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CIRA Constitution

1. The Canadian Industrial Relations Association is hereby established as a voluntary association of such persons who become members under the terms of this Constitution. The Association shall be carried on without purpose of gain for its members and any profits or other accretions to the Association shall be used in promoting its objects.

The Association shall be empowered to:

  • a. raise funds as is necessary to further the aims and objectives of the Association;

  • b. acquire and dispose of such assets or property as is necessary to further the aims and objectives of the Association.

The fiscal year of the Association shall end on December 31 of each year.

2. The objects of the Association shall be to promote research, discussion, and education in the field of industrial relations in Canada, and to these ends the Association may:

  • a. sponsor conferences;

  • b. promote publications;

  • c. encourage provision of funds for research and publications;

  • d. enlist support from interested groups, organizations, persons, associations, unions or corporations; and

  • e. engage in such other activities, or take such other activities, as it seems desirable.

3. The Canadian Industrial Relations Association strongly affirms its support for the following core labour standards, which are internationally recognized to be fundamental human rights:

  • a. Freedom of Association

  • b. Right to organize and to bargain collectively

  • c. Prohibition of forced labour

  • d. Elimination of exploitative forms of child labour

  • e. Non-discrimination in employment or occupation

4. Membership in the Association shall be open to all persons and organizations having an academic or professional interest in the field of industrial relations.

5. The Executive Committee, established hereunder, is empowered to prescribe the form of application for membership, to receive applications and to determine the qualification of applicants who shall become members upon the acceptance of their applications by the Executive Committee and payment of the annual fee.

6. The business and program of the Association shall be in the hands of the Executive Committee consisting of the officers of the Association, one member hereinafter known as the RI/IR Representative, acting as a representative of the Editorial Team of the Relations industrielles/Industrial Relations (RI/IR) Journal, edited by the Department of Industrial Relations at Laval University, and five other members elected as hereinafter provided.

7. The Association shall have the following officers:

  • a. President – 2 years term

  • b. Past-President – 1 year term (the Past President will serve as an officer of the Executive Committee for one year following his/her term as President; this role will be off-set with the President-Elect. He will fulfill this role in collaboration with the President-Elect)

  • c. President-Elect – 1 year term (a President-Elect will be nominated in alternate years and serve as Conference Chair for one year before assuming the role of President)

  • d. Conference Chair - 1 year term (a Conference Chair will be appointed in alternate years to the President-Elect)

  • e. Treasurer - 2 years term

  • f. Membership Coordinator – 2 years term

  • g. Communications Officer - 2 years term

8. There shall be an Annual Meeting of the Association at such time and place as may be fixed by the Executive Committee. The agenda and program of an Annual Meeting shall be determined by the Executive Committee, subject to such directions as may be given at the preceding Annual Meeting.

9. The President Elect, Treasurer, Membership Coordinator, Communications Officer and members of the Executive Committee shall be elected at the Annual Meeting and shall hold office until successors are elected. The Conference Chair shall be appointed by the Executive Committee for a one year term when there is no designated President-Elect. The RI/IR Representative shall be appointed by the CIRA Executive Committee upon recommendation of the RI/IR Journal Executive Committee. In order to insure continuity at the Executive Committee, the terms of office are staggered two year terms. Officers and members of the Executive Committee shall be eligible for re-election. The maximum term of office of a member of the Executive Committee shall be four consecutive years; years of office served as officers of the Executive Committee or as the RI/IR Representative are excluded from the maximum.

10. Nominations and elections:

  • a. The President shall issue a call for nominations to the CIRA Executive no less than two weeks prior to the scheduled AGM.

  • b. Candidates must be members of CIRA, must indicate acceptance of the nomination, and must be nominated by two members in good standing.

  • c. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for reviewing the nominations and presenting a slate of candidates to the membership for election at the AGM. In determining the slate of candidates for election, the Committee shall be guided by the objective of ensuring geographic (Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic and Western Provinces) and professional (academic, governmental, union, management) representation.

11. At any meeting of the Executive Committee, four of its members shall constitute a quorum.

12. There shall be an annual membership fee of such amount as is fixed by the Executive Committee and reported to the Annual Meeting.

13. The powers and duties herein conferred and imposed upon the Executive Committee shall be exercised in such a manner or under such directions as the Annual Meeting may see fit to ordain.

14. The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting at any Annual Meeting, provided that previous notice of the proposed amendments shall have been given in the notice of the Annual Meeting at which they are to be considered.

15. Local or regional industrial relations associations may affiliate with the Canadian Industrial Relations Association provided that, in the judgment of the Executive Committee, the activities of the local or regional associations are not inconsistent with articles 2 and 3 of this constitution. The Executive shall have the power to implement this provision and shall report to the Annual Meeting all decisions taken with regard to the affiliation of local or regional associations.