Rule 7: General Secretary and Officers

7.1  GENERAL OFFICERS

1.  The General Officers of the Union shall at all times seek to advance and maintain the policy of the Union.

2.  All vacancies for General Officers of the Union shall be advertised in the Union’s Journal and may be advertised in the National Press at the discretion of the National Executive Council, such advertisements to give full details of the conditions and requirements of the post.  Appointments made by the National Executive Council shall be subject to ratification by the following Biennial Conference.

3.  In the event of any office becoming vacant the National Executive Council may, if it so desires, appoint a person to act for such a period as it deems fit provided the period does not extend beyond sessions of the ensuing Biennial Conference.

4.  Any General Officer may be removed by the National Executive Council if it is of the opinion that such an Officer is in breach of his/her contract of employment with the Union.  Such Officer will be given a written notice containing any allegations and will be afforded the opportunity to refute any such allegations, if necessary by appeal to Biennial Conference.

7.2  GENERAL SECRETARY

1.  The General Secretary shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Union and shall deal with all administrative and secretarial matters relating to the Union, including the general supervision and control of all the business of the Union.

2.  The General Secretary shall also:

(a)  attend all meetings of the National Executive Council;

(b)  organise the Union Membership and matters generally;

(c)  negotiate and represent the Union on all such matters;

(d)  convene and attend all Conferences of the Union and prepare and present the National Executive Reports to each Biennial Conference;

(e)  the General Secretary may assign a Union Official from time to time to oversee:

(i)  the keeping of the accounts of the Union;

(ii)  the receipt and lodgements in the name of the Trustees of all monies received by the Union in such Banks as may be determined by the National Executive Council;

(iii)  the preparation and arrangement of the Union’s accounts for audit by a chartered accountant appointed by the Trustees;

(iv)  the preparation of quarterly statement of accounts for the National Executive Council or a Committee appointed by the National Executive Council;

(v)  the preparation of a report on the accounts and finances of the Union for Biennial Conference.

7.3  DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY

The Deputy General Secretary shall assist the General Secretary, generally, in the duties assigned to his/her office and carry out and discharge such duties in regard to the business of the Union as may be assigned to him/her under the direction and control of the General Secretary.

7.4  NATIONAL OFFICERS

The duties of National Officers shall be to assist the General Secretary, generally, and to carry out and discharge such duties as may be assigned to them under the direction and control of the General Secretary.

7.5  REMUNERATION OF GENERAL OFFICERS, NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MEMBERS

1.  The remuneration of the General Secretary and other General Officers of the Union shall be provided for by agreement to be entered into between them respectively and the National Executive Council.

2.  General Officers, Members and employees of the Union shall be entitled to receive remuneration, subsistence allowance and travelling expenses while on the business of the Union in accordance with arrangements prescribed by the National Executive Council.

7.6  SUPERANNUATION FUND

1.  The National Executive Council may establish a Superannuation Fund to be known as “The Officials and Employees Superannuation Fund” to which the Union will contribute such sums as the National Executive Council shall deem necessary for making provision for the payment of such Superannuation benefits to Officials and employees of the Union as may be provided by any Superannuation Scheme authorised and adopted by the National Executive Council.

2.  Such sums shall be charged to the General Fund of the Union.  All sums contributed to the Superannuation Fund by the National Executive Council in accordance with this Rule and all other sums paid or transferred to the said Fund shall be vested in the Trustees of the Fund and shall be held and applied by the Trustees of the Fund in accordance with the terms of the Superannuation Scheme.