By-Laws
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines

PREAMBLE

We working journalists organized under the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), committed to promote the rights and welfare of our members in particular and journalists in general, adhering to the Journalists’ Code of Ethics, aiming to upgrade our professional skills, toward the effective exercise of our role to bring public information, committed to the full exercise of our freedom of the press, of expression and of association, and establishing fraternal solidarity with other journalists both local and international for the promotion of our role and cause do hereby promulgate this Constitution and By-Laws.

ARTICLE I – NAME, SEAL AND DOMICILE

Section 1. The Organization shall be known as the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, or simply NUJP.

Section 2. Against a field blood-red to signify militancy and action, the letters “UJP,” the “U” and “P” in wavy design simulating the old Tagalog script, and the “J” shaped like the tambuli (trumpet) to emphasize alertness and vigilance, set in white symbolic of purity, the words in the outer circle, “National Union of Journalists of the Philippines” are reversed on a wavy blue background to denote well-being.

Section 3. The office of the NUJP shall be located in a place to be decided by the National Directorate.

ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVES OF THE UNION

Section 1. The objectives of the NUJP shall be as follows:

1. To promote, humanize and safeguard the economic interest and social well-being of its members.
2. To upgrade the professional skills of its members and other media practitioners, whether in print, broadcast or electronic.
3. To raise the standards of journalistic ethics toward the end goal of securing press freedom and protecting the integrity of the working press in the country.
4. To carry out welfare programs to improve the economic lot of its members as well as Filipino journalists in general.
5. To foster fraternal unity among its members towards solidarity with journalists the world over.
6. To engage in trade union organizing for the purpose of collective bargaining.
7. To promote gender concerns in the media.

ARTICLE III – ELIGIBILITY

Section 1. Union membership shall be open to every eligible working Filipino journalist without discrimination, nor shall any member be barred from the union or sanctioned, by reason of age, sex, ethnic origin, religious or political conviction, or anything he or she writes for publication or broadcast.

Section 1.a. Union membership shall also be open to the media worker of a media trade union that affiliates directly with the Union.

ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 (Definition) – For purposes of membership, a working journalist is defined as a practitioner of media engaged in news gathering, writing, editing, copyreading or other editorial activities or processing for a newspaper, magazine, or periodical of general circulation, or radio station or television channel or network, or news agency, or online outfit.

Section 1.a. The publication or online outfit must have been publishing regularly for at least one year, while the radio station or TV channel must have a daily news broadcast and be in operation for a similar period.

Section 2.a. The following shall be admitted to Union membership:

1. Journalists gainfully employed within the Union’s jurisdiction, as defined in Section 1 of this Article.
2. Journalists working fulltime for the Union, its Directorate, Commissions, Locals, or any other agencies or instrumentalities that the Union may establish.

Section 2.b. Media workers belonging to registered bargaining units affiliated to the union shall enjoy the rights and privileges of membership.

Section 3. The following shall be eligible to retain their Union membership subject to the applicable provisions in the Constitution and By-Laws:

1. Members granted leaves of absence by their employers
2. Members who accept fulltime office or employment within the Union
3. Members entering any government employment affected by the national interest during any leave o absence granted by their employers for that purpose.
4. Members who have become unemployed as a result of retrenchment or unfair labor practices by the employers
5. Union members who have retired and who are not otherwise eligible.
6. Union members who are in other countries but continuously perform their rights and obligations.

Section 4. (Associate Members) – Practitioners of media in allied professions, including public relations and advertising, as well as students working on campus newspapers, journalism teachers and teachers of mass communication or journalism, shall be eligible for associate membership.

Section 5. (Qualification) – No person actively serving the interests of employers as against the interest of the Union shall be eligible for membership.

Section 5.a. Newsreaders on a talent basis, commentators and columnists shall similarly be ineligible for membership unless they are part of a bargaining unit affiliated to the Union.

Section 5.b. A qualified journalist who expresses opposition to, or refuses to abide by, the Code of Ethics at the outset, shall be considered ineligible for membership.

Section 6. (Admission of Members) – Any working journalist qualified in accordance with Section 2, 3 and 4 of this Article may apply for membership in writing on a form provided for the purpose, and shall be certified by the editor and news editor, and endorsed by appropriate representative by the Local. The local shall forward to the Commission on Membership and Organization the list of recommended members for the approval of the National Directorate.

Section 6.a. Media workers are automatically qualified for regular membership upon affiliation of their bargaining unit with the Union.

Section 7. (Honorary Member) – Honorary membership may be conferred by the Directorate by a vote of two-thirds, on any individual or group of individuals for exemplary service redounding to the benefit of the Union in particular and the working press in general.

Section 8. Membership may be lost by death or voluntary resignation or loss of status as a working journalist as defined in Section 1 of this Article, or as a consequence of a final decision on an organizational action filed against an erring member.

Section 9. The Directorate may cancel membership for any of the following causes:

1. Non-payment of Union dues and other accounts with the Organization, after sufficient notice shall have been given
2. Violations of the Code of Ethics, after due process shall have been exercised
3. Final conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude
4. Any act or acts, covert or overt, inimical to the interests of the Union and the working press
5. Final conviction for anti-union activities within a bargaining unit

Section 9.a. In the case of media workers, membership may be lost by death or voluntary resignation or removal from their bargaining unit, or disaffiliation or cancellation of affiliation of their bargaining unit.

Section 10. (Cancellation Procedures) – All cases of membership shall be referred by the Chairman to the Commission on Membership and Organization for investigation. The Directorate shall act on the recommendation either in regular or special meeting. A simple majority vote of those present shall be sufficient to cancel the membership.

Section 10.a. In cases of violations of the Code of Ethics, the Commission on Membership and Organization shall constitute a Trial Committee comprising of members in good standing to pass over the cases, and due process shall be observed in adjudicating cases. The trial Committee shall submit its finding to the Commission, and the same procedure for cancellation shall be followed.

Section 10.b. In cases of arbitration disputes involving media workers of affiliate bargaining units, the same shall be resolved through their grievance machinery, unless the affiliated units request Union intervention. In this case, the procedure in Section 10.a shall be observed.

Section 10.c. The findings may be appealed to the National Directorate within one month from the concerned member’s receipt of the findings; else the failure to appeal within the said period shall render the decision final. The case appealed to the National Directorate will be final, unless evidence and/or witnesses presented by the concerned members shall substantially affect the findings.

Section 11. (Revision of Roster) – The membership roster shall be revised every two years 60 days before the National Congress of Members and Elections, by the Commission on Membership and Organization in accordance with Section 1 to 10 of this Article. The Commission shall submit the reclassified roster to the Directorate at least 30 days before an election. The reconstituted roster, as approved by the Directorate, shall be used as a registry in the Congress and serve to determine the eligibility of members to vote or be voted upon as officers. Appeals concerning the reclassification may be raised to the National Directorate for decision.

Section 12. Members shall be issued NUJP identification cards upon updating of payment of membership fees or dues.

ARTICLE V – MEMBERSHIP DUES

Section 1. Membership fees shall be collected from every new member, regular or associate.

Section 2. Dues shall be collected annually from regular and associate members.

Section 3. The National Congress or the National Council shall determine the amount for membership and annual dues, and the percentage of these dues to be shared between the local and national funds.

ARTICLE VI – BUDGET

Section 1. The Union shall operate on a budget to be prepared by the Chairperson and submitted to the newly elected Directorate at least one month following their assumption to office. The Directorate shall adopt or approve the budget one month after it is submitted. Such a budget shall be effective for one year or until such time as when a new budget is approved.

Section 2. Based on general policies set by the National Congress or National Council, the organization may adopt fundraising activities. Local chapters shall be guided by these policies.

ARTICLE VII – STRUCTURE

Section 1. Subject to the organization’s Constitution and By-Laws, the membership is the supreme authority of the organization.

Section 2. The membership shall be constituted into Locals, corresponding to the number of cities and provinces in the country, and assigned either numeral or geographic identification.

Section 2.a. The structure shall be followed nationwide with the exemption of the National Capital Region (Metro Manila) where membership shall be grouped into Locals by newspaper organization or radio/TV network. For journalists who cannot establish a chapter in their media institution, they may establish a chapter with membership from other institution/s considering their field of specialization and the contiguous areas for practicality of pursuing the goals of the Union.

Section 2.b. (Local Leadership) – Leadership in the Union shall be exercised by a committee to include a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Secretary, a Treasurer, an Auditor, and Council Members. Other position/s necessary for the Union’s pursuance of its task may be established.

Section 2.c. In the case of affiliate bargaining units, they shall be considered as Trade Union Locals and shall enjoy the same rights and privileges as the Provincial and Metro Manila Locals under the coverage of these By-Laws.

Section 2.d. A local chapter shall have at least eight (8) member journalists in the city or province or in a media institution in Metro Manila, observing the Constitution and these By-Laws, to be officially recognized as a chapter.

Section 3. (Local’s Responsibility) – The Local Committee shall be responsible to the National Directorate for operational and administrative purposes, and shall exercise only those functions and powers specifically assigned to it by the National Directorate under the provisions of the Union’s Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 3.a. (Tenure) – The Local Committee shall have a tenure of one year, provided further on every second year it shall reconstitute its membership roster at least 30 days before the National Congress.

Section 3.b. The Trade Union Local Committee shall hold tenure as set by pertinent provisions of the Philippine Labor Code.

Section 3.b. (Dissolution). – The Local Committee may be dissolved for cause at any time under the provisions of Section 3 of this Article by a simple majority of the National Directorate sitting in regular or special meeting, upon recommendation by the Commission for Membership and Organization, provided, however, that due process is observed.

Section 4. (National Congress). – All Locals assembled in Congress every two years shall constitute the legislative and policy-making body of the union.

Section 4.a. The National Congress in session shall approve the Chairperson’s report as well as the Treasurer’s report, lay down policies, and adopt programs. Furthermore, it shall have the authority to amend the organization’s Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 4.b. (Voting Representation) – Each Local shall be represented in the Congress by at least one (1) delegate and as many alternatives, provided, however, that it shall be entitled to only one vote in any referendum or election.

Section 5. (National Directorate). – The Congress in session shall elect a National Directorate of fifteen (15) members, which shall exercise, administer, and control the corporate powers and affairs of the organization. The Directorate shall hold office for a term of two (2) years or until their successors shall have been chosen from among the regular members of the union in good standing.

A member who is elected to the National Directorate shall be considered resigned from his or her local position and from the National Council. The Local must then choose a replacement for the position vacated at the local level and likewise name a new representative to the National Council.

Section 5.a. The newly elected Directorate of the Union shall organize itself and elect the organization’s officers in accordance with its Constitution and By-Laws within one (1) week after the National Congress.

Section 5.b. Balloting for the election of the members of the Directorate shall be held in secret.

Section 6. (National Council) – Between National Congresses, the Directorate shall convene a National Council consisting of at least one representative from every Local.

Section 6.a. The National Council in Assembly shall review ongoing programs and policy decisions, and pass on recommendations for execution by the Directorate.

ARTICLE VIII– MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. (Membership Meetings) – The National Congress shall be held for the purpose of electing the Directorate, approving reports and programs, adopting a budget, and considering amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 1.a. Between Congresses, the membership represented in the National Council shall meet to render the functions specified under Article VII Section 6 of these By-Laws.

Section 1.b. Heads of the various commissions shall render periodic reports to the National Directorate through the Secretariat, which shall form part of the basis for the Chairperson’s report at the Congress.

Section 2. (Special Meetings) – Special meetings of the National Council may be held at any time upon a call by the Chairperson. Special meetings may also be convened upon the request of one-third of the Directorate or the National Council.

Section 3. (Notice of Meetings) – Verbal or written notices of such meetings shall be furnished. Publication of the notice in major newspapers shall be considered sufficient fulfillment of this requirement.

Section 4. (Quorum) – A majority of the Locals represented in the Council Assembly or any special meeting shall constitute a quorum, and the decision of a majority of the quorum on any issue brought up for decision shall bind the Union.

Section 5. (Manner of Voting) – Each Local shall be entitled to one vote in any referendum or election.

ARTICLE IX – NATIONAL DIRECTORATE

Section 1. (Union Administration) – The National Directorate shall administer the affairs of the Union, and shall be directly responsible to the general membership in fulfilling its mandate under the organization’s Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 1.a. (Meetings) – The Directorate shall hold a regular monthly meeting. Special meetings may also be convened by the Chairperson or Secretary-General upon the request of one-third of the Directorate.

Section 1.b. (Quorum) – A majority of the members of the Directorate in session shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business.

Section 1.c. (Notice of Meetings) – Verbal or written notices of regular and special meetings shall be furnished members of the Directorate at least (2) days prior to any meeting.

Section 2. (Vacancies) – Any vacancy in the Directorate due to resignation, death or other causes, shall be filled up by the Directorate from among eligible members of the National Council, the new directors to serve the unexpired term of office.

ARTICLE X – STANDING COMMISSIONS

Section 1. – The Directorate may organize commissions, whether permanent or temporary, in order to carry out the work of the union. The Chairperson shall appoint the head of each commission upon concurrence of the Directorate.

The commissions shall promulgate rules governing their functions and must be duly approved by the National Council.

Section 1.a. (Permanent Commissions) – The permanent commissions shall be

1. Commission on Membership and Organization – composed of a head and members who shall serve for a term of two (2) years. It shall screen all applicants for union membership, and investigate cases invoking the cancellation of Locals under the procedures specified by the Constitution and By-Laws.
2. Commission on Internal Affairs – composed of a head and any number of members as the Directorate may decide. It shall investigate all charges for expulsion or discipline of members, either motu propio or on referral by the directorate, for violation of the Code of Ethics, or for any action inimical to the Union. A member under indictment shall be given due process. Findings on any case shall be forwarded to the Directorate for review and final decision.
3. Commission on External Affairs – composed of a head and any number of members as the Directorate may decide. It shall establish linkages with fraternal organizations and institutions and work to secure cultural exchanges and visitations, and other programs accruing to the professional advancement of the membership.
4. Commission on Information – composed of a head and any number of members as the Directorate may decide. It shall publish a regular newsletter, the Diarista, regularly update the organization’s website, and generally keep the membership informed on the organization’s programs and activities.
5. Commission on Finance – composed of a head and any number of members as the Directorate may decide. It shall raise funds through donations, bequests, gifts, or benefit projects to support union programs.
6. Commission on Education and Research – composed of a head and any number of members as the Directorate may decide. It shall conduct seminars and workshops to upgrade journalistic skills, work out scholarship programs, including fellowship and travel grants, for the professional advancement of the membership.
7. Commission on Welfare – composed of a head and any number of members as the Directorate may decide. It shall provide a system of benefits including group insurances and a mutual loan plan, and conduct periodic industry surveys and studies on wages and working conditions, to secure the economic and social well-being of members.
8. Commission on Legal Assistance – composed of a head and any number of members as the Directorate may decide. It shall provide legal aid to members undergoing libel or any other litigation, file test cases in court in defense of the constitutional guarantee of free expression and draft bills in aid of media legislation.
9. Commission on Women Journalists – composed of a head and any number of members as the Directorate may decide. It shall work out programs to enhance the professional advancement of women journalists.
10. Commission on Community Media – composed of a head and any number of members as the Directorate may decide. It shall attend to the specific needs and problems of community journalists, and draw up programs to secure their economic well being and professional advancement.
11. Commission on Foreign Media – composed of a head and any number of members as the Directorate may decide. It shall attend to the specific needs and problems of Filipino journalists in foreign media, and draw up programs to secure their economic well-being and professional advancement and improve their working conditions.
12. Commission on Broadcast and Electronics Media – composed of a head and any number of members as the Directorate may decide. It shall attend to the specific needs and problems of radio and television journalists, and draw up programs to secure their working conditions.
13. Commission on Photojournalists – composed of a head and any number of members as the Directorate may decide. It shall attend to the specific needs and problems of news photojournalists and television cameramen and draw up programs to secure their economic well-being and professional advancement and improve their working conditions.
14. Commission on the Protection of Journalists – composed of a head and any number of members as the Directorate may decide. It shall conduct fact-finding inquiries and document all cases of violence inflicted on journalists, and study and recommend measures to secure their protection.
15. Commission on Editorial Cartoonists – composed of a head and any number of members as the Directorate may decide. It shall attend to the specific needs and problems of Filipino journalists in foreign media, and draw up programs to secure their economic well-being and professional advancement and improve their working conditions.
16. Commission on Trade Unions and Guilds – composed of a head and any number of members as the Directorate may decide. It shall establish a program of linkages and cultural exchanges with the trade union movement in general and with other unions and guilds, in particular, both locally and abroad, to flesh out the spirit of solidarity.

Section 1.b. (Temporary Commissions) – The Chairperson may create such other commissions as may be necessary for the achievement of the union’s objectives, to be dissolved upon completion of their work.

ARTICLE XI – OFFICERS

Section 1. (Officers of the Directorate) – The officers of the organization shall consist of a chairperson, a deputy chairperson, a secretary-general, a deputy secretary-general, a treasurer and an auditor, elected from the Directorate. The Directorate may also appoint such other officers and members as it may see fit, and fix and determine their powers, duties, responsibilities and compensation.

Section 2. (Duties of the Chairperson) –

1. The chairperson shall be the organization’s chief executive officer.
2. He or she shall preside at all the organization’s meetings.
3. It shall be his or her duty, jointly with the treasurer, to sign all negotiable instruments, checks, notes and contracts, and other papers of the organization.
4. He or she shall perform all the duties and functions inherent in the office of the president and such others as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Directorate.
5. He or she shall represent the organization in all official functions and its relations with the government, other press organizations, civic organizations, etc.
6. He or she shall update the membership roster every month in accordance with the provisions of the By-Laws.

The chairperson shall make arrangements with the managements of the different publications and news organizations whose staff members and correspondents are regular members of the Union for a system of check-off of the membership fees and monthly dues.
The chairperson shall within one week after the annual election call the newly elected Directorate to organize themselves and elect their officers, and shall turn over the administration of the organization to the new officers within the same week.

Section 3. Duties of the Deputy Chairperson – In case of death, absence or any incapacitating disability of the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson shall assume and discharge all the duties and exercise all the functions of the Chairperson. The Deputy Chairperson shall also perform such duties and functions as may be assigned by the Directorate or the Chairperson.

Section 4. – Duties of the Treasurer

1. The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds and properties of the organization.
2. He or she shall keep true and accurate accounts of the funds, properties, assets and liabilities of the organization, and have such accounts open for examination at allowable hours by any member.
3. He or she shall deposit the funds of the organization in such a bank as may be designated by the Directorate in the name of the Union.
4. He or she shall countersign all checks, notes and negotiable instruments.
5. He or she shall render reports as to the finances of the Union at every annual meeting and shall perform other duties as the Directorate may order.

Section 5. – Duties of the Secretary General

1. The Secretary General shall properly keep records of the minutes of the meetings of the Directorate and of the members of the Union and all other papers of the organization.
2. He or she shall be the custodian of the Union’s seal.
3. He or she shall deposit the funds of the organization in banks as may be designated by the Directorate in the name of the organization.
4. He or she shall render an annual report of his or her office at the annual meeting.
5. He or she shall perform such other duties and functions as the Directorate of the Chairperson may assign from time to time.
6. In case of special meetings, the Secretary-General shall send out verbal or written notices of meetings of the organization to all members and to the Directorate.

Section 6. Duties of the Deputy Secretary-General– In case of death, absence or any incapacitating disability of the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary General shall assume and discharge all the duties and exercise all the functions of the Secretary-General. The Deputy Secretary-General shall also perform such duties and functions as may be assigned by the Directorate or the Chairperson.

Section 7. – Duties of the Auditor

1. The auditor shall conduct an annual audit of the organization’s funds and assets.
2. He or she shall institute a system of internal controls to safeguard the organization’s resources.
3. He or she shall certify the annual Treasurer’s report as having passed audit.

Section 8. (Compensation of Officers and Employees) – Compensation of officers and employees of the organization shall be determined by the National Congress.

Section 9. In case of sickness or absence or any disability of any of the above mentioned officers, the Directorate may delegate and entrust the power, duties, and functions of the sick, or absent, or disabled officers to any of the directors.

Section 10. (Resignation) – Any officer of the organization may resign any time. Upon such resignation, it shall be the duty of the resigned officer to give the Directorate an accounting of his or her duties and functions.

Section 11. (Removal) – Any officer of the organization may at any time be removed from office upon affirmative majority vote of the Directorate having a quorum.

Section 12. (Vacancies) – Any vacancy in office shall be filled by the Directorate for the unexpired term.

ARTICLE XII – FISCAL YEAR

Section 1. – The corporate year of the organization is the Fiscal Year that is to begin from August 31 to September 1 of the following year.

ARTICLE XIII – AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These By-laws may be amended, repealed or altered in whole or in part by a majority vote of the Locals assembled in National Congress at any assembly called for the purpose.

Section 2. The National Directorate cannot amend any provision of these By-Laws.

Section 3. The amendments approved shall take effect immediately upon the approval as stated in Section 1 of this Article.

AS AMENDED BY THE 5TH NATIONAL CONGRESS
August 27-28, 2006 * Angels Hills Retreat and Formation House, Tagaytay City