GSWOC-UAW Bylaws

ARTICLE 1. NAME

Section 1. This organization shall be known as Local No. 872, International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW).

ARTICLE 2. CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

Section 1. The Constitution of this Local Union shall be the Constitution of the International Union, UAW, and these Bylaws shall be in all respects subordinate to said Constitution and all applications and interpretations thereof.

ARTICLE 3. FISCAL YEAR

Section 1. The fiscal year of the Local Union shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31.

ARTICLE 4. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. The Local Union shall be composed of workers eligible for membership in the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), over whom the Local Union has jurisdiction.

Section 2. Membership shall be defined as members in good standing as defined in the Constitution of the International Union, UAW.

Section 3. Union dues are payable by members who are employed in positions represented by the Local Union. Union dues shall be 1.44% of gross pay per month.

Section 4. Any Graduate Student Worker at USC funded by a fellowship that excludes them from the bargaining unit may pay “solidarity dues” and participate as members of the union. Solidarity dues shall be $15 per month.

Section 5. The initiation fee shall be set at ten dollars ($10).

Section 6. Any member whose dues are not paid by the end of one (1) calendar month shall automatically be suspended, consistent with Article 16 of the Constitution of the International Union, UAW. Reinstatement will be granted to members in good standing and will require a reinstatement fee equivalent to the Initiation Fee.

Section 7. All members in good standing will be granted full voting privileges.

Section 8. Strikes may only be called by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those voting, per Article 50 of the Constitution of the International Union, UAW.

Section 9. Each member in good standing of this Local Union has the right to nominate and vote; to express opinions on all subjects before the Local Union; to attend all membership meetings and express views, arguments and opinions on all matters and business, including candidates for office, properly before the meeting; to meet and assemble freely with other members and generally, to participate in the activities of the Local Union in a responsible manner consistent with good conscience in order to present and discuss factually and honestly the issues and personalities upon which the membership must base its decisions. These rights shall at all times be subject to the rules of procedure governing meetings and other uniform rules and regulations contained in the Constitution, Bylaws and other official rules of the Local Union.

Section 10. A member in exercising the foregoing rights and privileges shall not take any irresponsible action which would tend to jeopardize or destroy, or be detrimental to, either the Local or International Unions as organizations, or their free democratic heritage, or which would interfere with the performance by this Local Union or the International Union of its legal or contractual obligations as a collective bargaining agent, or interfere with the legal or contractual obligations of this Local Union as an affiliate of the International Union. Violation or abuse of these rights and privileges of membership, or engaging in conduct prohibited by this section, shall be considered conduct unbecoming a union member.

Section 11. The membership shall strive to obtain the objectives set forth in the International Constitution and additional objectives as established as the policy of the International Union; to maintain free relations with other organizations; to do all in its power to strengthen and promote the labor movement; to cooperate with its Regional Director, International Representatives and help promote organizational activities.

ARTICLE 5. MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

Section 1. Membership Meetings shall be held no less frequently than on a monthly basis. Notice of Monthly Membership Meetings shall be posted on the Local Union website and sent via email at least ten days in advance. The proposed meeting agenda shall be linked in the meeting notice email. Membership Meetings shall be made accessible to the membership via Zoom or equivalent platform.

Section 2: Minutes of meetings shall include all motions made at meetings and their disposition. 

Section 3. Emergency Membership Meetings may be called, either by the President of the Local Union or a majority vote of the Executive Board. Notice of Emergency Membership Meetings shall be posted on the Local Union website at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting.

Section 4. A quorum for Membership Meetings shall consist of 25 members.

Section 5. Any member who attends a meeting in an intoxicated condition and/or creates a disturbance, or becomes unruly shall lose voice and their right to vote at said meeting. When necessary to maintain order, the member may be evicted from the meeting by order of the Chairperson subject to the challenge of the membership. Flagrant or persistent violation of this section by any member shall be deemed conduct unbecoming a union member.

Section 6. Questions of a parliamentary nature shall be decided by Robert’s Rules of Order.

ARTICLE 6. POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION

Section 1. The membership is the highest authority of this Local Union and shall be empowered to take or direct any action not inconsistent with the Constitution of the International Union, UAW or Local Union Bylaws.

Section 2. Between membership meetings or membership votes, the Executive Board shall be the highest authority of the Local Union and shall be empowered to act on behalf of the membership.

Section 3. Between meetings and votes of the Executive Board the President, in consultation with the appropriate officers and staff, shall exercise general administrative authority and shall be empowered to act on behalf of the Executive Board. All decisions taken by the President shall be subject to subsequent approval of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE 7. LOCAL UNION OFFICERS

Section 1. Consistent with the UAW Constitution, the elected Executive officers of the Local Union shall consist of the following: President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary, Sergeant at Arms, Guide, and three (3) Trustees. The Executive officers shall be elected by a simple majority of votes cast for three year terms.

Section 2. It shall be the duty of each elected Local Union official to fulfill their various duties faithfully as provided in the Constitution of the International Union, UAW, and Local Union Bylaws, and in implementation of Campus Unit and Local Union plans.

Section 3. Consistent with the UAW Constitution, all vacancies in Local Union offices, except the office of President, shall be promptly filled by election. If necessary, the Executive Board may appoint an interim Executive officer to fill the vacancy, pending the holding of the election. In case of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.

Section 4. Any special election to fill a vacancy must follow the procedure outlined in the UAW Constitution, Article 38, Section 2.

Section 5. Any member serving in an Executive Board or steward position must resign from this position within one (1) month of their permanent departure from working in the Local Union. This section will not apply to, nor be invoked in, any of the following situations: transitioning to working in a non-represented fellowship position, taking a leave of absence or health leave of absence, taking a parental leave, or any other temporary absence.

ARTICLE 8. EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the Local Union’s Executive officers, as well as two Head Stewards. Head Stewards shall be elected by procedures consistent with Article 38, Section 5 of the UAW Constitution.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall hold regular weekly meetings. Additional meetings shall be held upon request of three (3) or more officers of the Executive Board. Except in emergency situations, three (3) calendar days’ notice of the meeting shall be posted on the Local Union website.

Section 3. A simple majority of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum in Executive Board meetings.

Section 4. The order of authority within the Local Union Executive Board shall follow the ranking established in Article 38, Section 1 of the UAW Constitution. The two Head Stewards shall rank last within the order of authority.

Section 5. Minutes will be taken of all Executive Board Meetings by the Recording Secretary and shall be available to the membership upon request.

Section 6. It shall be the duty of the Executive Board to see to it that all policies formulated by the membership or the Executive Board are duly executed.

Section 7. The Executive Board shall review each communication issued on behalf of the Union, and the Local Union website, and where necessary shall take steps to bring the contents and policy of the messages and website into conformity with the policy of the International and Local Union, as per Article 29, Section 6 of the UAW Constitution.

Section 8. The Executive Board may appoint at least one of its members to each of the standing committees in a liaison or advisory capacity except, however, the Election Committee, or any Trial Committee.

ARTICLE 9. BARGAINING COMMITTEE

Section 1: The Bargaining Committee shall consist of thirteen total members. The Local Union President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, and two Head Stewards shall each serve on the Bargaining Committee. The remaining members of the Bargaining Committee shall consist of the lead stewards from the eight areas established in Article 10, Stewards. 

Section 2: All bargaining sessions shall be open to Local Union members.

Section 3: The Bargaining Committee shall democratically decide which members will engage in all sidebar meetings, shuttling of proposals, and/or off-the-record communications with management.

Section 4: Following each bargaining session, the Bargaining Committee will provide to all members a report on that bargaining session via email. Reports shall include but not be limited to:

• A summary of proposals that were made by the university and the union;
• A summary of any tentative agreements;
• A summary of issues still outstanding; and
• The time and place of any scheduled future bargaining sessions.

Section 5: The Bargaining Committee must present Initial Bargaining Demands and the final contract to the membership for ratification.

Section 6: Bargaining Committee members shall make a reasonable effort to inform other members of the Bargaining Committee and Election Committee before resigning from their position. Any vacancy on the Bargaining Committee shall be promptly filled by election, consistent with the election procedure established for the vacant position.

ARTICLE 10. STEWARDS

Section 1. Members will elect stewards to serve in organizing and representational roles in the Local Union. Stewards shall commit themselves to building the power of the Local Union through leadership in contract enforcement, member education, and membership organizing.

Section 2. Consistent with the UAW Constitution, stewards shall serve two-year terms. The May 2024 steward election, however, shall elect stewards who serve for one (1) year until May, 2025.

Section 3. Members shall elect two head stewards to serve as at-large stewards for the entire bargaining unit. Head stewards shall be responsible for chairing monthly Steward Council meetings and monitoring grievance deadlines.

Section 4. Steward Council meetings shall take place monthly and serve as organizing meetings to discuss grievance handling and membership organizing. The Steward Council shall exclusively perform advisory functions and shall be a non-legislative body within the Local Union structure.

Section 5. There are eight steward areas, set forth in Appendix A – Steward Areas. Each steward serving a steward area will be responsible for representing bargaining unit members in their area. The Executive Board may change the composition of steward areas as needed based on fluctuations in enrollment and employment in various departments.

Section 6. The number of steward positions in a given steward area will be calculated based on membership. One steward position shall be allotted for each 30 members in a steward area. An additional steward position is allotted when membership exceeds each multiple of 30 (For example, a steward area with 181 members would be allotted seven stewards.) Each steward area will have a minimum of two (2) stewards. 

Section 7. Steward area membership will be tabulated every two (2) months on the first day of the month, starting January 1st. If a vacancy occurs (including as a result of a steward area’s membership increasing such that another position is allotted), an election will be held no later than 30 days after the steward position becomes vacant.

Section 8. Each steward area shall have a lead steward, who will serve in one of the steward area’s allotted steward positions. A member may run for steward in their area without running for lead steward, but every member shall be eligible to run for lead steward. Steward elections shall include a ballot for lead steward (select one) and a ballot for steward (select up to the amount of candidates as the total number of steward positions in the area). Lead steward elections shall be held in May, except for an election held to fill a lead steward vacancy.

Section 9. Consistent with Article 9 of the Local Union bylaws, lead stewards shall serve on the Bargaining Committee. Lead stewards shall be responsible for chairing meetings of stewards in their area.

Section 10. All Stewards must attend a Local Union grievance handling training session prior to being the sole representative on any grievance. Stewards shall attend monthly Steward Council meetings.

Section 11. All members in good standing under the jurisdiction to be represented by the Stewards shall be eligible to vote for the Stewards.

Section 12. A vote on the question of recalling a Steward or Committeeperson may be initiated by a petition setting forth the reasons why the recall is sought, and signed by at least thirty percent of the current members working under the jurisdiction of the Steward or Committeeperson.

Section 13. Thirty percent of the current members working under the jurisdiction of the Steward or Committeeperson must be present at the recall meeting to establish a quorum. A two-thirds vote of those present and voting is necessary to recall. 

ARTICLE 11. STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 1. Consistent with the UAW Constitution, the Local Union shall have the following standing committees:

• Constitution and Bylaws Committee
• Organizing Committee
• Union Label Committee
• Education Committee
• Conservation and Recreation Committee
• Community Services Committee
• Civil and Human Rights Committee
• Citizenship and Legislative Committee
• Consumer Affairs Committee
• Veterans Committee
• Women’s Committee

Section 2. Except for the Bylaws Committee, the Chairs of the Committees are elected by the members of the Committee. Committee chair elections shall take place no sooner than on the third occasion following the committee’s establishment, or after the chair vacancy. While the committee chair position is vacant, the Executive Board may appoint a chair to facilitate committee meetings until an election is held. 

Section 3. Committee meetings are open to all members in good standing. Members of a committee may vote to establish reasonable attendance or participation requirements for the purposes of maintaining an active committee membership.

Section 4. These committees shall perform all duties assigned to them by the Constitution of the International Union, UAW, Local Union Bylaws, and such additional duties pertinent to the Committee as they may be directed to perform by the Executive Board or the membership.

Section 5. All Committees shall have attendance records and written minutes.

Section 6. Where possible, committee work shall be delegated to one of the standing committees established in Section A of this article. Committees not provided for in this article, however, may be created ad hoc. The Executive Board may propose the creation of an ad hoc committee, and a two thirds (⅔) vote shall be required at a membership meeting to establish the committee. Any member may motion to establish an ad hoc union committee at a membership meeting. A two thirds (⅔) vote at the proceeding membership meeting shall be required to establish the committee. A two thirds (⅔) vote at a membership meeting shall be required to dissolve an ad hoc committee.

ARTICLE 12. ATTENDANCE

Section 1. Any member of the Executive Board, Bargaining Team, Stewards or any Committees of the Local Union will be subject to disciplinary action if they miss two (2) of three (3) consecutive meetings of the same body, unless excused for cause by the Local Union. Upon the first offense, the member will be issued a warning. Upon the second offense, occurring within one calendar year of the first offense, the member will be removed from office. Where a member is removed from office for failure to comply with the established attendance rules, they shall not be eligible to run for any elective position from which they were so removed for the remainder of the term of office except as a delegate to the International Constitutional Convention; if that decision is overturned through the appeals process, the officer shall be reinstated. 

Section 2. The President and Financial Secretary shall reside within the Los Angeles area for the duration of their term. 

ARTICLE 13. ELECTION COMMITTEES

Section 1. All Local Union elections, strike votes, and contract ratification votes shall be held under the supervision of a democratically elected election committee. The election committee shall be responsible for the publication of notice for nominations and elections, the verification of eligibility for candidates, the organization and supervision of election proceedings, and the counting of ballots.

Section 2. The election committee shall consist of three members elected at a membership meeting. The term of office for the election committee shall be one (1) year. The Chair of the election committee is elected by the members of the committee.

Section 3. All members in good standing shall be nominated automatically for the election committee. Any member in good standing may accept nomination at a membership meeting called for the purpose.

Section 4. A vacancy on the election committee shall be promptly filled by the same procedure established in Section 2 of this article.

Section 5. The election committee may also recruit and supervise volunteers as needed to assist in the conduct of the election, including overseeing ballot boxes, conveying ballots from the polling place to the location where the ballot count is held, and counting ballots for elections. In no case shall such volunteers be candidates for office in the election.

Section 6. No member of the election committee shall be eligible to run for any office in any election that the committee supervises. In the event that a person serving as a member of the election committee seeks an office, they must resign the position on the election committee prior to accepting a nomination for that office.

ARTICLE 14. LOCAL UNION ELECTIONS

Section 1. In accordance with the UAW International policies and practices, the time, place, and manner of all membership votes shall be determined by the membership or membership body.

Section 2. Elections for Local Union officers shall take place in May. The Local Union may request alternate election dates, as needed. Installation shall take place at the next Executive Board meeting following the election, except as otherwise authorized by the UAW International Executive Board.

Section 3. The members of the Local Union shall be notified promptly for nomination and election of Local Union officers. The notice shall be announced at monthly membership meetings, distributed to members by email, and posted on the Local Union website. The notice shall include the dates, times, and places of the election and possible run-off elections, the date and time of the close of the nomination period, and instructions for accepting nomination as described in this Article.

Section 4. All members shall be nominated automatically for all Local Union offices. Any member may accept nomination by submitting in writing a statement of acceptance according to the policies approved by the Election Committee. The statement of acceptance shall state how their name should appear on the ballot. Each member accepting nomination may also submit a candidate statement of up to five hundred (500) words. The deadline for statements of acceptance and candidate statements shall be no sooner than seven (7) days after the notice for nomination. After the deadline on accepting nominations has expired, no election of write-in candidates shall be accepted. Election of all Local Union officers shall require a majority of the votes cast for the office.

Section 5. Candidate statements and sample ballots of eligible candidates shall be distributed simultaneously no later than seven (7) days before the election, by posting on the Local Union website. Candidate statements shall be made available during the election at each polling place.

Section 6. Apart from the resources described in this Article that are to be provided equally to all candidates, no other Local Union resources may be used by any candidate to campaign for Local Union office.

Section 7. The election shall be held no sooner than fourteen (14) days after the close of nominations. It shall be conducted by secret ballot, and balloting shall be conducted so as to afford all members a reasonable opportunity to vote. Every member must personally cast their vote.

Section 8. Upon the close of the polls, all ballots shall be conveyed promptly to one location for the ballot count. The election committee shall count the ballots.

Section 9. Each candidate may designate one (1) member of the Local Union to be present at the ballot count as a challenger.

Section 10. Following each election, the election committee shall report in writing a canvas of the results of the election. Results shall be released electronically. No protests to an election shall be considered unless raised within seven (7) days of the closing of the polls or at the next monthly membership meeting, whichever is later. A protest must either be in writing or made at the membership meeting. If written, the protest must be actually received by the Local Union Election Committee before the deadline.

Section 11. The membership may order a new election, either in acting upon a protest or in ratification of a recommendation of the election committee. In the event the membership should order a new election, the matter shall be submitted to the President of the International Union, UAW, in accord with the Constitution of the International Union, UAW.

Section 12. Election to an office is considered an automatic resignation of currently held positions. This does not apply to positions that can be concurrently held. The only positions which can be concurrently held are:

An Officer position and a position on a Committee.

An Officer position and a paid organizing or clerical position within the Union.

Section 13. Officers shall be sworn in at the bodies at which they serve. For example, Executive Board members shall be sworn in at either the Executive Board or monthly membership meetings. Stewards shall be sworn in at the monthly membership meetings.

Section 14. For regularly scheduled elections, Officers shall assume their roles and responsibilities at their installation ceremonies (pursuant to Article 14, Sections 1 and 14). For special elections, Officers shall assume their roles immediately following the results of the election.

ARTICLE 15. ELIGIBILITY FOR ELECTED OFFICE

Section 1. With the exception of Local Union elections taking place before April 1st, 2025, all candidates standing for elected office of the Executive Officers of the Local Union must be members and have been in continuous good standing for one (1) year prior to accepting a nomination.

Section 2. For Local Union elections taking place before April 1st, 2025, candidates standing for elected office of the Executive Officers of the Local Union must be members and have been in continuous good standing for ninety (90) days prior to accepting a nomination.

Section 3. All other candidates standing for elected office of the Local Union must be members and have been in continuous good standing for ninety (90) days prior to accepting a nomination. All candidates standing for elected office from or of a Steward area must be members of the Steward area.

Section 4. All candidates who were elected for office must, if applicable, follow the resignation procedures outlined in Article 14, Section 13 of the UAW constitution, for positions which can not be held concurrently.

Section 5. No member may serve as a member of the Executive Board for more than six (6) years.

ARTICLE 16. APPEALS

Section 1. Consistent with the Constitution of the International Union, UAW, a member feeling themself aggrieved by any action, inaction, or decision of the Local Union or one of its representatives must initiate their complaint or appeal within thirty (30) days of the time they were aware, or reasonably should have been aware of the action, inaction or decision. This appeal shall be made to the membership or delegate body immediately responsible for the official, officer action or decision under challenge.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall refer the matter to the Bargaining Committee if it involves collective bargaining. Otherwise, the Executive Board shall, themselves, consider the matter.

Section 3. Whichever of these bodies the matter is referred to shall consult with the grievant and permit their full opportunity to be heard prior to making a decision.

Section 4. Within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of such decision, the grievant may appeal further by submitting their appeal to the Recording Secretary in writing for consideration by the membership at the next monthly membership meeting.

Section 5. An appeal from the decision of the Local Union may be made to the International Executive Board of the UAW.

ARTICLE 17. BUDGETS AND FINANCES

Section 1. The Executive Board shall decide budgets for the Local Union.

Section 2. The Financial Secretary shall furnish copies of certain Local Union financial documents, such as the Local Union budget, upon request from members. At each regular membership meeting, the Financial Secretary shall deliver a verbal report on Local Union finances.

Section 3. No agent or official of the Local Union is authorized to execute a real estate lease, deed, service or maintenance contract or other long-term agreement unless the proposed agreement has been reviewed by an outside expert or attorney and has been approved by the Executive Board.

Section 4. Collecting officer pay alone does not constitute employment as Local Union staff.

Section 5. The Local Union shall pay a representative or member lost time only when that representative or member is performing necessary duties for and on behalf of the Local Union during a time for which they would otherwise be compensated by the employer. The amount of lost time should never exceed the amount which the Local Union representative or member would otherwise have received from their employer for the same period of time for which they are being compensated by the Local Union.

Section 6. The Executive Board must approve any lost time requests with a majority vote.

Section 7. The following protocol will be adhered to when travel is necessary for any local union activities:

When required to stay overnight:

• Housing accommodations, single room occupancy rate, or ½ of a double room rate if shared with another member plus meals, not to exceed International Executive Board Policy per day with hotel receipt.
• Not to exceed International Executive Board Policy per day on the day of return.
• When not required to stay overnight, the maximum shall not exceed International Executive Board Policy for meals.

Transportation:

• The actual cost of airfare NOT to exceed coach fare, or the IRS mileage rate, whichever is more economical.
• Not to exceed the maximum amount established by the International Executive Board.
• Expense for transportation is to be paid for the actual mode of transportation used. Mileage expenses can only be paid to the driver of the automobile.
  
  

ARTICLE 18. LOCAL UNION EMPLOYEES

Section 1. The Personnel Committee shall be composed of the President, the Financial Secretary, and at least one other Executive Officer to be selected by a simple majority vote of the Executive Board. This committee shall be empowered to hire, terminate, supervise, and otherwise manage Local Union staff. No member of the committee shall concurrently hold a Local Union staff position. Local Union staff may also be terminated by a ⅔ majority vote of the Executive Board.

Section 2. The President and Financial Secretary will be offered compensation for the duties of their elected positions. These compensated elected positions will not constitute Local Union staff. 

Section 3. The Personnel Committee will remain neutral with respect to any efforts by paid Local Union staff to organize and will bargain in good faith with any prospective units.

Section 4. Local Union employees and compensated Executive Board positions will be compensated at a rate up to the highest paid Graduate Student Worker as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

ARTICLE 19. DELEGATES FROM LOCAL

Section 1. All delegates to conventions of the International Union, UAW shall be chosen pursuant to Article 8 of the Constitution of the International Union, UAW.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall appoint delegates to Community Action Program state, county or city councils.

ARTICLE 20. AMENDMENTS

Section 1. The Bylaws Committee shall consist of three members elected at a membership meeting. The term of office for the Bylaws Committee shall be one (1) year. The Chair of the Bylaws Committee is elected by the members of the committee.

Section 2. Members may introduce amendments to the bylaws at a monthly membership meeting. The amendment must be presented in writing at least seven (7) days prior to said meeting and must clearly set forth the specific change(s) sought. After all other discussion and motions pertaining to the amendment, it shall be motioned for a referral to the Bylaws Committee by a simple majority.

Section 3. The Recording Secretary, or their designee, shall promptly inform the Bylaws Committee of all proposed amendments. The committee will arrange a meeting at least seven (7) days before the next monthly membership meeting, and circulate information about this meeting on the local union website.

Section 4. The Bylaws Committee shall create a report, in writing, for the Executive Board. The committee’s task is not to evaluate the merits of the amendment, but simply to determine if it conflicts with any other existing bylaws or the UAW Constitution. Accordingly, the Bylaws Committee may suggest changes to the amendment such that the amendment better comports with those documents. The Bylaws Committee, after reviewing the amendment, shall automatically refer it back to the Executive Board. Reports of the Bylaws Committee do not need to be unanimous and can reflect divergent views. Individual members are also welcome to provide their own individual written reports to the Executive Board.

Section 5. The proposed amendment shall be automatically added to the agenda of the monthly membership meeting following its initial proposal. Notice of that meeting must contain a notice of the particular Bylaw amendments that will be considered. At that meeting, the Bylaws Committee report shall be read to the Executive Board for consideration.

Section 6. Any changes to the amendment that were suggested by any member of the Bylaws Committee may be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Board. No changes to the amendment except those suggested by the Bylaws Committee shall be considered at the succeeding membership meeting. The final amendment shall be considered adopted after an approval by two-thirds (2/3) vote at the succeeding membership meeting.

ARTICLE 21. COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES

Section 1. Per Article 42 of the International Constitution, questions of a parliamentary nature raised during meetings shall be decided by Robert’s Rules of Order.

Section 2. The Local Union shall establish and maintain a communications platform, open to all members in good standing, for the purposes of organizing and internal communication. No member shall use this platform, nor any other union resource, for electioneering purposes.

ARTICLE 22. GENERAL

Section 1. All Local Union Officers, Committees, Stewards and other members handling funds or other property of the Union shall, at the completion of their duties, turn over all papers, documents, funds, and/or other union property to the properly constituted Local Union Officers. 

Section 2. Members of the Local Union shall abide by all relevant federal, state, and local labor laws.

Section 3. Consistent with US labor law “Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA)”, also federal court ruling on Thomas v. IAM (Case No. Civil No. PJM 97-2001) :

• The Union website shall contain a conspicuous link to a webpage named “Union Member Rights and Officer Responsibilities Under the LMRDA.”

It shall include freedom of speech and assembly, the right to meet and assemble freely with other members, the right to express views, arguments, or opinions, a voice in setting rates of dues, fees, and assessments, and safeguards against improper discipline.

• Union shall notify all new members within 90 days of the time they join and to all members at least once every three years their right as a union member under LMRDA.

Section 4: Information about standing and ad hoc committees, and how to join these committees, should be listed on the union webpage. All active committee members should be included in emails about committee meetings and committee announcements.

Appendix A – Steward Areas

The breakdown of Steward areas is set out in this Appendix. Dept/School classification is defined by enrollment (not the department in which GSWs are employed).