CONSTITUTION & RULES

Green Party Trade Union Group;

CONSTITUTION & RULES               30 March 2005

1.                  The Green Party Trade Union Group (hereinafter GPTU), is a sub group of the Green Party of England & Wales , (hereinafter GPEW), set up under the rules of GPEW on the same basis as its other sub-groups (e.g.: Animal Rights, Education, Economics etc)

2          AIMS

The aims of GPTU shall be to further good relations between GPEW and Trades Unions and the labour movement nationally, internationally, locally and regionally.

It shall do this by putting forward policy and campaign proposals to GPEW and to Trades Unions.

It shall campaign on behalf of GPEW by participating in Trades Union and other political and cultural events and by drafting and distributing appropriate publicity materials.

GPTU shall encourage Trades Unions to give financial and other support to GPEW and shall encourage Trades Unions (at Branch, local regional or national level) to affiliate to GPEW. (The actual mechanics of affiliation shall be dealt with by the Trade Union Liaison sub-committee of the GPEW Executive).

3                    MEMBERSHIP

Membership of GPTU shall be open to any current members of GPEW. The usual method of joining will be to join the GPTU email list, but GPEW members can also join by contacting GPTU committee members.

4                    COMMITTEE

 The GPTU Committee shall comprise Chair, Secretary, Membership Secretary and Treasurer. Other Committee posts may be created by the Committee as necessary subject to ratification by a meeting of GPTU.

The Committee shall normally be elected at the AGM.

5                    MEETINGS

The Annual general Meeting (AGM) of GPTU shall normally take place annually in February or March and be open to all GPTU members

Ordinary meetings of GPTU shall normally take place monthly and be open to all GPTU members

Extra Ordinary General Meetings can be called by petition of 25% of GPTU members or 10 GPTU members (whichever is the larger). EGMs can consider and enact motions to re-elect the Committee.

Committee meetings shall take place if necessary between other meetings; usually they shall be open to all GPTU members

Where possible an Ordinary meeting of GPTU shall be held at GPEW National Conference, this may be additional to the normal schedule of Ordinary meetings of GPTU.

6                    Decisions

 Decisions at GPTU meetings shall be by majority vote where necessary. Contentious or tied issues may be decided by a poll of all GPTU members

Committee members may take decisions or communicate on behalf of GPTU between Ordinary meetings of GPTU on matters that arise during these times, their decisions and communications shall be subject to ratification by a meeting of GPTU.

7                    FUNDS

GPTU shall raise funds on its own behalf or for GPEW of for campaigns in line with GPEW policy.

GPTU shall open a bank account to keep its funds which shall be spent in pursuance of its aims.

8                    LOCAL GROUPINGS

GPTU shall encourage the formation of local GPTU groups and or GPTU groups based on membership of a particular Trade Union

9                    Where this document is ‘silent’ GPEW rules shall apply.