Page 15 - Work Force May 2021

2021 CSEA ELECTIONS INFORMATION — Public Sector Local and Unit Elections
Elections will be conducted for all Public Sector Local and Unit officers
The term of office for all current Public Sector Local and Unit officers expires June 30, 2021. Public Sector officers and local delegates will be elected to four-year terms.
Balloting for officers will be conducted between May 15 and June 15, 2021, where applicable.
Each Local and Unit executive board must select its own election
committee and Election Committee Chairperson, or Election Meeting Chairperson, if applicable. The Election Committee/Election Meeting Chairperson is responsible for conducting the election, which includes choosing an election schedule, providing notices and coordinating nominations and voting.
Important information about running on a slate
Aslate must contain a candidate running for the offices of President, one or more Vice Presidents, as set forth in the Local’s by-laws, Secretary and Treasurer, and any other offices that have been created according to the Local or Unit Constitution and by-laws (for example, the combined Secretary-Treasurer position).
Candidates should know the following:
• A member cannot be a candidate for officer and for delegate on the same slate. An officer candidate must separately nominate in order to appear on the ballot also
as a candidate for delegate. The member will appear on the ballot as a candidate for office as part of the slate and as an individual for the position of delegate.
• Candidates who run as a slate must complete a Slate Eligibility and Consent Form.
• Candidates who withdraw from a slate must complete a Slate Withdrawal Form and return the form to their election committee.
• More detailed information about election slates will be available from Local and Unit election committees.
ATTENTION: Public Sector Local and Unit Presidents
Did you send your Election Committee Data Form to CSEA Headquarters?
In February all registered Election Committee Chairs and Election Meeting Chairs received an election package from CSEA to assist
them in performing their election duties. This material is necessary to have to run a proper election. (As new election committees are registered, these election packages will be mailed to the Election Committee Chairs.)
Election packages will only be mailed to Chairs where their Local or Unit President has
sent in the required Election Committee and Election Meeting Chairperson Data Form (EDF). CSEA Headquarters cannot send material and information to any Chairperson, without first receiving the completed EDF from the Local or Unit President.
Inquiries regarding the election process may be directed to the CSEA Statewide Election Committee at 1-800-342-4146, ext. 1447 or sec@cseainc.org.
Break in membership affects eligibility for union office, voting privileges
Abreak in union membership status can have long-
term future implications. Your membership status affects your eligibility with respect to:
• Seeking or holding union office;
• Voting in union elections, and;
• Voting on collective bargaining contracts.
Only members in “good standing” can participate in these activities. To be in “good standing”, your dues cannot be delinquent.
If you go on unpaid leave or
for any other reason have a break in your employment status, your dues will not continue to be paid through payroll deductions. You must make arrangements to pay your dues directly to CSEA to continue your membership status. If you are either laid off or placed on leave without pay status due
to becoming disabled by accident, illness, maternity or paternity,
you may be eligible for dues-free membership status for a period not to exceed one year. If you are called up for active military duty you may also apply for dues-free status.
Note, however, you must continue to pay dues to run for office. Dues-free or gratuitous membership allows members to continue their insurance coverage while out of work. It does not protect your right to run for or hold office. This does not apply to members who are on leave due to being called up for military duty. Members on active duty, upon return, are considered to have had continuous membership status for all CSEA election purposes.
Please notify the CSEA Membership Department at 1-800- 342-4146, ext. 1334, of any change in your status and what arrangements you are making to continue your membership in CSEA.
Locals and Units with 150 or fewer members
Holding an Election at a Special Membership Meeting
Locals and Units with 150 members or less may choose
to appoint an Election Meeting Chairperson (instead of an election committee) in order to conduct an election at a meeting.
Holding an election at a Special Membership meeting simplifies the election process in that, where there are races (more than one candidate for an office), the Election Meeting Chairperson calls a Membership meeting for the purpose of electing officers.
This Week
I n A l b a n y email alerts
The quickest and easiest way to stay up-to-date on what is happening in Albany and Washington is “This Week in Albany.”
Sign up for “This Week in Albany” email alerts at https://cseany.org/legislative-political-action
May 2021 The Work Force 15