ELECTION AND CAMPAIGN RULES FOR UAW LOCAL 7902 ELECTION 2006-1
1. CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
The nomination and election of UAW Local 7902 officers will be conducted in
accordance with the International Constitution and the Labor-Management
Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, as amended, and the bylaws of UAW Local
7902.
2. NOTICE OF NOMINATIONS
An abridged Notice of Nominations postcard will be mailed to the last known
home address of each UAW Local 7902 member and retiree, directing them to read
the full Notice of Nominations, which will a web page: . The full
Notice will state the offices to be voted on; the eligibility criteria for each
office; who has been automatically nominated to each office; the instructions
for nomination; the deadline for nominations, which shall not be less than 21
days after mailing; the instructions for accepting nominations; the deadline for
accepting nominations, which shall not be less than 3 days after the deadline
for nominations; the date, time and place of the Election Committee meeting with
candidates (see Section 5); the date of the Notice of Elections mailing (see
Section 10); and that printed copies of the full notice and these election rules
will be available in the Local's office. For the convenience of prospective
candidates, the Notice will also state the estimated date of the Membership
Meeting where voting will occur (see Section 12), along with a statement that
the date will not be finalized until the mailing of the Notice of Elections, and
is subject to change by the Election Committee without notice. The postcard will
state the offices to be voted on; the deadline for nominations and nomination
acceptance; the approximate or exact date of the Membership Meeting where voting
will occur; and directions to the web page containing the full Notice.
Voting for each office must begin no more than 45 days after the deadline for
nominations. If this deadline cannot be met for an office, another round of
nominations must be held for that office.
3. ELIGIBILITY TO HOLD OFFICE
As provided in Article 38, Section 3 of the International Constitution, no
member shall be eligible for election as an Executive Officer of the Local Union
unless s/he is a member in good standing of UAW Local 7902. The same criterion
shall apply to all other elected officers. In addition, candidates for Executive
Office must have been a member in continuous good standing of the Local for the
preceding 12 months (in accordance with the Constitution); candidates for
Constitutional Convention Delegate must have been a member in continous good
standing of the Local for the preceding 3 months, and a member in continuous
good standing of the UAW for the preceding 12 months (in accordance with UAW
International rules); candidates for all other offices must have been a member
in continuous good standing of the Local for the preceding 6 months (in
accordance with UAW Local 7902's bylaws).
4. CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS
The Election Committee will review UAW Local 7902 records to determine the
eligibility of all who accept their nomination. Eligible nominees who have
accepted will be notified of their eligibility, and ineligible nominees who have
accepted will be advised of the reason(s) they are not eligible to run for
office, no later than five (5) business days after the deadline for accepting
nominations.
If the number of eligible nominations accepted for an office does not exceed
the number of positions available, the Election Committee will declare the
accepting nominee(s) elected by acclamation, and campaigning and balloting will
not occur for that office. If, on the other hand, the number of eligible
nominations accepted for an office exceeds the number of positions available,
campaigning and balloting will occur; in other words, the office will be
"contested." Eligible nominees for contested offices will be given a copy of
these rules, and will be asked how they wish their names to appear on the
ballot.
5. ELECTION COMMITTEE MEETING WITH CANDIDATES
A meeting between the Election Committee and candidates for contested
offices, to discuss election procedures, inspection of the Local Union's
membership list, distribution of campaign literature, challengers, and other
campaign rules, will be held no later than 10 days after the deadline for
accepting nominations, at the time and place indicated in the Notice of
Nominations. In the course of this meeting, a drawing will be held to determine
the order in which the names of the candidates will appear on the ballot.
6. INSPECTION OF THE MEMBERSHIP LIST
Each candidate for a contested office may inspect (not copy) the UAW Local
7902 membership list once prior to the election. No candidate may receive a copy
of the list.
Inspection of the membership list will be arranged with at least two Election
Committee representatives present. Any candidate who wishes to inspect the list
should contact the Election Committee at the office of the UAW Local 7902 at
212-432-2120, or by email at election@actuaw.org.
7. DISTRIBUTION OF CAMPAIGN LITERATURE
UAW Local 7902 will honor any reasonable request by a candidate for a
contested office to distribute campaign literature to all members at the
candidate's expense. Requests will be honored in the order received. Campaign
literature must be provided to the office of UAW Local 7902, in sealed, stamped
envelopes that are ready for mailing. Each candidate should check with postal
officials to determine the proper postage.The candidate must pay $20.00 in
advance for each mailing to cover the cost of address labels. Arrangements have
been made for UAW Local 7902 office staff to put address labels on the envelopes
containing campaign literature at a rate of $10.00 per hour. To arrange a
mailing, the candidate should contact the Election Committee at the office of
the UAW Local 7902 at 212-432-2120, or by email at election@actuaw.org.
The candidate may submit a 200-word statement by email to the Election
Committee at election@actuaw.org no later than the fourth day
following the Election Committee meeting with Candidates (see Section 5). All
statements will be placed on a "Candidate Statements" web page () at the same
time, no later than five (5) business days after the submission deadline.
Statements will not be edited, except that statements exceeding 200 words will
be truncated after the 200th word. When displayed on the web page, each
statement will be preceded by the candidate's name (which shall not be counted
as part of the 200 words). The candidate may also submit a digital image of his
or her face, due at the same time as the statement, which will be
reduced/enlarged to the dimensions of 100 pixels wide and 100 pixels tall, and
placed next to the statement. All candidate statements and images will appear on
a single web page, grouped by office, and within each office in the order they
will appear on the ballot. The web page's address will be publicized in the
"Notice of Election" (see section 10) and on the election home page ().
8. CAMPAIGN RESTRICTIONS
Federal law prohibits the use of any Local Union or employer funds to promote
the candidacy of any person in a Local Union Officer Election. This prohibition
applies to cash, facilities, equipment, vehicles, office supplies, etc., of UAW
Local 7902 and any other Union, and of employers whether or not they employ UAW
Local 7902 members. Union officers and employees may not campaign on time paid
for by the Local Union.
All campaign expenses incurred by candidates, including telephone calls,
leaflets, envelopes, stationary etc. must be receipted and made available to the
Election Committee upon request.
Federal law also provides that candidates must be treated equally regarding
the opportunity to campaign and that all members may support the candidates of
their choice without being subject to penalty, discipline, or reprisal of any
kind.
9. VOTER ELIGIBILITY
As provided in Article 38, Section 10(a) of the International Constitution,
"Every member in good standing shall be entitled to vote at all Local Union
Elections." Voter eligibility will be confirmed by the Election Committee during
the ballot tally.
10. ELECTION NOTICE
If any office is contested, voting will occur. An abridged Notice of Election
postcard will be mailed to the last known home address of each UAW Local 7902
member at least 14 days before the Membership Meeting where voting will occur,
or 21 days if the membership has approved the use of Absentee Balloting (see
Section 12). The postcard will be mailed after the Election Committee meeting
with candidates (see Section 5). The postcard will direct members to read the
full Notice of Election, which will be a web page: . The full
Notice will state the offices being voted on; any officers elected by
acclamation; the ballots to be used, if more than one (see Section 12); the
date, time and place of the Membership Meeting where voting will occur (see
Section 12); instructions and deadline for Absentee Balloting if it will be
offered; the deadline for identifying challengers, the date, time and place of
Absentee Ballot pickup if it will be offered; the date, time and place of the
ballot tally; and that printed copies of the full notice will be available in
the Local's office. The postcard will state the offices to be voted on; the
date, time and location of the Membership Meeting where voting will occur; and
directions to the web page containing the full Notice.
11. CHALLENGERS
Candidates for contested offices are entitled to have challengers present at
the tally of ballots, and at the pickup of Absentee Ballots and the
transportation of ballots if in use. Candidates themselves may not be present at
these times. Challengers must be members of UAW Local 7902, as required by
Article 38, Section 10(g) of the International Constitution, which also
prohibits candidates from serving as challengers. Candidates should submit the
names of the challengers in writing to the Election Committee at UAW Local 7902
Election Committee, 113 University Place 6th Floor, New York NY 10003 by the day
preceding the Membership Meeting where voting will occur (see Section 12).
12. VOTING
All voting will be conducted by secret ballot. Voting will occur at a
Membership Meeting, at the time and location specified in the Notice of
Election. If some contested offices are elected by members of a single unit,
while others are not, several ballots will be used, to assure that each member
votes only for the appropriate offices: one ballot with all races that can be
voted on by all members; and one ballot for each unit, with all races to be
voted on by that unit alone. No race shall appear on more than one ballot, and
each voter will be given all ballots s/he is eligible to vote on. The ballots
will be described in the Notice of Election.
Pursuant to approval by the membership, eligible voters who will be unable to
attend the Membership Meeting because of a work assignment or Local Union
business may apply for an Absentee Ballot by submitting a signed statement to
that effect, along with his or her home mailing address, by mail (registered or
certified) or in person to UAW Local 7902 Election Committee, 113 University
Place 6th Floor, New York NY 10003. Absentee Ballots cannot be requested by
email or phone. The Election Committee will mail an Absentee Ballot Package to
the stated home address within five (5) business days. The Absentee Ballot
Package will include Instructions for Absentee Voting; the Ballot(s); an
unmarked Secret Ballot Envelope, used by the voter to enclose the marked ballot;
a Return Ballot Envelope, used by the voter to mail the Secret Ballot Envelope
with the marked ballot sealed inside. A post office box will be established for
Absentee Voters to send the Return Ballot Envelopes to. Absentee Ballots must be
received in that post office box by the pickup time immediately preceding the
Membership Meeting where voting will occur (see Section 13). Absentee Ballots
may not be delivered to the UAW Local 7902 office or the UAW Region 9A New York
City Sub-Regional office. Voters with spoiled Absentee Ballots may request
another ballot by contacting the Election Committee by phone at 212-432-2120, or
by email at election@actuaw.org. Only the last Absentee Ballot
received from each voter will be counted.
Voters who request an Absentee Ballot may not vote at the Membership Meeting.
13. TALLY OF BALLOTS
If the membership has approved the use of Abseentee Ballots, envelopes
containing Absentee Ballots will be picked up from the post office immediately
before the Membership Meeting where voting will occur, at the time and location
specified in the Notice of Elections, and immediately transported to the
Membership Meeting.
All votes will be tallied by the Election Committee immediately following the
Membership Meeting where voting occurs, at the time and location stated in the
Notice of Election. Candidates may have a challenger present at the pickup,
transportation and tally (see Section 11).
Write-in votes are not permitted in the election, and pursuant to Article 38,
Section 2 of the International Union Constitution, Executive Officers require a
majority vote. In accordance with Article 38, Section 5 of the International
Union Constitution, other officers are elected by a plurality.
14. ELECTION RESULTS
Election results will be posted on the UAW Local 7902 website (), and on the
bulletin board in UAW Region 9A's New York City office at 113 University Place,
6th Floor.
15. INSTALLATION AND TERM OF OFFICE
Elected officers will serve a three-year term, which will end when new
officers are sworn in. Officers elected between triennial elections will serve
the remainder of the three-year term. Installation of elected officers will
occur no more than 60 days after the tally of ballots.
16. ELECTION RECORDS
The UAW Local 7902 Recording Secretary and/or Election Committee are
responsible for maintaining all nomination and election records for at least one
year after the election, as required by federal law and Article 38, Section 12
of the International Constitution.
17. QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS
Candidate and members with questions about the nomination or election
procedures should contact the Election Committee in the office of the UAW Local
7902 at 212-432-2120, or by email at election@actuaw.org. Any
violation of these rules should be reported promptly to the Election Committee
so that corrective action can be taken, if necessary.
18. PROTESTS
Article 38, Section 11 of the International Constitution provides that any
member may challenge a Local Union Officer Election by filing a protest. In
accordance with Article 38, Section 11 following the election, the Election
Committee shall report in writing the canvass of the results of the election to
the membership through the Local unit leadership. No protest to an election
shall be considered unless raised within seven (7) days of the date the written
canvass is posted. A protest must be in writing and must be received by the UAW
Local 7902 Recording Secretary at the office of UAW Local 7902 (113 University
Place, 6th Floor, New York NY 10003) before the deadline.
19. ADDITIONAL RULES AND CLARIFICATIONS
The aforementioned rules are not all-inclusive. Additional election rules or
clarifications may be issued by the UAW Local 7902 Election Committee as needed
during the nomination and election period.
The Election Committee of UAW Local 7902, by
Barry Greenhut, Chair Robert Apter Patrick McCreery
March 23, 2006
Printed copies of these rules are available at the ACT-UAW office, 113
University Place, 9th Floor.