The Statutes of Estonian Education Personnel Union

1. General
1.1 Estonian Education Personnel Union (EEPU) is a self-dependent, voluntary and self-initiated trade union whose activities are based on democracy, independence and free decision-making, collegial leadership and public activity.
1.2 EEPU is situated in Tallinn, its postal address is 21 Gonsiori Street, 10147 Tallinn.
1.3 EEPU has been established on April 3, 1990.
1.4 The objectives of EEPU are to represent and defend the professional, economic, public and social rights and interests of its members.
1.5 In its activities, EEPU follows the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, the legislation of trade unions and other laws, the legal acts based on these laws, the international conventions, its own Action Programme as well as these Statutes.
1.6 EEPU is a voluntary union of persons that independently adopts its Statutes as well as its Action Programme which set forth the exact objectives of its activities and the ways of achieving these objectives.
1.7 EEPU is a legal person, owning a seal with the name of the union, a system of symbols and an independent budget.
1.8 EEPU has been composed of regional trade unions of education employees and the associations of the latter having joined the union on a voluntary basis (hence-forth, the member organisations). The member organisations are legal persons owning seals with the respective organisation´s name, a system of symbols and an independent budget and statutes.
1.9 EEPU does not take issue in the activities of its member organisations and does not intend to impair their interests.

2. The Competence and Rights of EEPU
2.1 The Principles of Representing the Employees
2.1.1 Concerning collegial work relationships, EEPU, within its competence, has a right to represent and defend the employees´ rights and interests.
2.1.2 Concerning individual work relationships, EEPU represents and defends the rights and interests of its members on the basis of authorization, in case it has not been stated otherwise in the law.
2.2 The Competence of EEPU
2.2.1 In order to represent, carry out and defend the interests and rights of employees, EEPU is competent to:
ˇ contract collective agreements concerning the work, income, service and social fields with employers, state institutions and local authorities;
ˇ submit motions into the bills of legal acts concerning the employees´ interests and rights in the social and economic fields as well as those of their profession, service and trade;
ˇ submit proposals to state and local authorities in order to improve, complement and change legal acts concerning the work and social issues;
ˇ co-operate with employers, state and local authorities on improving the working conditions and the emplyees´ health;
ˇ co-operate with the respective state and local authorities as well the employment agencies on improving the employment situtation as well as the schooling (including advanced courses), and skills of the employees;
ˇ take part in consulting and informing the employees and to help them to make decisions to the extent that that has been regulated by the trade union law, other legal acts as well as various agreements;
ˇ represent and defend its members before state and local authorities, employers and employment authorities.
2.3 The Rights of EEPU
2.3.1 In order to execute its competence, EEPU has a right to:
ˇ get instant information from employers, state and local authorities on employment as well as social issues that concern the interests of the employees;
ˇ bargain with employers, state and local authorities over the working conditions, salaries and social issues in order to contract collective and other agreements;
ˇ submit motions into the bills of legal acts concerning the economic and social interests and rights of the employers as well as those concerning their proffession, service and trade;
ˇ get informed about the employment situation, vacant jobs and the possibilities of advanced learning from the state employment agencies through the representative appointed by EEPU;
ˇ express its points of view in the mass media;
ˇ in order to achieve its objectives, to organize assemblies, meetings, street processions, strikes and pickets according to the law;
ˇ in order to achieve the objectives stated in these Statues, to freely develop whatever foreign affairs, including joining international worker unions;
ˇ educate and consult its workers in the social and employment fields as well as others that concern the interests of the workers;
2.3.2 EEPU has a right to carry out other rights stated in legal acts and agreements.

3. The rules and conditions of becoming a member of EEPU, ending the membership and dismissing a member
3.1 Any regional union of education workers or association of such unions that recognises and agrees to follow the Statutes of EEPU and its Action Programme may become a member of EEPU.
3.2 Belonging to EEPU is voluntary, all its members retain total freedom of action and independence.
3.3 In order to become a member of EEPU, the applicant presents a written application to EEPU´s Executive Board. A decision of the respective union, their statutes, membership data and the decision of being included to the register should be included to the application.
3.4 Within one month from the day of receipt EEPU considers the application and lets the applicant know of the decision in written form.
3.5 In case the Executive Board refuses to accept the applicant, the latter may turn in written form to the Assembly of Commissioners whose decision will be final.
3.6 A member of EEPU may resign from EEPU on the basis of a written application submitted to the Executive Board and a written decision of either the latter or the Assembly of Commissioners. The member must inform EEPU of their resignation in written form at least three months in advance. After resigning from EEPU during a fiscal year the ex-member does not pay the membership fee anymore.
3.7 Resignation from EEPU is decided in the same way that joining the union.
3.8 Resignation is carried out on the day of the Executive Board`s decision.
3.9 Ex-members lose the right to EEPU´s common property and financial resources.
3.10 A member that has violated these Statutes or has in any ways acted in conflict with EEPU´s objectives will be dismissed from EEPU. The dismissal is decided within one month by EEPU´s Executive Board and the dismissed member is informed in written form of the decision and the reasons of the dismissal.
3.11 Dismissed members may appeal to EEPU´s Assembly of Commissioners and the complaint will be considered within one month from the day of the receipt of the copy of the decision. The decision of the Assembly of Commissioners will be final.

4. The Principal Rights and Obligations of EEPU´s members
4.1 EEPU´s members have a right to:
ˇ get thorough assistance in their activities (economic, organisational, legal etc.);
ˇ get relevant information for their work;
ˇ through their representatives elect or be elected to EEPU`s governing bodies and in any other ways take part in EEPU´s activities;
ˇ submit inqueries and instructions to EEPU´s executive bodies;
ˇ take part in using and deciding over EEPU´s common property;
ˇ resign from EEPU.
4.2 A member of EEPU is obliged to:
ˇ recognize these Statutes and follow the decisions of EEPU´s governing bodies;
ˇ pay the membership fee according to the rate set forth by EEPU´s Assembly of Commissioners;
ˇ keep an account over the members and present the relevant information to EEPU´s Executive Board by the time agreed.

5. The Governing Bodies of EEPU, Their Competence and Ability to Decide
5.1 EEPU´s General Meeting
5.1.1 The highest governing body of EEPU is the General Meeting that is summoned once in four years by the Assembly of Commissioners who also sets forth the representative standards and the system of electing the representatives.
5.1.2 The members of EEPU appoint their representatives to the General Meeting at least two months prior to its beginning.
5.1.3 The date and the agenda of the General Meeting are issued six months prior to its begginning at the latest.
5.1.4 The General Meeting elects from among the representatives present at the meeting its chairperson who will direct the meeting.
5.1.5 An emergency General Meeting is summoned in case the Assembly of Commissioners demands so or in case at least one tenth of EEPU´s members demand so in written form and include the reason for summoning the emergency meeting.
5.1.6 The date and the agenda of the emergency General Meeting are issued at least one month prior to its beginning.
5.1.7 The members of EEPU appoint their representatives to the emergency General Meeting at least two weeks prior to its beginning.
5.1.8 In case the Assembly of Commissioners does not summon the emergency General Meeting, the members have a right to do so according to points 5.1.6 and 5.1.7 of these Statutes.
5.1.9 EEPU´s General Meeting is competent to:
ˇ adopt and change the Statutes of EEPU;
ˇ change the objectives of EEPU;
ˇ voluntarily dissolve EEPU, to become allied to other organisations and to divide EEPU;
ˇ make up the Assembly of Commissioners;
ˇ confirm EEPU´s Action Programme.
5.1.10 The General Meeting has ability to make decisions if 50% of the representatives plus one are present. Each member of the meeting - each representative of an EEPU member union - has one vote.
5.1.11 The decisions of the General Meeting are adopted if at least two thirds of EEPU´s members´ representatives vote for the decision.
5.2 EEPU´s Assembly of Commissioners
5.2.1 EEPU´s Assembly of Commissioners is a governing and representative body which acts between the General Meetings.
5.2.2 The Assembly of Commissioners is made up of EEPU´s members´ representatives for four years.
5.2.3 From each education personnel union that unites up to 2000 employees, one member belongs to the Assembly of Commissioners; from each union with more than 2000 members, one representative per 2000 members belongs to the Assembly of Commissioners; in addtition, EEPU´s chairperson and deputy chairperson belong to the Assembly (hence-forth, members).
5.2.4 The Assembly of Commissioners acts based on a confirmed order of action. The meetings of the Assembly take place at least three times a year. Information on the date and agenda of the meeting is issued at least one month prior to the meeting.
5.2.5 The emergency meetings of the Assembly of Commissioners are summoned by EEPU´s Executive Board or at least one tenth of EEPU´s members, stating in the written invitation the reason of summoning the emergency meeting. The members of the Assembly of Commissioners are informed of the emergeny meeting at least two weeks prior to the meeting. The information on the date and agenda of the emergency meeting is issued at least a week prior to the meeting.
5.2.6 In case EEPU´s Executive Board does not summon the emergency meeting of the Assembly of Commissioners, the members who applied for the emergency meeting do so.
5.2.7 EEPU´s Assembly of Commissioners is competent to:
ˇ summon the General Meeting, to confirm the representative standards and the order of electing the representatives according to the number of union members;
ˇ confirm the budget and the yearly fiscal report;
ˇ confirm the auditing report;
ˇ evaluate the activities of the Executive Board;
ˇ confirm EEPU´s Action Programme;
ˇ set forth the number of members of the Executive Board, to set forth the time limit and competence of the Executive Board`s and Financial Committee`s (its members´) credentials;
ˇ appoint the chairperson, deputy chairperson and members of the Executive Board, to elect the members of the Financial Committee and to dismiss them ahead of schedule;
ˇ set forth the number of EEPU´s staff members and to confirm the post listing;
ˇ set forth and confirm the rate and the order of paying the joining fee as well as special and other payments;
ˇ establish foundations in order to support its members
ˇ solve issues arising from these Statutes
ˇ decide other questions related to the activities of EEPU
5.2.8 The Assembly of Commissioners has ability to make decisions if at least 50% of its members plus one are present. Each member of the Assembly of Commissioners has one vote.
5.2.9 The decisions of the Assembly of Commissioners are adopted if more than half of the members present at the meeting vote for the decision.
5.3 The governing and representative body of EEPU is the Executive Board, the members of which are elected by the Assembly of Commissioners for four years. The minimal number of members of the Executive Board is 5, the maximum being 7.
5.4 EEPU´s Executive Board:
ˇ represents EEPU and controls its activities during the time between the meetings of the Assembly of Commissioners; each member of the Executive Board has a right to represent EEPU in all legal matters;
ˇ summons the meeting of the Assembly of Commissioners, presents materials on the current issues that will be discussed at the meeting; insures the execution of the decisions adopted;
ˇ at its meeting solves the issues that have arisen concerning these Statutes or the Action Programme
ˇ insures developing the necessary financial basis for its activities;
ˇ organises EEPU´s accounting according to the accounting law;
ˇ at the end of a fiscal year compiles an annual accounting report as well as that of the activities according to the order set forth in the law;
ˇ on the advice of EEPU´s chairperson, hires and dismisses staff workers, confirms the rates of their salaries, vacations and extra pay;
ˇ on EEPU´s behalf, holds negotiations, contracts agreements and insures the execution of these.
5.5 EEPU´s Executive Board may make decisions if over a half of its members take part in the meeting; in order that a decision could be adopted, it is necessary that over a half of the participating members vote for the decision.
5.6 The chairperson:
ˇ is a member of the Assembly of Commissioners;
ˇ conducts the meetings of the Assembly of Commissioners and the Executive Board;
ˇ acts on behalf EEPU without authorization, represents EEPU in state and local authorities and other institutions and hands out credentials;
ˇ gives signatures on behalf of EEPU;
ˇ according to these Statutes has control over EEPU´s financial resources and property;
ˇ takes part in the work of committees of experts and other workgroups;
ˇ on behalf of EEPU, contracts agreements;
ˇ gives account of his/her activities to the Assembly of Commissioners and the Executive Board
ˇ gives work-related orders.
5.7 The deputy chairperson:
ˇ is a member of the Assembly of Commissioners;
ˇ fills the place of the chairperson while the latter is away.
5.8 The rights and responsibilities of a member of the Executive Board
ˇ a member of the Executive Board has a right to get information from EEPU´s governing bodies and representatives in order to arrange co-operation;
ˇ a member of the Executive Board does not reveal professional secrets;
ˇ a member of the Executive Board actively participates in the work of the Executive Board; co-operates with its other members and passes to them work-related information;
ˇ in case a member of EEPU´s Executive Board does not carry out his/her obligations, the Executive Board has a right to make a proposal to the Assembly of Commissioners in order to dismiss the member;
ˇ EEPU´s Assembly of Commissioners has a right to dismiss a member of the Executive Board on their own initiative.

6. The Order and Competence of Making Up EEPU´ s Financial Committee
6.1 The body that verifies EEPU´s business management and financial activities is the Financial Committee (its members), elected at the meeting of the Assembly of Commissioners.
6.2 The Financial Committee must consist of at least three members. A member of the Financial Committee does not have the right to be elected to EEPU´s Executive Board.
6.3 The Financial Committee has a right to:
6.3.1 study all the documents of EEPU that concern its business management and financial activities;
6.3.2 submit prescriptions in order to have the discovered shortcomings removed.
6.3.3 Once a year the Financial Committee must submit a report of its activities to the Assembly of Commissioners. The Assembly of Commissioners will confirm the report.
6.3.4 In order to set forth the regulations of action for the Financial Committee, the Assembly of Commissioners may confirm the relevant regulations of action.

7. Using EEPU´s property and financial resources
7.1 EEPU´s property and financial resources are made up of the members` joining and membership fees, donations and separations that are necessary for developing the activities set forth by EEPU´s Action Programme.
7.2 EEPU´s property and financial resources are used in order to meet its members´ needs, to establish foundations, to finance EEPU´s governing bodies and for other purposes according to the confirmed budget. EEPU does not intend to earn a profit, the organisation does not divide the income between its members.
7.3 The principles of dividing the income from membership fees by percentage between the member organisations and EEPU are confirmed by EEPU´s Assembly of Commissioners for each fiscal year.
7.4 EEPU´s member organisations are responsible for fulfilling their obligations with all their property as a warranty. EEPU is not responsible for its members´ obligations or the lack of responsibility at fulfilling these.
7.5 The members of EEPU are not responsible for fulfilling EEPU´s financial obligations.
7.6 EEPU keeps its money at the banks voluntarily chosen by itself.
7.7 In financial activities, EEPU is not subject to the control of state or local authorities, except for the cases set forth in the law.

8. The Order of Changing The Statutes of EEPU
8.1 All EEPU´s member organisations may submit additional proposals for changing the Statutes.
8.2 The Assembly of Commissioners considers all the additional proposals for complementing and changing the Statutes and presents these to the General Meeting for confirmation.

9. The accession and division of EEPU, the basis and order of ending EEPU´s activities
9.1 Accession, division and liquidation take place according to the decision of the General Meeting.
9.2 In the decision of EEPU´s accession or division its legal successor will be stated, the latter inheriting EEPU´s rights and obligations. Relevant amendments will be made to the Statutes.
9.3 Accession will take place as liquidation.
9.4 EEPU´s action is ended or brought to rest by the General Meeting´s decision, the latter forming the Liquidation Committee. The General Meeting will confirm the final decision of the Liquidation Committee.
9.5 On adopting the decision of dissolution of EEPU, the General Meeting elects the Liquidation Committee and sets forth the date of the last meeting of EEPU´s General Meeting. On electing the Liquidation Committee, its credentials will be set forth, the time limit of which must be at least two months. If possible, the order of pay to the members of the committee will be set forth.
9.6 The Liquidation Committee
ˇ issues a notice about the proceedings of the liquidation of EEPU in the official publication Official Notices (Ametlikud Teadaanded);
ˇ summons the creditors and meets their financial demands;
ˇ the liquidators may carry out only the transactions necessary for the liquidation of EEPU.
9.7 If the General Meeting points out a successor, the property and financial resources will be passed over to the successor.
9.8 Liquidation costs will be carried by EEPU.
9.9 The results of the action of the Liquidation Committee will be registered officially by means of a final act.
9.10 EEPU´s Executive Board sends an application about stopping its activities to the state registrar within three days from the day of confirming the final act, in order that EEPU be deleted from the register.

The Statutes have been adopted at the meeting of EEPU´s Assembly of Commissioners on September 28, 2000.
Chairman of Estonian Education Personnel Union, Sven Rondik
Member of the Executive Board, Mare Ojasalu