1.1 The Unit's fiscal year, membership year, operational year and the year for the purpose of defining the terms of office for elected or appointed officers, shall be from July 1 to the following June 30, inclusive.

2.1 There shall be three types of membership in the Unit, specifically,

1. Active Member,
2. Voluntary Member, and
3. Associate Member,

the definitions of each being consistent with the Constitution, Bylaws and Policies of the OSSTF, and subject to the additional limitations that are logically necessary to reflect the local district nature of the Unit, and which are set out in the following sections.

2.2 Active Members

1. Every secondary teacher under a permanent or probationary contract with the Peel District School Board and who is, in accordance with the Education Act a member of the OSSTF, shall have the duties and privileges of an Active Member in the Unit.

2.3 Voluntary Members

1. Every individual approved by the Unit Executive and whose application is accepted by the Provincial Executive of the OSSTF for Voluntary Membership in the Federation shall be deemed to be a Voluntary Member of the Unit.
2. Should an individual who is a Voluntary Member as set out in 2.3.1 elect to pay the Unit's Levy or Levies as applicable to Active Members, the member shall be entitled to attend meetings of the Integrated District Council and Unit General Meetings as a nonvoting observer. In instances where a Voluntary Member is appointed to a Unit committee, the Voluntary Member shall be a voting member unless the appointing motion states otherwise.

2.4 Associate Members .1 Individuals may be approved by the Unit Executive as Associate Members of the Unit for reasons satisfactory to the Unit Executive and consistent with the Constitution, Bylaws and Policies of the OSSTF.

3.1 It shall be the duty of every Active, Voluntary, or Associate Member of the Unit to conduct herself/himself in accordance with the Constitution, Bylaws and Policies of the Unit and of the OSSTF, and in a manner which is supportive of the approved Policies of the Unit and the OSSTF.

3.2 It shall be the duty of every member that, where a strike occurs in accordance with the results of a membership ballot, the member, unless forbidden by law and or requested otherwise by the local Unit Executive, shall join in such sanctions as have been decided on by the majority vote of the members.

3.3 Any member in breach of Bylaw 3.2 will be subject to a fine equal to the income earned during the period of non-compliance.

4.1 A levy may be established, applicable to the members of the Unit, by the approval of the appropriate motion setting out the details of the levy, such details to include:

1. the amount of the levy,
2. whether the levy is a one time levy or whether it is to be an ongoing levy payable annually or as otherwise specified,
3. the method of payment, or otherwise, the collecting of the levy, and
4. the applicability of the levy to different kinds of memberships, such an authorizing motion being passed at a duly called Unit General Meeting. Such motions shall require a majority vote identical to the requirements for amending a Bylaw as set in Article 10, Section 10.2 of the Constitution.

5.1 Except when specified as an Information Meeting, all duly called General Meetings shall be understood to be meetings at which it is entirely appropriate to conduct Unit business, subject only to the requirements that all business be conducted in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws. At each General Meeting called for the purpose of conducting Unit business, the first order of business shall be the election of a Speaker to chair the meeting.

5.2 The quorum for a duly called General Meeting shall be those members of the
Unit qualified to vote, present and voting at the General Meeting.

5.3 There shall be a Unit Annual General Meeting held in May of each year, with notice of the proposed Agenda to the Branch Presidents nine days prior to the day of the meeting, for the purpose of but not restricted to:

1. the election speeches of candidates for the Unit Executive be delivered with a Bear Pit session to follow;
2. the receipt of the Auditor's Report for the previous fiscal year;
3. the approval of the Unit's budget for the next fiscal year;
4. the appointment of an Auditor for the next fiscal year;
5. the receipt of the un-audited financial summary of expenditures and income up to the end of March for the current fiscal year;
6. the receipt of year-end reports from the Integrated Standing Committee Chairs;
7. the receipt of other reports; and
8. the conducting of other business that may, in the view of the Speaker, or the Members attending, be required.

5.4 Only Active Members of the OSSTF Teachers’ Bargaining Unit District 19‑Peel are entitled to make motions, speak to motions, and/or vote on motions at the Unit's Annual General Meeting. Voluntary and Associate Members of the Unit, and members of the other OSSTF bargaining units in District 19‑Peel may, subject to the Speaker's discretion, attend the Unit's Annual General Meeting as observers. Further, at the Speaker's discretion, representatives of the other OSSTF bargaining units in District 19‑Peel may be granted permission to speak to issues

5.5 Unit General Meetings may be called by the Unit Executive provided that notice of the meeting and the purpose of the meeting are given to the Branch Presidents at least four days prior to the day of the meeting.

5.6 A Unit General Meeting shall be called by the Unit President when in receipt of a petition to call such a meeting, the petition to include a statement of the purpose for the meeting and signed by ten or more Active Members at least one of whom is a member of the Integrated District Council.

5.7 The Speaker of the District Council shall act in place of the Unit President with respect to any Unit General Meeting called as set out in 5.6 in any instance where the President does not respond to the petition.

5.8 The Unit Executive may, on the advice of the Chief Negotiator, call a Unit General Ratification Meeting or Meetings for the purpose of ratifying a collective agreement by voting on an offer(s) for settlement provided that:

1. nine days notice is given to the Branch Presidents, and
2. a summary of the changes to the Collective Agreement, and a copy of the Memorandum of Agreement, that will be considered for ratification be provided to the Branch Presidents at least four days prior to the meeting.

5.9 The Speaker at a Unit General Meeting called for the purpose of ratifying a collective agreement, may, at the request of the Unit President or as an exercise of the Speaker's discretion, close such a meeting to only those who are eligible to vote on the ratification - related motion(s).

5.10 Notwithstanding 5.8 and 5.9, the Unit Executive may, on the advice of the Chief Negotiator, elect to ratify a proposed collective agreement by conducting a vote at each Branch, such a vote to be conducted in accordance with the Unit Bylaws, Procedures and Policies, and if applicable, the requirements of the Education Relations Commission.

5.11 Unit Information Meetings, whether organized singly for the entire Unit or as a series of two or more regionally, may be called by the Unit Executive for the sole purpose of providing information to the membership.

5.12 All Unit General Meetings, called for the purpose of conducting Unit business, shall have recorded minutes, with an official set of the minutes and related documents being maintained on file and in good order, indefinitely.

6.1 There shall be an Elections Committee consisting of members established by the District Council, which will be responsible for receiving nominations for positions to be elected to the Unit Executive, and for conducting the election to those positions in accordance with the District 19 Teacher’s Bargaining Unit constitution, bylaws and procedures.

6.2 At the Annual General Meeting, there shall be speeches given by the nominees for the following positions on the Unit Executive:

1. for a one-year term, the position of:
   1. President
   2. Vice President
   3. Two Executive Officers
   4. Chief Negotiator
   5. Chairs of the Standing Committees
2. for a two-year term, as required, the position of:
   1. Provincial Councillor
   2. Chair of the Health and Safety Committee

6.3 Notwithstanding 6.2.1.4, should negotiations to renew a collective agreement be underway and not completed prior to the end of a Chief Negotiator's term of office and the election of a new Chief Negotiator, the Speaker at the General Meeting at which the election occurs shall require that formal direction be given by the meeting to determine if:

1. the newly elected Chief Negotiator is to assume responsibility for the negotiations immediately;
2. the newly elected Chief Negotiator is to assume responsibility for the negotiations effective July 1 whether or not the collective agreement has been renewed as of June 30; or
   
3. the Unit Executive is to negotiate with the Peel District School Board a transition agreeable to the Unit and the Board in which the incumbent Chief Negotiator remains in office to complete the negotiations process currently underway, with the newly elected Chief Negotiator to assume office at a mutually agreeable appropriate date following the conclusion of negotiations and the ratification of the agreement. In pursuing this option it is understood that the timing with regard to which individual has the time release may not necessarily coincide with which individual is acting as the Chief Negotiator.

6.4 Vacancies

1. Once a Unit Executive has been elected, a vacancy in a position shall be considered to have occurred when the elected officer:
   1. resigns from the position voluntarily;
   2. resigns from employment as a permanent or probationary contract teacher with the secondary panel of the Peel District School Board;
   3. no longer qualifies for Active Membership in OSSTF Teachers’ Bargaining Unit-District 19‑Peel for any reason; or
   4. is removed from that office in accordance with the Bylaws.
   5. is incapacitated by an extended illness exceeding three weeks
2. In the event that a vacancy occurs in the position of:
   1. President, the Vice President shall assume the position of President;
   2. Vice President, the Unit Executive will appoint one of the two Executive Officers to the position of Vice President;
   3. Chief Negotiator, the Unit Executive will appoint the most appropriate member from the bargaining Unit Executive. The decision will consider knowledge, skill and experience appropriate to the position.
   4. Provincial Councillor, Executive Officer or Standing Committee Chair;
      1. such vacancy occurring on or before December 31 of the year of the term of office, the vacancy shall be filled by election at the next meeting of the District Council which occurs a minimum of nine days following the effective date of the vacancy; or
      2. such vacancy occurring on or after January 1 of the year of the term of office, the Unit Executive shall decide whether the vacancy is to be filled in the manner set out in Section 6.4.2.4.1 or is to remain vacant for the remainder of the term.

6.5 The newly elected Unit Executive shall assume office effective July 1, with the possible exception of the Chief Negotiator whose term of office shall be determined in accordance with Section 6.3.

6.6 No member shall simultaneously hold office on the Unit Executive and a Branch Executive.

6.7

1. The President will serve as one of the Provincial Councillors and will be limited to one vote on the executive.
2. No member shall cast more than one vote on the Unit Executive.

6.8 Time Release Positions

1. The Unit President, Vice President and the Chief Negotiator shall be released from teaching duties for full-time Federation service.
2. Any provisions for additional time-release of members for Federation service shall be approved by the District Council, such a decision remaining subject to budget limitations.

6.9 Recall of an Elected Officer

1. Any officer elected to a Branch or the Unit Executive may be removed from that office by a two-thirds vote of the members eligible to vote, present, and voting at a duly called Branch Meeting in the case of a Branch Executive Officer, or at a duly called Unit General Meeting in the case of a Unit Executive Officer.
2. For a meeting for the purpose set out in 6.10.1 to be considered duly called, the call for the meeting must be in accordance with the Bylaws and must provide for the circulation to or the posting for the examination of the members eligible to vote, a full Notice of Motion regarding the proposal to conduct a vote on the recall of an elected officer at least nine days prior to the date of the meeting.

6.10 Nomination Procedure

1. There shall be a Nomination Procedure for all positions on the Unit Executive that are to be elected on the two school days immediately following the Annual General Meeting with voting taking place at schools / designated polling stations on the election days. The Nomination Procedure shall be administered at the discretion and direction of the Elections Committee, and in accordance with the Unit’s Constitution and Bylaws.
2. To be duly nominated for a position on the Unit Executive, the candidate must:
   1. be an Active Member of the Unit; and
   2. submit the prescribed Nomination Form, signed by at least five (5) other Active Members of the Unit, on time and to the Federation member or staff designated by the Elections Committee to receive such nominations.
3. Nominations for election to a Unit Executive position as set out in 6.10.1 and 6.10.2 shall be closed at 1:00 p.m. on the Tuesday, two weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting. At the Annual General Meeting candidate speeches and the Bear Pit session shall take place.
4. Positions on the Unit Executive, which have not received any on-time nominations, as described in 6.10.3, will be closed. The positions that are left vacant can be filled by an election held at the next IDC should anyone stand for election to the vacant position.
5. For any position with at least two nominations, an election by secret ballot shall be conducted in accordance with the Unit’s Constitution, Bylaws and Procedures.

6.11 Voting Procedure when Electing Officers

1. The voting procedure shall be administered at the discretion and direction of the Elections Committee, and in accordance with the Unit’s Constitution and Bylaws.
2. The order on the Ballot will be:
   1. President
   2. Vice President
   3. Chief Negotiator
   4. Provincial Councillor (every other year)
   5. Executive Officers (2)
   6. Communications
   7. Educational Services
   8. Excellence in Education
   9. Health and Safety (every other year)
   10. Political Action
   11. Human Rights
3. .1 Each ballot listed in 6.11.2 shall include the names of all candidates duly nominated in accordance with 6.10.3.
   
   These ballots shall remain sealed in the Ballot Boxes until counted under the direction of the Chair of the Elections Committee at the Educator’s Center at the close of elections. At this time the Scrutineers for each candidate may be in attendance.
   
   .2 Officers will be elected to the Unit’s Executive by a secret ballot vote conducted at each school / designated polling station. Should there still be only one candidate for a position when the election for that position is being considered, that candidate shall be declared elected by the Election Committee.
   
   In the event of any situation arising in carrying out the election of Officers as set out in this section, which is not covered wholly or in part, or seems to be not covered wholly or in part, by the provisions of this Section, the Election Committee, and with the advice of the Constitution Committee, shall adjudicate the issue. The Election Committee’s interpretations and rulings in this regard shall continue to be eligible for a challenge by any Active Member if a member wishes to make a formal complaint in writing to the Elections Committee. Results and complaints to be reported at the next IDC.
   
   .3 In the event of any situation arising in carrying out the election of Officers as set out in Bylaw 6 and Procedure 18, which is not covered wholly or in part, or seems to be not covered wholly or in part, by these provisions, the Elections Committee, and if available, the advice of the Constitution Committee, shall adjudicate the issue. The interpretations and rulings in this regard shall continue to be eligible for a challenge by any Active Member if a member wishes to make a formal complaint in writing to the Elections Committee. Results and complaints to be reported at the next IDC.

7.1 Officers of the Unit shall act in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the OSSTF and the Unit, and shall support the Policies of the OSSTF and the Unit.

7.2 It shall be the duty of the Unit President:

1. to be the Presiding Officer of the Unit;
2. to be one of the three signing authorities of the Unit;
3. to preside at meetings of the Unit except at meetings of the District Council or a Unit General Meeting where a Speaker has been elected who is not the President;
4. to be an ex officio member of all Unit Committees;
5. to attend Provincial Council meetings as one of the Unit’s Provincial Councillors;
6. to, in consultation with the Bargaining Unit Executive, appoint five (5) members of the Bargaining Unit Appeal Committee prior to September 30 of each year.

7.3 It shall be the duty of the Vice President:

1. to perform the duties of the President, in the absence of the President as designated by the President, or, in the absence of the President, as designated by the Unit Executive; and
2. to assist the President and the Executive Officers in their duties.

7.4 It shall be the duty of the Secretary-Treasurer:

1. to be responsible to the Unit Executive;
2. to act as the official Secretary to the Unit;
3. to perform the duty of Secretary-Treasurer:
   1. to be responsible to the Unit Executive;
   2. to act as the official Secretary to the Unit;
   3. to act as the official Treasurer to the Unit and in this capacity:
      1. to be one of three signing authorities;
      2. to work with the Unit Executive in administering the budget; and
      3. to prepare a draft budget for presentation to the Unit Executive.

7.5 It shall be the duty of the elected Provincial Councillor:

1. to represent the Unit at all meetings of the Provincial Council;
2. to head the Unit's delegation to the Annual Meeting of the Provincial Assembly; and
3. to report to the Unit Executive and District Council.

7.6 It shall be the duty of the elected Health and Safety Chair:

1. to represent the Unit at all meetings of the Joint Health and Safety Committee;
2. to ensure that all Committee functions are carried out in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Committee as approved by the District Council;
3. to preside at meetings of the Committee;
4. to act as the Spending Authority for the Committee;
5. to prepare and submit yearly the Terms of Reference detailing the Committee’s operating procedures;
6. to prepare and submit a budget proposal detailing the Committee's funding requirements for the next fiscal year as part of the annual budget preparation process; and
7. to represent the Committee at meetings of the Unit Executive, the District Council, and Unit General Meetings.

7.7 It shall be the duty of a Chair of an Standing Committee:

1. to ensure that all Committee functions are carried out in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Committee as approved by the District Council;
2. to preside at meetings of the Committee;
3. to act as the Spending Authority for the Committee;
4. to prepare and submit yearly the Terms of Reference detailing the Committee’s operating procedures;
5. to prepare and submit a budget proposal detailing the Committee's funding requirements for the next fiscal year as part of the annual budget preparation process; and
6. to represent the Committee at meetings of the Unit Executive, the District Council, and Unit General Meetings.

7.8 It shall be the duty of the Chief Negotiator:

1. to assume responsibility for the negotiation of a Collective Agreement and the renewal of the Collective Agreement for the Unit;
2. to act as a resource, as directed by the Unit President, to the PSSP and the Occasional Teachers' Units in the negotiation of their Collective Agreements and the renewal of those Collective Agreements;
3. to act as Chair of the Unit's Collective Bargaining Committee;
4. to ensure that all Collective Bargaining Committee functions are carried out in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Committee as approved by the District Council;
5. to preside at meetings of the Collective Bargaining Committee;
6. to act as the Spending Authority for the Committee;
7. to prepare and submit a budget proposal detailing the Committee's funding requirements for the next fiscal year as part of the annual budget preparation process;
8. to represent the Committee at meetings of the Unit Executive, the District Council, and Unit General Meetings; and
9. to act in an emergency as an alternate signing authority for the Unit in the event that the President or the Secretary-Treasurer is unable to co-sign cheques.

7.9 It shall be the duties of the Executive Officers to assume such responsibilities as are assigned by the President.

8.1 The Unit Executive will meet monthly and at other times as directed by the President.

8.2 The quorum, for a duly called meeting of the Unit Executive shall be those members in attendance and voting. For the purpose of this section, due notice for the calling of a meeting of the Unit Executive shall be four days.

8.3 The meetings of the Unit Executive shall have recorded minutes, with an official set of the minutes and related Executive documents being maintained on file and in good order indefinitely.

9.1 The District Council shall meet monthly and as directed by the Unit Executive.

9.2 The quorum for the District Council shall be forty percent (40%) of the voting members of Council.

9.3 Resolutions from a Branch may be forwarded via the Unit President or the Executive Assistant at the District Office for consideration at the next meeting of the District Council.

9.4 At the September meeting of the District Council, brought to order and chaired by the Unit President on a pro tem basis, Council will elect a Member(s) to serve as the Speaker(s) for all meetings of the District Council.

9.5 The meetings of the District Council shall have recorded minutes, with an official set of the minutes and related Council documents being maintained on file and in good order indefinitely.

9.6 Council Meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order.

10.1 There shall be the following Standing committees, the Chairs of which are individually elected as members of the Unit Executive as set out in the Constitution, Article 7, Section 7.5.1 specifically:

1. a Communications Committee,
2. an Education Services Committee,
3. a Health and Safety Committee,
4. a Political Action Committee,
5. a Human Rights Committee, and
6. an Excellence in Education Committee.

10.2 There may be the following Standing Committee(s), the Chair(s) of which is/are appointed by the Unit Executive, specifically:

1. a Benefits Information Committee to be chaired by the Benefits Information Officer. Said Officer(s) being appointed as set out in the Constitution, Article 7, section 7.5.4.

10.3 The membership of the seven Standing Committees identified in 10.1 and 10.2, in addition to the Chair, shall consist of:

1. one member from each Branch,
2. up to two additional members appointed by the Committee, subject to ratification by the District Council,

10.4 The terms of reference for each Standing Committee established under 10.1 and 10.2 shall be reviewed annually at the November meeting of District Council.

11.1 There shall be a Unit Collective Bargaining Committee with the status of a Standing Committee in the Unit, with the Chief Negotiator acting as the Committee's Chair.

11.2 In addition to the Chief Negotiator, the membership of the Collective Bargaining Committee shall consist of:

1. a representative from each Branch Executive;
2. the Unit President; and
3. up to two Active Members of the Unit at large, who may be co-opted by the Chief Negotiator, with the approval of the Collective Bargaining Committee and the District Council.

11.3 The responsibility for conducting negotiations to revise and/or renew the Teachers’ Bargaining Unit's Collective Agreement is vested in the Chief Negotiator.

11.4 The Negotiating Committee to represent the Unit in negotiations shall consist of:

1. the Chief Negotiator who will lead the team;
2. the Unit President; and
3. three (3) additional members of the Collective Bargaining Committee, elected by the Committee.

Once appointed, the Negotiating Committee shall be charged with the responsibility of conducting negotiations to revise and/or renew the collective agreement to a successful conclusion.

11.5 Should a member of a Negotiating Committee which is engaged in negotiations no longer be able or willing to serve as a member of that Team, the Unit Executive shall, with the advice of the Collective Bargaining Committee, appoint additional members of the Unit to the Negotiating Committee to maintain a membership of five (5) on the Team.

11.6 Should a new Unit President or a new Chief Negotiator be elected during a round of negotiations, both shall be considered ex officio members of the Negotiating Committee, over and above the incumbent five (5) members, unless appointed as set out in 11.5.

11.7 In the event of a Provincial Takeover of negotiations, the Unit Executive shall endeavour to ensure that the Chief Negotiator, the Unit President, the Chief Negotiator-Elect (if any), and others on the Unit's Negotiating Committee as appropriate, will assume significant central roles on the Takeover Team.

12.1 There shall be the following Special Committees established annually for the Unit, specifically:

1. by the District Council,
1. a Constitution Committee
2. an Elections Committee, and
3. an Expenditures Monitoring Committee; and
4. an Annual Dinner committee, and
5. a Review Committee as per Procedure 2 – Hiring and Appointing Staff.
2. by the Unit Executive, a Grievance Committee.

There may be Special Committees, in addition to those specified in 12.1, established by the Unit Executive, the District Council, and/or at a Unit General Meeting.

13.1 The District Council, at a duly called meeting prior to the Annual General Meeting in May, may approve or confirm the general organization of Teachers’ Bargaining Unit Branches for the next Federation Year. In the absence of such a motion the existing organization of Branches shall continue for the next Federation Year.

13.2 It is the purpose of the Branch structure to organize Active Members of OSSTF Teachers’ Bargaining Unit District19‑Peel in worksite clusters in a manner which facilitates equitable representation on the District Council, equitable access to, and participation in, Standing Committees, and enhances the communication process between members in a Branch, between the Branches, and between Branches and the Unit Executive.

13.3 Each Active Member of the Unit shall be a member of the Branch designated for the worksite at which the member is assigned for purposes of employment for all or most of his/her time. In instances where a member is assigned equally to two worksites at which there are two different Branches, the member shall elect to belong to one of the two Branches.

13.4 Each Branch, with the exception of the Alpha Branch, shall by June 1 each year, elect its Branch Executive in accordance with the Branch Constitution and generally accepted election practices, for the next Federation Year.

13.5 When a new Branch is formed, its date of inception shall normally be the first day of classes being delivered by the members of that Branch. Should it not be feasible or appropriate to establish the date of inception in this manner, the District Council shall specify the date of inception in the motion to establish the Branch. With the assistance of the Unit Executive as required, the members of the Branch shall elect the Branch Officers as called for in Section 13.4, within fifteen working days from the date of inception of the Branch. For the purposes of this section, "new" shall be understood to mean that the clustering of the members relative to a specified worksite(s) is creating a completely new grouping and is not the revision by addition or subtraction of the clustering associated with an existing Branch or Branches.

13.6 Prior to the official formation of a new Branch as set out in Section 13.5 above, members who are designated to become members in that Branch may, with the assistance of the Unit Executive as required, elect representatives of this "nucleus" to attend the District Council, the Standing Committees, and the Unit's Collective Bargaining Committee as observers.

14.1 Annual Budget

1. The annual meeting of the Presidents and the Treasurers of the three Bargaining Units to develop the budget proposal shall occur during the first week of April.
2. There shall be a draft budget presented by the Unit Executive at the Unit's Annual General Meeting in May. Copies of the draft budget shall be made available to the Branch Presidents at least four days prior to the meeting. A simple majority shall be required to approve the budget for the next fiscal year.
3. All budget lines, currently active, inactive, or new, shall be defined by the Unit Executive, with the Treasurer charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the budget line definitions are maintained in a current and accurate state, and are available for information purposes to any member on request.
4. Throughout the year, the District Council shall have the authority to approve the reallocation of funds from one budget line to another budget line(s) should the Council so decide.

14.2 Spending Authorities and Signing Authorities

1. The Spending Authority for all budget lines is the President of the OSSTF Teachers’ Bargaining Unit District19‑Peel and they shall remain the President's responsibility except for those lines specifically allocated by the President to:
   1. the Chairs of the Standing Committees;
   2. the Chief Negotiator;
   3. the Chair of the Staff Allocation Committee;
   4. the President of the OSSTF PSSP Unit District19‑Peel; and
   5. the President of the OSSTF Occasional Teachers' Unit District19‑Peel, or designate.
2. Spending Authorities set out in 14.2.1 are the spending authorities for sub-committees responsible to the Committee or Unit as in the case of 14.2.1.4 and 14.2.1.5. In the event that one of the spending officers will not authorize an expenditure whether before or after the fact, the issue shall be referred to the Unit's Executive. If the issue cannot be resolved at the Executive then the question shall be referred to the District Council for a decision.
3. Payments for all Unit expenses shall be by cheque and all such cheques shall require two signatures. Normally the two required signatures will be that of the Unit's President and the Secretary-Treasurer. The Chief Negotiator shall be authorized as an alternate signing authority to be utilized only in the absence of either the President or the Secretary-Treasurer and in circumstances where good financial practice and procedures requires that the transaction be proceeded with. All instances where the Chief Negotiator is used as an alternate shall be reported to the signing authority on whose behalf the alternate acted.

14.3 Audits and Controls

1. Financial reports in the form of an unaudited summary of expenditures for every budget line, and all revenues received posted to the end of the previous month shall be made by the Treasurer to each regular monthly meeting of the District Council.
2. The Auditor, engaged by the Unit in accordance with the Constitution and the Bylaws, shall present the Auditor's Report regarding the Unit's Financial Statement for the previous fiscal year both to the District Council for approval no later than the regular monthly meeting in November, and later, to the Unit's Annual General Meeting in May for endorsement.
3. The Expenditures Monitoring Committee established in accordance with the Constitution and the Bylaws shall act as an internal audit group, reviewing the procedures and appropriateness of expenditures as authorized by the spending and signing authorities. Further, the Expenditures Monitoring Committee shall report to the District Council at least three times a year. The Expenditures Monitoring Committee's review shall be a signed written document specifying the date(s) of the review(s) and be supported by initialing the documents that have been examined. A summary report shall be presented in writing at the Unit's Annual General Meeting.
4. Motions concerning financial matters not included in the budget and which are to be considered by the District Council shall require a notice of motion to members of Council four days prior to the meeting to be eligible for approval by a simple majority. If less than four days is given by way of notice, approval of such motions shall require a three-quarters majority of the members of Council present and voting.

14.4 Branch Rebates

1. Branch Rebates will be paid to Branches by September 30th of the year.

15.1 The Procedures

1. The Grievance Procedures available to the Unit shall be for the purposes set out in the Collective Agreement currently in force between the Peel District School Board and the OSSTF Teachers’ Bargaining Unit District19‑Peel, and which may be renewed from time to time.
2. The Grievance Procedures available to the Unit shall be those procedures set out in the Collective Agreement currently in force between the Peel District School Board and the OSSTF Teachers’ Bargaining Unit District19-Peel, and which may be renewed from time to time.
3. It is recognized that unless explicitly amended by the ratification of a Collective Agreement that states otherwise, the Grievance Procedures available to the Unit shall include an Informal Stage which may be initiated by the complaining member, with the concurrence of the Unit and a Formal Stage which may only be initiated and proceeded with by the Unit, on behalf of one or more members of the Unit, or on behalf of the Unit in general.

15.2 The Grievance Committee

1. Annually the Unit Executive shall appoint a member of the Teachers’ Bargaining Unit as the Grievance Officer. In addition, the Unit Executive will appoint four other members of the Unit to form the Unit Grievance Committee, the Committee to be chaired by the Grievance Officer. If the Grievance Officer is new to the position, the previous Grievance Officer, if willing and available to serve, shall be one of the members appointed to the committee.
2. Three members of the committee, one of whom is the Grievance Officer, shall constitute a quorum necessary for the committee to make decisions.
3. Decisions made on behalf of the Unit at the Informal Stage of the Grievance Procedure shall be made by either the Grievance Officer or the Grievance Committee. Decisions made on behalf of the Unit at the Formal Stage of the Grievance Procedure shall be made by the Grievance Committee.
4. All decisions of the Grievance Officer and the Grievance Committee shall be reported to the Unit Executive.

15.3 The Appeal Process

1. Decisions made by the Grievance Officer may be appealed to the Grievance Committee.
2. Decisions made by the Grievance Committee, including decisions related to appeals as per 15.3.1, may be appealed to the Unit Executive. All decisions made by the Unit Executive related to grievances and grievance procedure are final and not subject to further appeal.

16.1 The Unit may, from time to time, approve procedures to be used as standard operating practice of the Unit to assist the Unit in operating effectively and efficiently.

16.2 New procedures may be approved and existing procedures may be amended

1. at a meeting of the District Council
   1. by a simple majority of the members qualified to vote, present and voting provided that at least four days prior to the meeting; notice of the proposed procedure(s) or amendment(s) has (have) been duly circulated to the members of Council,
   2. the proposed procedure(s) or amendment(s) has (have) been duly circulated to the members of Council.
   3. by a two-thirds vote of the members qualified to vote, present and voting, previous notice as set out in 16.2.1.1.1 and/or 16.2.1.1.2 not having been given.
2. at a General Meeting of the Unit
   1. by a simple majority of the members qualified to vote, present and voting, provided that at least nine days prior to the meeting; notice of the proposed procedure(s) or amendment(s) has (have) been given;
   2. the proposed procedure(s) or amendment(s) has (have) been duly circulated to or posted for the examination of the members of each Branch;
   3. by a two-thirds vote of the members qualified to vote, present and voting, previous notice as set out in 16.2.2.1.1 and/or 16.2.2.1.2 not having been given.

16.3 Procedures approved or amended as set out in 16.2 may be rescinded by the District Council at any time as set out in 16.2.1.

17.1 The Unit may, from time to time, approve policies for the purpose of setting out publicly, the Unit's official view and stance on any issue when it is considered to be in the interest of the members of the Unit to do so.

17.2 New policies may be approved and existing policies may be amended

1. at a meeting of the District Council
   1. by a simple majority of the members qualified to vote, present and voting provided that at least four days prior to the meeting; notice of the proposed Policy(ies) or amendment(s) has (have) been given;
   2. the proposed Policy(ies) or amendment(s) has (have) been duly circulated to the members of Council;
   3. by a two-thirds vote of the members qualified to vote, present and voting, previous notice as set out in 17.2.1.1.1 and/or 17.2.1.1.2 not having been given.
2. at a General Meeting of the Unit
   1. by a simple majority of the members qualified to vote, present and voting, provided that at least nine days prior to the meeting; notice of the proposed Policy(ies) or amendment(s) has (have) been given;
   2. the proposed Policy(ies) or amendment(s) has (have) been duly circulated to or posted for the examination of the members of each Branch;
   3. by a two-thirds vote of the members qualified to vote, present and voting, previous notice as set out in 17.2.2.1.1 and/or 17.2.2.1.2 not having been given.

17.3 Policies approved or amended as set out

1. in 17.2.1 automatically will be deemed lapsed one year following the passing of the approving or amending motion unless explicitly reaffirmed by a motion in accordance with the procedures and requirements of 17.2.
2. in 17.2.2 automatically will be deemed lapsed three years following the passing of the approving or amending motion unless explicitly reaffirmed by a motion in accordance with the procedures and requirements of 17.2.

18.1 The Unit’s delegation to the Annual Meeting of the Provincial Assembly shall be in accordance with the Constitution, Bylaws and Policies of the OSSTF.

18.2 Subject to 18.1, the following members of the Unit shall be delegate members of the Unit's representation at the Provincial Assembly:

1. the Unit President
2. the Unit's Provincial Councillor

18.3 Subject to 18.1 and 18.2, the Unit's delegates and alternates to the Provincial Assembly shall be elected by the District Council at the November meeting of the Council, for the Annual Meeting of the Provincial Assembly in March. Any member of the Unit is eligible to be so elected.

18.4 Subject to 18.1 and 18.2, and further to 18.3, the District Council may appoint members of the Unit to fill vacancies in delegate or alternate positions.

18.5 Motions to be submitted to the Provincial Assembly as "on-time" motions from the Unit must have the approval of the District Council or of a Unit General Meeting.

19.1 The Bargaining Unit shall have an Anti-Harassment and Anti-Bullying Policy and Procedure to be followed at all OSSTF workplaces and functions.

19.2 The Anti-Harassment and Anti-Bullying Policy and Procedure and any amendments to it shall be approved by the Bargaining Unit Executive Council.

20.1 Members of the Bargaining Unit affected by a decision resulting from a complaint under the Bargaining Unit Anti-Harassment and Anti-Bullying Procedure may appeal this decision using the following procedure:

1. Within five (5) days of the decision, the affected member (herein called the Appellant) shall submit a request in writing to the Bargaining Unit President for an appeal hearing.
2. Within two (2) days of receiving the request the Bargaining Unit President shall appoint 3 members of the Bargaining Unit Appeal Committee to consider the appeal.
3. Within three (3) days the Bargaining Unit Appeal Committee shall meet to consider the appeal.
   1. The Bargaining Unit Appeal Committee shall review the complaint, the investigation process and findings, and the decision.
   2. The Bargaining Unit Appeal Committee shall either confirm or modify the decision.
   3. The decision of the Bargaining Unit Appeal Committee shall be consistent with the Bargaining Unit Anti-Harassment and Anti-Bullying Policy and Procedures.
4. The Bargaining Unit Appeal Committee shall report the decision on the Appeal to the Bargaining Unit President within five (5) days after the meeting at which the Appeal is considered.
5. Within two (2) days of receiving the decision of the Bargaining Unit Appeal Committee the Bargaining Unit President shall communicate the decision to the Appellant in writing.
6. The decision of the Bargaining Unit Appeal Committee shall be considered final and not subject to any appeal.