Section 1 - Convention
(1) The Convention shall be the supreme governing body of UTE, subject to the limitation in Section 3.
(2) The Convention of UTE shall be held in the third calendar year following the last general Convention. It shall be held on a date consistent with provisions of the Constitution of the PSAC.
(3) Only the Executive Council shall have the authority to determine the date and place of each Convention.
(4) Notice of the Convention shall be given to each Local by the National Office not less than six (6) months prior to the opening date of the Convention. Such notice will include but not be limited to:
- dates and location of the Convention;
- deadline for receipt in the National Office of resolutions;
- deadline for receipt in the National Office of the names of the delegates to Convention and the alternate delegates; and
- deadlines as noted in Sub-Sections (2) and (3) shall be by the close of business of the Presidents’ Conference preceding the Triennial Convention.
(5) For the purpose of representation at a Convention, each Local shall:
- be entitled to one (1) delegate with full voting rights for each block of two hundred (200) members in good standing or fraction of this number during the calendar year preceding the Convention taking into account the month during which the number of members has been the highest for each UTE Local. Hence, the month may be different depending on the Local. Every delegate shall be a member in good standing of the Local.
- for the purpose of replacing delegates at Convention, submit to the National Office the name and ranking of the alternate delegates. Every alternate delegate shall be a member in good standing of the Local.
(6)
- At least ninety (90) calendar days prior to the opening date of the Convention, the Executive Council shall appoint such Committees as may be necessary for the conduct of the business of the Convention. Committee assignment shall be made by the Executive Council and where possible such assignment will be in keeping with the request of the region or Local. Delegates to Committees shall be advised of the Committee composition at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the opening date of the Committee meetings.
- Where possible delegate representation from the same region shall be allocated uniformly among the various Committees established for Convention purposes.
(7) Travel expenses of delegates, named by a Local, shall be paid by UTE in accordance with Regulation.
(8) The cost of accommodation and per diems of the delegates at Conventions and all loss of salaries incurred as a result of attendance at the Convention shall be paid by UTE at the rate and under conditions determined by the Executive Council. Delegates missing a session of the Convention shall not be reimbursed for loss of salary for the period absent unless the Executive Council, after reviewing the circumstances, decides to authorize payment.
(9) Each Officer of the Executive Council shall be considered a delegate and entitled to attend Conventions with full voting rights as provided in By-Law 9, Section 1 (5). Their expenses, including traveling expenses, shall be paid by UTE. Regional Vice-Presidents shall be considered delegates from the region they represent. The President and Vice-Presidents shall be considered delegates from the region in which they resided immediately prior to their initial election to the national position.
(10) Each Local may send observers to attend the Convention Committees at their expense. The President may limit the number of observers per Local, when space is limited. The observer may address the Committees once on each resolution submitted by their Local for the purpose of explaining the rationale where the Local does not have a delegate.
(11) The Executive Council shall submit their draft budget and Convention agenda to the member Locals at least sixty (60) days prior to the commencement of the Convention.
(12) UTE shall pay the transportation costs in accordance with By-Law 9, Section 1 (7) for one (1) observer per Local in order to attend the Convention.
(13) UTE shall pay the transportation cost in accordance with By-Law 9, Section 7 as well as accommodation costs, loss of wages and per diem for one (1) observer to the UTE Convention from each Local having two hundred (200) or less members in good standing.
(14)
- The delegates to the PSAC Convention shall be elected during the UTE Convention.
- The election shall be chaired by the Regional Vice‑President or by a person appointed by the RVP at a regional caucus.
- Any member in good standing of that region may stand for election. However, only accredited Convention delegates of that region as defined in By-Law 9, Sections 1 (5) and (9) may nominate, second and vote for PSAC Convention delegates in that region.
- Any member nominated who is not present shall have provided in writing their acceptance of the nomination.
(15) All matters and resolutions not dealt with by the Convention shall be referred to the Executive Council.
Section 2 - Special Convention
(1) A Special Convention may be called by the Executive Council to deal with any special issue. A Special Convention shall have power to deal only with the matters specified in the notice of the Special Convention.
(2) A Special Convention shall be called by the President at the request of a majority of Locals and such majority of Locals shall represent a majority of UTE members. A request for a Special Convention by a Local shall be in writing. A Special Convention shall have the power to deal only with the matters specified in the written request.
(3) Notice of any Special Convention shall be given to each Local by the National Office not less than sixty (60) calendar days prior to the opening date of the Special Convention. Such notice will state the matters to be dealt with.