BYLAWS

The Political Workers Guild of Colorado shall be governed by these Bylaws, by the Bylaws of partner CWA Local 37074 (the Denver News Guild), and by the Constitution of the Communication Workers of America.

ARTICLE I - Name

This branch of Local 37074, Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO, shall be known as the Political Workers Guild of Colorado (PWG).

ARTICLE II- Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction of this Local shall be the state of Colorado, in accordance with the Local Charter of Local 37074 until such time as PWG forms its own local under CWA procedures.

ARTICLE III - Objectives

The objectives of PWG shall be to represent and serve the members within its jurisdiction in accordance with PWG’s Mission Statement and the Bylaws herein, the Bylaws and rules of the Local 37074, and of the Constitution of the Union and to represent members equally, without regard to race, color, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, party affiliation, or capacity of employment.

ARTICLE IV - Local Structure

The structure of PWG shall consist of the following:

1) General Membership (“Members”)

a) General Members of PWG in Good Standing will each be able to vote on major decisions during General Membership Meetings. Each member will receive one vote. Members must receive reasonable notice of meetings when votes on major decisions are being held.

2) Steering Committee and Officers

a) Steering Committee shall include:

i) 4 “Base Officers”, two from each major category of PWG Membership:

1) Two members of the legislative aides, one from each chamber of the Colorado General Assembly;

2) Two campaign workers or non-aide members;

ii) 3 “At Large” Officers, who may come from any subsection of PWG membership.

b) Steering Committee Officers may occupy multiple categories of employment, but may only serve as one of the “Base Members” of the Steering Committee. Eligibility is determined at the time of nomination.

i) Steering Committee members must be members in good standing of the Political Workers Guild.

ii) Any Steering Committee member who no longer meet the established Guild membership eligibility standards of being “employed, seeking employment, or recently employed as a legislative aide, campaign worker, or organizer in the state of Colorado” must resign from the Steering Committee in a quick and reasonable manner.

c) Steering Committee Officers will serve one-year terms.

d) A vacancy on the Steering Committee shall be filled by appointment, with appointment requiring a two-thirds majority of Steering Committee members, not to include the outgoing member.

e) The Steering Committee may by majority vote appoint among its members a Chair and a Secretary. The Chair will be responsible for presiding over Steering Committee meetings. The Secretary will be responsible for maintaining a record and minutes of all Steering Committee meetings.

f) Steering Officers will be removed by a quorum .... majority vote of the Steering Committee.

3) Treasurer

a) The Steering Committee will elect, as their first action each term, a PWG Treasurer to serve a term concurrent with the Steering Committee. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of PWG under the direction of the Steering Committee. No authorization shall be required for routine expenditures. The Treasurer shall cause a report on the Local’s finances to be given once a month at regular meetings of the Local and whenever called upon by the Steering Committee.

4) Select Committees

a) The Steering Committee may create Select Committees for particular purposes, and designate their structure and rules of governance as needed to carry out those purposes and in accordance with these Bylaws.

b) Select Committees may appoint a Chairperson either by majority vote or have the Steering Committee designate a Chairperson.

5) Alumni

a) Former members will be eligible to join PWG as Alumni Members, who do not have voting authority on PWG matters, except to changes to their dues structure as Alumni.

ARTICLE V - Membership

1) Section 1. Eligibility: Any person eligible for membership in the Communications Workers of America, as defined in its constitution, who also is employed, seeking employment, or recently employed as a legislative aide, campaign worker, or organizer in the state of Colorado, shall be eligible for membership in PWG.

a) No elected officials are eligible for membership during their tenure in public office; existing members who obtain elected office will retain the right to resume membership after their tenure in public office concludes.

2) Section 2. Application: Membership in PWG shall be obtained after payment of initial dues, completion of the new membership form and, if applicable, upon approval of any Select Committee authorized to accept or reject membership on behalf of PWG.

3) Section 3. Transfers: The transfer of membership from this Local to the jurisdiction of another Local and from another Local to the jurisdiction of this Local shall be made in accordance with the CWA Union Constitution.

4) Section 4. Resignations and Graduations: Resignations of memberships must be in writing to the Steering Committee and will be effective upon receipt. General Members who become no longer eligible will have the option to become Alumni members, subject to processes to be established and maintained by the Steering Committee.

5) Section 5. Good Standing: A member in good standing is any member who has remained current on organization dues and payments, or has not otherwise been determined to be in violation of CWA, Local 37074, or PWG bylaws. Members determined to not be in Good Standing may be removed from PWG by a 5/7 vote of the full Steering Committee.

ARTICLE VI - Local Dues and Assessments

1) Section 1. Local Dues

a) Each member of PWG shall pay minimum membership dues per month. The Steering Committee, or designated committee, will submit, with no less than 30 days notice, any proposed changes to dues structure to Members for approval by a majority of a quorum.

b) Members who do not pay dues will be at risk of losing “Good Standing” status of membership.

2) Section 2. Local Special Assessments

a) The membership of PWG may levy a special assessment only in the same manner as provided for changing PWG dues. Special assessments must be in compliance with CWA Constitutional provisions.

ARTICLE VII - Local Meetings

1) Regular membership meetings shall be held every Tuesday at 5 pm, except when otherwise provided by a majority vote of the Steering Committee.

2) Steering Committee meetings shall be held at least once a month, at a time to be determined by the Committee, and additionally as needed to address urgent business.

3) Select Committees will determine their frequency of meetings each according to their need.

4) Reasonable notice of all meetings of all committees shall be given in advance and include the location, time, date, and agenda.

ARTICLE VIII - Conduct of Meetings, Quorum, Other Local Business

1) Meetings and any other business of PWG shall be conducted under these Bylaws and such rules as PWG may adopt in conformity with the Union Constitution. On questions where Bylaws, Local rules, or Constitution do not clearly apply, Robert's Rules of Order shall govern.

2) For Membership Meetings, forty percent of Members present shall constitute a quorum for binding votes.

3) For Steering Committee Meetings, two-thirds of Officers must be present to constitute a quorum for binding votes.

4) For Select Committee Meetings, unless otherwise provided for, two-thirds of Officers must be present to constitute a quorum for binding votes.

ARTICLE IX - Governing Authority

1) The affairs of PWG shall be governed by its members in accordance with the Constitution, the policies of CWA, and Bylaws and Rules of CWA Local 37074, and PWG Bylaws.

2) General Members may vote on changes to dues structure, amendments to these Bylaws, or any other matter referred to Members by the Steering Committee.

3) Steering Committee Officers will run the day-to-day operations of the Union, in accordance with the major decisions made by General Membership.

4) Select Committees will be empowered to create processes necessary to carry out their particular functions as determined by these Bylaws and/or the Steering Committee.

ARTICLE X - Harassment Grievances

1) Procedure

a) To initiate a grievance claim of one PWG member to another, the claimant shall notify a Steering Committee member. Any Steering Committee member receiving a claim must respect the confidentiality of the claimant, and only the claimant can waive confidence.

b) Once received, the receiving Steering Committee member shall inform the Steering Committee that a claim has been received, and the Steering Committee shall appoint a Grievance Delegate to evaluate the claim and report back to the Steering Committee for possible action. If action is recommended, then the Steering Committee must vote before pursuing a response.

2) Standard of Conduct

a) Members shall not engage in harassment on the basis of sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, physical appearance, disability, race, color, religion, national origin, class, age or profession.

b) Harassing or abusive behavior, such as unwelcome attention, inappropriate or offensive remarks, slurs, or jokes, physical or verbal intimidation, stalking, inappropriate physical contact or proximity, online harassment and other verbal and physical conduct constitute harassment when such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for PWG decisions affecting such individual(s).

ARTICLE XI - Select Committees

1) Members of PWG will be able to attend and join and vote in any Select Committee, unless provided otherwise in the bylaws or by the Steering Committee. Each Select Committee will appoint a Chair, and other officers as needed, by a quorum majority vote, beginning at the first Select Committee meeting.

2) Vacancies for essential positions on all select committees shall be filled promptly, using the same method as the prior appointment unless the Steering Committee authorizes otherwise.

3) A Select Committee officer may be removed in the same manner as appointment.

ARTICLE XII - Nominations & Elections of Steering Committee Officers

1) Nominations

a) Every year, during the first three weeks of January, PWG will open nominations for Officers of the Steering Committee. Nominees may run as more than one type of eligible nomination category in a single cycle, but may only accept one position. Nominations should be held collectively, with all PWG members submitting all Steering Committee nominations through the same nominating process. Every nominee must be included on every voting PWG member’s ballot for elections of all Officer positions.

b) Members must self-nominate, and state which Officer role they are running for on the Steering Committee.

c) Nominations will be open for seven days. Notice of the opening of nominations must be given to PWG 7 days prior to opening.

2) Elections

a) Regular elections of the Steering Committee shall be held by secret ballot of a quorum of PWG membership and conducted by a ranked choice voting method at the end of the 7-day nomination period during January, and the voting period will extend over the following 14 days.

b) Only Members in good standing will be eligible to vote or hold office. Alumni members may only vote on proposed changes to Alumni dues structure.

c) A vacancy on the Steering Committee shall be filled by appointment, with appointment requiring a two-thirds majority of Steering Committee members, not to include the outgoing member.

d) Elections shall be held for each of the Steering Committee positions:

i) 2 Legislative Aide Officers

ii) 2 Non-Aide Officers

iii) 3 At-Large Officers

ARTICLE XIII - Expulsion & Disciplinary Actions

1) Members of PWG may be fined, suspended, or expelled for the actions enumerated in the Union Constitution, or these Bylaws, after a majority vote by the Steering Committee.

2) Any member accused shall be tried under the provisions of the Union Constitution.

3) A member found guilty may appeal as provided in the Union Constitution.

ARTICLE XIV - Amendments

1) After adoption, these Bylaws may only be amended by:

a) A affirmative vote by secret ballot of two-third majority of a quorum at a general membership meeting, if notice of the vote was given at least 30 days in advance.

ARTICLE XV - Political Endorsements

1) The Steering Committee may authorize a process by which PWG issues endorsements for political candidates and/or certifications for political campaigns.

ARTICLE XVI - Adoption & Interpretation

1) Initial adoption of these Bylaws will be effective upon two-thirds majority vote of dues-paying members at a Chapter Meeting with proper notice.

2) Interpretations of the terms of this document may rely on the Presentation Materials used during the formal Adoption meeting to inform Member’s votes. The Steering Committee, if uncertain of a bylaws provision, may appeal to membership by referendum. Nothing in this document shall take precedence over the currently effective CWA and DNG Constitutions.