Nomination and Election Procedures
Members of SEIU Local 5, which includes Arizona, Texas and Virginia (VAPCA), have an opportunity to participate in this year’s SEIU Local 5 elections. Members in Local 5 will nominate and vote for a Local 5 President, Secretary-Treasurer and a State Director for their state. Members of local 5 will be also vote to ratify a new Local Constitution.
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1. What are the SEIU Local 5 Elections? SEIU Local 5 was set up as a temporary organizing local. Because of the success of new organizing in the South and Southwest, Local 5 is now going to enter its next phase as an organizing local. As part of this phase, SEIU Local 5 needs to elect officers and ratify a Constitution and Bylaws. The position of the Local 5 President oversees the operations of the Arizona, Texas and Virginia campaigns. The Secretary-Treasurer of Local 5 works with the Local 5 President and oversees the budget and financial resources for all of Local 5 activities. State Directors are responsible for overseeing the organizing program for their states. There is one State Director for each of Arizona, Texas and Virginia. Each Local 5 member will have an opportunity to vote for President, Secretary-Treasurer and the State Director for their state. In addition, Local 5 members will vote to ratify a new Constitution. A copy of The Constitution, as well as a summary, is available here . 2. What to Consider Before Nominating Yourself or Someone Else Officers of SEIU Local 5 are responsible for developing and implementing the programs of the International Union around organizing, political and legislative work, member action and leadership development and ensuring quality public service for the communities we live in. These positions will require an enormous amount of time, travel, commitment and an ability to lead staff and members. 3. Election Committee The election will be overseen and monitored by an Election Committee. The Committee will be comprised of one staff person and three election committee members, one from each state. Members of the Election Committee have agreed not to run as candidates or campaign for any candidates during the nomination or election process. 4. Nominations for Office
Any Local 5 member who has been a dues-paying member in continuous good standing with SEIU Local 5 for at least 60 days may be nominated to run for office. To nominate yourself or someone else you must collect five signatures from SEIU Local 5 members (which can include yourself) who are eligible to vote in the election for your office. Forms for nomination are available here y en espanol aqui . In order to nominate yourself or another member of SEIU Local 5, you must fill out the Nomination Form and Nomination Acceptance Form and return it by August 22 to: SEIU Local 5 Elections
P.O. Box 29049
Washington, DC 20017 If you nominate another member of SEIU Local 5, they must fill out the Nomination Acceptance Form and return it to the address above by August 22, 2008. All nominations must be received by 5:00 p.m. on August 22 at the address above. 5. Information on Nominated Candidates All nominees will be invited to submit a bio and short statement to be posted on the elections website. This information should appear on-line sometime after August 22. Each nominated candidate may request to be furnished with one hard copy of the names and phone numbers of the members of Local 5 (after completing an agreement that the list will only be used for campaigning and thereafter will be returned to the Union). Any nominee may also use a designated Mail Service to send campaign literature to SEIU Local 5 members at their own expense. 6. Slates
Candidates may choose to run together on a “slate” and be identified by such on the ballot. However, members may choose whether or not to vote for each individual candidate of the slate. 7. Elections Once the nominations are received, we will conduct an election by mail ballot. Local 5 members will receive a ballot in the mail. All members in good standing as of July 18, 2008 can vote.
Ballots will be sent out the week of September 8 with a pre-paid return envelope. Election ballots must be received by mail by 5:00 p.m. on September 27, 2008. Candidates will be listed on the ballot in an order determined at random. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared the winner of that position. In case of a tie, the winner will be determined by coin toss or other random method. In the event that only one person is nominated for an office, that person will be declared elected and that office will not appear on the ballot. 8. Union Resources
The election of officers is an important right of union membership and union resources will be required to conduct the nomination and election of Local 5 officers. However, pursuant to federal law, no union resources may be utilized to campaign in support of or opposition to any particular candidate. Union resources include staff time, office facilities, union equipment, union release time or lists acquired as a result of an individual’s role as a union staff person, leader or member of the union. Local 5 staff may assist the Election Committee and work on the logistics and procedure for the election. Any Local 5 staff who are also members of SEIU may participate in the nominations and elections process on equal footing with other Local 5 members, but only on their own time (i.e. on vacation or outside normal workday hours) and using their own resources. 9. Notice of Election Results The election results will be posted on the website directly following the election. If you have any questions about the process you can contact election staff person Melissa Pinnick. Call, toll free, 1-866-549-8306 or email Melissa Pinnick