SULONG CBL

SULONG–USTFU SULONG-USTFU CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Page 1 of 10

TABLE OF CONTENTS ITEM PAGE Preamble 3 Article I: Definition, Name, & Objectives 3 Article II: Membership 3 Article III: Party Structure 4 Article IV: Meetings 7 Article V: Primary Elections 7 Article VI: Disbursements 8 Article VII: Impeachment & Removal 8 Article VIII: Term of Office, Elections, & 9 Vacancies Article IX: Amendments, Revisions, Transition 9 Clause, Repealing Clause, & Effectivity Proof of Ratification 10 SULONG-USTFU CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Page 2 of 10

SULONG–USTFU GENUINE UNITY ������ COMMON GOOD ������ SHARED VISION CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS PREAMBLE We, Faculty Members of the University of Santo Tomas and bona fide members of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty Union, cognizant of our Democratic Rights guided by Social Teachings of the Catholic Church, sharing the same goal of building a Progressive and Professional Labor Organization, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution and By-Laws. ARTICLE I: DEFINITION, NAME AND OBJECTIVES SEC. 1. DEFINITION. SULONG-USTFU is a political party within the UST Faculty Union dedicated to promote true democratic unionism. SEC. 2. NAME: The Official Name of this organization shall be SULONG-USTFU, hereinafter referred to as SULONG or the Party. SEC. 3. OBJECTIVES: SULONG shall have the following objectives: 1. To promote faculty welfare and industrial peace; 2. To educate faculty members in Labor Education; 3. To promote volunteerism and meritocracy in Union affairs; and 4. To build a strong, dynamic, and progressive UST Faculty Union (USTFU) founded on Democratic Unionism ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP SEC. 1. All bona fide members of the UST Faculty Union are qualified to be members of SULONG. Membership in SULONG is purely voluntary. SEC. 2. No SULONG member can be a member of another political party within the UST Faculty Union. SEC. 3. No test for membership in, nor any oath of loyalty to SULONG shall be required or used which have the effect of requiring prospective or current members of the Party to acquiesce in, condone or support discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identify or economic status. No membership card or dues shall be required of any person as a condition for being a member of this Party SULONG-USTFU CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Page 3 of 10

SEC. 4. DISQUALIFICATION AND REMOVAL. The following shall be basis for a member’s disqualification and removal from the party: 1. Membership to another political party in USTFU; 2. Falsification of membership documents; 3. Habitual non-participation in party activities; 4. Providing privileged information about SULONG to another political party; 5. Violation of the USTFU Constitution and By-Laws and any other legal directives, rulings, and policies of the USTFU SEC. 5. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES OF MEMBERS. The following shall be the duties and responsibilites of the members of SULONG: 1. To attend and participate in the Party’s General Council Assembly; 2. To vote in the Party’s official elections; 3. To contribute to the objectives of the Party ARTICLE III: PARTY STRUCTURE SEC. 1. GENERAL COUNCIL. The Geneal Council shall be the highest governing body of the Party. The General Council shall be composed of all members of the Party. SEC. 3. POWERS OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL. The following shall be the powers of the General Council: 1. To approve the policies and objectives of the party; 2. To approve financial disbursements of more than Php 100,000.00; 3. To elect the members of the Party’s Executive Committee, with the exemption of the ex- officio member; 4. To select the Party’s official candidates for the UST Faculty Union General Elections and elections for the USTFU Collective Bargaining Panel; 5. To disqualify and remove a member from the Party; 6. To remove/impeach any of its officers SEC. 4. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The primary governing body of SULONG shall be the Executive Council, that shall handle the day-to-day affairs of the Party. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the following officials to be elected by the General Council: A. The Party Chair B. The Party Vice-Chair C. The Party Secretary D. The Party Treasurer E. Chair of the Membership and Recruitment Committee F. Chair of the Labor Education Committee G. Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee H. Chair of the Public Relations Committee I. Chair of the Ethics and Rules Committee J. The highest ranking SULONG Executive Officer of the USTFU or the most senior SULONG in the USTFU Directors as an ex-officio member. SULONG-USTFU CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Page 4 of 10

SEC. 5. STANDING COMMITTEES. SULONG shall have the following Standing Committees: A. Membership & Recruitment Committee. The Membership and Recruitment Committee shall be composed of a Chair and at least four (4) members to be selected by the Chair. The Membership and Recruitment Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities: a) Recruit members for the Party b) Orient members of their duties and responsibilities to the Party c) Update and publish the official membership roster of the Party d) Perform other functions as the Exective Committee may deem necessary B. Labor Education Committee. The Labor Education Committee shall be composed of a Chair and at least (4) members to be selected by the Chair. The Labor Education Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities: a) To provide labor education programs and information to the members of the Party b) To assist and/or promote labor education programs of USTFU consistent to the ideals and principles of the Party c) Perform other functions as the Executive Committee may deem necessary C. Legal Affairs Committee. The Legal Affairs Committee shall be composed of a Chair and at least four (4) members to be selected by the Chair all of whom must be registered members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. The Legal Affairs Committee shall have the following duties and and responsibilities: a) To provide legal advice to the Party b) To review labor-related government advisories, directives, memoranda, etc., and provide a detailed explanation to the Party c) To represent the Party in legal disputes on Union affairs d) Perform other functions that the Executive Committee may deem necessary D. Public Relations Committee. The Public Relations Committee shall be composed of a Chair and at least four (4) members to be selected by the Chair. The Public Affairs Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities: a) To regularly inform the members of the Party about Party, Union, and labor-related affairs b) To receive concerns of the members of the Party and address the same to the Executive Committee c) To assist in the campaign of the Party’s official candidates for the USTFU General Election and elections for the members of the USTFU Collective Bargaining Pane d) To perform other functions that the Executive Committee may deem necessary E. Ethics and Rules Committee. The Ethics and Rules Committee shall be composed of a Chair and at least four (4) members to be selected by the Chair. The Ethics and Rules Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities: a) To monitor and evaluate the performance of the Party and its different committees b) To receive complaints from the members of the party against any of its officers c) To conduct investigations of erring members or officers of the Party SULONG-USTFU CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Page 5 of 10

d) To recommend to the General Membership the removal of any member or officer of the Party e) To formulate, review, and revise the SULONG-USTFU Code of Conduct for its members and officers; the Code of Conduct must be adopted by the Executive Committee and ratified by the General Council in a plebiscite duly called for f) And to perform other functions that the Executive Committee may deem necessary SEC. 6. THE PARTY CHAIR. The Party Chair shall be the primary executive officer of the party with the following powers, duties, and responsibilities: a) To preside over the meetings of the Executive Committee and the General Council Assembly b) To appoint members of the different committees with the concurrence of the Executive Committee c) To form Ad Hoc Committees as the need may arise d) To set the agenda of the Executive Committee meetings and General Council Assemblies e) To provide a yearly report to the General Council f) To oversee the performance of all committees as an ex-officio member g) To represent the Party in matters dealing with USTFU h) To sign official documents and financial transactions of the Party SEC. 7. THE PARTY VICE CHAIR. The Party Vice Chair shall be the secondary executive officer of the party with the following powers, duties, and responsibilities: a) To execute the powers of the Chair in case of the latter’s absence, incapacity, resignation, and or death b) To be the presiding officer of the Executive Committee meetings when the Chair decides to join the debate c) To oversee the internal affairs of the Executive Committee and report the same to the Chair in a regular basis d) To perform other functions as the Chair or Executive Committee may deem necessary SEC. 8. THE PARTY SECRETARY. The Party Secretary shall be the tertiary executive officer of the party and shall have the following powers, duties and responsibilities: a) To assist the Chair and Vice Chair with the internal affairs of the Executive Committee b) To keep and record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee and the General Council c) To be the primary custodian of the Party’s documents, files, and records d) To announce the agenda of all Executive Committee and General Council meetings e) To preside over the meetings of the Executive Committee in the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair provided that such meetings shall not deal with policies, financial transactions, and legal concerns. f) To appoint a maximum of two (2) Assistant Secretaries who will assist him/her in performing the duties and responsibilities stipulated in Art. III Sec. 8 Items “a” to “d” g) To perform other functions as the Chair or Executive Committee may deem necessary SULONG-USTFU CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Page 6 of 10

SEC. 9. THE PARTY TREASURER. The Party Treasurer shall be the custodian of all financial and non-monetary assets of the Party. The Party Treasurer shall have the following duties and responsibilities: a) Collect, receive, and issue receipts of all monies, funds, and contributions to the Party b) Ensure that all disbursements and payments made by him/her are covered by vouchers and accompanied by the necessary receipts c) Keep a record of all receipts and expenditures d) Prepare the yearly financial report of the Party and report the same to the General Council e) Perform other functions as the Chair or Executive Committee may deem necessary SEC. 10. QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The following shall be the preferred qualifications to be elected in the Executive Committee: 1. Must be a tenured faculty member who has served the University of Santo Tomas for at least ten (10) years 2. Must be knowledgeable in USTFU Affairs, Labor Organizations, Labor Law, and Labor Education and Training 3. Must be skilled in written and spoken communication in both Filipino and English 4. Training in Labor Laws, Labor Education, and Labor Organizations is a great advantage ARTICLE IV: MEETINGS SEC. 1. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS. The Executive Committee must have at least two (2) regular meetings for each term. The Chair may call Special/Emergency Meetings as he/she may deem necessary. SEC. 2. GENERAL COUNCIL ASSEMBLIES. The General Council must have at least one (1) General Council Assembly for each term during the non-election years of USTFU. During the election year for USTFU, the General Council may meet as many times as necessary to prepare for the USTFU elections. Special General Council Assemblies may be called for by a majority decision of the Executive Committee or upon petition of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Party. SEC. 3. RULES OF ORDER. All Party meetings shall be governed according to Robert’s Rules of Order following the latest official version SEC. 4. ANNOUCEMENTS. The Announcement and Agenda for all Executive Committee meetings must be released at least three (3) days before the schedule. The Annoucement and Agenda for all General Assemblies must be released at least fifteen (15) days before the schedule. ARTICLE V: PRIMARY ELECTION SEC. 1. DEFINITION. The Primary Election is the Party’s process of selecting its official candidates for the USTFU General Election and for the election of the members of the USTFU-CBA Panel. SEC. 2. ELIGBILITY. The SULONG Primary Election shall be a semi-closed electoral process in which non-SULONG faculty members of the University may be allowed to vote provided that they register prior or during the primary election. SULONG-USTFU CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Page 7 of 10

SEC. 3. ELECTION OFFICERS. The Executive Committee shall determine amongst themselves the Election Officers for the Primary Elections provided that no Election Officer is a candidate. The Election Officers shall formulate the rules for the conduct of a fair, democratic, and free primary elections subject to the approval of the Executive Committee with candidates of the Executive Committee withholding their vote of approval or rejection. In case all of the members of the Executive Committee have declared their candidacy in the primary election, each of the Standing Committees shall select one member to be an Election Officer. The Chairs of the committees cannot vote. ARTICLE VI: DISBURSEMENTS SEC. 1. AUTHORIZATION. The Executive Committee is authorized to release Party funds not exceeding one hundred thousand pesos (Php 100,000.00) in a single transaction for the following purposes: 1. Daily operations of the Party 2. Approved Party Projects and Activities 3. Expenses for Executive Committee meetings and General Assemblies 4. Expenses for offical Party Campaigns 5. Other similar or analogous expense categories Any disbursement for any purpose amounting to more than one hundred thousand pesos (Php 100,000.00) shall require an Executive Committee Resolution and ratififed by the General Council in a plebiscite duly called for the purpose. ARTICLE VII: IMPEACHMENT AND REMOVAL SEC. 1. The Legal Affairs Committee and the Ethics and Rules Committee shall formulate, review, revise the Impeachment and Removal Procedures within ninety (90) days upon the ratification of this Constitution and By-Laws. The Impeachment and Removal Procedures must be adopted by the Executive Committee in a Resolution and ratified by the General Council in a plebiscite duly called for its purpose. SEC. 2. The ratified Impeachment and Removal Procedures shall form part of this Constitution and By-Laws as APPENDIX “A”. SEC. 3. Revisions of the Impeachment and Removal Procedures may be made by the Executive Committee and upon ratification of the General Council in a plebiscite duly called for its purpose. No revision of the Impeachment and Removal Procedures may be done more than once in one Academic Year. SEC. 4. Any provision in the Impeachment and Removal Procedures contrary to this Constitution and By-Laws are hereby repealed and/or amended to abide by this Constitution and By-Laws. SULONG-USTFU CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Page 8 of 10

ARTICLE VIII: TERM OF OFFICE, ELECTIONS, & VACANCIES SEC. 1. TERM OF OFFICE. All officers of the Executive Committee, with the exemption of the ex-officio member, shall have a term of four (4) Academic Years. No officer of the Executive Committee, regardless of position, may serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms. SEC. 2. ELECTIONS. The Elections for the officers of the Party shall be done within the first month of the academic years and four (4) years thereafter. a) For the first year of the implementation of this Constitution and By-Laws, the election for the officers of the Party will be done at the soonest possible time after the ratification of this Constitution and By-Laws. b) For the first election for the officers of the Party, the SULONG members who have been elected in the 2021 USTFU General Elections shall sit as the INTERIM Election Officers and shall determine the electoral process. c) Once the first Executive Committee has been formed, the Legal Affairs Committee and Ethics and Rules Committee within ninety (90) days shall formulate the SULONG Election Code. The Election Code shall be adopted by the Executive Committee and ratified by the General Council in a plebiscite duly called for the purpose d) The SULONG Election Code shall form part of this Constitution and By-Laws as APPENDIX “B”. SEC. 3. VACANCIES. a) If the position of the Party Chair becomes vacant due to resignation, impeachment, removal, retirement, or death the Vice-Chair shall serve the unexpired term of the Party Chair. b) If the position of the Party Vice Chair becomes vacant due to resignation, impeachment, removal, retirement, or death the Party Secretary shall serve the unexpired term of the Party Vice Chair. c) If the position of the Party Secreraty becomes vacant due to resignation, impeachment, removal, retirement, or death the first choice shall be one of the Assistant Secretaries to be appointed by the Chair with the concurrence of the Executive Committee, to serve the unexpired term of the Secretary. In case there is no Assistant Secretary, the Chair, with the concurrence of the Executive Committee, shall appoint any of the Committee Chairs to serve the unexpired term of the Secretary. d) If a Committee Chair becomes vacant due to resignation, impeachment, removal, retirement, or death, the Party Chair, with the concurrence of the Executive Committee, shall appoint any member of the committee to serve the unexpired term of the Committee Chair ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS & REVISIONS, TRANSITION CLAUSE REPEALING CLAUSE, & EFFECTIVITY SEC. 1. AMENDMENTS & REVISIONS. Amendments or Revisions of this Constitution and By-Laws may be made by the Executive Committee in a Resolution ratified by the General Council in a plebisicite duly called for the purpose. No revision or amendments can be made more than once every three years hereafter. SULONG-USTFU CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Page 9 of 10

SEC. 2. TRANSITION CLAUSE. A period of two (2) academic years is hereby provided as a transition period for this Consitution and By-Laws wherein amendments may be made by the Executive Council without the need for a ratification provided that such amendments shall be made known to the General Council prior to its effectivity. SEC. 3. REPEALING CLAUSE. Any provision in this Constitution and By-Laws contradictory to the USTFU Constitution and By-Laws and the Labor Code of the Philippines are hereby repealed. SEC. 4. EFFECTIVITY. This Consitution and By-Laws shall take effect immediately upon its ratification. The first ratification of this Constitution and By-Laws shall be governed by the SULONG members who have been elected in the 2021 USTFU General Elections sitting as the Interim Election Officers. X----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------X RATIFIED THIS ______ DAY OF _______ DURING THE 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF CATHOLICISM OF THE PHILIPPINES 2021 PROOF OF RATIFICATION: ATTESTED BY: Total Number of Members EMERITO C. GONZALES Total Votes Cast EDILBERTO S. GONZAGA Percentile of Votes Cast MARIA VICTORIA V. BONGAR Total YES Votes ULYSSES R. PARADO Total NO Votes Total Abstain Votes Total Void Votes SULONG-USTFU CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Page 10 of 10