Membership, Rights and Obligations of Membership

Membership, Rights and Obligations of Membership

Membership in the Local

4.1

“Active members in good standing” and “associate members in good standing” with the Society as defined in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society who are employed by the Employer under an Agreement with the Employer for the School Year or a portion thereof shall be Members of the Local. 

Obligations of Membership

4.2

Members shall pay Required Membership Fees to the Society and the Local;

4.3

Members have such other obligations contained in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society, and any further obligations contained in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Local.

4.4

Where a Member, in addition to being employed by the Employer, is also employed by a school division, school district, First Nation or First Nation Education Authority other than the Employer, and is by virtue of that employment a member of one or more other locals of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society, that Member is only entitled to participate in the Political Processes of one local.

(a)     Such a Member must declare, in accordance with the procedures set by the Society, the name of all other locals of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society to which the Member is also a member, and must declare one local in which the Member chooses to participate in Political Processes. Such a declaration is binding on the Member for the duration of the School Year.   

(b)     Such a Member who declares the choice to participate in the Political Processes of another local of the Society, or who fails to declare a choice to participate in the Political Processes of this Local in accordance with the procedures set out in the Bylaws of the Local, is not entitled to participate in the Political Processes of this Local, for the duration of the School Year, but such Member maintains other Member rights as provided for in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Local;

Rights of Membership

4.5

Subject to article 4.4, Members, duly assembled in a Membership Meeting properly called in accordance with the Bylaws of the Local, are the highest authority for deciding the policies and affairs of the Local.

4.6

Subject to article 4.4, and where it is not feasible to hold a Membership Meeting to conduct a vote, Members may vote on Local business outside of Membership Meetings in accordance with any procedures set out in the Bylaws, provided that adequate information is provided to all Members in advance.

4.7

Members enjoy the rights contained in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society, and the rights contained in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Local. 

4.8

A Member who does not maintain Membership in good standing by ceasing to pay Required Membership Fees to the Society and the Local at any period of time, including but not limited to a leave of absence, shall cease to enjoy the rights of Membership under the Constitution and Bylaws of the Local during the period of time that Required Membership Fees are not paid. This includes, but is not limited to, cessation of the right to participate in Political Processes of the Local during any period of time where Required Membership Fees are unpaid. A Member has the onus to ensure that Required Membership Fees are paid to the Society and the Local in order to maintain rights of Membership, including, but not limited to making arrangements for payment of Required Membership Fees during a leave of absence.

Cessation of Membership

4.9

Membership in the Local ceases if:

(a)     a Member ceases to be employed by the Employer or does not sign an Agreement with the Employer for the School Year, except that where proceedings are brought to challenge the justness of a Member’s termination by the Employer, Membership continues pending the outcome of the proceedings; 

(b)     a Member has voluntarily terminated membership in the Society or elected not to be a member of the Society;

(c)       a Member has membership suspended or terminated by the Society in accordance with the Society’s Constitution or Bylaws.Every person who is a teacher or who performs any one or more functions involved in the teaching process, including every person who is a substitute teacher, and who is employed by the Winnipeg School Division on a full-time, part-time or casual basis shall be eligible to be a member of the Association.