Rule 5: National Executive Council
1. The National Executive Council shall consist of thirty-four (34) Members – seventeen (17) from the Telecom Sector within the Union and seventeen (17) from the Postal/Courier Sector within the Union.
2. The National Executive Council shall be elected by means of a ballot at the Biennial Conference of the Union, and such election shall take place on the first day of Conference.
3. The structure of the National Executive Council shall be as follows:
(a) Telecom Sector
17 members - 11 from eircom (1 per the following branches – 3 Dublin branches, C&A branch, 7 Provincial branches)
1 Vodafone
2 Private Sector
2 Reserved Seats, Women
1 Reserved Seat, Managers
(b) Postal/Courier Sector
17 members - 13 from An Post
1 Private Sector
2 Reserved Seats, Women
1 Reserved Seat, Managers
4. Day to day business will be conducted by sub-groups of the NEC comprised of NEC members from the Telecom sector and Postal/Courier sector. These sub-groups of the NEC will have autonomy to take decisions relating to their own area. These sub groups can meet as one overall sectoral group or, where applicable, separately based upon company specific or issue specific matters.
5. The voting system will be based on a straight block vote with each sector voting for nominees from its own Sector in relation to the composition of the NEC.
6. There shall be a maximum of two nominees per branch per Sector, with an additional two nominees permitted for the Reserved Seat for Women.
7. Nominations of persons for election to the National Executive Council shall be made by the Branch of which the nominee is a Member and who has, at the date of nomination, one (1) year’s continuous Benefit Membership of the Union and who is a Branch Delegate attending the Conference or is an outgoing National Executive Council Member. Such nominations must be notified in writing by the Branch Secretary and accompanied by a written consent by the person nominated to the General Secretary within the time fixed by the National Executive Council in accordance with the Rules. No full time Officer or employee shall be eligible to be elected or act as a Member of the National Executive Council.
8. The method of election shall be by card vote based on the membership of the Branches represented. Each Branch shall vote for nominees within its own Sector only. Each Branch shall cast seventeen (17) votes in accordance with Rule 5.3 detailed herein.
9. The Members of the National Executive Council elected at Biennial Conference shall enter into office at the conclusion of that Conference.
10. Vacancies which occur on the National Executive Council between Biennial Conferences shall be filled by co-opting thereto either the unsuccessful candidate from the particular Sector who received the next highest number of votes in the ballot for the election of the National Executive Council at the previous Conference or, where such procedure relates to a reserved seat, by co-opting the unsuccessful candidate for that seat who received the next highest number of votes. In the event that the vacancy on the National Executive Council occurs in respect of a seat on the Telecom Sector, the election of which is governed by the electoral college system, then the Branch concerned shall elect/nominate, as appropriate, a substitute member for the National Executive Council seat as referred.
11. The administration and general management of the Union’s business at all times other than the actual sessions of Biennial Conference and subject to these Rules shall be vested in the National Executive Council.
12. The National Executive Council may remove any Member of the National Executive Council if it is of the opinion that such a Member acted contrary to the best interests of the Union. Any Member so removed shall have the right of appeal to the next Biennial Conference.
13. The National Executive Council shall direct and control the General Officers of the Union and make such arrangements as it thinks fit for the discharge of the duties of any General Officer who has been granted leave of absence or who is incapacitated by reason of ill health or other cause.
14. The National Executive Council shall be the final authority in the interpretation of the Rules of the Union and shall be empowered to make decisions in areas where these Rules are silent subject to the right of appeal by any Branch to the next Biennial Conference.
15. The National Executive Council shall meet at least monthly and at such other times as the President and the General Secretary may deem it necessary for the proper discharge of the Union’s business. All meetings of the National Executive Council shall be conducted in accordance with its Standing Orders.
16. The National Executive Council may appoint Committees and delegate to them such powers as it thinks fit.
17. The National Executive Council would have the ability to co-opt members in
circumstances where such members are representatives from areas which are of strategic importance to the Union, and only where the NEC agrees to such co-option.
Co-option may, where the NEC sees fit, occur on the basis that the co-opted member/s attend the NEC meetings as non-voting observers.
Co-option, where it does occur, is only valid for the remaining term of the NEC, i.e. until the next Conference.