ORGANIC BY-LAWS OF LOCALS
OF THE UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

ARTICLE I – GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1 – This body of statutes shall constitute the organic By-laws of all Locals of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, governing their administration, conduct, and responsibilities in accordance with the constitution and By-laws of the National Organization.

Section 1.a – It shall be known as the Local Union Charter.

Section 2 – The Local Charter shall be adopted by every Local undergoing muster as a Legal Unit of the Union by a simple majority of members assembled at the first meeting.

Section 2.a – For this purpose, for quorum for such organization meeting shall be established by the presence of at least ten (10) Regular Members in good standing.

Section 2.b – The formal organization of a Local shall be officially confirmed by the National Directorate of the Union, subject to the recommendation of the Commission on Membership and Organization, provided that the minutes of the initial meeting, duly attested, have been entered into the National Organization’s records.

Section 2.c – Investiture of a Local shall be validated by the Certificate of Charter signed by the Union’s National Chairman and Secretary General.

Section 3 – The general application of this Local Charter shall be as defined in Section 1 to 6, Article IV (Structure) of the National By-laws.

ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVES

The Local Chapter incorporates the objectives set forth in Section 1 and 2, Article 1 of the National Union By-laws.

ARTICLE III – COMPATIBILITY CLAUSE

Section 1 – All stipulations and limitations embodied in Article II (Eligibility), Article III (Membership), and Article IV (Membership Dues) of the National By-laws shall be deemed in force and effect in the Local Charter, unless otherwise amended by the National Congress, provided however, that any issue relating to compatibility shall be resolved in favor of the National By-laws.

ARTICLE IV – UNION LOCAL ADMINISTRATION

Section 1 – The Local is the basic organic unit of the National Organization, through which all rights and privileges of membership may be exercised, including the right to vote in a National Congress. National Counsel or Assembly provided under Section 4 to 6.a, Article VI of the National By-laws.

Section 2 – The Local shall be administered by a committee or board composed of a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer, an Auditor, and any number of Council Members.

Section 3 – Leaders of all Local shall be elected by a simple majority if Fifty Percent (50%) plus one percent (1%) of its members present at an annual meeting called for the purpose and shall hold a tenure of office of one (1) year, exercising their responsibilities under Section 3 and 3.a, Article Vi of the National By-laws.

Section 3.a – The duties and responsibilities of the Local Officers shall conform to those set for the National Officers by Section 1-6, Article X of the National By-laws.

ARTICLE V – AUTONOMY

Section 1 – The Local shall be autonomous in the day-to-day administration and shall have the right to discharge its functions freely as a unit of the Union subject only to the limitations described by Section 3, Article VI of the National By-laws.

Section 1.a – It shall have the power to sign instruments or deeds of undertaking and enter into contracts, provided that such acts are within the scope of the National By-laws and approved by the National Directorate, and the legal documents are co-signed by the National Officers tasked with such functions.

Section 1.b – It shall have the power to handle monies, deposit the same in a bank in the name of the Local, and disburse funds as needed for its projects, provided it is reflected in its books of accounts and audited, the revenues forming part of the national assets of the Union.

ARTICLE VI – MEETING AND ELECTIONS

Section 1 – The Local shall convene as Annual General Meeting of its purpose of lections, approval or reports of the Chairman and Treasurer, and adaptation of a budget and program of action.

Section 1.a – (Manner of Voting) – Each regular member in good standing shall be entitled to one vote in the election of officers and in the enactment of any other decision at the General Meeting.

Section 2 – The Local Committee or Board shall hold a regular monthly meeting. Special meetings may also be convened upon request by one third (1/3) of the Committee or Board.

Section 2.a – (Notice of Meeting) – In regular or special meetings of the Committee or Board, notice either verbal or written shall be furnished, provided however that in the case of the annual General Meeting it shall be given at least one (1) month in advance.

Section 2.b – (Quorum) – A majority of members of the Committee or Board present shall constitute a quorum, and any decision reached by its quorum shall bind the Local.

Section 3 – (Vacancies) – Any vacancy in the Committee or Board shall be filled by the appointment of any eligible member who shall serve out the unexpired portion of the term.

ARTICLE VII – DOCUMENTATION

Section 1 – The Local shall keep a true and accurate documentation of all its activities, including records of membership, arbitration of disputes, and campaigns related to skills upgrading the rights and securing the welfare of the Filipino safeguarding journalists.

Section 2 – (Annual and Biennial Reports) – The Local shall render an annual and biennial report of its activities including financial status at the National Council Meeting and National Congress.

Section 3 – (Membership Records) All applications for membership shall be done in duplicate, with one copy retained in the Local’s files and the other submitted to the National Directorate, through the Commission on Membership and Organization, for the confirmation and in the official roster.

Section 3.a – The Local shall receive and provisionally approve the applications for membership in its jurisdiction provided that the same shall be subject to review at the National Directorate in the process of confirmation.

ARTICLE VIII – DISTRESS LOAN FUND

Section 1 – The Local shall organize and disburse a Distress Loan Fund which may be availed of by members in need of assistance and repaid at a minimal rate of interest.

Section 1.a – The Fund shall be deposited in a bank with the Local contributing Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000), and the National Organization depositing a counterpart, Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000), as seed money.

Section 1.b – The Fund shall be administered by the Local through a Welfare Committee that shall prepare the criteria for its disbursement in conjunction with the policies laid down by the Union’s Commission on Welfare.

ARTICLE IX – DISPOSITION OF REVENUES

Section 1 – Entrance and monthly membership fees collected by the Local shall be shared with the National Organization as follows:

• Fifty percent (50%) shall be remitted to the National Organization.
• Fifty percent (50%) shall be retained by the Local for the operational expenses.

Section 2 – In fund-raising projects initiated jointly with the National Organization, the sharing of the proceeds shall be as follows:

• Forty percent (40%) shall be remitted to the National Organization.
• Thirty percent (30%) shall be remitted to the Local’s Distress Loan Fund.

Section 3 – In any fund-raising project initiated solely by the Local, thirty percent (30%) of the proceeds shall be deposited in its Distress Loan Fund.

ARTICLE X – DISSOLUTION

The Local may be dissolved by three-fourths (3/4) vote of the members present at a special meeting or through the process defined by Section 3.b of Article VI of the National By-laws.

ARTICLE XI – TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Any amendment yet in the process of formulation within the next year, as determined in resolution by the National Congress shall form part of this Charter.

APPROVED this 29th day of August, 1991 on the 2nd NATIONAL CONGRESS of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.