Dates, Rules and Requirements (Continued)


must circulate individual nominating petitions. These petitions must indicate independent status, or the petition will be invalidated.


8. No slate may endorse more than one (1) individual for each elective position. An individual may run on only one (1) slate or as an independent.


9. a. Only official individual and slate nominating petitions may be used to gather signatures. Although reproductions of the official form may be used, the Committee will accept only those forms containing original nominating and circulator signatures. Reproduced (photocopy, FAX, etc.) signatures will be invalid.


b. Correction fluid/correction tape may not be used anywhere on the petition or it will be invalidated.


10. Potential candidates are solely responsible for ensuring that only acceptable petitions are submitted.


11. Nominating Signatures. If any of the following conditions and requirements is not fulfilled, the signature will be invalid: a. Only regular PEF members in good standing, from the appropriate constituency, shall be eligible to sign nominating petitions. Friday, March 6, 2015 is the cutoff date for membership.


b. All nominating petitions will require the signature, printed name, and correct member ID number. Member ID number consists of up to the first four letters of your first name and up to the first four letters of your last name AS THEY APPEAR ON YOUR PAYCHECK and the five digits of your home zip code. The printed name and member ID number must be legible for the signature to be valid.


c. Members may sign petitions only for those individuals for whom they are eligible to vote.


d. Members may not sign more than one nominating petition for any individual elective position. Members may sign petitions for up to three individuals for each office of Vice President and Trustee. (In the case of duplicate signatures, the signatures on the first petition received by the Elections Committee shall be valid.)


12. Nominating petitions may be circulated only by regular PEF members. The circulating member must legibly complete the information on the bottom of each petition submitted; only original circulator's’ signatures will be accepted. Failure to do this will render the entire petition invalid.


13. The use of union funds or facilities to promote the candidacy of any person is prohibited regardless of whether union officials know about or approve of the use. It is not the intent of this rule to limit candidate forums at which all candidates have equal access.


14. The prohibition against the use of union funds applies to direct expenditures from the union including but not limited to: a. use of union owned or leased equipment such as telephones, fax machines, copy machines,


www.pef.org etc., or use of conference rooms.


b. use of union supplies such as stamps, paper, envelopes, etc.


c. giving free services or special discounts to a candidate customer such as printing, photocopying, etc.


15. No PEF staff, office, equipment, material or electronic media (e.g., e-mail and internet) may be used for electioneering, No PEF dues money shall be expended for the purpose of electioneering. This applies to PEF headquarters, regional offices, and local divisions, or councils. For purposes of this election, regular PEF members on union leave working in a non-elected position for PEF or serving in positions funded by joint contract funds shall be considered PEF Staff, unless the position is specifically protected by the PEF Constitution.


16. All funds and resources used by individuals and/or slates in support of their election efforts shall be donations from regular PEF members only.


17. No person shall use the PEF logo or letterhead on any written or printed election material in any PEF election process.


18. During the election period, no PEF publications may endorse, or contain material that appears to endorse, overtly criticize, or overtly praise any potential candidate for PEF offices covered by these election rules.


19. In accordance with the collective bargaining agreements between PEF and any employer of workers represented by PEF, no material which constitutes election material for or against any person, organization or faction thereof shall be allowed on PEF bulletin boards, if such postings are prohibited by the pertinent collective bargaining agreement(s).


20. No PEF member may knowingly misrepresent the candidacy intentions of any other PEF member.


21. In addition to the above rules, the following PEF Code of Ethics will apply to all election activities: (Note: Ethic charges arising as a result of this election process will be processed by the Elections Committee). If the charges are against the Elections Committee, then they will be processed by the Ethics Committee. a. No member shall use the PEF name or logo for other than official PEF business.


b. Only official PEF literature shall be posted on PEF bulletin boards provided under contractual rights by the collective bargaining agreement with the State of New York.


c. Only official PEF business shall be conducted at meetings arranged in the name of PEF. Meeting space at PEF-operated facilities shall be allocated in a fair and equitable manner.


d. No member shall commence litigation against PEF or any of its Officers, Executive Board members or general members, without first seeking redress from the procedures set forth herein.


e. All members shall conduct themselves in a manner that is conducive to fairness and fair play working only for the good and welfare of the membership.


f. No official PEF letterhead or PEF publication will be used to endorse a PEF member for union election.


g. Official PEF publications will not be utilized for individual accusations which are slanderous or which effectively amount to character assassination of other PEF members.


h. No steward shall be denied the opportunity to have a meeting convened to deal with issues of interest to that steward or his/her constituency.


i. No member or officer shall bring charges of a malicious or frivolous nature against another member or officer.


j. No elected official shall engage in corrupt or unethical practices by taking money, books, records, or other property belonging to PEF or its divisions. The unauthorized destruction; alteration; or mutilation of records, vouchers, or receipts will constitute a violation of this code.


k. No officer or member shall abridge the rules and procedures adopted by the PEF Convention or Executive Board, nor violate an oath of office.


l. No member or officer shall engage in corrupt practices or racketeering.


m. No elected PEF official shall engage in dual unionism or advocate secession from PEF.


22. Gifts which have monetary value exceeding $5.00 may not be given to PEF members during the election period. This is not intended to prohibit distribution of traditional campaign items such as key chains, magnets, pencils, bookmarks, pens, etc.


IX. Nominating and Campaign Procedures Potential candidates may obtain all necessary forms from any PEF office by requesting them in person, by mail or by phone. Forms will also be available from the PEF website http://www.pef.org/elections 24 hours after their availability at the PEF office. All subsequent deadlines (dates and times) refer to received at PEF headquarters, and/or any PEF regional office, not date mailed or postmarked. Petitions may be returned by certified mail, return receipt requested, although this is not required. However, certified mail sometimes takes longer than regular mail. Postal failures or inadequacies are not grievable situations. Faxed forms will not be accepted. All mail concerning this election MUST be sent to: PEF Elections Committee P. O. Box 12414


Albany, NY 12212-2414


Monday, March 2, 2015– The following forms will be available at all PEF offices at


9:00 AM:


“Notice of Slate Submission” “Notice of Slate Acceptance”


“2015 Candidate Directory and Information Sheet”


The “Notice of Slate Submission” will constitute a notification of an intention to run a slate and


The Communicator December 2014 - January 2015—Page 23


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