Information on the elections process can be found in Article VI of the Local Constitution of the Coalition of University Employees, Santa Cruz Local #10.

In early 2005, Local #10 proposed a minor amendment in Article VI, section 1 to lengthen officer terms from one year to two years. This amendment was ratified by the membership on April 28, 2005.

In the 2008 elections an amendment to Article VI was passed. The amendment makes all Executive Board positions, elected positions and all Executive Board members, voting members.

Article VI: Officers, Nominations, and Elections

Section 1. Officers: The officers of this local of the Coalition of University Employees at UCSC shall consist of a President, a Vice-president, a recording secretary, a treasurer, and a Chief Steward. All officers shall be elected for a term of two years to begin with elections in 2006.

Section 1a. Other Members: In addition to local officers, there shall be three (3) At large members of the Steering Committee, three (3) representatives to the statewide Executive Committee, and two (2) representatives to the Bargaining Committee (one primary and one alternate.)

All Steering Committee members/positions shall be nominated and elected every other year, for a term of two years.

These thirteen members shall constitute the local union steering committee. All members of the steering committee shall be voting members.

Elections shall be held in the month of April; nominations shall be opened at a membership meeting held in February and shall remain open until the close of March’s membership meeting.

Section 2. Nominations for all officers shall be made at the February and March membership meetings. At least 15 days advance notice shall be given the membership prior to the opening of nominations. A nominating committee may be appointed by the steering committee or elected by the membership to make nominations, but whether or not such a committee is used, nominations shall be permitted from the floor of the nominations meeting. Provisions will be made for accepting nominations from members who are unable to attend the February or March membership meetings; those provisions will be announced in the notice to members about the opening of nominations.

Section 3. Officers shall be elected by secret ballot vote, and the balloting shall be conducted so as to afford all members a reasonable opportunity to vote, regardless of work schedule or location. At least 15 days’ notice shall be given to the membership prior to the close of balloting. This notification shall be either mailed or emailed to each member, and shall include the list of offices to be filled, and the date, time and place of the election. These procedures shall be worked out by the local steering committee. An election of all officers and statewide representatives is being held concurrently with the ratification of this constitution, and elections thereafter will follow the procedures herein.

Section 4. Vacancies in office shall be filled in the following manner:

1. if less than 4 months remains in their term, vacancies shall be filled by vote of the steering committee;


2. if 4 months or more remain to be served, the vacancy shall be temporarily filled as above, with new elections to be held as soon as possible, but in no case more than 60 days after the office is vacated. In the case of a vacancy for president, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with Article VII, Section 1b, below.

Section 5. Procedures for recall or dismissal will be in accordance with referenda provisions.