In addition to his or her constitutional duties, the president, as the chief officer in the local, regularly takes on other roles and responsibilities. As the spokesperson of the union leadership to the rank-and-file membership, the president regularly should communicate the union’s vision, direction and goals. The president must also be a good listener and should seek out the views and ideas of fellow officers as well as those of the membership. The president’s role is like that of a team captain, one who can focus on issues and problems and motivate people to work together toward achieving common goals. The president is also the union’s representative to the community. Finally, the president is the union’s ceremonial officer for such occasions as initiation of new members or installation of newly elected officers.
In many locals the vice president is the chair of a prominent standing committee, such as the stewards committee or the organizing committee. This provides a direct link from the executive board to the work of an important committee. The vice president can serve as a stand-in for the president in such roles as ceremonial officer or representative to the community.
The AFSCME Financial Standards Code establishes the minimum standards for keeping local union financial records. The local’s money can be spent only with proper authorization, that is, by a vote of the membership or executive board. (Payments required by law or the union’s constitution require no further authorization.)
The monthly financial report contains a statement of income for the month, expenses paid during the month, the local’s cash assets, and a list of any unpaid obligations as of the end of the month (see Appendix A: Sample Local Monthly Financial Report, page 48). The local union’s annual financial report allows a local officer to review and evaluate the local’s financial practices.
The Constitution requires that all local union officers and employees be bonded through the International Union for no less than 10 percent of the local’s assets. A $2,500 bond is the minimum issued by the International Union. The local’s secretarytreasurer must notify the International secretary-treasurer, on forms provided by the International, of the amount of the local’s annual assets. The International Union then bills the local for the cost of the bond.
Minutes are a brief record of what occurred at a meeting and should include officer and committee reports, as well as motions that were discussed and those that were passed. A copy of the monthly financial report should be attached to the minutes and kept on file. Correspondence the executive board considers important should be read at the membership meeting.
Words cannot express everything that our Rep has does for us on a daily basis. Leadership, encouragement, structure, dedication, committment, a loyal warrior, battle ax... our secret weapon... This does not begin to describe what this man does... or is capable of...
