20.25 - INTERNAL CONDUCT OF EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS. - Iowa Statutes

20.25 INTERNAL CONDUCT OF EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS. 1. Every employee organization which is certified as a representative of public employees under the provisions of this chapter shall file with the board a registration report, signed by its president or other appropriate officer. The report shall be in a form prescribed by the board and shall be accompanied by two copies of the employee organization's constitution and bylaws. A filing by a national or international employee organization of its constitution and bylaws shall be accepted in lieu of a filing of such documents by each subordinate organization. All changes or amendments to such constitutions and bylaws shall be promptly reported to the board. 2. Every employee organization shall file with the board an annual report and an amended report whenever changes are made. The reports shall be in a form prescribed by the board, and shall provide the following information: a. The names and addresses of the organization, any parent organization or organizations with which it is affiliated, the principal officers, and all representatives. b. The name and address of its local agent for service of process. c. A general description of the public employees the organization represents or seeks to represent. d. The amounts of the initiation fee and monthly dues members must pay. e. A pledge, in a form prescribed by the board, that the organization will comply with the laws of the state and that it will accept members without regard to age, race, sex, religion, national origin or physical disability as provided by law. f. A financial report and audit. 3. The constitution or bylaws of every employee organization shall provide that: a. Accurate accounts of all income and expenses shall be kept, and annual financial report and audit shall be prepared, such accounts shall be open for inspection by any member of the organization, and loans to officers and agents shall be made only on terms and conditions available to all members. b. Business or financial interests of its officers and agents, their spouses, minor children, parents or otherwise, that conflict with the fiduciary obligation of such persons to the organization shall be prohibited. c. Every official or employee of an employee organization who handles funds or other property of the organization, or trust in which an organization is interested, or a subsidiary organization, shall be bonded. The amount, scope, and form of the bond shall be determined by the board. 4. The governing rules of every employee organization shall provide for periodic elections by secret ballot subject to recognized safeguards concerning the equal right of all members to nominate, seek office, and vote in such elections, the right of individual members to participate in the affairs of the organization, and fair and equitable procedures in disciplinary actions. 5. The board shall prescribe rules necessary to govern the establishment and reporting of trusteeships over employee organizations. Establishment of such trusteeships shall be permitted only if the constitution or bylaws of the organization set forth reasonable procedures. 6. An employee organization that has not registered or filed an annual report, or that has failed to comply with other provisions of this chapter, shall not be certified. Certified employee organizations failing to comply with this chapter may have such certification revoked by the board. Prohibitions may be enforced by injunction upon the petition of the board to the district court of the county in which the violation occurs. Complaints of violation of this section shall be filed with the board. 7. Upon the written request of any member of a certified employee organization, the auditor of state may audit the financial records of the certified employee organization.          Section History: Early Form [C75, 77, 79, 81, § 20.25]