BY-LAWS OF ACT-UAW Local 7902
Article I: Name
This organization shall be known as ACT-UAW Local 7902 of the International
Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agriculture Implement Workers of
America - UAW
Article II: International Constitution
The Constitution of this Organization shall be the Constitution of the
International Union, UAW, and these by-laws shall be in all respects subordinate
to said Constitution and applications and interpretations thereof.
Article III: Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Local Union shall begin on January 1 and end on
December 31.
Article IV: 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 International
UAW Constitution or By-Laws.
Between membership meetings, the Joint Council shall be empowered to take or
direct any action not inconsistent with the International Constitution or these
Local Union By-Laws.
Section 2
Between Joint Council meetings the Executive Board shall be the highest
authority of the Local Union and shall exercise general administrative authority
and shall be empowered to act on behalf of the membership to the extent urgent
business requires prompt and decisive action, subject to subsequent membership
approval, but the Executive Board may not take action affecting the vital
interests of the Local Union without prior Joint Council or membership approval.
Section 3
Between meetings of the Executive Board, the President shall exercise general
administrative authority and shall be empowered to act on behalf of the
Executive Board subject to subsequent approval of the Executive Board.
Article V: Membership
Section 1
The Local Union shall be composed of workers eligible for membership in the
International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agriculture Implement
Workers of America (UAW), over whom the Local Union has jurisdiction.
Section 2
Each member in good standing of this Local Union has the right to nominate
and vote, 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
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
International Constitution, By-Laws and other official rules of the Local
Union.
A member in exercising the foregoing rights and privileges shall not take
irresponsible actions 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.
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, Regional Board Members,
International Representatives and help promote organizational activities.
Section 3
Members of any Local Union of UAW which merges with this Local Union shall
carry over into this Local Union their membership and length of continuous good
standing.
Article VI: Membership Meetings
Section 1
(a)
There shall be a regular general membership meeting once yearly at a time and
place to be determined by the Executive Board.
(b)
The President and the Executive Board shall each have the power to call
special meeting of the general membership. The President, on request of units
representing one-third (1/3) of the membership, by a motion passed at the
workplace units, must call a special meeting of the general membership. The
request must state the purpose of the meeting.
(c)
The time and place and agenda of all general membership meetings, whether
special or regular, shall be communicated to the membership at least two (2)
weeks prior to such meeting. An emergency general membership meeting may be
called on less notice by the President, on his/her own motion or on request of
the majority of the members of the Executive Board, providing that notice is
posted in the normal places in the workplace for the posting of Union business
notices as many hours as possible in advance of the time of the meeting. Unit
officers and stewards will verbally, and/or by email notify as many members as
they can contact.
Section 2
The members attending shall constitute a quorum for a general membership
meeting.
Section 3
Any member who attends a meeting in an intoxicated condition and/or creates a
disturbance, or becomes unruly shall lose voice and his right to vote at said
meeting. Where 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 conduct
unbecoming a Union member.
Section 4
A quorum for unit meetings shall be determined by each unit and shall be on
record in the Local Union Office.
Section 5
Questions of a parliamentary nature shall be decided by Robert's Rules of
Order.
Article VII: Local Union Officers / Executive Board
Section 1
The Local Union shall have the following Executive Officers, President, First
Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Financial
Secretary-Treasurer, Sergeant-At-Arms, Guide, and three (3) Trustees. These
officers shall constitute the Local Union's Executive Board. The Unit Chairs
shall also be members at large of the Executive Board.
The duties of the Executive Officers shall be as described in Article 40 of
the UAW Constitution. In case of the absence or incapacity of the President, the
President's duties shall be performed by First Vice President. In case of a
vacancy in the office of President, the First Vice President shall fill the
vacancy for the unexpired term.
Section 2
The Executive Officers shall be elected on a local-wide basis, as provided in
the UAW Constitution.
Section 3
To be eligible for membership on the Executive Board a member must be a
member of the Local Union in continuous good standing for at least one (1) year
prior to nomination.
Section 4
(a)
The Executive Board shall hold regular monthly meetings at a time to be
specified by the President.
(b)
The Recording Secretary shall call Executive Board Meetings on direction of
the President or upon request of a majority of the members of the Executive
Board.
(c)
A quorum of 60% shall be required for a valid meeting for the Executive
Board.
(d)
The Recording Secretary shall take minutes of all Executive Board meetings
and such minutes shall be available to the Joint Council at meetings.
Section 5
All decisions and recommendations of the Executive Board shall be referred to
the next regular Joint Council meeting.
Section 6
The Executive Board may direct payment of bills and expenses to the Local
Union.
Section 7
The Executive Board shall appoint at least one (1) of its members to each of
the standing committees in a liaison or advisory capacity, except, however, the
Election Committee or any Trial Committee.
Section 8
The Executive Board shall be the highest authority in the Local Union in the
interpreting of these by-laws and of contracts between the Local Union and any
employer.
Section 9
It shall be the duty of the Executive Board to see to it that all policies
formulated by the membership of the Joint Council are duly executed.
Section 10
It shall be the duty of each member of the Executive Board to fulfill his/her
various duties faithfully as provided in the UAW Constitution and in the
By-Laws.
Article VIII: Joint Council
Section 1
The Joint Council of the Local Union shall be composed of the Executive
Officers of the Local Union and representatives from each unit. There shall be
proportional representation from each unit; the Unit Chairperson of each unit
shall, ex-officio, be a member of the Joint Council and in addition to the Unit
Chairperson, each unit shall have one (1) Joint council member for every seventy
five (75) dues paying members, or major fraction thereof, averaged over the
twelve (12) month period preceding the nominations, with a minimum of two (2)
representatives (including the Unit Chairperson) from any unit. The Joint
Council members, other than the Executive Officers and Unit Chairperson, shall
be elected on a unit-wide basis by secret ballot vote in accordance with Article
38, Section 2 of the International Constitution.
A plurality of the valid votes cast shall be required for such election to
the Joint Council.
Section 2
The Joint Council shall have regular meetings every month on a day and at a
place to be determined by the Executive Board, but may postpone meetings during
the summer months by appropriate action.
Section 3
The President of the Local Union shall be the presiding officer of the Joint
Council. The Recording Secretary shall call special meetings of the Joint
Council at the direction of the President or of a majority of the members of the
Executive Board. On request of one-third (1/3) of the members of the Joint
Council, which request shall be in writing, signed by the members and stating
the purpose of the special meeting, the Recording Secretary shall call a special
meeting of the Joint Council.
Section 4
Written notice of Joint Council meetings shall be given at least seven (7)
days in advance of the date of the meeting to each member of the Joint Council.
Such notice shall set forth the time and place of the meeting. Emergency
meetings of the Joint Council may be called with less notice with the giving of
as many hours notice as possible to the Joint Council members by word of mouth
or such other means as are feasible in the emergency.
Section 5
51% of the membership of the Joint Council shall constitute a quorum for a
meeting of the Joint Council.
Section 6
Except in the case of newly organized shops, members of the Joint Council
must be members in continuous good standing in the Local Union for at least six
(6) months prior to their nomination.
Section 7
It shall be the duty of all Joint Council members to attend the meeting of
the Joint Council regularly. The names of members who are absent from two (2)
consecutive regular meetings of the Joint Council without excuse shall be
reported to the unit represented by the Joint Council member.
Article IX: Stewards and Unit Chair
Section 1
Election of Stewards and the Unit Chair shall be conducted by the Local
Union, or its designee, in accordance with the provisions of the International
Constitution. The Term is three (3) years.
Section 2
Election of Stewards and the Unit Chair shall be by a plurality of the valid
votes cast by the members of their respective Units.
Section 3
The number of Stewards shall be determined by the membership of the Unit.
Section 4
All members in good standing working under the jurisdiction to be represented
by the Steward shall be eligible to nominate and to vote for the Steward.
Section 5
Except in the case of newly organized units, a Steward must be a member in
continuous good standing of the Local Union for at least six (6) months except
where expressly waived for a unit by the Executive Board. To be eligible to be
nominated and elected, a member must have, at the time of his/her nomination,
signed a UAW Local 7902 membership card.
Section 6
The Steward shall assist all official committees of the Local Union and all
officers of the Local in the performance of their duties in conjunction with
his/her unit
Section 7
A Steward may be recalled by the members he/she represents for failure to
perform the duties of his/her office. A valid petition setting forth specific
complaints of the Steward's failure to perform duties of his/her office shall be
signed by the members he/she represents. The Steward so complained against shall
receive notification of the specific complaints. Upon the filing of such a
petition with the Local Union Recording Secretary, a special meeting for recall
shall be held, of which due notification shall be given. A two-thirds (2/3) vote
of the members present at such special meeting shall be required to recall.
Twenty-five (25%) percent of the members represented by a Steward are required
as signatures to validate such petition. The presence of twenty-five (25%)
percent of the members represented by the Steward shall constitute a quorum at
such recall meeting.
Article X: Bargaining Committee Members
Section 1
Election of Bargaining Committee Members shall be conducted by a member of
the Executive Board of the Local Union, or its designee, in accordance with the
provisions of the International Constitution.
Section 2
Election of Bargaining Committee Members shall be by a plurality of the valid
votes cast.
Section 3
The number of Bargaining Committee Members shall be determined by the
membership of the Unit.
Section 4
All members in good standing working under the jurisdiction to be represented
by the Bargaining Committee shall be eligible to nominate and to vote for the
Bargaining Committee Members.
Section 5
Except in the case of newly organized units, a Bargaining Committee Member
must be a member in continuous good standing of the Local Union for at least six
(6) months expect where expressly waived for a unit by the Executive Board.
Section 6
When a permanent vacancy occurs on the Bargaining Committee, the Executive
Board or its designee shall call and hold a new election within thirty (30) days
after such vacancy occurs. The Executive Board, or its designee, may meanwhile,
appoint temporarily to such a vacancy any eligible member.
Section 7
A Bargaining Committee Member may be recalled by the members he/she
represents for failure to perform the duties of his/her office. A valid petition
setting forth specific complaints of the Bargaining Committee Member's failure
to perform duties of his/her office shall be signed by the members he/she
represents. The Bargaining Committee Member so complained against shall receive
notification of the specific complaints. Upon the filing of such a petition with
the Local Union Recording Secretary, a special meeting for recall shall be held,
of which due notification shall be given. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members
present at such special meeting shall be required to recall. Twenty-five (25%)
percent of the members represented by a Bargaining Committee Member are required
as signatures to validate such petition. The presence of twenty-five (25%)
percent of the members represented by the Bargaining Committee Member shall
constitute a quorum at such recall meeting.
Article XI: Standing Committees
Section 1
All standing committees as provided for in the Constitution of the
International Union, except the Election Committee and the Trial Committee,
shall be appointed by the president with the approval of the Executive Board;
this shall include the appointment of the Executive Board member on the
committee as set forth in Article VII, section 7 of these by-laws.
These committees shall perform all duties assigned to them by the
Constitution and by-laws and such additional duties as they may be directed to
perform from time to time by the Executive Board or the membership.
Section 2
Other committees may be appointed by the President or elected as provided for
at the time originated.
Article XII: Elections and Election Committee
Section 1
The Standing Election Committee of no less than three (3) shall be nominated
and elected every three (3) years by the Joint Council. All elections shall be
conducted in accordance with the provisions of the International
Constitution.
Section 2
The Local Union Election Committee shall choose its own chairperson and shall
have full authority to supervise elections without interference from candidates
or officers.
Section 3
No later than May 1st of the election year for Local Union Officers (and
individual Unit officers) the Recording Secretary shall have posted on the Local
Union's website and communicated to the membership by email, the information
that each member is automatically a nominee for each position. Regarding
individual Unit positions, each member of that Unit is an automatic nominee.
Such notice shall state that the four (4) top Executive Officers shall also
be the Local Union delegates to the UAW State, County, City or Area CAP
Councils.
Section 4
Within twenty-one (21) days after notice has been posted regarding
nominations as stated in Article VIII, Section 1 of these by-laws, anyone
wishing to run for a particular office shall file such notice with the Local
Union Election Committee by certified mail (return receipt requested) or by
hand. All nominations must be accepted within 7 days of the deadline for
nominations. Within 10 days after the deadline for nomination acceptance, the
Local Union Election Committee shall prepare a ballot, a sample of which must be
posted on the Local's website for at least seven (7) days. The election shall
take place not more than 45 days after the deadline for nominations.
Section 5
No one, except the general Election Committee, or those acting under its
direction, and those voting or waiting to vote and the duly qualified
challenger, shall be allowed in the place designated as a voting place for the
election.
Section 6
Voters who have cast their ballots shall not be allowed to loiter in the
voting place.
Section 7
Campaigning, posters and election literature shall not be allowed in and
about the voting place, or within twenty (20) feet of the entrance to the voting
place.
Section 8
All vacancies in Local Union Offices, except the Office of the President,
shall be promptly filled by election for the unexpired term. An interim
executive officer may be appointed by the Joint Council to serve until the
election is held.
Article XIII: Finances
Section 1
The initiation fee for the Local shall be $50. Dues shall be 1.15% of monthly
earnings from the employer. Dues and fees are subject to Articles 16 and 47 of
the UAW Constitution.
Section 2
The President may appoint such service representatives and organizers as
he/she may deem necessary from time to time, such appointments to be pending the
approval of the Executive Board. The salaries allowances, expenses and other
forms of compensation for such employees shall be determined by the Joint
Council on recommendation of the Executive Board.
The President may, after approval by the Executive Board, hire such legal,
technical or professional help as is necessary to efficiently operate the Local
Union. Such employees of the Local shall be reimbursed up to $1,000/ year
towards the employee's share of health insurance costs. Employees of the Local
shall be entitled to one week paid vacation per year.
Article XIV: Attendance Rules
All members of the Local Union holding an elective office, whether in their
Unit or in the Local Union are required to attend:
- Two (2) meetings out of three (3) consecutive membership meetings unless
officially excused by the Executive Board
- Two (2) meetings out of three (3) consecutive meetings other than membership
meetings expected of their respective office or position, unless officially
excused for cause by the Executive Board.
If their attendance does not improve during their term of office, they will
be removed from that office by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) majority of the
Executive Board and Joint Council. They shall not be permitted to run for any
elective office for the balance of the term of the office from which they were
removed, except Constitutional Convention Delegates. Any affected member may
appeal the decision of the Executive Board to the next Joint Council.
Article XV: Convention Delegates
Section 1
It shall be the policy of the Local Union to participate in the
Constitutional Conventions of the International Union. In furtherance of this
policy, there shall be elected the minimum number of delegates necessary to
carry the maximum amount of votes; each Unit of the Local Union which is
entitled to elect its own delegates as permitted in the Constitution of the
International Union, and which so decides to elect its own delegates, shall
elect the minimum number of delegates necessary to carry the maximum amount of
votes of the Unit.
Section 2
All delegates to the International Convention shall be chosen pursuant to the
provisions of the International Constitution.
Section 3
Delegates to conventions and conferences shall receive reimbursement for
reasonable, actual expenses with the Local Union Approval. The Local will pay
reasonable hotel room rates in addition to the above. Whenever practical, double
occupancy will apply to hotel accommodations.
Article XVI: Order of Business
Section 1
The following order of business shall prevail at meetings:
- Greeting
- Roll call of officers
- Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting
- Report of Financial Secretary
- Reports of Executive Board, Units, committees, and delegates
- Unfinished business
- New business
- Good and Welfare
- Closing
Section 2
All questions of parliamentary nature shall be decided by Robert's Rules of
Order.
Article XVII: Appeals
Section 1
(a)
Any member grieved by or dissatisfied with an action or decision of the Local
Union or any representative thereof, other than the action or decision of the
membership of the Local Union, may appeal or complain, in writing, to the Local
Union Recording Secretary within sixty (60) days of the time he/she first
becomes aware, or reasonably should have become aware, of the alleged action or
decision which he/she wishes to appeal from or complain about.
(b)
The Recording Secretary shall refer the matter to the Executive Board which
shall consult with the grievant, permit him/her full opportunity to be heard,
and shall reach a decision.
(c)
Within thirty (30) days of receiving a notice of such decision, the grievant,
if wishing to appeal further, shall submit his/her appeal to the Recording
Secretary, in writing, for consideration by the earliest possible Joint Council
meeting. The Joint Council shall hear the grievant and any other relevant
material and shall reach a decision.
(d)
Within thirty (30) days of receiving a notice of such decision, the grievant
if wishing to appeal still further, shall submit his/her appeal from the Joint
Council Decision to the Recording Secretary, in writing.
(e)
Any member of the Local Union may appeal any action decision or penalty to
the International Executive Board and to the International Convention. However,
the decision of the Local Union must be complied with and shall remain in effect
until reversed or modified.
Section 2
Trials of members shall be as provided for in the International
Constitution.
Article XVIII: Strikes and Strike Committee
Strikes can only be called by the unit directly affected by the strike, and
must be called and terminated in strict conformance with Article 50 of the
International UAW Constitution.
Article XIX: Leases and Long Term Agreements
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 approved by the Local Union Executive Board.
Article XX: 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
Wherever in these By-Laws a pronoun is used it refers equally, where the
reference is applicable, to both men and women in the singular and in the
plural.
Article XXI: Amendments
These By-Laws may be amended by presenting a motion in writing setting forth
the amendments sought to a Joint council meeting. The motion shall be read to
that meeting or submitted by posting at least seven days prior to the Joint
Council meeting, and referred to the By-Laws Committee which will report to the
succeeding Joint council meeting the notice of which must contain a notice of
the particular Bylaw amendments that will be considered. If approved by a vote
of two-thirds of the Joint Council members present thereon at this succeeding
meeting, the amendment shall be considered adopted by the membership.
