The full Constitution & Bylaws document with proposed language can be found at this link. All changes are marked in red.

Below is a summary of the proposed changes. We will hold a Constitutional Convention on October 25, 4-8pm at Westminster House (101 NW 23rd St).

To make amendments to these proposals requires a minimum of 30 members present, and a 3/4 vote of the present members to approve the proposed changes. Final voting on all proposed amendments will be through an online ballot. Every member will receive a ballot through email, and have until November 2 to cast their votes.

Each hour of the Constitutional Convention will be dedicated to discussing one category of changes.

Agenda for Constitutional Convention:

4:00-5:00 Changes in Membership Criteria

5:00-6:00 Changes in Executive Council

6:00-7:00 Changes in Steward Council

7:00-8:00 Changes in Committees/Caucuses

Proposals to Amend Membership Criteria

 

 

• Legacy Membership:
  • • Adds a new category of membership for CGE alumni.
    • Legacy members will pay directly to our union, and can decide on how much they want to contribute monthly between $5, $10, $15, $25, and $50.
    • Exact language found on Lines 45-48; 614-616.

 

 

• Membership Removal:

 

• • Creates criteria for revoking membership for discrimination against other CGE members.
  • Will not impact a GTA/GRA’s benefits.
  • Allegations made concerning a member’s discriminatory treatment of others will be vetted by Steward and Executive Councils.
  • Exact language found on Lines 318-321.  

 

Proposals to Amend Executive Council

 

• VP of Membership:

 

• • • Adds a ninth (9) officer to the Executive Council.
    • Responsibilities will include member data entry, assisting with VP of Organizing roles, and representing departments without elected stewards.
    • Position will be subject to regular Executive Council elections during spring term, first vacancy will be filled by appointment made by the current Executive Council.
    • Exact language found on Lines 171-178.

 

• Re-define responsibilities of President, VP of Grievances, External Relations Chair, and VP of Organizing:

 

• • President’s role will remain the same, but added will be responsibility of chairing the Bargaining Team. President will no longer be solely responsible for presiding over Executive Council meetings. Exact language found on Lines 113-119.
  • VP of Grievances will no longer be responsible for chairing the Bargaining Team or training stewards, and focus exclusively on worker grievances. Exact language found on Lines 121-127.
  • External Relations Chair will keep the same responsibilities, and add to their responsibilities fostering a relationship with UAOSU (new OSU faculty union) and GEU (new PSU grad employee union). Exact language found on Line 158.
  • VP of Organizing will take on responsibility of training stewards, and help facilitate Steward Council meetings. Exact language found on Lines 136-138.

 

Proposals to Amend Steward Council

 

• Steward Council Elections

 

• • • Will move nomination and election period of stewards to Steward Council from spring to winter.
    • Elections will be held electronically and kick-off at the winter General Membership Meeting.
    • All other election procedures will remain the same.

 

• Department Representation

 

• • • Eligible steward representation per department will increase from 1 for every 15 workers to 1 for every 10 workers.

 

• Steward Communications Committee

 

• • Will officially create the Steward Communications Committee (SCC).
  • Stewards will nominate and elect stewards to serve on the SCC in spring term at first Steward Council meeting of the term.
  • Responsibilities and role of the SCC will be to facilitate Steward Council meetings, help disseminate information to fellow stewards, and help represent departments without elected stewards.
  • Exact language for all amendments to Steward Council found on Lines 185-186; 190-225; 248-274

 

Proposals to Amend Committees/Caucuses

 

• Creation of 5 Caucuses

• Women of Color Caucus will focus solely on meeting various needs pertaining to women of color at Oregon State University. At least one officer from the Executive Council will be tasked with helping during meetings, and serving as a general note-taker for all meetings. Exact language found on Lines 527-539.

• Pride Caucus will focus solely on meeting various needs pertaining to LGBTQIA+ people at Oregon State University. At least one officer from the Executive Council will be tasked with helping during meetings, and serving as a general note-taker for all meetings. Exact language found on Lines 541-550.

• Housing Caucus will strive to secure affordable housing for all graduate students at Oregon State University. They will foster relationships with non-profit housing groups and unions for tenants in the surrounding area. At least one officer from the Executive Council will be tasked with helping during meetings, and serving as a general note-taker for all meetings. Exact language found on Lines 562-570.

• Anti-Bullying Caucus will strive to address and minimize prevalence of bullying by supervisors against graduate students at Oregon State University. At least one officer from the Executive Council will be tasked with helping during meetings, and serving as a general note-taker for all meetings. Exact language found on Lines 572-580.

• Working Parents Caucus will focus solely on meeting various needs pertaining to working graduate parents at Oregon State University. At least one officer from the Executive Council will be tasked with helping during meetings, and serving as a general note-taker for all meetings. Exact language found on Lines 552-560.

• Redefine Committee on Political Action

 

• • • The Committee on Political Action shall be re-named the Committee on Political and Social Education and will be tasked with disseminating internal union education on political and social subjects through regular discussion groups and educational events.
    • Exact language found on Lines 517-525.

 

• Eliminate the Organizing Committee

 

• • • The Organizing Committee will be disbanded and replaced by the Steward Communications Committee.
    • Exact language found on Lines 509-515.

 

• Powers of Executive and Steward Council

 

• • Executive and Steward Councils will be tasked with hearing reports from standing caucuses and committees, and remain empowered to create new caucuses or committees as deemed necessary.
  • Executive and Steward Council will be tasked additionally with ensuring each caucus/committee remain aligned with CGE core principles.
  • Exact language found on Lines 324-330; 370; 385; 579.