About CSO

CSO is the exclusive bargaining agent for the California Teachers Association Professional Staff. CSO is also proud to represent the majority of Associate Staff who work for CTA Option 1 and 2 local affiliates. CSO's purpose is to improve and maintain our members' working conditions so that they are better able to assist CTA local leaders and members. 

CORE VALUES OF THE CALIFORNIA STAFF ORGANIZATION

The Core Values of the California Staff Organization comprise the shared beliefs of our membership. Each core value is embraced, lived, nurtured, taught, and reinforced in our professional endeavors as members of CSO. It is the following Core Values we honor.

Advocacy

We will achieve the professional and economic goals of CSO members and our families through effective union advocacy.

Solidarity

We will honor and respect our CSO colleagues. We will sustain an organization characterized by true and abiding concern, trust, loyalty and support for our sisters and brothers, their families and our greater society. We will stand together embracing diversity within our organization and the greater society. We will respect each other’s individuality, just as we affirm our need for collective responsibility.

Relationship Building/Organizing

We will strengthen CSO and enhance our ability to more effectively represent our members by building strong personal relationships among our members and organizing ourselves for collective action.

Commitment to Public Education

We will work in partnership with members of the California Teachers Association and other coalitions to support, protect and enhance our public schools. We will insist that all educational employees are accorded the respect, support and resources commensurate with their roles and contribution to society. We will seek to ensure all students are provided an equal opportunity to attain the knowledge and skills they need to enjoy productive and meaningful lives.

Social Justice

We will contribute to our profession and society through individual and collective commitments to social progress and democratic values.

Unanimously adopted, April 5, 2003 at the CSO Annual Meeting.

BYLAWS

CALIFORNIA STAFF ORGANIZATION
BYLAWS
 
Article I
PURPOSE
 The purpose of the CSO shall be as set forth in the Constitution of the CSO. 
Article Il
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Eligibility

a. All professional staff employees, including law clerks, of the California Teachers Association, with the exception of management, confidential and supervisory employees,

 

b. All employees of chapter affiliates and UniServ Units of the California Teachers Association, with the exception of management, confidential and supervisory employees,

C. All employees of organizations, other than those listed in a. and b. above, who are members of the CTA Pension and/or Medical Trusts, with the exception of management, confidential and supervisory employees.

 

Section 2. Eligible persons may join the CSO by authorizing payroll deduction of dues, or as otherwise provided herein. Section 3. Categories of membership shall be:                                 a.   Active                                         b. Such other categories as may be established by the Representative Council in the Standing Rules.   Section 4. Rights and Responsibilities of Member 1. To nominate

a. All active members in good standing shall have equal rights and privilege within the organization

2. To vote for officers and on different issues

  3. To hold office

  4. To participate in the deliberations and voting upon the business of general meetings, except that in voting on contract ratification only members in the bargaining unit shall vote.

 

                                       

b. The rights and responsibilities of other categories of membership shall be determined by the                                          Representative Council.

Article III
MEMBERSHIP AND FISCAL YEAR
  The membership and fiscal year of the CSO shall be ftom. September I to August 31.  
Article IV
DUES AND ASSESSMENTS
  Section 1. Dues and special assessments shall be established or changed by a vote of the membership.   Section 2. Membership dues and special assessments shall be paid by monthly payroll deduction b those members receiving CTA payroll services. Those members not receiving CTA payroll services shall rerruit dues and assessments as provided in the Standing Rules.   Section 3. Membership dues and special assessments must be current for members to be considered in good standing and entitled to the rights and privileges of membership.
Article V
BUDGET
  The CSO Treasurer shall submit to the Representative Council, prior to its first meeting of the fiscal year, a proposed budget for that year.
Article VI
OFFICERS
  Section 1. The officers shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.   Section 2. Nominations

                                               

a. Upon request to the nominating committee, any active member shall have his/her name                                                    placed on the ballot.

                                               

b. A list of candidates for officers shall be completed by the nominating committee no later than March 31 Written consent of all nominees shal be obtained.

Section 3. Election
                                                  a. Election of officers shall be by secret ballot with provisions for write-in votes.                                                 b. Election procedures shall be as set forth in the Standing Rules.                             Officers shall be elected by a majority of the valid ballots cast.
 
Section 4. Terms of Office
                                                  a. Terms of office shall be for two (2) years commencing June I -                                                   b. No officer may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office.  
Section 5. Vacancies
  a. A vacancy -in office shall be deemed to exist in case of the resignation, inability to serve, or recall of the officer, or if the officer becomes ineligible for membership as set forth in Article II, Section 1 of these Bylaws.   b. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall become President. After completing the unexpired term of his/her predecessor, the vice president shall be eligible for re-election to a fall term as president plus one additional consecutive term.   C. Vacancies in the office of Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be filled by special election.   d. The person elected to fill a vacancy in office shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term of his/her predecessor, and shall be eligible forelection to a full consecutive term plus one additional consecutive term.   Section 6. Duties of the President:                                                                          a. Be the chief spokesperson for the CSO;   b. Preside at all meetings of the general membership, the Represent Council and the Executive Committee;        c. Appoint all committee chairs and members of committees with the approval of the Representative Council;

Perform such other duties as are customarily associated with the office

Ex officio the delegate chair of the CSO delegation to the NSO delegate.

Section 7. Duties of the Vice President:

a. Act in the absence of the President,

b. To succeed to the Presidency if the office becomes vacant-,

C. Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President.

Section 8. Duties of the Treasurer.   a. Be responsible for the collection of all dues; b. Deposit all moneys in a bank in the name of CSO; c. Hold all funds of CSO and disburse them accordingly upon submission of vouchers; d. Sign all checks; e. Report at each meeting of the Representative Council and the general membership; f. Prepare a quarterly and annual financial statement; g. File the appropriate Federal and State forms; h. Prepare the proposed annual budget; i. Be bonded for such amount as may be determined by the Representative Council; j. Arrange for an annual audit; k. Supervise the investment of CSO funds under the direction of the Representative Council. 1. Keep an accurate roster of the membership of CSO. Section 9. Duties of the Secretary: a. Keep a careful and accurate record of the business enacted at each meeting, regular or special, of CSO, Representative Council, and the Executive Committee. b. Be responsible for distribution of all notices, agendas, and minutes of meetings to members of the Representative Council and Executive Board, and to the membership when appropriate, c. Keep an accurate roster of the membership of CSO and of all committees, the Representative Council, and the Executive Committee; d. Carry on the correspondence pertaining to the business of CSO as directed by the President.  
Article VII
REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL
  Section 1. Composition a. The Representative Council of the CSO shall consist of the elected officers, and members to be known as representatives. b. Representatives shall be elected from each of the four (4) CSO regions, which shall be coterminous with the four (4) CTA regions. Representatives shall be elected from the Department staff excluding the Training and Bargaining Department which shall be represented through the four (4) CSO regions. Representatives may also be elected from affiliate organizations which would be entitled to representation under Section (1) (d) below. Such affiliate organization and/or bargaining unit shall be approved by a vote of the CSO Representative Council. C. No member shall hold simultaneously more than one (1) Representative Council position.  
d. The entitlement for representation shall be one representative for each fifteen (15) C SO members in the Region or group, or major fraction thereof   Ethnic and racial minority representation shall be guaranteed by the election of an additional representative who shall be elected at large and whose term shall be concurrent with the terms of the executive officers. To be eligible for this office, a candidate must be a member of an underrepresented racial or ethnic minority. The Representative Council shall adopt standing rules for the implementation of this section.   Section 2.Nomination of Representatives   a- A list of candidates for the office of Representative shall be completed by the nominating committee no later than March 31 Written consent of all nominees shall be obtained.   b. Upon request, any active member shall have his/her name placed on the ballot for any office for which he/she is eligible.   c. Members are eligible to run for the office of representative from the C SO electoral region in which their home office is located.   Section 3.Election No member may be a nominee for more than one Representative Council position in any one election. a. The election of Representatives shall be by secret ballot with provisions for a write-in vote.   b. Representatives shall be elected as provided in the Standing Rules.   C. Officers and Representatives shall be elected by a majority of the valid votes cast. In case no candidate for a particular position receives a majority vote for a particular position, there shall be a run-off election between the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes for that position.   Section 4. Term of Office
a. Representatives shall take office June I of the year in which they are elected, and shall serve for a term of two (2) years. . Section 5.Vacancies   Section 6.Duties   Representatives may be eligible for reelection, but may not serve for more than two (2) consecutive full terms. Terms of Representatives shall be staggered with half the Representatives from each region or group being elected in even numbered years and the remainder being elected in odd numbered years.   a. During any year, any officer or other member of Representative Council who Misses three (3) meetings of the Representative Council may have his/her position declared vacant by the Representative Council if a majority of the Representative Council does not support the sufficiency of the reason for the absence.   A vacancy shall be deemed to exist in the position of any representative whose term has not expired, in case of resignation, recall, inability to serve,or in the event a representative ceases to be eligible for the office to which he/she was elected, either because of reassignment to another region orinability for membership in CSO.   Whenever a vacancy occurs in any representational position, the position shall be filled by a special election.   A person elected to fill a vacancy in an unexpired term of a representational office shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term of his/her predecessor, and shall be eligible for reelection to a full consecutive term, plus one additional consecutive term.of the Representatives   Attend all Representative Council and general membership meetings of CSO; Serve as a liaison to the Region or group from which they are nominated-, Assume additional duties which may be assigned by the President and/or Representative Council;   d. Report regularly to members n his/her CSO electoral area on the business of CSO;   Present proposals or recommendations to the Representative Council originating in the CSO electoral area represented.   Section 7.Meetings   a. The Representative Council of the CSO shall meet in regular session not less than six (6) times each year, June I through May 3 1, and may be convened in special session on call of the President or by four (4) members of the Representative Council. Meetings may be held n any location in the state of California, as designated by-the Representative Council.   b. Written notice of any regular meeting shall e delivered personally to each Council member or sent to him/her by U. S Mail postmarked at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting. c. A majority of the Representative Council members shall constitute a quorum.   d. Representative Council members shall not be permitted the right to vote through a proxy or alternate.   Section 8.Authority and Duties of the Representative Council - To supervise the business of the CSO subject to the limitations and restrictions provided by law and these Bylaws. To establish and execute the policies of the CSO. Adopt goals of the CSO. Approve a budget. Approval proposals for negotiations. Approve by a majority vote any major project of the CSO which would involve indebtedness or the contracting of term payments of amounts not included in the adopted budget of the CSO. Approve contributions.

 

Ratify agreements authorize the execution of contracts and other agreements necessary for the efficient conduct of the business of CSO. Adopt Standing Rules. j. Adjudicate disputed elections. To set up proper procedures for the safekeeping and accounting of all funds of the CSO. To appoint an auditor to perform a yearly audit of the financial records. M. To approve appointments of chairpersons and members of standing and

special committees.

  To determine the time and location of Representative Council meetings in accordance with these Bylaws. To call special meetings of the Executive Committee, Representative Council, or membership, when necessary.  
Article VIII
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. Composition: The Executive Committee shall be composed of the elected officers of the CSO.   Section 2.Duties . a. To implement the policies of the CSO at the direction of the Representative Council between meetings of the Representative Council and report on any actions taken at the next meeting of the Council.   b. To set the agenda of the Representative Council.   C. To perform such duties as are assigned by the President.  
Article IX
COMMITTEES
  Section 1.Standing Committees   a. The standing committees of the CSO shall be Nominations and Elections, Bargaining Team and Grievance.   b. Duties and responsibilities of the standing committees shall be set forth in the Standing Rules.   c. Names of chairpersons and members shall be recommended to the Representative Council by the President for ratification.   d. Each committee shall consist of at least three members.   e. Appoints to standing committees shall be for a term of one (1) year, commencing June 1. A member of a committee may not exercise the right to vote through an alternate.   f. All committee members shall be members in good standing of C SO - Committees shall meet at the call of the Chairperson or when requested by a majority of the members of the corarnittee at times and places set by the committee, expenses subject to the approval of the Representative Council.   g. Committee members may be removed by the Representative Council upon recommendation of the President-   Section 2. Special Cornmlittees The President shall recommend and the Representative Council shall appoint such special committees as is deemed necessary.  
Article X
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
  Section 1. An annual meeting of the general membership of CSO will be held.   Section 2. Additional general membership meetings shall be called by the President with the approval of the Representative Council, upon request by a petition of twenty-five percent (25%) of the members.
Article XI
QUORUM
  A quorum of all meetings of the organization shall consist of a majority of the members eligible to vote at that meeting. Quorum requirements for general membership meetings shall be prescribed in the Standing Rules.  
Article X111
STANDING RULES
  The Representative Council of the CSO, acting on the affirmative vote of a majority of its members, shall have the power to adopt, and to amend rules and regulations, consistent with this constitution and bylaws, pertaining to the purposes, activities, and affairs o the organization.

 

Such rules and regulations shall be known as the Standing Rules of this organization. 
Article XIII
RECALL
  Section 1. Recall procedures for an officer or director of this association may be initiated by petition of twenty five percent (25%) of the membership.   Section 2. Recall procedures for a member of the Representative Council of this organization may be initiated by a petition of twenty-five percent (25%) of the membership of the Council member's electoral district.   Section 3. Recall petitions shall be filed with the Elections Committee whose chairperson shall, within ten (10) days of receipt, notify the officer or Council member of his/her impending recall. The Elections Conunittee shall schedule a recall election within thirty (30) days, Such officer shall be removed by a majority of the members of the CSO.
Article XIV
DISCIPLINE FOR JUST CAUSE
  Section 1. The Representative Council is empowered to direct and authorize CSO members to perform or to refrain ftom performing functions which affect the interests and welfare of CSO.   Section 2. No member shall be fined, suspended, expelled or otherwise disciplined, without first being served with specific written charges and given a reasonable time to prepare a defense which may be asserted at a hearing before an ad hoc judicial committee appointed by the President and approved by the Representative Council.   Section 3. If the ad hoc judicial committee confirms that a member has violated an official directive, disciplinary action may be taken by the Representative Council by levying a fine not to exceed $500.00 for each violation.
Article XV
RIGHTS OF MEMBERS
  Section 1. Every member of CSO shall have the right of free speech and assembly.  Section 2. Every member shall have equal rights and privileges within this organization.  
Article XVI
AMENDMENTS
  Section 1. Amendments to the Bylaws may be proposed by a majority affirmative vote of the members present at a Representative Council meeting, or by petition signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the membership.   Section 2. Ratification of proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be accomplished by a majority vote of the total membership at a General Membership meeting.   Section 3. Amendments to the Bylaws may also be approved by mail ballot provided that at least fifteen (15) days from the date of mailing is allowed for return of ballots and two-thirds (2/30 or more of those responding vote in the affirmative and provided that at least fifty percent (50%) plus one of the members in good standing vote

Code of Conduct

I will not criticize any union colleague except to the individual directly.

If any union colleague is being criticized in my presence, I will confront the criticism and ask that it stop.

I will not participate in any conversation with management that criticizes, or negatively speculates about, any union colleague.

I will settle my differences with colleagues within my union.

I will engage in debate, offer others every opportunity for debate and respect minority viewpoints, but I will observe and support the majority mandate of my union.

CONSTITUTION

CALIFORNIA STAFF ORGANIZATION

CONSTITUTION

Article l - NAME
 
The name of this organization shall be the California Staff Organization, hereinafter referred to as CSO. The California Staff Organization is an affiliate of the National Staff Organization, hereinafter referred to as NSO.

Article ll - PURPOSE

Section 1. To represent its members in relations with the members' employer.

Section 2. To act as the exclusive bargaining agent for CSO members.

Section 3. To work for the welfare of its members in all matters concerned with wages,hours, and other terms and conditions of employment.

Section 4. To study and act on the problems of its members.

Section 5. To assess members' opinions on professional matters, and to provide a means of unified expression.

Section 6. To foster professional attitudes, ethical conduct, and good fellowship among its members.

Article lll - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. All employees eligible for CSO membership as defined in the Bylaws of CSO may become members.

Section 2. All active members of CSO shall be members of the National Staff Organization.

Section 3. The CSO may affiliate organizations whose members shall be active members of NSO as defined in the standing rules.

Article lV - DUES

Membership dues shall be fixed in amount and collected as provided for in the Bylaws.

Article V - OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of the CSO shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2. The officers shall be elected from and by the general membership, by an open nomination and secret ballot procedure.

Section 3. Powers and duties of the officers shall be designated in the Bylaws.

Article Vl - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the elected officers.

Section 2. The powers and duties of the Executive Committee shall be designated in the ByLaws. 

Article Vll - REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL

Section 1. The Representative Council shall be the policy authority of the CSO.

Section 2. The Representative Council shall be composed of the Executive Committee of the CSO and representatives elected from the membership, as designated in the Bylaws.

Section 3. The powers and duties of the Representative Council shall be designated in the Bylaws.  

Section 4. A formula shall be established in the Bylaws to guarantee representation to the members. 

Article Vlll - MEETINGS

Meetings of the Representative Council and the general membership shall be specified in the Bylaws.

Article lX - RERECALL

Provision for recall shall be provided in the Bylaws.

Article X - BYLAWS AND STANDING RULES

Rules and regulations pertaining to the activities and affairs of the CSO shall be established as Bylaws and Standing Rules, provided they shall not conflict with any provision of law or the adopted Constitution of the CSO.

Article Xl - AMENDMENTS



Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by a majority affirmative vote of the members present at a Representative Council meeting, or by petition signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the membership of the CSO.  

Section 2. Ratification of proposed amendments to this Constitution shall be accomplished by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the total membership voting at a general membership meeting, provided written notice and copies of the proposed amendment(s) shall have been distributed to the members, postmarked at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.  

Section 3. Amendments to this Constitution may also be approved by mail ballot provided that at least fifteen (15) days from date of mailing is allowed for return ballots and two-thirds (2/3) or more of those responding vote in the affirmative and provided that at least fifly percent (50%) plus one of the organization's members vote.

Article Xll - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

On all matters of procedure not otherwise covered by this Constitution and/or Bylaws of the CSO, the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall be the official guide.