This is an electronic copy of a official Guild document. Where there is a dispute over language, a written copy should be used.

Section 1. The membership meeting of the Local shall be the supreme authority of the Local.

Section 2. Between General Meetings of the Local, its governing body shall be the Executive Committee, which shall administer affairs, but it shall make no decision permanently establishing the general policies of the local.

Section 3. The Local Unit shall exercise only those functions and powers specifically granted by TNG's Constitution and these By-Laws.

Section 1. The Regular meetings of the membership shall be held on the last Tuesday of every-other month beginning with the January Annual Meeting, the specific time and place to be set by the Executive Committee.

Section 2. The Secretary shall give not less than five (5) days' notice to the membership in advance of every meeting, except that in an emergency, the Executive Committee may call a special meeting on two days' notice. The Secretary shall post on each Guild bulletin board an agenda for the meeting, specifying items to be discussed. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting new topics from being brought up as needed.

Section 3. A special membership meeting shall be called by the Secretary on instructions of the Executive Committee, or on a written petition signed by not fewer than twenty-five (25) percent of the membership in good standing at the time of the filing of the petition. Due notice shall be given the membership.

Section 4. At any meeting, the presence of 20 percent of members in good standing shall constitute a quorum.

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected Local officers, which shall be the president, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Shop Stewards.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall meet monthly, the specific time and place to be set by the President. The Secretary shall give not less than five (5) days' notice to the Executive Committee in advance of every meeting, except that in the case of a Special Executive Committee Meeting, one (1) day's notice shall suffice.

Section 3. Special Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be called by the Chair or by the Secretary upon written request of three members of the Executive Committee.

Section 4. A quorum at any meeting of the Executive Committee shall consist of not less than four members.

Section 5. The administration of all Local financial matters shall rest with the membership, except for payments of strictly routine nature. Checks shall be valid only when signed by the Treasurer and President or Secretary.

Section 1(a). The President shall preside at all membership meetings and at meetings of the Executive Committee and he or she shall supervise other officers in the exercise of their respective duties. The President shall sign all membership cards.

b). The President shall be compensated at the rate of one hundred dollars ($100) per month or at an amount to be determined by the membership at the Annual Meeting.

Section 2. The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of that officer, and such other duties as may be delegated by the President, save those specifically and solely mandated to the President.

Section 3. The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of membership meetings and meetings of the Executive Committee, and shall file all records with the Treasurer.

Section 4(a). The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of the Local under the direction of the membership, except that no authorization shall be required for routine Local expenses, and routine transmission of International funds to The Newspaper Guild.

(a)(l). The Treasurer shall report on the Local's finances at all regular meetings of the Local and whenever called upon by the Executive Committee or the Local and shall present the accounts for audit annually and at any time the Executive Committee or the Local desires.

(a)(2). The Treasurer shall keep complete and accurate records of the membership, their addresses and dues standings.

(a)(3). The Treasurer shall be responsible for the application in the Local of the financial provisions of TNG's Constitution and of these By-Laws, acting through Shop Stewards, and shall issue to Shop Stewards membership cards for persons admitted to membership, as well as dues and assessment stamps.

4(b). The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the Local's records and shall conduct correspondence of the Local as may be directed by the Executive Committee and the Local.

4(c). The Treasurer shall be compensated at a rate of fifty (*50) per month, or at an amount to be voted by the membership at the Annual Meeting.

Section 5. Shop Stewards shall be elected by each departmental unit or units concerned as follows: a) Circulation; b) Classified Advertising; c) Accounting; d) Ad Services and Dispatch; e) Retail Advertising; f) Building Maintenance; g) Editorial; h) all part-timers. Units may not vote for Shop Stewards from other departmental units (i.e. Editorial may not vote for Accounting steward). However, all part-time employees may vote for both a part-timer representative on the Executive Committee and their departmental representative.

Section 6. The Local shall have a standing Human Rights Committee, whose members shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee. The Human Rights Committee members shall have the same term as Local officers. The Human Rights Committee shall carry out the duties and functions as outlined in the TNG Constitution.

Section 7. Committees shall be appointed by the President as the need arises, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 8. All Local officers authorized to sign checks upon Local funds or handling Local monies shall be bonded in amounts and in a manner designated by the Local or the Executive Committee.

Section 1. The Officers of the Local shall be elected annually in February. Balloting shall be held during two consecutive days, allowing reasonable time for members of each department and each shift to cast their votes. Balloting shall be in person by secret ballot. The dates, places and times of balloting shall be established at the November Membership Meeting.

Section 2(a). Nomination of officers shall be received from the floor at the regular November Membership Meeting. Additional nominations may be made in writing and submitted to the Election Committee. Nominations for Shop Stewards may be made only by persons from the respective departmental unit. The notice of meeting for the nomination meeting shall state that nominations of officers will be made at the meeting. Nominations shall remain open until four weeks prior to the date of election. Nominations shall be posted on each Guild Bulletin Board by the Election Committee, including status of nomination (accepting or pending acceptance), not more than two (2) days following each nomination.

2(b). The Treasurer shall mail notice of time and place of election together with a list of the qualified candidates to each member's home not less than 15 days in advance of the election, including elections to fill vacancies. To be qualified, a candidate must be in good standing in the Guild and have indicated a willingness to run by accepting the nomination at a meeting or submitting a written, signed acceptance to the Election Committee, each nominee having been given written notice of nomination from said committee.

2(c). An Election Committee shall be elected at the September Membership Meeting. It shall be the responsibility of the Election Committee to prepare ballots, post sample ballots on each Guild Bulletin Board not less than ten (10) days prior to the election, maintain the polls during prescribed voting times, count votes cast, present the election results in accordance to procedures as outlined in Robert's Rules of Order, post the results on each Guild Bulletin Board, and retain ballots in a place of safekeeping for a minimum of one year following the election; except that in the case of an election to fill a vacancy to be held at the same meeting in which nominations shall be held, posting of sample ballots shall not be required. Should there be a challenge to the election, the Committee shall make the ballots available for re-count.

2(d). In the event of a special election to fill a vacancy of Office or to elect TNG Convention Delegates and Alternates, the Election Committee shall be elected at the same membership meeting as the election. Balloting shall be in person by secret ballot.

Section 4. All officers shall take office at the March meeting and shall hold office until the next election meeting.

Section 5(a). Delegates and alternates to the International Convention of TNG shall be nominated from the floor and elected at the regular membership meeting in March, which shall also determine the number to be elected.

5(b). The Secretary shall mail notice of Special Election of TNG Convention Delegates and Alternates along with notice of nominations to be held, at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the March Membership Meeting to each member's home.

5(c)In the event the number of candidates nominated at the March Membership Meeting exceeds the number of Delegates and Alternates to be elected, the Local may defer the election and make provision for a Special Election by secret ballot cast in person on not less than ten (10) days' notice to the membership.

5(d). The number of candidates to be elected and receiving the most votes in the election shall be declared elected. Delegates shall have their travel expenses to and from the TNG International Convention, lodging and a per diem of $30 paid by the Local.

Section 6. Vacancies in the posts of Local 0fficers shall be filled by the Executive Committee from those members qualified to hold office, but the members so designated shall hold office only until the next membership meeting of the Local, at which time a special election shall be held, due notice having been given the membership.

Section 7. Vacancies in the position of Delegates to the TNG Convention shall be filled by the elected Alternate Delegates, in priority of those receiving the greatest number of votes cast. Vacancy for Alternate Delegates shall be filled by election by secret ballot if necessary.

Section 1. An applicant for membership shall submit his/her application to the Executive Committee and final action upon any application shall be by the Executive Committee, subject to appeal as provided by the TNG Constitution.

Section 2. Good standing requirements of the TNG Constitution in respect to dues shall apply equally to initiation fee payments under Article IX, Section 2, of these By-Laws.

Section 3. Reinstatement fees shall be set by the Local Executive Committee but shall not be less than $2.

Section 4. College students working part-time in the jurisdiction of the Local shall be eligible for associate membership in accordance to TNG Constitution, Article II, Section 5; Article XI; and Article XVII, Section 3.

Section 1. A negotiating committee in collective bargaining shall be selected by the President, subject to approval of the Executive Committee. The negotiations shall be according to TNG Constitution.

Section 2. Any agreement arrived at in the negotiations shall be submitted to the membership of the Local for approval. Before signing, it shall require ratification also by the Executive Committee of the Local and by the TNG Contracts Committee.

Discipline under these By-Laws shall be governed by the TNG Constitution under Article XII and Article XIII.

Section 1(a). Dues shall be paid by the first day of the calendar month, except that associate members' dues may be paid annually or in semi-annual1y installments. Dues shall be graduated in accordance with the wages of members as follows:

International Dues	Local Dues
Per Current TNG Constitution, Article XVII, Section 2c.	Reduced Dues Periods: Earning more than $400/wk. : $4/month Earning less than *4QO/wk. : $3/month

l(c). Assessments levied by TNG shall be paid within 30 days as a condition of good standing in membership in the Bakersfield Newspaper Guild.

Section 2. Each applicant admitted to membership shall pay an initiation fee equivalent to one month's dues at reduced dues rates, but shall not be less than $4. This initiation fee shall be paid before the applicant receives the membership card. Article XVII, Section 3 of the TNG Constitution shall apply for associate and former associate members.

Section 3. The Local may, by a vote of a membership meeting, levy an assessment of not more than $1 per member per week. Notice of the proposed assessment shall be contained in the notice of the meeting at which it is proposed such action be taken.

Section 4. New members shall not be liable for the dues specified in Section 3 of the Article during the first 60 days of membership.

Section 5. All monies collected on behalf of or in the name of the Local, except those collected for TNG, or another branch of TNG, shall be the property of the Local.

Section 6. The rates of dues and initiation fees set forth in Article IX, Sections 1 and 2, may be increased only by majority vote by secret ballot of the members in good standing at a regular or special meeting, notice of which (given in accordance with Article II, Section 2) shall state the intent to vote upon such question at the meeting.

Section 1. Any matter to be decided by the Local may be submitted to a referendum of the membership by either the Local or the Executive Committee and shall be submitted to such a referendum upon a petition signed by not less than ten (10) percent of the membership in good standing at the time of the filing of the petition.

Section 2. Provisions for the holding of a referendum shall be made by the Executive Committee, and may take the form of a vote by mail or by a vote in person at designated polling places or a combination of both. No ballot shall be mailed to a member not in good standing at the time of the mailing of ballots, and all members shall be given 15 days' notice in advance by mail of any referendum.

The Official Publication of the Local shall be The Guild Voice, which shall be published at least monthly under supervision of the Executive Committee. The president shall appoint a coordinator and a committee or staff to produce The Guild Voice. The Guild Voice shall be distributed to the entire membership, free of charge. Whenever notice to the membership is required by these By-Laws, publication in The Guild Voice shall constitute compliance.

The By-Laws may be amended by any membership meeting upon submission of the proposed amendment by the Executive Committee on its own motion or by petition signed by not less than twenty (20) percent of the membership in good standing. Such proposed amendments shall be given to the membership not less than 10 days prior to the meeting, with notice of the time and place of the meeting.

Section 1. These By-Laws shall be interpreted by the Executive Committee subject to appeal to the membership meeting, the IEB and the next International Convention of TNG. Questions of procedure not covered by TNG Constitution, Convention decision or these By-Laws shall be governed by the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order.

Section 2. No part of these By-Laws shall be construed as having precedence over the Constitution of the United States or of the State of California, or of Federal, State, County or Municipal Law or of the TNG Constitution.

Section 3. Invalidation of any part of these By-Laws by any competent body of jurisdiction outlined in Article XIII, Section 2, shall not be construed as invalidation of the remainder of the document.

Section 4. The President shall appoint a Parliamentarian, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. The Parliamentarian shall rule on questions of procedure following Robert's Rules of Order on those matters not superseded by these By-Laws and TNG Constitution.