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Economic Policy Committee Preamble This committee shall be the Economic Policy Committee, hereafter referred to as the EPC. It shall prepare for and oversee negotiations and oversee the application of the collective agreement on behalf of the teachers who are employed by Edmonton School District #7. Duties and Responsibilities The EPC shall exist for the following reasons: 1. To gather and study data for the purpose of setting objectives for collective bargaining. 2. To identify and interpret the economic and working condition needs of teachers. 3. To prepare proposed amendments to the collective agreement for consideration of the members of the bargaining unit. 4. To effect changes to the collective agreement as negotiated and ratified by the teachers. 5. To recommend the Negotiating Sub-committee (NSC) to a General Assembly of the Local and establish operational guidelines for its effective operation. 6. To keep the Executive Committee, the Council of School Representatives, and teachers of the bargaining unit informed on matters pertaining to the progress of negotiations and the specific details of the collective agreement. 7. To consult with Teacher Welfare Staff Officers, District Representatives, Consultants (as assigned) and members of the bargaining unit before, during, and after negotiations. 8. To identify areas of concern for teachers and to provide the necessary assistance and direction in applying the provisions of the collective agreement. 9.
To generally exercise leadership in all matters pertaining to
collective bargaining. Membership
and Election 1. The Chair of the EPC to be elected in accordance with Section XV.4.c of the Local’s Constitution. 2. One member of the bargaining unit from each of the four divisions to be elected by a ballot vote of the entire membership of the bargaining unit in accordance with Section XV.4.c of the Local’s Constitution. 3. Four members-at-large to be elected by a ballot vote of the entire membership of the bargaining unit in accordance with Section XV.4.c of the Local’s Constitution. 4. The Executive Secretary of the Local who shall be the non-voting secretary of both the EPC and NSC. 5. The district representative and those staff officers and consultants assigned from time to time to the EPC by the Alberta Teachers’ Association. They shall be non-voting members of the EPC. 6. The President of the Local or appointee acting in an ex-officio capacity. Executive and Duties 1. Chair – Chair EPC meetings, represent the EPC in its relationship with the general membership, attend Local Council meetings as required by the Local’s Constitution and request the calling of bargaining unit meetings by the Local President. 2. Vice-chair elected from and by voting members of the EPC shall act on behalf of the chair in his/her absence. 3. Executive Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all EPC meetings and perform such other internal communications functions as may be assigned from time to time. 4.
The elected members of the EPC shall attend all EPC meetings
and such other meetings as required by the Local association
for purposes of reporting and communicating. 6. A chair shall act only with the consent of a majority of the committee or sub-committee. Committees The Negotiating Sub-committee (NSC) shall conduct the negotiations with the Edmonton Public School Board on all matters relating to the collective agreement. 1. The NSC shall have three (3) members elected from the EPC by the members present at the General Meeting called to consider and approve the teachers’ negotiating brief. The EPC may nominate up to three (3) of its members to serve on the NSC and other members of the EPC may be nominated from the floor of the General Meeting. 2. Ballots used for electing members of the Negotiating Sub-committee shall include the names of all the members of the Local’s Economic Policy Committee, with the names of the nominees of the Negotiating Sub-committee indicated with an asterisk, unless a member of the EPC has requested their name be omitted from the ballot. 3. Interpretations Committee a) The Interpretations Committee shall consist of two (2) voting members elected from and by the voting members of the EPC—one of these members shall be from the NSC. b) The Interpretations Committee shall select from among its members an Interpretations Committee Chair.
c) The duties of the Interpretations Committee shall be to: 4. The EPC may appoint such other sub-committees as deemed necessary. Term of Office 1. The term of office and election procedure for the EPC is defined in section XV.4.a and 4.c of the Local’s Constitution. 2. The term of office for the NSC is the same as the EPC. Emergency Replacements 1. Procedures for the emergency replacement of members of the EPC are defined in section C.XV.20 of the Local’s Constitution. Meetings of the EPC or Bargaining Unit 1. The EPC shall meet on a monthly basis throughout the school year until it has concluded a settlement and thereafter, as necessary. 2. The EPC shall meet in emergent session upon the call of its Chair, its Secretary, a quorum of the members, the RBA, or the Executive Committee. Notice of meeting shall be given at least three days prior to any such meeting to all members except that, in special circumstances, shorter notice may be given. 3. Meetings shall be held as required to expedite negotiations, at the call of the Chair, the RBA, or the Secretary. 4. Meetings of the bargaining unit shall be called by the President of the Local on the President’s initiative, or at the request of the Chair of the EPC on the Chair’s initiative, or at the request of: a) a majority of voting members on the EPC, b) the Chair of the NSC, c) the Representative of the Bargaining Agent (RBA) or
d) teachers representing 5% or more of the membership
Quorum 2. The quorum of the Negotiating Sub-committee shall be two (2) of the voting members. Rules of Procedure 1. The proceedings of all meetings shall be regulated by the official rules of procedure as published in the ATA Members’ Handbook, except that the Chair shall have full rights to debate as accorded to all other members and casting vote. Finances 1. The EPC of the Local shall submit to the Finance Committee, prior to the drawing up of the budget for the next fiscal year, a complete list of the anticipated expenditures of that committee for the forthcoming year. Preparation Procedure 1. The EPC shall request and consider suggested amendments to the collective agreement from the membership of the bargaining unit, members of the EPC and the ATA. 2. In addition, the EPC may propose suggested amendments to the members of the bargaining unit. 3.
An initial draft proposal of amendments shall be prepared and
presented, through the 4. Subsequent to the previously outlined procedures, the EPS shall prepare an initial proposal for transmission to the Board and provide members of the bargaining unit with a copy. Negotiating an Agreement 1.
The NSC shall work toward a settlement utilizing the following
processes:
b) they may bring a Board offer to teachers; or Ratification of the Collective Agreement 1. A collective agreement shall be ratified by a simple majority of the members of the bargaining unit present at a properly called meeting of that unit, voting in favor of acceptance of the proposed agreement by means of a secret ballot vote. 2. The requirement for a secret ballot vote may be waived, provided no member objects. 3. Any voting on matters arising from collective bargaining must be voted on at a General Assembly unless directed otherwise by Alberta Labour. 4. Notwithstanding clause 4.5.15 (3), if the occasion should arise that more members attend a General Assembly than can be accommodated, any vote to accept or reject the proposed settlement shall take place by secret ballot in the schools at a later date. 5. If time permits, a special meeting of the Council of School Representatives should be convened to distribute and explain a proposed settlement prior to the General Assembly called to consider or vote upon the proposed settlement. 6. General Assemblies of the bargaining unit should be held on Sundays at a venue capable of accommodating no less than one half of the membership. 7. All General Assemblies called for the purpose of receiving, considering, and acting upon a proposed settlement shall be closed meetings. 8. The vote on the acceptance or rejection of the proposed settlement shall be conducted by secret ballot of members in attendance one and one-half hours after the commencement of debate. However, the General Assembly may, by majority vote, advance or delay the time of the vote. 9. The order of business for a General Assembly convened to deal with a proposed settlement shall be as follows:
a) Call to order c) Presentation of the Issue (e.g. Board offer, memorandum, etc.)
d) Question Period for Clarification e) Explanation of Future Procedures (if applicable—e.g. A request for a Representative of the Bargaining Agent) f) Motion on the Issue (e.g. Motion to accept the Memorandum of Agreement—print motion on agenda) g) Recommendation to Membership (from EPC, NSC, etc.) h) Debate on Motion i) Vote by secret ballot (the ballots and ballot boxes are made available at this point and only one ballot shall be accepted from each voter) j) Other Business (if votes on other issues are required, the procedures used shall be in accordance with items c to i above) 10. Except where time is of the essence, the text of proposed amendments to the collective agreement shall be made available in writing to the members of the bargaining unit prior to the meeting. Amendments to this Frame of Reference 1. Subject to ratification by the Provincial Executive Council of The Alberta Teachers’ Association, this Frame of Reference may be amended in accordance with the following procedures. a)
Amendments may be initiated by the EPC. Such amendments require: b)
Amendments may be initiated by the Local Council of School Representatives.
Such amendments require: c) Upon failure of a committee of the Local to comply with the Constitution or to conform to the Frames of Reference, the Executive Committee, subject to approval by the CSR, may withdraw all financial or Constitutional support. Effective Period This Frame of Reference shall be in place for as long as bargaining is conducted at the Local level. Upon appointment of a Representative of the Bargaining Agent (RBA), it shall be superseded to the extent required by the guidelines established by Provincial Executive Council for bargaining at the RBA level which stipulate the RBA is to assume control of all procedures in consultation with the officials of the bargaining unit.
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