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By-Laws for

Amalgamated Local Unions

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By-Laws for

Amalgamated Local Unions

UUNNIITTEEDD SSTTEEEELLWWOORRKKEERRSSFFiivvee GGaatteewwaayy CCeenntteerrPPiittttssbbuurrgghh,, PPAA 1155222222

JJuullyy,, 22000066

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By-Laws for Amalgamated Local UnionsJuly, 2006

Table of ContentsPage

Officer’s Letter 5

BY-LAWS FOR AMALGAMATEDLOCAL UNIONS 10

Article I — Name 10

Article II — Objects 10

Article III — Eligibility 11

Article IV — Election of Officersand Unit Positions 13

Article V — Duties of Officersand Unit Positions 21

Article VI — Compensation for Services 30

Article VII — Meetings 31

Article VIII — Membership 32

Article IX — Discipline 34

Article X — Trials of Members andLocal Union Officers 36

Article XI — Notification to EmployersRegarding Status of Members 43

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Article XII — Finances 44

Article XIII — Delegates to InternationalConvention 47

Article XIV — Workers’ CompensationCommittee, Safety & HealthCommittee, Civil Rights Committee,Women’s Committee andOrganizing Committee 49

Article XV — Transfer Certificates 51

Article XVI — Strikes 52

Article XVII — Order of Business for LocalUnion Meetings 52

Article XVIII — Effective Date 53

Article XIX — Additions and Amendments

to Additions 54

Appendix

Resolution By InternationalExecutive Board 55

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To Amalgamated Local Union Officersand Members, United Steelworkers:

The International Executive Board has recognizedthe challenges that seriously threaten our future. OurUnion is committed to creating more powerful andeffective Local Unions with sufficient resources tosuccessfully represent our members in existing bar-gaining units.

In order to assure conformity with the InternationalConstitution, the policies of the International Union,and the Labor-Management Reporting and DisclosureAct of 1959 (Landrum-Griffin Act), it is imperativethat Local Union By-Laws and amendments to suchBy-Laws be approved by the International Union.

In order to make it easier for Local Unions to com-ply with these various requirements and expedite theprocess of approval, the International Union has devel-oped standard By-Laws for Local Unions that havebeen approved and adopted by the InternationalExecutive Board.

However, it has been recognized by theInternational Executive Board that the standard By-Laws for Local Unions are not appropriate in theirentirety for Amalgamated Local Unions. At the 1970Constitutional Convention, Article VII, Section 5 ofthe International Constitution was amended empower-ing the International Executive Board to issue rulesand special by-laws governing Amalgamated LocalUnions.

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Therefore, pursuant to Section 5 of Article VII ofthe International Constitution these separate By-Lawshave been developed especially for AmalgamatedLocal Unions. For the purposes of the adoption byAmalgamated Local Unions of these By-Laws, an“Amalgamated Local Union” is defined as a LocalUnion whose members are employed by the same ordifferent employers in more than one bargaining unitwithin a single District of the International Union or,with the approval of the International ExecutiveBoard, in more than one District. Each such bargain-ing unit is hereinafter referred to as a “Unit”.

The starting point in administering the By-Laws ofany Amalgamated Local Union is the InternationalConstitution which provides in Article I that it shallalso be the Constitution of each Local Union.

These standard By-Laws include the basic require-ments of the International Constitution with respect tothe operation of Amalgamated Local Unions. Theyalso include provisions which meet the requirementsof the 1959 Landrum-Griffin Act.

The provisions set forth in these standard By-Lawsare those which have uniform application to and canbe uniformly worded for all Amalgamated LocalUnions.

Where an Amalgamated Local Union does nothave separate By-Laws, Article VII, Section 5, of theInternational Constitution provides that these standardBy-Laws shall be the By-Laws of such AmalgamatedLocal Union. For those Amalgamated Local Unions

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which have separate By-Laws, the standard By-Lawsin this booklet must be and are deemed to be incorpo-rated in the By-Laws of such Amalgamated LocalUnions. Due to agreements that were made during var-ious mergers with other Unions some of the provisionscontained in these By-Laws may not apply to LocalUnions who came to the USW by way of a merger.

Where necessary, Amalgamated Local Unionsmay supplement these standard By-Laws by additionof new Subsections, new Sections or new Articlesconsistent with the International Constitution,International Union Manuals and policies, these stan-dard By-Laws, or applicable law. However, any provi-sions in an Amalgamated Local Union’s By-Lawsinconsistent with these standard By-Laws or the LocalUnion Elections Manual adopted by the InternationalUnion, even though previously approved by theInternational Union, are hereby suspended and maynot be enforced.AMALGAMATED LOCAL UNIONS SHOULDSEND TO THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FORAPPROVAL ONLY THOSE SUBSECTIONS,SECTIONS OR ARTICLES OF THEIR BY-LAWS WHICH ARE ADDITIONAL TO THESTANDARD BY-LAWS AND HAVE NOT BEENPREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE INTERNA-TIONAL UNION. FOR EXAMPLE: AMALGA-MATED LOCAL UNIONS MAY WISH TOASSIGN DUTIES TO OFFICERS BEYONDTHOSE SET FORTH UNDER ARTICLE V OF

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THE STANDARD BY-LAWS. IN SUCH ACASE, ONLY THE SUBSECTIONS SETTINGFORTH THE ADDITIONAL DUTIESSHOULD BE SENT TO THE INTERNATION-AL UNION FOR APPROVAL; THE REMAIN-DER OF ARTICLE V SHOULD BE AS SETFORTH IN THE STANDARD BY-LAWS AND,THEREFORE, WOULD NOT REQUIRE FUR-THER REVIEW OR APPROVAL.

Through this procedure, and with your cooperationin carrying it out, we anticipate that it will be possibleto give early review to additional portions ofAmalgamated Local Union By-Laws that will requireapproval by the International Union.In the event any clause or provision of these By-Lawsis declared unlawful or unenforceable by a UnitedStates or Canadian Court, such clause or provisionshall, in the jurisdiction in which it is unlawful or unen-forceable, be considered severable from all other claus-es and provisions of these By-Laws, subject toInternational Executive Board action.

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In Solidarity,

International President

International Secretary-Treasurer

International Vice President(Administration)

International Vice President(Human Affairs)

National Director of Canada

Approved and Adopted by International ExecutiveBoard, United Steelworkers, July, 2006.

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BY-LAWS FOR AMALGAMATEDLOCAL UNIONS

ARTICLE IName

This organization shall be known as United Steel,Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy,Allied Industrial and Service Workers InternationalUnion (to be known in short as the “UnitedSteelworkers” and by the acronym “USW”),Amalgamated Local Union ____ 1 (hereinafter alsoreferred to as “this Amalgamated Local Union,” or“the Amalgamated Local Union,”.2

ARTICLE IIObjects

First. To unite in this Local Union all working menand working women who are members of the UnitedSteelworkers (hereinafter referred to as the“International Union”) and who are within the juris-diction of this Local Union.

Second. To establish through collective bargainingadequate wage standards, shorter hours of work andimprovements in the conditions of employment forworkers in industry.

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1 Insert here the number of the Local Union.2 The term “Local Union” shall be interpreted to mean “Amalgamated Local Union” for the purposes of these By-Laws.

Third. To engage in educational, legislative, politi-cal, civic, social, welfare, community and other activi-ties; to advance and safeguard the economic securityand social welfare of workers in industry, theInternational Union, its Local Unions and the freelabor movements of the United States, Canada and theworld to seek to eliminate all forms of discrimination;to protect and extend our democratic institutions andcivil rights and liberties; and to perpetuate and extendthe cherished traditions of democracy and social andeconomic justice in the United States, Canada and theworld community.

Fourth. To encourage the organization and affilia-tion of unorganized workers who, subject to the provi-sions of Article VII, Section 1 of the InternationalConstitution, may be placed within the jurisdiction ofthis Local Union.

Fifth. To take all steps and actions consistent withthe Constitution and policies of the InternationalUnion, and these By-Laws, to implement and carry outthe objects, rights, activities and responsibilities of thisorganization and the International Union.

ARTICLE IIIEligibility

Section 1. All members in good standing of theInternational Union who are within the jurisdiction ofthis Local Union shall by virtue of such membership in

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the International Union, constitute the membership ofthis Local Union.

Section 2. Persons having supervisory power shallbe eligible for membership subject to the terms estab-lished by the International Executive Board.

Section 3. No person shall be eligible for member-ship, or for nomination or election or appointment to,or to hold any office, or position, or to serve on anyCommittee in the International Union or in this LocalUnion or to serve as a delegate who is a consistent sup-porter of, or who actively participates in, the activitiesof any hate based-racist, terrorist, or other organizationwhich advocates violence to affect government policyor to oppose the democratic principles to which theUnited States and Canada and our Union are dedicat-ed.

This eligibility requirement shall be in addition toany other eligibility requirement imposed by any otherArticle or Section of the International Constitution orof these By-Laws.

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ARTICLE IVElection of Officers and Unit Positions

Section 1(a). The Officers of this AmalgamatedLocal Union shall be: President, Vice President,Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary, Treasurer,Guide, two (2) Guards, and three (3) Trustees.3 4

Note: Prior to the promulgation of these By-Laws,some Amalgamated Local Unions have had represen-tatives, either elected or appointed, in addition to theeleven Officers specified in Article IV, Section 1. Suchrepresentatives have been referred to, for example, asBusiness Agent, Business Representative, ChiefGrievance Committee Person, Local Union

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3 As an alternative to the 11 Officers set forth in Article IV, Section 1,Amalgamated Local Unions with a membership of one hundred (100) orless may adopt a By-Law provision providing only for the offices ofPresident, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary andTreasurer, and the By-Laws shall provide how the duties of the offices ofGuide, Guard and Trustee are to be allocated among these five (5) offices.In the alternative, an Amalgamated Local Union which has a membershipof one hundred (100) or less may adopt a By-Law provision which, inaddition to providing for the five (5) offices mentioned above, combinesthe office of Guide and/or Guard with the office of Trustee.4 While the International Constitution makes no provision for a LocalUnion Executive Board, an Amalgamated Local Union may establish anExecutive Board so long as such Executive Board is provided for in itsBy-Laws. The members of such an Executive Board must be personselected to office or position in the Local Union or Unit in accordance withthe provisions of the Local Union Elections Manual.

Representative or other title approved by the LocalUnion, District Director and International President.This representative shall be referred to in these By-Laws as the Local Union Representative.5 It is the pol-icy of the International Executive Board that theappointed position of Local Union Representativeshould be limited to those circumstances that clearlyand demonstrably warrant the continuation or creationof such positions. However, those Amalgamated LocalUnions that have had such representatives may contin-ue those positions, subject to the approval of theirDistrict Director and of the International President;and Amalgamated Local Unions that have not hadsuch representatives may create such positions, subjectto the approval of their District Director and of theInternational President. All newly created Local UnionRepresentative positions shall be appointed by amajority of the Local Union Officers, subject to theapproval of their District Director and of theInternational President. In those cases where theLocal Union Representative is appointed, the follow-ing provision shall be added to Section 1(a) of thisArticle: “In addition to these eleven Officers, thereshall also be (a) position(s) in this Amalgamated LocalUnion known as the Local Union Representative. The

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5 A November 17, 2002 resolution adopted by the International ExecutiveBoard sets out those circumstances under which Local UnionRepresentatives may continue to be elected.

Local Union Representative shall be an employee ofthe Amalgamated Local Union and all appointmentsshall be reviewed on an annual basis. The LocalUnion Representative shall not by virtue of that posi-tion be an Officer and shall not be responsible for set-ting policy for the Local Union in the capacity of LocalUnion Representative. However, a duly elected Officerof the Local Union may serve as the Local UnionRepresentative. It shall be the duty of the Local UnionRepresentative to assist the Units in the handling ofcomplaints and grievances; where contractuallyappropriate, to conduct an appeal step in the griev-ance procedure to assist the Staff Representative andother representatives of the International Union in thehandling of grievances and the preparation of arbitra-tion cases; to assist in the negotiation of collective bar-gaining agreements: to engage in organizing activityin accordance with these By-Laws; and to performsuch other duties as the District Director may assign,and, where consistent with these By-Laws, theConstitution, the policies of the International Union orany assignments by the District Director, such otherduties as the Local Union may assign.” In the alterna-tive, the Local Union may assign these duties to theLocal Union President.

(b) In addition to the Local Union Officers identi-fied in Section 1(a) of this Article, there shall be the

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following Unit positions: one (1) Unit President, one(1) Unit Secretary, and no less than one (1) UnitGriever.6 A member may hold more than one of thepositions referred to in this Section l(b). 7

Section 2. No member shall at the same time be acandidate for or hold more than one of the officesnamed in Section 1(a) of this Article.3

Section 3(a). Local Union Officers and UnitOfficials shall be elected for a term of three years at thelast meeting in April 2009 or on such day and/or atsuch other hours in April 2009 as the membership shalldetermine and which will enable all members who sodesire to vote. Election shall be by a plurality vote of

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6 As explained on page 54 of the Local Union Elections Manual,Amalgamated Local Unions do not have a position of Local UnionGrievance Committee Member. Instead there are Unit Grievers. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article IV, Section 1(b), AmalgamatedLocal Unions which have different practices with respect to Unit positionsmay continue such practices unless disapproved by the InternationalSecretary-Treasurer. Amalgamated Local Unions, which in the future wishto deviate from the Unit positions set forth in Article IV, Section 1(b) maydo so if approval is obtained from the International Secretary-Treasurer.7 Amalgamated Local Unions may adopt a By-Law provision which makesthe person elected President of the Local Union automatically by virtue ofthat office the Unit President of his/her Unit with the person elected UnitPresident of that Unit automatically considered the Unit Vice President withduties similar for the Unit to the duties of the Vice President in the Local.

Amalgamated Local Unions may adopt a By-Law provision that allowsindividual Units to combine the position of Unit President with the positionof Unit Griever.

the members in good standing participating in a secretballot vote. Those elected in April 2009 shall beinstalled at the first regular meeting in May 2009 andshall serve until their successors are elected and quali-fied, at which time all money, official records, and doc-uments, and all property belonging to the Local Unionshall be turned over to such successors.

Section 3(b). Persons occupying Unit positionsshall be elected by a plurality vote of the members intheir respective Units, who are in good standing, par-ticipating in a secret ballot vote.

In any case in which only one eligible member hasbeen nominated for a Local Union office or Unit posi-tion and that member has indicated acceptance of thenomination within the time limits and in the mannerprescribed by the approved By-Laws or rules of theLocal Union, no election need be held for that office orUnit position, and the member who has been so nom-inated shall be deemed elected. An Officer or UnitOfficial who retires from an enterprise serviced by theLocal Union shall not be permitted to continue inoffice.

Section 4. The date of the Local Union elections forLocal Union Officers and Unit positions must beadvertised among members at least fifteen (15) daysprevious to the date of the election by mailing notice ofthe date, place and hours of the election to each mem-

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ber in good standing at the member’s last known homeaddress. The notice must also specify the Local Unionoffices and Unit positions to be filled.8 Nominationsfor Local Union offices shall be made at the immedi-ately preceding Local Union meeting. However, wherean Amalgamated Local Union holds two meetings ineach month, nominations may be made at the lastmeeting in the month preceding the month in whichthe election is held. Nominations for the Unit positionsnamed in Section 1 (b) of this Article shall be made atthe immediately preceding meeting of each Unitunless some other date, time and place is selected bythe Local Union Officers in consultation with the Unitofficials. Notice of the nominations meeting for Unitoffices shall be given to the membership at least one(1) week in advance of the meeting.

Section 5. No member shall be eligible for electionas a Local Union Officer in any regular election orelection to fill a vacancy unless:

(a) The member shall have been in continuous goodstanding for a period of twenty-four (24) monthsimmediately preceding the month in which the elec-tion is held9; and

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8 The requirement of a 15-day mail notice of the election need not beapplied in Canada provided other suitable notice of the election is given tothe membership at least one week previous to the date of the election.9 If the member’s Local Union or Unit has been in existence for a lesserperiod prior to the election, the member must have been in continuousgood standing from the time the member joined such Local Union or Unit.

(b) The member is employed in an enterprise, pub-lic or private, or other place within the jurisdiction ofthe Local Union; and

(c) The member shall have attended at least one-third (1/3) of the regular meetings held by the mem-ber’s Local Union during the twenty-four (24) monthperiod immediately preceding the month in which theelection is to be held.

Meetings which a member was prevented fromattending because of such member’s Union activities,working hours, service in the armed forces of theUnited States or Canada, sickness which confines,death in the immediate family, or jury duty, shall not becounted as meetings held in determining such mem-ber’s eligibility under this Section; provided, that themember shall have the burden of proving inability toattend for one of the prescribed reasons, in accordancewith procedures specified in the Local UnionElections Manual.10

Section 6. No member shall be eligible for electionto a Unit position in any regular election or election tofill a vacancy unless:

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10 Because of the difficulty many months after the fact of verifying thevalidity of a claim that an individual missed a meeting because of “sick-ness which confines” the Local Union may wish to adopt the followingadditional provision:“Any member who claims inability to attend a Local Union meeting

because of a ‘sickness which confines’ must notify the RecordingSecretary of the Local Union within one month of such meeting; other-wise the meeting will be counted as a meeting held in determining suchmember’s eligibility under this section.”

(a) The member shall have been in continuous goodstanding for a period of twenty-four (24) monthsimmediately preceding the month in which the elec-tion is held;9 and

(b) The member is employed in an enterprise, pub-lic or private, or other place within the jurisdiction ofthe Local Union; and

(c) The member has satisfied the Local Unionmeeting attendance requirements of Article VII,Section 10 of the International Constitution or, ifunable to satisfy such Local Union meeting attendancerequirements, must satisfy the Unit meeting atten-dance requirements by having attended at least one-third (1/3) of the regular meetings held by the mem-ber’s Unit , if the member’s Unit has regularly sched-uled meetings, during the twenty-four (24) month peri-od immediately preceding the month in which the elec-tion is held.

Meetings which a member was prevented fromattending because of such member’s Union activities,working hours, service in the armed forces of theUnited States or Canada, sickness which confines,death in the immediate family, or jury duty, shall not becounted as meetings held in determining such mem-ber’s eligibility under this Section; provided, that themember shall have the burden of proving inability toattend for one of the prescribed reasons, in accordancewith procedures specified in the Local UnionElections Manual.10

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Section 7. Local Union and Unit elections shall beconducted in accordance with the provisions of theLocal Union Elections Manual adopted by theInternational Union.

ARTICLE VDuties of Officers and Unit Positions

Section 1. Duties of President.(a) The President shall preside at all meetings of the

Local Union and preserve order, and shall decide allquestions of order, subject to an appeal to the LocalUnion. The President shall have the right to vote at allelections of Officers, and when the members areequally divided on other questions, shall have thedeciding vote.

(b) The President shall call special meetings byrequest of ten members in good standing of the LocalUnion. This request shall be in writing, shall stateclearly the purpose of the meeting and shall be signedby those making such request. Notice of all specialmeetings must be given to the members of the LocalUnion by bulletin board posting or other reasonablemeans. The business of the special meeting shall beconfined to the subject for which that meeting wascalled, and the meeting shall be conducted in accor-dance with the same procedures as govern regularmeetings. The above provision concerning the holdingof a special meeting does not require the Chair at suchmeeting to entertain a motion to vote on a matter

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which was acted upon after notice at a previous meet-ing. In the absence of a provision of the InternationalConstitution or the Amalgamated Local Union By-Laws specifying the method of voting at such meetingthe membership in attendance at such meeting shalldetermine the method of voting.

(c) The President shall enforce the provisions of theInternational Constitution and of these By-Laws andthe policies and Manuals of the International Union,and shall appoint all committees not otherwise provid-ed for and be ex officio member of all committees. ThePresident shall perform such other duties as the LocalUnion may assign.

(d)(1) In the event that a vacancy occurs in theoffice of Vice President, Recording Secretary,Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Guide, Guard orTrustee at any time during the term of office, theremaining Local Union Officers shall, by majorityvote select a successor to serve for the remainder ofthat term.

(d)(2) The Local Union Officers may, at their dis-cretion, hold an election to seek the guidance of themembership before selecting a successor to fill avacancy in any of the offices described in d (1). Whenthis option is used, the President shall appoint a mem-ber of the Local Union to fill the vacancy until suchelection can be completed and a successor appointedto fill the vacancy. The President shall call for a spe-cial election as promptly as possible but such electionshall not be held later than two (2) months followingthe occurrence of the vacancy. The date of the special

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election shall be advertised among the members atleast one (1) week prior to that date. Nominations shallbe made at the immediately preceding meeting, thedate of which shall also be advertised in advanceamong the members at least one (1) week prior to thatdate.

(d)(3) Wherever a Local Union Officer (exceptPresident), because of receipt of an extended vacationbenefit or otherwise, will be unable to serve during anextended temporary period, a temporary replacementwill be designated as provided in sub-paragraph (d) (5)of this section. The temporary replacement shall carryout all the duties of the office or post during such tem-porary period.

(d)(4) Where the temporary vacancy is in the officeof the Local Union President, the Vice President shallassume the duties of the President including theauthority to be one of the signatories to checks, andshall be known as “Temporary Acting President.”When the temporary period has ended, the“Temporary Acting President” shall revert to the posi-tion of Vice President.

(d)(5) Where the temporary vacancy is in a LocalUnion Office (other than President), the Local UnionOfficers shall, by majority vote, select a “TemporaryActing” replacement. Temporary Acting Treasurersand Financial Secretaries shall be authorized, duringthe temporary period of their service, to be signatoriesto checks. A replacement shall serve only until thetemporary period is ended.

(d)(6) In the event of a vacancy among the 1123

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Officers, none of the remaining Officers either aloneor acting together may perform the functions of thevacant office but rather the vacancy must be filled inaccordance with the provisions set forth above.

(d)(7) In the event a vacancy (other than a tempo-rary vacancy) occurs at any time in a Unit position, theremaining Unit officials [not including UnitGriever(s)] together with the Local Union Officers,shall, by majority vote, select a successor to serve theremainder of the term; provided, however, that themember so selected shall be from among the memberswithin the Unit in which the vacancy occurs.

(d)(8) Where a temporary vacancy occurs in a Unitposition, a “Temporary Acting” replacement shall beselected by majority vote of the Unit President, theUnit Secretary and the Local Union Officers.

Section 2. Duties of Vice President. The VicePresident shall assist the President in the discharge ofthe President’s duties and during the President’sabsence shall perform the duties of the President. Inthe event that a vacancy occurs in the office ofPresident, the Vice President shall act as President forthe unexpired term.

Section 3. Duties of Recording Secretary. (a) The Recording Secretary shall record the pro-

ceedings of the Local Union in a book kept for thatpurpose, read all papers and perform such other dutiesas are required by the International Constitution, theseBy-Laws, the various Manuals and policies of the

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International Union, and the Local Union. TheRecording Secretary shall also have custody of theLocal Union Seal, and shall be responsible for anymisuse of same.

(b) The Recording Secretary shall read to the LocalUnion communications which require attention.

Section 4. Duties of Financial Secretary.(a) The Financial Secretary shall receive all money

due the Local Union and pay the same to theTreasurer, from whom the Financial Secretary shalltake a receipt. The Financial Secretary shall also keepaccurately the accounts of the Local Union with itsmembers, and shall at all times have the books openfor examination by the Trustees, and perform suchother duties as are required by the InternationalConstitution, these By-Laws, the various Manuals andpolicies of the International Union, and the LocalUnion. The Financial Secretary shall make out thevarious reports required by the InternationalSecretary-Treasurer and forward such reports to theInternational Secretary-Treasurer in accordance withinstructions.

(b) Should it be proved that the Financial Secretaryhas failed to report monthly the full membership of theLocal Union as provided for in the report to theInternational Secretary-Treasurer and transmit the fullamount of initiation fees and dues, the FinancialSecretary shall be suspended from all privileges andbenefits until the deficiency is made good, and shall beliable to the International Union for the full amount

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unpaid.(c) The Financial Secretary shall keep a record of

all transfer request forms issued and received.(d) The Financial Secretary’s accounts shall be sub-

ject at all times to audit by the International Secretary-Treasurer.

(e) The Financial Secretary shall make a detailedfinancial report at least once each month at the LocalUnion meeting covering the receipts and expendituresof all funds of the Local Union. If the expenses of theLocal Union exceed its current income or impair itsreserves, the Financial Secretary is obliged to call thisfact to the attention of the membership.

Section 5. Duties of Treasurer.(a) The Treasurer shall receive from the Financial

Secretary all money collected by the FinancialSecretary and shall deposit all money belonging to theLocal Union in a bank designated by it. All initiationfees and dues shall be deposited in a separate bankaccount to be designated as a trust fund for theInternational Union. The Treasurer shall cause to beissued to the Financial Secretary a receipt for allmoney turned over to the Treasurer or deposited to theTreasurer’s credit in the regular bank account. TheTreasurer shall issue a separate receipt for the amountof money turned over at any time or for such depositmade, and shall sign all checks and have them counter-signed by the President and the Financial Secretary.

(b) The Treasurer shall keep regular and correctaccounts of all money received and paid by the

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Treasurer, and report at each meeting the balance ofcash shown by the last report, the amount receivedsince, the total checks issued and authorized, and thebalance remaining. The Treasurer’s accounts shall beopen for examination by the Trustees at any time whencalled upon. The Treasurer’s books shall be subject atall times to audit by the International Secretary-Treasurer of the United Steelworkers of America. TheTreasurer shall perform such other duties as arerequired by the International Constitution, these By-Laws, the various Manuals and policies of theInternational Union, and the Local Union.

(c) All money paid out by the Local Union from itstreasury must be approved by the members at a LocalUnion meeting. Under no circumstances shall Officersor members pay bills without authorization by a LocalUnion meeting, nor shall the members authorize pay-ment of any bill or incur any obligation for whichfunds are unavailable, nor shall the members authorizethe payment of or incur a debt for any activity not inaccordance with the Constitution and policies of theInternational Union and these By-Laws. Bills chargedto the Local Union shall be submitted to the RecordingSecretary, who in turn shall submit them to the LocalUnion meeting for approval.

(d) Recurring standard bills (fixed salaries whichhave been previously authorized, taxes – local, state,and federal – rent, light, heat, etc.) may be paid by theTreasurer on a single authorization by the Local Unionto pay such bills when due.

(e) Under no circumstances shall any of the dues27

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collected by the Local Union be spent before beingsent to the International Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 6. Duties of Guide. It shall be the duty ofthe Guide to see that all present are entitled to remain.

Section 7. Duties of Guards. It shall be the duty ofthe Guards to take charge of the door and see that noone enters who is not entitled to do so.

Section 8. Duties of Trustees. It shall be the duty ofthe Trustees to have charge of the hall and all propertyof the Local Union, subject to the direction of theLocal Union. They shall audit the books and financialrecords of the Local Union every three months andgive a report of such audit at the next regular LocalUnion meeting.11They shall perform such other dutiesas the Local Union may require.

Section 9. Duties of Unit Positions(a) Unit President. It shall be the duty of the Unit

President to preside at all meetings of the Unit; todecide all questions of order, subject to appeal to theLocal Union; and, consistent with the provisions ofthese By-Laws and the Manuals, policies andConstitution of the International Union, to performsuch other duties as the Unit or the Local Union may

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11 The Trustees should give special attention when checking disbursementsrecorded by the Financial Secretary and Treasurer that proper authoriza-tions for such payments have been entered by the Recording Secretary inthe Minutes of the Local Union.

assign. The Unit President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees in his/her Unit, and shallappoint all committees within the Unit not otherwiseprovided for.

(b) Unit Secretary. It shall be the duty of the UnitSecretary to record the attendance and the proceedingsof the Unit in books kept for that purpose, to read allpapers and to perform such other duties, consistentwith these By-Laws and the Manuals, policies andConstitution of the International Union, as the Unit orthe Local Union may assign.

(c) Unit Griever(s). It shall be the duty of the UnitGriever(s) to process complaints and grievances, with-in their respective Units and in accordance with theappropriate collective bargaining agreement and, con-sistent with these By-Laws and the Manuals, policiesand Constitution of the International Union to performsuch other duties as the Unit or the Local Union mayassign.

Section 10. This Local Union shall enforce theInternational Constitution, the various InternationalManuals and policies, and these By-Laws, as affectingits membership.

The funds and property of the Local Union shall bemanaged, invested, expended or otherwise used toimplement and carry out the objects, rights, activities,and responsibilities of the Local Union or theInternational Union, and to administer the affairs of theLocal Union, in accordance with the Constitution,Manuals and policies of the International Union and

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these By-Laws.

Section 11. It shall be the duty of the President,Financial Secretary and Treasurer to insure that thefunds and property of the Local Union are preserved,managed, invested and expended in accordance withthe International Constitution, Manuals and policiesand these By-Laws.

ARTICLE VICompensation for Services

Section 1. Salaries and expenses for Officers andemployees of this Amalgamated Local Union shall beas follows.12

Section 2. All tax requirements in connection withthe above payments shall be complied with.

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12 Insert in this section the amount of salaries and expenses. Each LocalUnion is permitted to reimburse for expenses in accordance with itsapproved By-Laws but in no event in excess of the standards utilized by theInternational Union for reimbursement of its employees.Any Amalgamated Local Union By-Law which has been approved by theInternational Union but which reimburses in amounts in excess of thoseallowed by the International for its employees will be permitted to continueprovided that such payments are lawful and provided further that no changesincreasing such amounts will be approved while the By-Laws are in excessof the International reimbursement policy.

Section 3. Pursuant to voluntary authorization ofdues deductions, the Financial Secretary shall beresponsible for establishing a procedure to deduct fromthe Union pay of Local Union Officers, Unit Officials,and/or representatives monthly dues which are notdeducted by the company in any given month.

ARTICLE VIIMeetings

Section 1. The Local Union shall hold a generalmembership meeting at least once every month, exceptthat a Local Union may, with the approval of the mem-bership and the District Director, hold meetings, lessoften, but in no event less than quarterly.

Section 2.13

Section 3. Each Unit of this Amalgamated LocalUnion may hold regularly scheduled membershipmeetings.

Section 4. Any Officer of this Local Union and anyOfficer or authorized representative of theInternational Union may attend to report to any Unitmeeting.

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13 Insert in this Section the time of the regular monthly meeting (or meetings) of the Local Union and Unit(s).

ARTICLE VIIIMembership

Section 1. No applicant for membership shall beregarded as being a member in good standing until thefull amount of initiation fee has been paid.14

Section 2. A member shall pay dues promptly com-mencing with the month during which the membershall have been admitted, and shall continue to pay alldues, assessments and fines or other obligationspromptly when due in order to be and remain in goodstanding.14

Section 3. A member who has not lost good stand-ing under other provisions of the InternationalConstitution shall be in good standing if not more thanthree (3) months in arrears in any constitutional obliga-tions, except in respect to assessments on which themember shall be not more than one (1) month inarrears.

Section 4. Members who lose good standing shallstand automatically expelled and devoid of all mem-

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14 Please note the provision in the Local Union Elections Manual whichspecifies that a recently hired employee who has signed and delivered tothe company and/or Local Union a dues check-off and membership appli-cation card is considered to have satisfied the dues payment requirementfor membership even though the member’s first dues payment has not yetbeen deducted by the Company.

bership rights,15 and shall not be reinstated in goodstanding except upon such terms as the Local Unionand the International Executive Board may decide.

Section 5 Any member who retains employee sta-tus in a bargaining unit represented by the InternationalUnion but who because of layoff has not, for twenty-four (24) continuous months, performed at least (5)days’ work in any month in such bargaining unit shallbe deemed not in good standing (but not expelled) anddevoid of all membership rights until such time as themember is recalled or obtains employment in a bar-gaining unit represented by the International Unionand resumes payment of current dues, at which timethe member shall automatically be restored to goodstanding. No Local Union Officer shall lose goodstanding under this Section for the remainder of theterm in office.

Section 6. A member not in good standing shall notbe permitted to vote, nominate for office, hold office,or be a candidate for office.

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15 Automatic expulsion for loss of good standing must be construed asbeing confined to situations wherein members have not paid their duesfixed in accordance with the International Constitution, and all theirassessments or other financial obligations which have been imposed by theInternational Union. Failure to meet financial obligations which have notbeen imposed by the International Union may not result in automaticexpulsion but must be treated on the same basis as a commission of anyother type of an offense by a member of the Union as provided in ArticlesXII and XIII of the International Constitution and Articles IX and X ofthese By-Laws.

Section 7. A member whose membership is termi-nated shall have no right or interest in any property ofthe Local Union or of the International Union, includ-ing any dues, assessments or other financial obliga-tions paid by such member in advance of the effectivedate of such termination.

ARTICLE IXDiscipline

Section 1. Any member may be penalized for com-mitting any one or more of the following offenses: (a)violation of any of the provisions of the InternationalConstitution or of these By-Laws, any collective bar-gaining agreement, or rule of the Local Union; (b)obtaining membership through fraudulent means or bymisrepresentation; (c) instituting, or urging, or advo-cating that a member of any Local Union instituteaction outside the Union against the InternationalUnion, Local Union or any of their Officers withoutfirst exhausting all remedies through the forms ofappeal of the International Union; (d) advocating orattempting to bring about the withdrawal from theInternational Union of any Local Union or any mem-ber or group of members; (e) publishing or circulatingamong the membership false reports or misrepresenta-

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tions;16 (f) working in the interest of or accepting mem-bership in any organization dual to the InternationalUnion; (g) slandering or willfully wronging a memberof the International Union;16 (h) using abusive lan-guage or disturbing the peace or harmony of any meet-ing in or around any office or meeting place of theInternational Union; (i) fraudulently receiving anymoney due the organization or misappropriating themonies of the organization; (j) using the name of theLocal Union or the International Union for solicitingfunds, advertising, etc., of any kind without the con-sent of the appropriate body or Officer of theInternational Union; (k) furnishing a complete or par-tial list of the membership of the International Unionor of any Local Union to any person or persons otherthan those whose official position entitles them to havesuch a list; (1) deliberately interfering with any officialof the International Union in the discharge of that offi-cial’s duties; (m) deliberately engaging in conduct inviolation of the responsibility of members toward theorganization as an institution; and (n) deliberatelyinterfering with the performance of the organization’slegal or contractual obligations.

Section 2. It is an offense under this Constitution to harassa member at a union or workplace - related location or activ-ity on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation,age, disability, nationality, or other legally protected status.

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16 A resolution of the International Executive Board adopted on February11, 1976, in accordance with applicable law restricts enforcement of thisprovision in the United States.

Section 3. Any member convicted of any one ormore of the above offenses may be denied the right tobe a candidate for or hold office or position in theUnion, declared a member not in good standing, finedor otherwise appropriately disciplined.

Section 4. If any Officer of the Local Union, Unitofficial, or delegate to an International Convention, isconvicted of any one or more of the aforementionedoffenses, such person may be penalized as hereinbefore described, and removed from office or position.

ARTICLE XTrials of Members and Local

Union Officers17

Section 1. Any charges against a member or Officerof the Local Union must be made in writing, signed bythe member making the charges, and must be submit-ted to the Local Union. Upon submission of thecharges, the Recording Secretary shall send a copy bycertified or registered mail to the accused member atthe member’s last known address.

The charges shall be sufficiently specific so as toenable the accused to prepare a defense. This meansthat the charges should indicate both the provision(s)

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17 An August 11, 1999 resolution of the International Executive Board pro-hibits the processing of charges instituted as a means of retaliating againsta member for asserting rights under Civil Rights legislation in the UnitedStates and Human Rights legislation in Canada, regardless of whethersuch rights are asserted using the Union’s internal procedures, contractualprovisions or external statutory procedures.

of the Constitution or the Union’s other rules allegedlyviolated and also a brief statement of the facts (names,dates, places) constituting that violation. If there ismore than one charging party, they must designate aperson to be responsible for receiving and filing docu-ments related to the charges. Where the charges fail todesignate such person, then the first charging membernamed in the charge shall be considered the represen-tative of the others.

Section 2. Charges must be submitted within sixty(60) days of the time the complainant becomes awareof the alleged offense.

Section 3. A separate Trial Committee composed of____18 members shall be ____19 for each individualtrial, and shall be given the responsibility of conduct-ing such trial provided that in the case of multiple relat-ed charges the same Trial Committee may be appoint-ed to try all such charges and may consolidate theminto one hearing. Neither the accuser nor the accusedshall be eligible for membership on the TrialCommittee.20 No one shall be eligible to serve as amember of the Trial Committee who is a witness to the

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18 The number of members of the Trial Committee should be 3 or 5.19 Insert here “elected” or “appointed subject to the approval of the LocalUnion membership,” depending on which method the Local Union prefersfor designating the Trial Committee.20 If the Local Union decides to have members of the Trial Committeeappointed, the following sentence should be added to this Section: “If theaccused member or the accuser is an Officer of the Local Union, such per-son shall not participate in the designation of the membership of the TrialCommittee.”

facts alleged to constitute a violation or who has per-sonal interest in the outcome of the Trial.

The Local Union action _______21 the TrialCommittee shall take place at the first meeting afterthe Local Union receives the charges unless thecharges are received by the Local Union within five (5)days before the meeting in which event the LocalUnion action shall take place at the meeting followingthe first meeting after the Local Union receives thecharges.

Section 4. Immediately after the Trial Committeehas been selected by the Local Union pursuant toSection 3 of this Article, the Recording Secretary ofthe Local Union shall send by certified mail or regis-tered mail to the accused member at the member’s lastknown address written notice of the time and placewhen the hearing will be held before the TrialCommittee, a copy of such written notification of timeand place shall also be sent to the member preferringthe charges; and the accused member shall appearbefore the Trial Committee on said charges. A copy ofthe charge and notice of hearing shall also be sent tothe International Secretary-Treasurer of theInternational Union by the Recording Secretary.

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21 Insert here “electing” or “approving the appointment of ” depending onwhich method the Local Union prefers for designating the TrialCommittee. In the event the Local Union uses the “appointment subjectto approval” method and the appointments to the Trial Committee are notapproved, the Local Union members at the meeting shall approve alternateappointments or elect the Trial Committee.

Section 5. The hearing shall be held no sooner thantwo (2) weeks and no later than four (4) weeks fromthe date of the mailing of the notice and the charges tothe accused member.

Section 6. Every effort shall be made to schedulethe Trial so that it does not conflict with the workingschedules of the parties. The hearing shall be conduct-ed by the Trial Committee in an orderly manner andshall assure the full presentation to the Committee ofall the facts. The accused shall be entitled to be pres-ent at all times during the hearing, investigation orargument of the case and shall be entitled to questionall witnesses appearing in the matter so long as thequestioning does not become insulting, unduly argu-mentative or repetitious. In the event that the accusedfails to appear at the hearing at the time and place pro-vided in the notice and presents no reasonable excusefor absence, the hearing shall proceed with the sameforce and effect as if the accused were present.

Section 7. At any time during the processing ofcharges alleging a serious violation by a Local UnionOfficial of Section 2 of Article IX, the InternationalPresident may, upon written request (sent by certifiedmail, overnight courier or other means providing proofof receipt), and where supported by preliminary inves-tigation conducted on behalf of the InternationalPresident, summarily remove such Local UnionOfficial from office during all or a portion of the timenecessary to process the charge.

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Section 8. The Trial Committee shall record min-utes of its meetings and proceedings, and these min-utes, together with any documents submitted, shallconstitute the official record of the Trial Committee.

Section 9. A member placed on trial shall be per-mitted representation by a representative of the mem-ber’s own choice, who shall be a member of theInternational Union; such representative, however,shall be required to abide by the trial procedure asestablished by the Trial Committee and as provided inthese By-Laws. The same procedure shall be availableto the person filing the charges.

Section 10. The Trial Committee, upon completionof the hearing upon the evidence and argument, shallgo into closed session to determine the verdict andpenalty. The Trial Committee shall prepare a report inwriting, stating the facts briefly as it found them, andits conclusions and recommendations. A majority voteof the members of the Trial Committee shall berequired to find the accused guilty.

Section 11. In case the accused is found guilty, theTrial Committee may recommend that the accused bereprimanded; assessed a fine; assessed a fine withautomatic suspension and removal from office or posi-tion or expulsion in the event of the failure of theaccused to pay the fine within a specified time; sus-pended or removed from office or position in the LocalUnion; or suspended or expelled from membership in

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the International Union; or otherwise appropriatelydisciplined.

Section 12. The Trial Committee shall submit itswritten report to the Local Union within two (2) weeksfollowing completion of the hearing. At the same timea copy of the report shall be mailed to the InternationalSecretary-Treasurer of the International Union and tothe accuser and the accused by the Trial Committee.

Section 13. The Local Union Officers may convenea special meeting of the membership to consider thereport of the Trial Committee. In such event the noticeof the membership meeting shall inform the membersthat the report of the Trial Committee will be present-ed at such special meeting. Notice of such specialmeeting must also be given to the accused member(s)and accuser(s).

Section 14 In the event the report of the TrialCommittee is to be presented to the next regular meet-ing of the Local Union, the membership must beadvised by special notice that the report of the TrialCommittee will be considered at such regular meeting.

Section 15. The meeting at which the report of theTrial Committee shall be considered shall not be heldearlier than one week or later than four weeks follow-ing the submission of the report of the Trial Committeeto the Local Union.

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Section 16. At the meeting of the Local Union, theTrial Committee shall present its written report. Thereport of the Trial Committee shall become effectiveonly upon approval by a majority vote of the memberspresent at the Local Union meeting. The Local Unionmeeting may approve or reject the report of the TrialCommittee, modify the report in any respect, or ordera new trial.

Section 17. The accused member shall be affordedfull opportunity to present to the Local Union meetingthe accused member’s position on all matters bearingupon the trial and the report of the Trial Committee.

Section 18. A report of the Local Union’s decisionshall be forwarded immediately to the InternationalSecretary-Treasurer of the International Union by theRecording Secretary.

Section 19. A copy of the decision of the LocalUnion shall be forwarded by the Recording Secretaryusing certified or registered mail to the accused mem-ber and to the person who originally filed the charges.The accused or the accuser may appeal from the deci-sion of the Local Union to the International ExecutiveBoard and thereafter to the next regular InternationalConvention, provided that such person files notice ofappeal with the International Secretary-Treasurerwithin thirty days after the mailing of the notice of thedecision of the Local Union or the InternationalExecutive Board from which the appeal is taken. On

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appeals, the International Executive Board or suchbody as it designates - either itself or through aCommission or other mechanism - affords all partiesthe opportunity to present all arguments and factswhether or not presented in the proceedings at theLocal Union level. Decisions on such appeals arebased on the evidence presented in the appeal. TheInternational Executive Board shall not, in making itsdecision, be limited to the arguments or testimony pre-sented at the earlier stages in the proceedings and shallbe permitted to cure by its appeal proceedings proce-dural defects which may have occurred at earlier stagesin the proceedings.

Section 20. The decisions of the Local Union andof the International Executive Board shall be given fullforce and effect unless a stay thereof is obtained fromthe International Executive Board.

Section 21. It shall be the duty of a member toexhaust all internal remedies and appeals providedunder the Constitution and policies of the InternationalUnion and these By-Laws.

ARTICLE XINotification to Employers Regarding

Status of Members

Section 1. Whenever a member has lost good stand-ing by virtue of having become in arrears in the pay-ment of dues or initiation fees, and the Local Union

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desires to have such person discharged from employ-ment in accordance with the provisions of the out-standing collective bargaining agreement with theemployer, the Local Union shall communicate with theInternational Secretary-Treasurer, setting forth thefacts.

Section 2. The International Secretary-Treasurerwill determine whether the employer should be noti-fied that in accordance with the provisions of the con-tract the particular person must be discharged. TheLocal Union shall refrain from communicating withthe employer until advised by the InternationalSecretary-Treasurer as to the procedure to be followedon requesting the discharge.

ARTICLE XIIFinances

Section 1. Except for newly organized units, whereinitiation fees are waived pursuant to Article XIVSection 2, of the International Constitution, theinitiation fees shall be ten dollars ($l0.00).22

Section 2. Monthly dues for a member shall be anamount equal to 1.3% of said member’s total earningsduring the month provided that monthly dues shall notbe less than five dollars ($5.00) and provided further

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22 Local Unions which had a higher level of initiation fees at the time ofthe adoption of the International Constitution should insert the appropriatefigures in this Section.

that monthly dues shall not be more than 2.5 times themember’s average hourly earnings. For lump sum pay-ments, dues shall be calculated separately by applyingthe 1.3% to such payments. The International ExecutiveBoard shall issue appropriate interpretive rulings.23

Section 3. The full amount of all dues and initiationfees and assessments collected by the Local Unionshall be deposited by the appropriate Officers of theLocal Union in a bank account designated as a trustfund held for the International Union. The Officers ofthe Local Union shall forward to the InternationalSecretary-Treasurer, within fifteen days after the closeof any month, the full amount of the dues and initiationfees and assessments collected by the Local Union.

Section 4. Compulsory assessments may not beimposed by the Local Union unless approval has firstbeen secured from the International Union and unlessagreed to by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of themembership of the Local Union, voting by secret ballotafter prior notice to the membership. At no time shall theLocal Union assessment exceed two dollars ($2.00) permember in any one year.

In addition, a Local Union which has removed thecap of 2.5 times the member’s average hourly earnings

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23 Local Unions whose dues at the time of the adoption of the InternationalConstitution exceeded the amount provided for in Article XIV, Section 3of the International Constitution, may maintain such differential. In suchcases, the dues shall be computed by adding such differential to theamount required by the applicable provisions of Article XIV of theInternational Constitution. The amount of this differential should be list-ed in this Section.

referred to in Section 2 of this Article may, with theapproval of the International Secretary-Treasurer, estab-lish a supplemental local strike and defense fund to befinanced by an increase in dues adopted by the LocalUnion by secret ballot vote, which increase shall notexceed $3.50 per member per month. Distributionsfrom the local supplemental strike and defense fundshall be in accordance with the rules of the InternationalStrike and Defense Fund and such additional rules asmay be established by the International Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 5. An individual member shall be entitled toexoneration from the payment of dues for any month forwhich the member has not become entitled to five (5)days’pay or its equivalent in wages and benefits in lieu ofwages. The International Executive Board shall adoptrules and regulations governing the implementation,application and administration of this Section.

Section 6. In all cases, other than the one provided inSection 5 of this Article, where the Local Union desiresexoneration from the payment of dues or initiation fees forcertain of its members, the request for exoneration mustbe signed by the Local Union President, the Local UnionFinancial Secretary and the Local Union RecordingSecretary, and approved by the District Director and theInternational Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 7. When exoneration is granted, the requeston the required report must be renewed each month.

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Section 8. The Local Union President, FinancialSecretary, and Treasurer shall be bonded in amounts tobe determined by the International Executive Board.Such bonds shall be obtained by the InternationalSecretary-Treasurer. Clerks employed by the LocalUnion and handling finances in any way must be bond-ed by the Local Union through arrangement with theInternational Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 9. Effective January 1, 1999, an OrganizingFund has been created that will be funded and adminis-tered as outlined in Article XIV, Section 16 of theInternational Constitution.

ARTICLE XIIIDelegates to International Convention

Section 1. No member shall be eligible to be a dele-gate to an International Convention unless the member:

(a) is employed in an enterprise, public or private, orany other place within the jurisdiction of theInternational Union or is one of the staff representativesof the International Union;

(b) shall have been in continuous good standing for aperiod of twenty-four (24) months immediately preced-ing the International Convention;24 and

(c) has attended at least one-third (1/3) of the regular

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24 If the Local Union or Unit has been in existence for less than 24 monthsprior to the International Convention, the member must have been in contin-uous good standing from the time that the member joined the Local Union.

meetings held by the member’s Local Union during thetwenty-four (24) month period immediately precedingthe month in which the delegate election is to be held.Meetings which a member was prevented from attend-ing because of such member’s Union activities, workinghours, service in the armed forces of the United Statesor Canada, sickness which confines, death in the imme-diate family, or jury duty, shall not be counted as meet-ings held in determining such member’s eligibility underthis Section; provided, that the member shall have theburden of proving inability to attend for one of the pre-scribed reasons, in accordance with procedures speci-fied in the Local Union Elections Manual.25

Section 2. Delegates to the International Conventionmust be elected at an official meeting of the LocalUnion or by referendum ballot election, after the Call forthe International Convention is received and has beenread to the Local Union. The Recording Secretary shallissue a Notice, signed by both the Recording Secretaryand the Local Union President, at least one week priorto such meeting or election, stating that delegates are tobe elected on a certain day.

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25 Because of the difficulty many months after the fact of verifying thevalidity of a claim that an individual missed a meeting because of “sick-ness which confines”, the Local Union may wish to adopt the followingadditional provision:“Any member who claims inability to attend a Local Union meetingbecause of a “sickness which confines’, must notify the RecordingSecretary of the Local Union within one month of such meeting, otherwisethe meeting will be counted as a meeting held in determining such mem-ber’s eligibility under this section.”

Section 3. The Local Union may choose to have theLocal Union President, if nominated at the official meet-ing, elected separately as a delegate by acclamation. Insuch event, the President shall be a delegate if approvedby a majority of the members voting. Otherwise, the del-egates to be selected from among the nominees mustreceive a plurality vote of the members voting.

ARTICLE XIVWorkers’ Compensation Committee,

Safety & Health Committee,Civil Rights Committee,

Women’s Committeeand Organizing Committee

Section 1. A Workers’ Compensation Committeeand a Safety and Health Committee, under the directionof the International Union or its designated representa-tive, shall be established in the Local Union.

Section 2. A Civil Rights Committee, (which mayalso be known as a Human Rights Committee), underthe direction of the International Union or its designatedrepresentative, shall be established in the Local Union toimplement our Union’s commitment to the protectionand extension of civil and human rights and liberties.

With respect to an Amalgamated Local Union,the Local Union President shall for each Unit eitherappoint a Unit Representative to the Committee orcooperate with the Unit Chair to establish a Unit-based Committee.

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Section 3. To further our commitment to encourageactivism, leadership development and greater under-standing of gender issues in our Local Unions withfemale membership, a Women’s Committee, under thedirection of the International Union or its designated rep-resentative, shall be established by such Local Unions.

Section 4. An Organizing Committee under the direc-tion of the International Union or its designated represen-tatives shall be established in the Local Union to assist inorganizing unorganized workers in the geographic areain which the Local Union is situated.26

In order to encourage the organization and affiliationof unorganized workers who may be placed within thejurisdiction of this Amalgamated Local Union, thisAmalgamated Local Union may engage in organizingactivity upon the express authorization of the Director ofthe District in which this Local Union is situated and sub-ject to such terms and conditions as the District Directorand the International President may impose.

(Note: The Local Union may amend its By-Laws byadding the following language:

“Subject to the approval of the District Director and

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26 Broad participation by members from all segments of the Local Unionshould be sought for the committees established pursuant to Article XIV.The Resolution on Organizing Committees in Canada on Page 55 of theseBy-Laws shall continue in effect where applicable.

the International President, a majority of the LocalUnion Officers may appoint a person to a position in theLocal Union known as Organizing Representative. TheOrganizing Representative shall be an employee of theAmalgamated Local Union and shall be responsible fororganizing new Units into the Amalgamated LocalUnion in accordance with these By-Laws; and to per-form such other duties as the District Director mayassign, and, where consistent with these By-Laws, theConstitution, the policies of the International Union orany assignments by the District Director, such otherduties as the Local Union may assign. The OrganizingRepresentative shall not by virtue of that position be anOfficer and shall not be responsible for setting policy forthe Local Union in the capacity of OrganizingRepresentative. However, a duly elected Officer of theLocal Union may serve as the OrganizingRepresentative.”)

ARTICLE XVTransfer Certificates

Section 1. The Local Union may issue to a memberin good standing a “transfer request” transferring mem-bership to another Local Union. All transfer requestforms must be obtained from the International Secretary-Treasurer by the Local Union Financial Secretary.

Section 2. All members must immediately transfer tothe Local Union having jurisdiction over the enterprise,public or private, at which they are employed.

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Section 3. Transfer requests issued in violation of thisArticle shall be invalid.

ARTICLE XVIStrikes

No strike shall be called without the approval of theInternational President.

ARTICLE XVIIOrder of Business for Local

Union Meetings

1. Call meeting to order.2. Roll call of Officers - by Recording Secretary.3. Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting.27

4. Reading of Communications.28

5. Report of Officers6. Report of Organizer or International

Representative.

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27 After the minutes have been read by the Recording Secretary a motionmust be made and seconded that the minutes be “approved” (or adopted)as read. Such a motion means that in the opinion of the members, theSecretary has recorded the minutes of the previous meeting correctly.Should the reading reveal any errors, or omissions, a member may moveto correct the minutes. If this motion is carried, another motion should fol-low that the minutes “as corrected” now be approved.

It is very important that brief, comprehensive minutes of each meetingbe kept by the Recording Secretary. These minutes are the official recordof the business transacted by the Local Union meeting. A regular book isprovided by the International Union for this purpose and should always bekept up to date.28 The Recording Secretary reads the letters which require attention. Thosethat do not require much discussion may be dealt with immediately; oth-ers may be laid over to “New Business” or referred to a standing commit-tee. If no action is required or desired, the communications may be readand, upon a motion, filed.

7. Initiation of New Members.8. Report of Special Committees.9. Reports of Standing (or Permanent) Committees.

10. Unfinished Business.29

11. New Business.30

12. Good and Welfare.31

13. Adjournment.

ARTICLE XVIIIEffective Date

Section 1. The provisions of these By-Laws whichconform, as required, with the provisions of the standardBy-Laws approved by the International Union are auto-matically in full force and effect. Any additions oramendments to additions to such standard By-Laws shallbe in full force and effect after their adoption by vote ata regular meeting of the Local Union in accordancewith the form and procedure provided for in ArticleXIX, and approval by the International Union.

Section 2. Notwithstanding anything to the con-trary herein, these By-Laws and any additions or

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29 These matters are those remaining over from previous meetings. Theyare usually recorded in the minutes of the previous meeting. TheRecording Secretary should inform the President of any unfinished busi-ness so it may be included in the order of business in this Section.30 These are matters which have been laid aside earlier in the meeting orwhich have come up since the last meeting.31 All miscellaneous matters for the good of the Union which should bebrought to the attention of the meeting should come to the floor at thistime. These matters usually do not require any action by the meeting.They are simply matters of information and education.

amendments to additions thereto shall be subject to,and shall not in any way be construed to supersede anyof the provisions of the International Constitution orthe Manuals and policies of the International Union.

ARTICLE XIXAdditions and Amendments

to Additions

Additions and Amendments to additions may bemade in the following manner:

1. Any addition or any amendment to an addition tothe standard By-Laws approved by the InternationalUnion must be in the form of either a new Subsectionunder the proper Section, a new Section under theproper Article, or a new Article.

2. All additions and amendments to additions to thestandard By-Laws must not conflict with such stan-dard By-Laws and must be submitted to theInternational Union for approval. Such additions shallbecome effective only after approval by theInternational Union.

3. Proposed additions or amendments to additionsmust be submitted in writing and read at two (2) consec-utive Local Union meetings, and passed by a two-thirds(2/3) majority vote of the membership present at the nextregular meeting. The subject matter of such additions oramendments to additions must be advertised to the mem-bership through bulletin board or other medium prior tothe meeting at which the vote thereon is to be taken. Suchadditions or amendments to additions shall becomeeffective only after approval by the International Union.

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APPENDIX

RESOLUTION BY INTERNATIONALEXECUTIVE BOARD

In order to further organizing activities in Canada, thefollowing language is added to the “By-Laws for LocalUnions” and shall be considered a part of the By-Laws ofall Local Unions in Canada where provincial or federal lawrequires the Local Union to be the applicant for certifica-tion:

Organizing Committee - In order to facilitate the recruit-ing and unionizing of workers in the Canadian provincesand in the federal jurisdiction, each Local Union, whereprovincial or federal law or the practice of any provinciallabour board or court or of the federal labour board requiresthe Local Union to be the applicant for certification, shallhave an organizing committee consisting of the President,the Vice President and a Staff Representative assigned toorganizing. This committee may authorize the filing of anapplication for certification with the applicable labourboard or court on behalf of the Local Union, may appointthe persons who are authorized to file and sign the applica-tion on behalf of the Local Union and may take any stepsdeemed appropriate to insure that the certification proceed-ings are successfully completed. If necessary, the organizingcommittee may hold a meeting by conference call.

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NOTES

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