Structures

The National Congress shall be the supreme governing body of the Union and shall meet at least once every five years.

The National Congress shall consist of the National Office Bearers, Provincial Office Bearers, Regional Chairpersons and Secretaries and one Branch delegate per 350 paid-up members or part thereof in the Branch, provided that each Branch shall be entitled to at least one delegate.

The National General Council shall consist of the National Office Bearers, Provincial Chairpersons and Secretaries, Regional Chairpersons and one additional regional delegate per 5 000 paid-up members or part thereof, provided that each Region shall be entitled to at least one additional delegate.

The management of the affairs of the Union shall vest in the NEC.
The composition Of the NEC shall be the National Office Bearers and the Chairperson and Secretary of each Province.
The NEC shall meet at least once every three months on a date to be fixed by the General Secretary in consultation with the President. Meetings of the NEC shall be convened on written notice of the date, time, place, and business of the meeting. A majority of Provinces present shall constitute a quorum.
If within one hour there is no quorum, the meeting stands adjourned to an agreed date, time, and place. A written notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to all Provinces. If at least three Provinces deem it necessary to call an emergency meeting of the NEC, then they have a right to request that such meeting be convened at the earliest possible date.

The National Office Bearers shall be the working committee of the Union with specific and limited decision-making powers.
The National Working Committee shall:
(a) carry out decisions and instructions of the National Congress, NGC, and NEC.
(b) ensure that Provinces, Regions, and Branches are functional; and
(c) submit a report to each meeting of the NEC.
(d) Shall meet at least once every month

The Provincial Conference shall consist of Provincial Office Bearers (“POB’s”), Regional Office Bearers (“ROB’s”) and one Branch delegate for every 200 paid-up members or part thereof, provided that each Branch shall be entitled to at least one delegate.
The Provincial Conference shall meet at least once every four years and shall be convened by the Provincial Executive Committee on written notice to all Branches and Regions of the date, time, place and business of the Conference.

The PGC shall consist of the Provincial Office Bearers, Regional Chairpersons and Secretaries, Branch Chairpersons and one additional Branch delegate per 500 paid-up members or part thereof, provided that each Branch shall be entitled to at least one additional delegate.
The PGC shall meet once during the four-year term of office and shall be convened by the PEC.

The PEC shall consist of the Provincial Office Bearers and Chairperson and Secretary of each Region. The majority of PEC members shall constitute a quorum provided that at least 50% of the regions shall be present.

The Provincial Office Bearers shall be the working committee with specific and limited decision-making powers.

The PWC shall:

• carry out decisions and instructions of the PEC to which it shall be accountable,
• meet at least once a month; and
• ensure that Regions and Branches are functional.

The Regional Triennial General Meeting (“RTGM”)shall consist of the Regional Office Bearers (“ROB’s”), Branch Executive Committees and one Branch delegate per 100 paid-up members or part thereof.
The Regional TGM shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned to it by

National and Provincial structures and shall include:

• The election of ROB’s, namely the Chairperson,
• Deputy Chairperson,
• Secretary,
• Deputy Secretary,
• Treasurer and Portfolio Convenors as determined by the National Congress.

The REC shall consist of the Regional Office Bearers and Chairpersons and Secretaries of Branches.
The REC shall meet at least once every three months. Meetings of the REC shall take place on dates and at times fixed by the Secretary in consultation with the Chairperson, or at the request of branches.
A majority of Branches present shall constitute a quorum. If within one hour there is no quorum, the meeting stands adjourned to an agreed date, time, and place. A written notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to all members of the REC.

The PEC of each Province shall have the power to demarcate the Union into Branches within its jurisdiction, provided that there are at least one hundred (100) paid-up members per Branch. The NEC may confer special recognition, due to circumstances, where the branch has fewer than one hundred (100) paid up members.

The BTGM of all members of each Branch shall be held on a date fixed by the Branch Executive Committee at which:

• the Branch Executive Committee, comprising of the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Portfolio Convenors, as determined by the National Congress, shall be elected.

Branch Mass Meeting of members in a Branch shall be called once every three months by the Secretary in consultation with the Chairperson, acting on her or his own, or on a decision of the Branch Executive Committee, or on the request of at least five (5) sites.

The Site Biennial General Meeting shall consist of all members of the Union at the site and shall be convened every two years by the Site Executive Committee (SEC) and shall elect the Site Steward, Site Secretary and Portfolio Coordinator.

9.4.1 to recruit members in the Site.
9.4.2 to receive and attend to complaints of members concerning their employment and where necessary to report such complaints to the BEC.
9.4.3 to communicate the decisions and policies of the Union to members.
9.4.4 to report to the BEC and Branch Site Stewards’ Council.