Rules 2002

Rule 7
Branch organisation

(a) The union shall be divided into branches and each member shall normally be attached to an active branch in whose geographic area or industrial sector his/her employment is situated. Each full-time union official who is a member of the union shall be attached to a branch of his/her own choice.

(b) The NEC, in consultation with the branches affected, may create, divide or merge branches or establish the organisational means for such inter-branch relationships as may be necessary to meet special circumstances, subject, in the event of a dispute, to confirmation by ballot vote of the members concerned.

(c) (i) Each branch shall hold its annual meeting early in the calendar year to elect the following officers who shall be ex-officio members of the branch committee:

(d) The branch committee shall have power to act between branch meetings, but shall not have power to table a motion in which the NEC or ADM is asked to vary the policy of the union, or the Irish Executive Council (IEC), Scottish Executive Council (SEC) or any industrial council is asked to vary its policy. Any action of a branch committee shall be reported to the succeeding branch meeting.

(e) Each branch shall fix a quorum.

(f) Any member may call for an inspection of the membership records and financial standing of those attending a branch meeting to establish their right to vote.

(g) An ordinary branch meeting shall be convened at least once every calendar month excepting one month of the calendar year, during which the meeting may be waived with the consent of a previous branch meeting. A special meeting may be called by the branch committee or, in emergency, by the branch chair or at the request, in writing, of any 25 members entitled to vote at meetings of the branch or at least 10 per cent of the branch membership. The NEC may grant permission for meetings to be held at less frequent intervals.

(h) Not fewer than seven days’ notice shall be given to members in the case of ordinary meetings, and in the case of special meetings reasonable notice shall be given, including notice of the matter to be discussed.

(j) NEC, IEC, SEC and industrial council members shall have the right to attend and speak at meetings of any branch within their own electoral areas. Members of the NEC Emergency Committee shall have the right to attend and speak at any branch meeting.

(k) Subject to the approval of the NEC, branches shall be allowed to establish sub-branches. All the transactions of a sub-branch shall be reported to the branch.

(l) All funds held by branches shall be the property of the union and shall be deposited into such accounts as the branch or NEC may direct. Withdrawals shall be made only on the written authority of two out of three branch officers, appointed by the branch for the purpose. Branch officers shall be responsible for the location and safe keeping of funds held by the branch.

(m) The expenses of branch management shall be met by an allowance, paid monthly, of 5 per cent of the ordinary contributions collected from the members of that branch. Higher allowances will be paid to branches able to prove to the NEC that they have especially high running expenses.

(n) A branch shall use its management fund for union purposes and to make contributions in memory of a deceased member. Any balance remaining may be used for purposes connected with journalism or trade unionism or, with the NEC’s permission, for local charitable purposes. Notice of such proposal shall be given on the summons convening the meeting.

(o) The branch auditors shall examine the books and attach their report to the annual statement of accounts which shall be forwarded to Head office before 31 January in each year.

(p) (i) If a branch fails to send proper quarterly branch statements or remittances to Head Office, the NEC shall have the power to remove the branch officers and require the branch to elect fresh officers, or to disband the branch and transfer the members to other branches.
(ii) If the remittances due from any branch on 31 December in any year or the annual membership and arrears statement for the year have not been sent to the General Secretary and received by 31 January next following, the branch shall be disqualified from sending delegates to the ADM unless the NEC otherwise directs.

(q) A branch may affiliate to appropriate groups of unions in the media and communications industries as local conditions may require, subject to the approval of the relevant industrial council or geographical council and to a simple majority of a ballot of the branch.

(r) (i) If a branch is of the opinion that any of the branch officers has been guilty of conduct or omission detrimental to the interests of the branch, the branch may dismiss that officer by a simple majority vote at a properly convened branch meeting. Notice of a proposal to dismiss an officer shall be given at the preceding branch meeting.
(ii) Should the officer not be present at the meeting, notice of the dismissal and of the right of appeal shall be sent within three days to him/her by recorded delivery or registered post.
(iii) An officer so dismissed shall cease to hold office immediately and shall, within five working days of notice of such dismissal hand over to a nominated member of the branch all documents and/or money appertaining to the post. The nominated member shall have custody of the documents and monies until a successor has been elected or the dismissed member has successfully appealed against the decision of the branch.
(iv) Any officer so dismissed may appeal against the dismissal to the NEC whose decision shall be final. Both the appellant and the branch shall be invited to the hearing of the appeal and may be represented by another person. In the event of a successful appeal an appellant shall be reinstated. Should the appeal fail the member concerned shall not be entitled to stand for election to office for a period of 12 months. The casual vacancy caused by the dismissal shall remain open until the outcome of any appeal is known.