PDFA Bylaws

4.1. Vision

The vision of the Association is one of a strong community in which postdoctoral fellows are provided fair and reasonable compensation and benefits for their work, a supportive social network, effective career and professional development opportunities, and rights and privileges similar to those provided to other key groups (e.g., students, graduate students, faculty members, and support staff) engaged in academia and research at the University.

4.2. Mission

The overarching mission of the Association is the betterment of the postdoctoral experience at the University. Toward that goal, the Association will advocate for improvements in the University’s policies related to postdoctoral training, working conditions, collective bargaining, and labour relations based on input from members of the Association and work to strengthen the postdoctoral community at the University by enhancing engagement in University governance, organizing events and initiatives to increase social support and wellbeing, and providing services to our members.

5.1 General

5.1.1 Any individual holding a postdoctoral appointment or occupying a postdoctoral position at the University shall be considered a member of the Association, regardless of the specific source(s) of funding for that individual’s salary or stipend, nationality or immigration status, or the duration and full- or part-time nature of their contract.

6.1 Composition of the Executive Council

6.1.1 The Executive Council of the Association shall be comprised of 10 elected officials, also known as “Executive Officers” of the Association, listed in Article 6.1.1.1 who shall be elected as described in Article 7.

6.1.1.1 The elected positions on the Executive Council shall include the following:

a. President;
b. Vice President Internal;
c. Vice President External;
d. Vice President Communications;
e. Vice President Operations;
f. Vice President Finance; and
g. Members-at-Large (up to four).

6.1.3 Details of Roles

a. The President shall

• supervise and guide the affairs and actions of the Executive Council;
• engage in all negotiations done on behalf of the Association or its members, including collective bargaining;
• chair all meetings of the Association, unless delegated to another Officer;
• be an ex officio member of all Committees of the Association;
• act as the spokesperson for the Association; and
• be primarily responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient functioning of the Executive Council and the Association and for ensuring the continuity of the Association.

• act as the primary liaison between the Executive Council of the Association and the faculties, departments, institutes, and offices internal to the University;
• organize any social events for the Association;
• perform duties as assigned by the President; and
• in case of vacancy in the position of the president and in the event that no other member of the Executive Council is nominated, become the interim president until the next election is held.

c. The Vice President External shall

• act as the primary liaison between the Executive Council of the Association and any individuals, organizations, or groups external to the Association and the University, including other postdoctoral Associations at the provincial and national levels.

d. The Vice President Communications shall

• be responsible for communicating the affairs of the Association and the Executive Council to the membership via email and posts on the Association website and social media accounts.

e. The Vice President Operations shall

• organize Executive Council meetings as well as meetings of the general membership;
• organize the records and minutes for all meetings of the Association and the Executive Council; and
• manage the storage of and access to all official records of the Association and the Executive Council.

f. The Vice President Finance shall

• conduct all financial transactions on behalf of the Association;
• manage all of the Association’s financial accounts including the maintenance and storage of and access to financial records;
• be responsible for developing the annual budget of the Association in consultation with other members of the Executive Council;
• present an annual budget at the AGM; and
• prepare all financial records, with assistance from other members of the Executive Council or outside contractors as deemed necessary by the Executive Council, in accordance with Article 9.

g. The Members-at-Large shall

• counsel President and Vice Presidents; and
• organize and support subcommittees as required;