CADIWA CONSTI & BY LAWS

CALABARZON DISPLACED WORKERS ASSOCIATION (CADIWA)

Constitution and By-Laws

Preamble
We, the workers in Region IV-A comprise by the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (CALABARZON) having lost employment as a consequence of employers action to protect businesses against the impact of the Global Financial Crisis of 2008; aware of the significance of unity and solidarity to advance our aspirations, common interest, welfare and social securities in the framework of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Decent Work Agenda; and to regain our role in the society as productive forces of the economy; bond ourselves to constitute this association, do hereby adopt this code.

Article I
Name and Domicile
Section 1. This association shall be known as CALABARZON DISPLACED WORKERS ASSOCIATION with CADIWA as its acronym.
Section 2. The association shall establish a main office at Calamba City, Laguna and set-up branch offices in other provinces.

Article II
Principles and Objectives
Section 1. The modern generation of workers in the free market economy society are bounded to sell their physical and mental labor to employers in exchange of wages in order to acquire goods and services needed to sustain productive life and nurture the next generation of workers.
Section 2. Ironically, the present economic system, in spite of the immense surplus of wealth created through the interaction of labor and capital, billion of people suffer economic deprivation and injustice, cyclical economic crises occur that render employment and livelihood instability and the social protection inadequate.
Section 3. The Global Financial Crisis that erupted in the U.S., the most powerful economy in the world, validated the fundamental defects of the system. The working class movement should seek the truth and advance reforms to resolve the defects with finality. The current trend of stimulating the economy and providing safety nets are temporary solutions for pump-priming the market to salvage the defective system; hence, no end to the nightmare of economic crisis and the decent work agenda remains only an impossible dream.
Section 4. The association shall endeavor to facilitate various programs and projects towards reintegration of its members to the productive forces of the society.
Section 5. The association shall persevere in its advocacy for the creation of laws and policies that will broaden the scope of social securities including unemployment insurance or subsidy, discounts on basic commodities, restructuring of payments and deferment of penalties on loans.
Section 6. The association shall foster solidarity with other legitimate organizations, local and abroad, for the advancement of the decent work agenda and the dignity of labor.

Article III
Membership
Section 1. Workers in the CALABARZON affected by the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) are eligible for voluntary membership with the association:
a) Workers who have temporarily or permanently lost their jobs due to factors related to the Global Financial Crisis (GFC);
b) Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s) who have returned and reside in the CALABARZON after losing their jobs;
c) Workers under flexible work arrangements
Section 2. Application for membership:
a) An applicant for membership shall submit a credential as a proof of eligibility;
b) He/she shall submit a duly accomplished form of membership with the Membership Committee who shall accept or deny the application.
Section 3. Rights and duties of a member
a) Uphold the Constitution and By-Laws, protect the integrity and promote the principles and objectives of the association;
b) Attend and participate in the deliberation of agenda during assemblies and meetings;
c) Avail of the welfare programs and projects of the association suitable to his/her capability;
d) Participate in education and training program;
e) Participate, vote and seek elective position during election proceedings of the association;
f) Contribute voluntarily to the logistics and financial requirements of the association;
g) Share knowledge, information and skills among members;
h) Take part and organize cell as the basic unit of organization of CADIWA

Article IV
Leadership and Organizational Structure
Section 1. The General Assembly – is the highest governing body of the association composed of all the bona fide members convened annually every 1st Wednesday of March in a place determined by the Council of Leaders. The duties and powers of the General Assembly are:
a) To adopt and amend the Constitution and By-Laws;
b) To elect the Chairperson and the Council of Leaders
c) To review, approve, revise or reject annual report
d) To review, approve, revise or reject proposed plans and programs
Section 2. Quorum. The attendance of the majority of members shall constitute a quorum of the General Assembly.
Section 3. The Council of Leaders – the highest policy-making body between the annual General Assemblies.
a) The Council of Leaders is composed of seventeen (17) members proportionately distributed among the provinces. They shall elect among themselves the other members of the Executive Committee; namely, the Executive Vice-Chairperson, Vice- Chairperson for Political Advocacy, Vice-Chairman for Economic Affairs, Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, Treasurer, Auditor, and Public Relations Officer
b) The Council of Leaders has the authority to formulate resolutions, action plans, and guidelines necessary for the successful implementation of programs and policies adopted by the General Assembly.
c) The Council of Leaders shall hold a regular quarterly meeting to evaluate the progress of programs and projects.
Section 4. The Executive Committee – is the official body that administers the day-to-day implementation of all the plans and programs of the association. The duties and responsibilities of its members are as follows:
a) Chairperson –
i. The chief executive officer of the association
ii. Preside over the meetings of the Council of Leaders, Executive Committee and General Assembly
iii. Acts as the official representative of the association
b) Executive Vice- Chairperson -
i. Assist the Chairperson in its function and perform other tasks assigned by the Council
ii. In the absence or incapacity of the Chairperson, he/she shall perform tasks designated to him/her by the Chairperson or by the Council. He/she shall take over the function of the Chairperson if the latter is incapacitated.
c) Vice- Chairperson for Political Affairs –
i. In-charge of the execution of the political plans and activities, advocacy for reforms and legislative agenda of the association.
ii. Establish political alliances and linkages with other organizations and personalities for the advancement of common agenda.
d) Vice- Chairperson for Economic Affairs –
i. Administer the execution of economic programs, skills and livelihood training and income generating projects for the members.
ii. Promote productive entrepreneural cooperativism among members.
iii. Manage information on job opportunities and channels for the reintegration of members into the productive forces of the society.
e) General Secretary –
i. Keep and maintain a complete registry of all members and records/minutes of all the meetings of the Executive Committee and the Council.
ii. Monitor and gather reports and updates on the progress of plans and activities of the association
iii. Provide notice of all meetings
iv. Perform other tasks prescribed by the Council
f) Deputy General Secretary –
i. Assist the General Secretary in its duties and functions
ii. Perform other tasks prescribed by the Council
g) Treasurer –
i. Take custody of all the finances, resources and assets and liabilities acquired by the association and maintain a complete record of all transactions.
ii. Pay all the financial obligations of the association as approved by the Execom or Council.
iii. Render report and certify the correctness of financial records.
h) Auditor
i. Install an effective and adequate system of check and balance in the financial transactions of the association.
ii. Keep, maintain and preserve all books of accounts, documents, vouchers, contracts and other records concerning the financial matters of the association.
iii. Certify the correctness of the financial statements of the association.
i) Public Relations Officer –
i. Manage the publication and general information dissemination related to the various affairs and advocacies of the association
ii. Establish relations and linkages with the sectors of mass media
Section 5. The Cells - the basic unit of the association. Every member shall belong to a cell for the purpose of strengthening unity, collective function and as a channel of communication and information among members and officers
a) A cell maybe composed of five (5) to ten (10) members closest to each other geographically or according to the nature of their common activities or projects.
b) A Team Leader shall be elected among the cell members to act as the head the unit.

Article V
Election and Appointment of Officers
Section 1. The Chairman and members of the Council of Leaders shall be elected during the annual General Assembly.
Section 2. The election shall be supervised by a Committee on Election formed by the Council two (2) months prior to the General Assembly. The Committee shall be composed of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and two (2) members.
Section 3. The Council of Leaders shall elect the other members of Executive Committee on their first meeting not later than one (1) month after the General Assembly.
Section 4. The Council of Leaders has the authority to appoint assistants to the Executive Officers and create line committees as the need arises to achieve the objectives, plans and programs of the association.

Article VI
Finance
Section 1. The association shall encourage voluntary contribution from members to support the funds needed for the start of the operation of the association.
Section 2. The association shall be open to donation or support from other sources provided the transaction is in good faith, transparent and no conditions that could harm the integrity of the association.

Article VII
Fiscal Year
Section 1. The Fiscal Year of the association shall start on January 1 and ends on December 31 of each year.

Article VIII
Amendments
Section 1. Proposals for the amendment of this Constitution and By-Laws must be submitted to the Council of Leaders at least one (1) month prior to the General Assembly.
Section 2. Amendments maybe be adopted by at least the majority of votes of the members present in duly constituted General Assembly.

Article IX
Ratification and Effectivity
Section 1. This Constitution and By-Laws shall take upon ratification of the majority of the members present in Founding Assembly

Adopted and ratified this 4th day of March, 2009 at Calamba City, Laguna


Certified Correct:


JESS B. DELA CRUZ
General Secretary

Attested By:



OLIVA R. OLILA
Chairperson





SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me on this _________ day of March, 2009 at _______________________________________________, affiants exhibited to me their CTC No. ____________________________ issued at _______________________________ on ____________________ and CTC No. _______________________________ issued at _______________________________ on ____________________.


Notary Public


Doc. No. ___________;
Page No. ___________;
Book No. ___________;
Series of 2009.