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Statutes for the Norwegian Association of Researchers’ branch at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Adopted at the annual general meeting on 13 March 2018 – approved by the Select Committee/Executive Board on 30 January 2019, with amendments adopted by the Annual General Meeting on 30 April 2020. 

1. AFFILIATION AND STATUS
The Norwegian Association of Researchers (NAR) at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) is the Norwegian Association of Researchers’ local branch at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. The Articles of Association of the Norwegian Association of Researchers apply to the local branch, and these local statutes supplement them. 

2. OBJECT
The local branch looks after its members’ financial and professional interests and their working conditions at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, and it helps members with issues relating to the law and collective agreements. The local branch at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences acts on behalf of the Norwegian Association of Researchers in relation to Western Norway University of Applied Sciences in accordance with the law and collective agreements. 

3. MEMBERS
A member of the Norwegian Association of Researchers who is employed by Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is a member of the local branch at the university. 

4. GOVERNING BODIES The governing bodies of the Norwegian Association of Researchers at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences are:

5. THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is the supreme body of the local branch. All members of the local branch are entitled to attend, address and vote at the AGM. The Board of the local branch convenes the meeting and distributes the agenda/case documents and proposals submitted for consideration at the AGM at least two weeks before the meeting is held. Proposals submitted for consideration at the AGM must be received by the Board no later than four weeks before the meeting. 

The AGM is held by the end of March. An extraordinary AGM is held when the Board of the local branch finds this necessary or when at least one-third of the members so wish. 

The AGM elects the chair and deputy chair(s). The five sub-branch representatives are elected using a list-based proportional representation system. 

The AGM approves the year-end financial statements, budget, annual report and, if applicable, work programme. The AGM considers and states an opinion on matters submitted by the Board of the local branch or by individual members. 

The AGM elects a Nomination Committee comprising four members. They are elected for a term of two years. The Nomination Committee’s proposal is distributed to the members no later than one week before the AGM. The Nomination Committee presents its proposal at the AGM. The election is held at the AGM. 

6. THE BOARD OF THE LOCAL BRANCH
The Board of the local branch consists of nine members, with personal deputies for the three deputy chairs and the five chairs of the sub-branches:

The chair of the Norwegian Association of Researchers at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences represents the members at the enterprise level in accordance with collective agreements. The deputy chairs act as deputies for the chair.

The members of the Board of the local branch are elected for a term of two years. The composition of the Board of the local branch, including personal deputies for the deputy chairs and the five chairs of the sub-branches, shall as far as possible ensure broad representation across campuses, job categories and genders. New terms of office start from 1 August.

The Board of the local branch forms a quorum when at least half of its members are present. In the event of parity of votes, the chair has the casting vote.

The chair and the three deputy chairs are responsible for the following tasks being carried out:

The Board of the local branch has a particular responsibility to contribute and allocate resources to campus-based measures and measures across sub-branches at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. 

7. BOARDS OF SUB-BRANCHES
The local branch consists of sub-branches at the faculties and in the central administration, five sub-branches in all. The names of the sub-branches are abbreviated FLKI, FIN, FØS, FHS and FA. The sub-branches represent the Norwegian Association of Researchers in the individual faculties. All members, regardless of job category, are members of the sub-branch at the faculty where they are employed. At sub-branch level, the employee representatives are authorised to act on behalf of the Norwegian Association of Researchers in accordance with the law and collective agreements. The sub-branches look after the members’ interests at the faculty and help members in accordance with the law and collective agreements.

The AGM is the sub-branches’ supreme body. The Board of the sub-branch convenes the sub-branch’s AGM. It also distributes the agenda and case documents at least two weeks before the meeting. The AGM of the sub-branch is held no later than two weeks before the AGM of the local branch. An extraordinary general meeting is held if the Board of the sub-branch finds this necessary or when at least one-third of the members so wish. The AGM elects the Board of the sub-branch and a Nomination Committee, and considers the annual report and, if applicable, work programme. The Board of the sub-branch decides the division of responsibilities between its members. The members of the Board and the Nomination Committee are elected for a term of two years.

The chair of the sub-branch is normally the sub-branch’s representative on the Board of the local branch. The chair of a sub-branch cannot normally hold office as chair or deputy chair of the Board of the local branch. New terms of office start from 1 August.

The AGM considers and states an opinion on matters submitted by the Board of the sub-branch or by individual members. The AGM decides the procedure for elections. The Board of the sub-branch comprises at least three persons, one of whom is chair. The Board of the sub-branch is responsible for the day-to-day running of the sub-branch. Among other things, the Board of the sub-branch appoints representatives to offices, committees and councils, convenes the AGM, board meetings and sub-branch meetings, prepares an annual report and, if applicable, work programme, and recruits new members. Minutes must be taken of board meetings of the sub-branch. 

The minutes shall be made known to the members of the sub-branch. The composition of the Board of the sub-branch shall as far as possible ensure reasonable representation across campuses, job categories and genders. 

The Board of the sub-branch forms a quorum when at least half of its members are present. In the event of parity of votes, the chair has the casting vote. 

The sub-branches do not have separate finances. Outlays for meetings, courses, catering etc. must be approved in advance by the Board of the local branch. The sub-branches may not incur financial obligations on behalf of the Norwegian Association of Researchers. 

All resolutions addressed to the central authorities, civil service unions or employer or employee confederations above faculty level must go via the Board of the local branch. The Board of the local branch decides whether the resolution in question will be put forward. 

The sub-branches may adopt their own statutes. They must be approved by the Board of the local branch. 

8. EXCLUSION
Only the Executive Board of the Norwegian Association of Researchers may exclude members. 

9. AMENDMENTS TO THE STATUTES
The AGM may make amendments to the local statutes at the proposal of the Board or individual members. Proposed amendments must be made known to the members no later than two weeks before the AGM. To be adopted, a proposed amendment requires a majority of two-thirds of the votes at the AGM.