CONSTITUTION OF CARIBBEAN LABOUR SOLIDARITY

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  1. NAME AND PURPOSES

Caribbean Labour Solidarity is a voluntary association founded by persons from or having connections with the Caribbean or interested in the social progress of the countries of the Caribbean region.

Its purpose is to mobilise support for the struggles of the peoples of these territories. Its primary concern is with trade unions, political and social issues and the anti-imperialist struggle in the Caribbean area. It is also concerned with combating racism, the protection of civil liberties and all other broad progressive objectives affecting the communities in which its members live.

  1. METHODS

The aims and methods which Caribbean Labour Solidarity may engage in and/or employ in pursuit of its purposes are:

  1. a)The gathering and dissemination of information and the interpretation of events;
  2. b)The making of representations, protests, demands and petitions;
  3. c)The organisation of and participation in conferences, meetings, symposia and other occasions for discussion, consultation and deliberation;
  4. d)The organisation ofand participation in campaigns, demonstrations, rallies and public meetings;
  5. e)The conduct of study courses and classes and the preparation and production of educational material;
  6. f)Theproduction and publication of newspapers, magazines, journals, books, pamphlets, leaflets and other written, printed and recorded material;
  7. g)The collection and receipt of money, the raising of funds by sale of publications and otherwise and the conduct of all kinds offundraising activities;
  8. h)The acquisition and ownership in the name of the organisation or of trustees on its behalf of property and assets of all kinds;
  9. i)The payment out ofmoneys either outright or on loan or under any other type of arrangement in pursuant of its purposes;
  10. j)The establishment of relations with other organisations wheresoever situated or operational and participation in their activities;
  11. k)The doing of all other acts and things in pursuance of the purposes,aims and methods of the organisation.
  12. MEMBERSHIP, AFFILIATIONSAND SUBSCRIPTION
  13. a)Membershipand affiliation shall be open to persons and organisations who agree to abide by the constitution, policies and decisions of Caribbean Labour Solidarity and who pay its prescribed subscriptions and are accepted by the Executive Committee as members or affiliates;
  14. b)Membership shall be by application and payment of the annual subscription fee. Such membership shall run for 12 months from the date the fee payment is accepted. The membership fees shall be the amount prescribed on the CLS website.  Seehttps://bit.ly/3CAAFZF or https://cls-uk.org.uk/?page_id=876.

The Executive Committee may in its discretion reduce or waive a member’s or affiliate’s subscription and/or waive the whole arrears should it be considered that such course is warranted by that member or affiliate’s financial circumstances;

  1. c)A memberor affiliate shall cease to be in good standing, should they be in arrears after two warnings by post, email and/or other accepted method of written communication or should they be under suspension. Whilst a member or affiliate is not in good standing they may not vote at an Annual General Meeting, a Special General Meeting or a meeting of the Executive Committee.
  2. OFFICERS
  3. a)There shall be a President, a General Secretary, an Assistant Secretary-Communication and Membershipand a Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer who shall be elected at each Annual General Meeting and hold office until the next election of officers. Such post-holders shall be be eligible for re-election;
  4. b)The President shall preside at the Annual General Meeting,Special General Meetings and meeting of the Executive Committee. In his or her absence the Executive Committee shall appoint a person to preside at that respective meeting;
  5. c)The Treasurer shall keep accounts of income and expenditure and a record of assets and liabilities and shall present a financial statement to the AnnualGeneral Meeting and to the Executive whenever required by them to do so. The Treasurer shall receive members’ financial information regarding membership subscriptions and other monies; and shall require appropriate transfers of such funds to the the appropriate account of the organisation or member(s).
  6. d)Save herein as provided the functions and duties of the Officers shall be as determined by the Executive Committee and the Officers shall comply with the decisions and directions of the Executive Committee;
  7. e)Any vacancies which may occurbetween AGMs shall be filled on the recommendation of the Executive Committee.
  8. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
  9. a)The supreme governing bodyof Caribbean Labour Solidarity shall be the Annual General Meeting which shall be held once in each year at such time and place as decided by the Executive Committee. The AGM  should be held no later than every 15 months or no earlier than every 12 months from the preceding AGM;
  10. b)All members, including delegates from affiliated organisations,shall be entitled to attend, speak and vote at Annual General Meetings and not less then eight weeks notice of the place and date and time of commencement shall be given to all members by post or published notification;
  11. c)Every member and affiliated organisation shall be entitled to one vote. Each affiliate shall nominate one person to represent them at the meeting and give notice to the secretary of the identity of that person;
  12. d)All resolutions,of which notice has been received by the General Secretary not less than 4 weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting, forwarded to the Executive Committee for consideration shall be placed on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting for consideration, if so agreed by the Executive Committee;
  13. e)Emergency motions may be put to the Annual General Meeting for their consideration by any member or affiliate at any time prior to the commencement of the meeting provided the Executive Committee has agreed so to so do or the Annual General Meeting indicates likewise, by a majority of members present.
  14. f)Aquorum at the Annual General Meeting shall be at least five members in good standing, including delegates of affiliates;
  15. g)Theagenda of the Annual General Meeting shall be that which has been approved by the Executive Committee. No resolution which has not complied with the requirements of Clause 5d shall be placed on the agenda;
  16. h)The Annual General Meeting shall elect the Officers prescribed in Clause and it may elect such additional officer or officers to serve until the next Annual General Meeting or for such shorter period as it may resolve;
  17. i)The Annual General Meeting shall elect not less thanfour members or as many, in excess of that figure, as it thinks reasonable so to do, to serve on the Executive Committee until the next Annual General Meeting; The Annual General Meeting shall, save as herein otherwise provided, regulate its own procedure and may if it so wishes adopt Standing Orders for the conduct of meetings.
  18. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
  19. a)The Executive Committee shall carry out the decisions of the Annual General Meetinguntil the following Annual General Meetings;
  20. b)The Executive Committee shall consist of;
  21. Officers as defined in Clauses 4 and 5;
  22. The members elected in accordance with Clause 5;

iii. Such persons as may be co-opted to the Executive Committee as hereinafter provided;

  1. c)A quorum shall be one-third of the members of the Executive Committee other than the co-opted members or five such persons whichever is less;
  2. d)The Officers and members of the Executive Committee elected as provided in Clauses 4 and 5 may co-opt to the Executive Committee for such period of time and subject to such terms conditions and limitations as in each case they may decide.Individuals and/or representatives of other organisations may be co-opted by the Executive Committee. The terms of membership of co-opted members of the Executive Committee shall terminate not later than the next Annual General Meeting;
  3. e)Save as otherwise provided the Executive Committee shall decide and allocate the functions and duties to be performed by the Officers;
  4. f)At each of its meetings the ExecutiveCommittee shall work to an agenda which has first been submitted to and approved by that meeting;
  5. g)Save as otherwise provided the Executive Committee shall regulate its own proceduresand that of the members meetings of the organisation and may appoint such sub-committees and functionaries as it shall consider necessary.
  6. MEMBERS MEETINGS
  7. a)Member’s meetings shall be held monthly or on such occasions and at such intervals as the Executive Committee after consultation withthe members shall decide for the consideration and development of the organisation’s activities plans and policies;
  8. b)The Executive Committee shall invite the attendance at and participation in Members Meetings of representatives from such other organisations,bodies or groups and such individualswho, at its discretion, will contribute to the progress of the organisation’s work and the development of fraternal solidarity of its purposes.
  9. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
  10. a)The Executive Committee may convene a Special General Meetinghaving given  seven calendar days notice to its members by either post, email and/or publication on the organisation’s website specifying the purpose of the meeting.
  11. b)Uponreceipt of a notice in writing signed by not less than one third of the members in good standing specifying the purpose for which such a meeting is to be convened the Executive Committee shall within six weeks by two weeks notice to the members by post or published notification specifying the purpose o the meeting, convene a Special General Meting;
  12. c)ASpecial General Meeting shall be confined to the matters specified in the said notices;
  13. d)Subject to the above mentioned limitations and save and except for the election of Officers and members of the Executive Committee,all the provisions relating to Annual General Meeting herein contained shall apply to Special General Meetings.
  14. DISCIPLINE
  15. a)TheExecutive Committee shall have the power to suspend or expel a member on such terms as it shall decide, or expel any member whose conduct it considers damaging or detrimental to the organisation, its purposes, aims and methods. Its decision shall be final provided that before any decision to suspend or expel is made the member affected shall be given an opportunity, should he or she so desire, to put forward either orally or in writing any reasons he or she may wish to advance as to why such suspension or expulsion should not take place;
  16. b)The procedure forthe initial hearing of suspension or expulsion shall be determined by the Executive Committee.
  17. c)Any member suspended or expelled by the Executive Committee shall have the right of appeal to the next Annual General Meeting;
  18. d)The procedure for hearing of appeals shall be determined by the Annual General Meeting.
  19. RELATIONS WITH OTHERS
  20. a)In order to achieve the widest possible popular mobilisation in pursuance of the purposes aims and methods of the organisation the Executive Committee may at its discretion and on such terms in each case as it considers advisable invite the co-operation and arrange for the participation of other organisations, bodies, groups and individual in the projects and activities of Caribbean Labour Solidarity and its discussions deliberations and decision-making processes.
  21. AMENDMENT AND DISSOLUTION
  22. a)This constitution may be amended by resolution at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting which obtains the support of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast;
  23. b)Caribbean Labour Solidarity may be dissolved by a resolution at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting which obtains the support of not less than three –quarters of the votes cast. The resolution dissolving the organisation shall state how the assets are to be disposed of;
  24. c)Not less than two weeks notice in writing of a resolution to amend the constitution and four weeks notice of a dissolution resolution shall be given to the members by post or publication.

Approved by the AGM of Caribbean Labour Solidarity on 2026/05/07