negotiations, the Negotiating Committee shall review the agreement between the MNA and Cooley Dickinson Hospital; receive from and make recommendations to the Association on proposed revisions to the existing agreement; represent the membership in meetings and negotiations with the administration; report to the membership on meetings with administration; and shall be accountable to and take direction from the membership.
Section 3.The GuidelinesCommittee shall set up and receive proposed revisions to the guidelines and shall submit the proposed revisions for action to the voting body of the unit.
Section 4.Special committees may be created for specific projects or programs by vote of the Executive Committee or by the membership, with members appointed by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Section 1.The annual membership meeting shall be in September of each year, or at such other time as may be determined by the Executive Committee or by the membership. The Executive Committee may delay the annual meeting due to ongoing contract negotiations. Notice of the annual membership meeting must be posted at least fourteen (14) business days prior to the date of the meeting.
Section 2.Additional regular membership meetings may be scheduled by the Chairperson, or by a majority vote of the Negotiating Committee. Notices of additional regular meetings must be posted at least three (3) business days prior to the date of the meeting.
Section 3.Special membership meetings may be petitioned by the written request of at least twenty (20) members in good standing. The petition for a special meeting must state the business for which it is being requested, and no business shall be transacted except that for which the meeting is called. Notices of special meetings must be posted at least three (3) business days prior to the date of the meeting, unless guideline amendments or revisions are being considered, or unless otherwise required by law.
Section 4.A majority of the voting body present including five (5) officers and twenty (20) members shall constitute a quorum at regular and special membership meetings.
Section 5.The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the proceedings of the Association in all cases to which they are applicable provided they are not inconsistent with these guidelines.
ARTICLEIX
COMMUNICATIONS
The Committee may communicate with members on matters involving the unit using leaflets, newsletters, email or web postings.
ARTICLEX
STRIKE POLICY
A strike vote shall require a 51% majority vote of those present and voting and shall be held by secret ballot.
ARTICLE XI
CONTRACT RATIFICATION
Any tentative agreement reached between the MNA and Cooley Dickinson Hospital must be ratified by a majority of the membership present and voting.
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS
These guidelines may be amended or revised by a majorityvote of those present and voting at the annual membership meeting or any additional regular or special membership meeting provided that the membership has been notified at least fourteen (14) calendar days previous to the meeting at which guideline amendments or revisions are being considered, and said notice shall include the proposed amendments or revisions.
Revised: May 25, 1972
October 7, 1987
November 6, 1990
February 7, 1991
October 18, 2000
October 24, 2005
September 27, 2007
September 15, 2016
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