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1.NAME |
The name of the organization shall be ANDHRA PRADESH UNION OF WORKING JOURNALISTS (APUWJ) |
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2.AFFILIATION |
It shall be affiliated to the INDIAN JOURNALISTS UNION (IJU), NEW DELHI. |
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3.REGISTERED OFFICE |
Registered Office of the Union shall be situated at Hyderabad |
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4.AIMS & OBJECTIVES |
The objectives of the Union are: |
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a. |
To organize the Working Journalists in the State of Andhra Pradesh on Trade Union Lines. |
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b. |
To raise the status of the profession of journalism and Working Journalists and to uphold the freedom of press. |
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c. |
To strive for the betterment of working conditions of the journalists, and other media employees including electronic and web media especially salary, tenure of office, conditions of service. |
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d. |
To maintain and promote the highest standards of professional conduct and integrity. |
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e. |
To promote unity and co-operation of Working Journalists with other sections of employees in newspaper industry. |
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f. |
To engage in such social, cultural, welfare and other legitimate activities as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the aforesaid objects. |
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g. |
To publish Newspapers and periodicals including bulletins and house journals and promote news agencies, electronic and web media. |
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h. |
To secure representation of the Union on various committees and bodies set up in particular by the Government connected to the profession of journalism. |
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5. MEMBERSHIP |
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i. |
Membership of the Union, subject to the other provisions of the constitution, is open to all working journalists as defined in the working journalists (service conditions and miscellaneous provisions) Act, 1955 in the state of Andhra Pradesh. |
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ii. |
Part-time correspondents whose principle avocation is journalism provided however that they produce proof in this behalf in terms of receipt of remuneration or letter of appointment etc. |
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iii. |
Proprietors and Directors or Managing Editors and other persons having proprietary interests shall not be eligible for membership. However, members of co-operative concerns of journalists shall not be deemed to have proprietary interests. |
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6. MEMBERSHIP SHALL BE OF THREE CATEGORIES: |
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i. |
ORDINARY MEMBER: Persons qualified under Article 5 and have been working as Journalist at least for a period of one year.
However, a person who enrolls him/herself a member of the Union shall not have voting right for one year from the date of enrolment. |
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ii. |
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: Self employed editors shall be admitted as Associate Members without voting right. But they can participate in all meetings of the Union, including State and Branch conferences of which they are members. |
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iii. |
HONORARY MEMBERS: Working Journalists who retire from service after outstanding service to the union, profession and to the cause of working journalists can be conferred honorary membership by the executive committee of the union. |
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EXPLANATION
The Honorary members shall not have to pay any membership fee. They shall be eligible to attend the Annual Conference of the Union or the District Unit, of which they are members, but they shall have no voting right nor shall they hold any elective post. The President of the Union or the President of the District Unit can nominate any such Honorary Member to any sub-committee that may be formed by the Union or the Unit for a specific purpose. |
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7. The General Secretary of the Union, or the Secretary of the Branch may, subject to the provisions of this constitution and scrutiny of the Executive Committee or a sub-committee nominated from among its members, admit to membership of the Union persons PRIMAFACIE qualified under Article 5, and applied for membership in the prescribed form. |
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8.Applications for membership Under Article 5 shall be in the prescribed form provided by the State Union Office. It shall be duly signed and shall be accompanied by an admission fee of Rs.25/- |
| i. |
Every member shall pay the specified subscription for the Union journal along with their membership fee. |
| ii |
The membership may be revoked or suspended at any time by the Union. The aggrieved member has the right of appeal to Disciplinary-cum-Credential Committee against the decision within thirty days of intimation. |
| iii. |
A member income not exceeding Rs.36,000/- per annuam for rural journalist and Rs.50,000/- for journalists working in urban areas and Rs.80,000/- to journalists working in Municipal Corporation areas OR as per the orders of the state government from time to time, shall become members of the journalists Welfare Fund constituted by the State Government by paying one day wage to take advantage of the Welfare Fund. |
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9.Where a branch of the Union is in existence, membership applications shall be received ordinarily by the Branch. But, where a branch is defunct or is not in existence, the General Secretary shall directly receive them. The membership applications recommended by the Branch executive shall reach the General Secretary within two weeks. Any person denied membership may file an appeal to the executive committee. On transfer of a member from one place to another he will be entitled to become a member of the new branch. He will not be require any fee other than transfer fee of Rs.5/-, if there are no dues against him in the branch from which he is seeking transfer. |
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10. |
| a. |
There shall be two classes of annual subscription as follows: |
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i. Those drawing wages of rs.2,500/- or less per month shall pay Rs.30/- |
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ii. Those drawing wages of Rs.2,501/- and above per month shall pay Rs.60/- “Wages” in this context means the total emoluments of the members from all newspapers and journals from which he gets monthly remuneration. |
| b. |
Any member while fails to pay the subscription before expiry of the grace period of six months shall cease to be a member and readmission fee of Rs.60/- shall be paid on the date of readmission.
If the expiry period is more than six months he/she shall loose membership and will be treated as new member if he/she so desires to rejoin. |
| c. |
The branch shall have 25 percent share in the subscription fee collected from its members. |
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BRANCHES: |
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11. The Executive of the Union may organize a Branch one in each district and also at Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Tirupathi, the three major publication centers in the State, provided that there shall be not less than five members at the time of formation of a Branch. |
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12.The Executive Committee shall frame rules for the conduct of business to the Branches, their Executive Committee and their funds. |
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13. The Branch shall take up local issues which fall within the purview of the Union. |
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14 |
| a. |
The Branch shall hold General Body meetings atleast twice in a year. The first General Body held in a calendar year shall elect office-bearers and committee of the branch for a period of one year.
The Executive committee so elected shall meet atleast once in three months and a minimum of four times in a year. |
| b. |
The members of the Branch shall elect delegates as per the schedule fixed by the State Executive to the State Conference, who shall also be members of the State Council for a term of two years. |
| c. |
All members of the State Council and National Council Members of IJU shall be ex-officio members of the respective branch executive without voting right. |
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15. |
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Any disciplinary action against any member of any unit who acts against the policy, objective or constitution of the union lies with the Executive Committee. For the purpose of disciplinary action any member includes office - bearers of any Unit who acts against the policy, objective or constitution of the Union lies with the Executive Committee.
The executive may refer the case to the Disciplinary-cum-Credential Committee before taking any decision or action if it so desire to satisfy itself. The executive can suo motu initiate disciplinary proceedings against any member, but it must complete its work within 60 days or the initiation of such work. |
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EXPLANATIONS: |
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For the purpose of disciplinary action any members includes office bearers |
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a. |
Any provision in the constitution of a sponsored organization of the Union which is inconsistent with or repugnant to the spirit of this constitution shall, to that extent be null and void. |
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b. |
If any sponsored organization is not working properly in accordance with the constitution of such body the Union shall intervene and take such action as may be deemed fit by the State Executive of the Union. |
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c. |
If a branch fails to hold General Body meeting within the stipulated time or the body continues in the office more than 15 months, the body automatically ceased to be a valued body unless otherwise permitted by the Executive Committee on the written request of the body on valid grounds.
Members shall adhere to the rules and regulations laid down by the Executive Committee time to time for the conduct of elections. Violation of the same shall attract serious action including disqualification from the contest and expulsion from the Union. |
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NO CONFIDENCE MOTION: |
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16.If one-third of the members of the State Council give notice to the President expressing lack of confidence in either the President or the General Secretary or the Executive Committee as a whole, an emergency meeting of the State Council will be convened within four weeks of receipt of such notice to discuss the matter, in case of NO CONFIDENCE is passed by a three-fourth majority of those present (which would not be less than the ordinary majority of the total strength of the body) the State Council can elect a new President or General Secretary or Executive Committee.
If the notice on lack of confidence in the President, he/she shall not preside over the State Council meeting where such matter is discussed.
Appeals against all disciplinary actions shall lie with the appropriate body set up by the Indian Journalists Union, District Units will have powers only to recommended to the State Executive Committee on the question of disciplinary action against any member or a unit. When action is taken against a member or a unit by the Executive Committee of State Union, the General Secretary shall communicate the same to the member or the Unit as the case may be, within one week.
In the event of suspension of a District Unit, the General Secretary in consultation with the President shall authorize one or more members of the unit to be temporarily in charge and take steps for holding fresh elections of new office-bearers within sixty days.
If the Executive removes any office bearer as a disciplinary action under the provisions of the Constitution, the resultant vacancy of the post may be filled immediately or alternative arrangement be made for the time being.
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FUNDS |
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17. The General Fund of the Union shall include income from subscription from members, interest of investments, donations grants and other receipts.
The Union Executive may invest General Funds or raise a loan for specific purpose of creating assets or other remunerative facilities in furtherance of the aims and objectives of the Union.
“However, the immovable property of the union shall not be mortgaged or pledged as surety without the approval of former Presidents and General Secretaries who are associated with the union. In such cases, the General Secretary of the union shall convene a meeting with them for this specific purpose”.
The Executive Committee of a District Unit may also raise a loan for the same purpose, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee of the State Union. |
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18.Regular accounts of all receipts and disbursements and assets and liabilities shall be maintained by the Treasurer of the Union. |
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19.The funds of the Union shall be deposited in a Nationalized Bank in the name of the Union either in current or saving account. The General Secretary shall operate the accounts jointly with the Treasurer. The General Secretary shall not at any time keep more than Rs.200/- of Union funds in cash with him besides keeping with the Treasurer a sum of Rs.100/ at the same time. |
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20.Special funds raised by the Union in accordance with the decision of the Annual Conference or the State Council or the Executive Committee shall also be operated in the same manner in which the General Funds would be operated. |
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21.General Funds of the Union shall be spent in furtherance of the aims and objects of the Union, subject to provision of section 15 of the Trade Union Act, 1926. |
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GENERAL FUNDS OF THE UNION CAN BE SPENT FOR: |
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a. |
Payments of salaries to the Staff of the Union, traveling allowance to office-bearers, Executive Members, delegates and National Council Members at such rates as are decided by the Executive Committee. |
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b. |
Payment of honorarium to the Manager, Legal Adviser and Auditors. |
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c. |
Conducting Trade Union disputes on behalf of the Union and prosecution or defense of any legal proceedings to which the Union or any member there of is a party when such proceedings are under taken for the purpose of securing for protecting any rights of Working Journalists in general and Members of the Union in particular, if so authorized by the Executive Committee. |
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d. |
Publishing periodicals or pamphlets for the purpose of disseminating information pertaining to the Working Journalists and problems of the press in general. |
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e. |
Publishing the Union’s own daily or dailies from a Centre or Centres to be decided by the State Council. |
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f. |
Helping working journalists or their families in distress. |
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22.The Union accounts shall be audited by two members of the Executive, who are not members of the executive, once in three months. The report of the Internal Auditors along with their remark shall be placed before the next Executive meeting. The balance sheet and the income and expenditure statement as audited by a Chartered Accountant shall be placed before the Annual meeting for ratification.
At the district level, the branch accounts shall be audited by two members of the Union, who are not members of the executive, once in three months. The report of the Internal Auditors along with their remarks shall be placed before the next Executive Meeting.
Where a branch annual financial transaction is more than Rs.50,000/- the balance sheet and the income and expenditure statement as audited by a Chartered Accountant shall be placed before the Annual meeting for ratification. A copy of the same be submitted to the State Union within two weeks.
The Executive Committee shall have the right to examine records of accounts, minutes and proceedings of any of its branches. |
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DIFFERENT ORGANS OF THE UNION |
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23.The State Council consists of 100 delegates elected by ordinary members, besides Presidents and Secretaries of the Branches and the members of the National Council of Indian Journalists Union form the State of Andhra Pradesh.
The delegates shall be elected by ordinary members at Biannual General Body meeting of the branches.
The Sate Executive shall determine the proportion of representation to each branch of the Union on the basis of their membership. The term of the State Council shall be two years. Interim vacancies shall be filled by co-option.
The Executive Committee shall nominate not more than three members to the State Council from the unrepresented areas and sections. The Executive also co-opt not more than three members to the State Executive of whom two shall be women. |
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24.The State Council shall at least once a year to consider and approve the General Secretary’s report and the audited balance sheet of the Union for the previous year.
The State Conference at its meeting shall elect three Vice-Presidents, one General Secretary, four Secretaries, one Treasurer and fifteen Members of the Executive Committee. The quorum for the meeting of the State Council shall be one-fourth of its total membership. Notice for the meeting of the State Council / State Conference shall be 15 days. An extraordinary meeting can be requisitioned by one third of its total membership in writing with a clear notice of 30 days.
Provided that the nominee of the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) for the post of President/General Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Newspaper Employees Federation (APNEF) shall be ex-officio Vice-President of the union. |
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25.The President shall be elected by all ordinary members of the Union by a single non-transferable vote. |
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26.The term of the President and other office bearers and members of the Executive Committee shall be for two years. They will, however, remain in office until a new team is elected. |
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: |
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27.The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, three Vice-Presidents, one General Secretary, four Secretaries, one Treasurer and fifteen Members. |
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a. |
The immediate past President and General Secretary besides the office bearers of IJU from the State of Andhra Pradesh, will the Ex-officio members. |
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b. |
The President and General Secretary shall not hold office for more than two consequtive terms in the same post. |
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c. |
If a member is in default in payment of any amount due to cash or kind to the Union for a period exceeding three months is disqualified for being a candidate for the post of any office bearer of the Union. |
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28. |
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a. |
The Executive Committee shall meet atleast four times in a year. The quorum for the meeting shall be nine. |
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b. |
The General Secretary may, if he deems it necessary, get the Executive Committee to decide any important or urgent matter by circulating the same to all the members of the Committee and obtain their opinion in writing. In such case, the opinion of the majority of the members of the Committee, provided that at least nine members communicate their view in writing. The General Secretary shall however, before the meeting of the Executive Committee held immediately after a decision taken by means of circulation, for ratification. |
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29.The Executive Committee shall take all steps as and when needed in furtherance of the objectives of the Union and in connection with any disputes between the employers and the employees in the industry, which are brought to it. |
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30.An extra-ordinary meeting of the Executive Committee can be requisitioned by one third of its members. |
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31.Ten days notice for an ordinary meeting and one week’s notice for an extraordinary meeting of the Committee by the Central Office shall be deemed sufficient. |
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32.The Executive Committee at its first meeting shall elect a disciplinary-cum-credentials committee consisting of five members who are not members of the Executive.
In case bonafides of any member as working journalist and its title to membership are doubted or if a dispute arises whether the working journalist continuous to be valid member, his or her case shall be referred to the disciplinary-cum-credentials committee for enquiry and decision.
Appeals against the decision of the Committee shall lie with the appropriate body set up by the Indian Journalists Union.
The Disciplinary-cum-Credentials Committee shall be inquire into complaints about the Elections at the Unit or State level. |
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33.The Executive Committee may also constitute special committees for specific purposes.Casual vacancies in the Executive shall be filled by co-option. |
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34. The elections of State Council members shall be completed along with the election of President as per the schedule decided by the State Executive. |
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a. |
Polling for Elections of the President and Members of the State Council shall be held simultaneously on a single day throughout the State. |
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b. |
Members of the District Unit shall meet at a place decided by the District Executive Committee to exercise their franchise. When there is no District Unit, the members shall exercise their franchise through postal ballot supplied by the Returning Officer of the Union. |
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THE PRESIDENT |
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The President shall be the head of the Union. He shall be responsible for the supervision and control of the activities of the Union and its day-to-day work and shall conduct himself in a manner prescribed by the constitution and rules.
He shall preside over all meetings of the Union, the State Council and Executive Committee and shall maintain their decorum and description. He can attend the meetings of various committees and sub-committees except unless specially invited, those of the Disciplinary-cum-Credentials Committee. |
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VICE-PRESIDENT |
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The Vice-President shall help the President in the discharge of his duties, and in case of the President’s absence, act on his behalf. In the absence of both the President and Vice-Presidents any member chosen by the members shall act as Chairman of Executive or the State Council meetings. |
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GENERAL SECRETARY |
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The General Secretary shall conduct all the work of the Union under the guidance and on behalf of the President. He shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Union and shall carry on all correspondence of behalf of the Union, maintain a record of all proceedings of the Union, sign all bills, and be responsible for the accounts. He shall be incharge of the Central Office and shall take help from and assign such work as he deems fit to one of the four Secretaries, for the discharge of his duties.
He shall convene all meetings of the Union, the State Council and the Executive Committee and he, or Secretary nominated by him for the purpose, shall be an ex-officio member of all Committees and sub-committees of the Union, the State Council and the Executive Committee, except the Disciplinary-cum-Credentials Committee.
He shall conduct himself according to the provisions of the Constitution and the Rules and shall sue and be sued in a Court of Law on behalf of the Union or through any person authorized by him, represent the Union or members thereof in all Trade Union disputes. The General Secretary shall maintain a register of members as required under the Indian Trade Union Act, 1926. |
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TREASURER |
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The Treasurer shall maintain an account of all the income and expenditure of the general or special funds of the union and shall keep the funds of the union in the manner prescribed by the constitution, rules in a bank approved by the Executive Committee for the purpose. |
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36.Members of the Union, nominated by the Executive Committee to any government or other Committees or such other bodies, shall act on behalf of the union shall be answerable for their conduct. He or they shall report to the Executive about their work on such bodies and take its guidance on all important matters. |
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37.On the election of new office bearers, the outgoing office bearers shall hand over complete charge of their work to them and in case of disciplinary action against or the passing of a no-confidence motion in or acceptance of the resignation an individual office bearer, he shall also hand over complete charge of his work and the papers and property of the union in his possession to the person elected or nominated in his place or authorized to take over from him. |
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38. A Register of members, accounts books, and other prescribed registers shall be kept at the registered office of the Union and properly maintained by the officer responsible. The register and other books shall be open for inspection by any officer or member of the Union, after one week’s notice at the Registered Office of the Union on working days.
A register of members, accounts books, minute’s book and other prescribed registers shall be properly maintained by the branch and shall be kept at its office or at a place or person decided by its Executive Committee. |
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AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION |
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39. |
| a. |
The Constitution of the Union may be amended by a three - fourths majority of those present and voting at a State Council meeting or Special State Council meeting convened for the purpose. Fifteen days clear notice shall be given for such meeting. |
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A special State Council meeting shall be convened for amending the Constitution. if one-third of the members make such a demand in writing thirty days clear notice shall be given to members for such a meeting. |
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40.The Executive Committee shall frame, amend or modify, in keeping with the provisions of the Constitution, rules for the conduct of the day-today work of the Union, the Executive, office-bearers, district units, and other matters. |
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41. The Executive Committee shall have the authority confederate the Union with the employees unions in the newspapers and News Agencies, for bettering the chances of collective bargaining. |
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DISSOLUTION |
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42. The union can be dissolved by special resolution passed by two-thirds of the total membership of the Union at an extraordinary State Council meeting of the Union specifically convened for the purpose. The funds and property of the Union shall be disbursed in accordance with decision of the same meeting in case it is decided to dissolve the Union.
Provided that one month’s notice is given separately to all members of the Union for the meeting and along with notice, the two resolutions, one regarding the dissolution of the union, and the other regarding disbursement of the funds and property of the Union on dissolution, are also circulated to every member. |
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Amendments approved on 16-11-2007
by Register of Trade Union
Hyderabad (Twin Cities)
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( GENERAL SECRETARY )
5-9-60, Desoddharaka Bhavan,
Fateh Maidan , Hyderabad – 500001, A.P.
Tele Fax : 23232660
Email : mailto: apuwj@yahoo.com
Website : www. apuwj.org
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