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Article XV - Rules for Local Unions
Sec. 1.
No L.U. shall meet more than twice monthly unless specifically called.
Special meetings may be called only by the business manager, railroad
general chairman, or the L.U. Executive Board.
Sec. 2.
Each L.U. shall adjourn its meetings not later than 11 p.m. prevailing
time, and no other meetings shall be held on the same day or night. Any
action taken after this hour shall be null and void. Anyone presiding
over the meeting shall be held personally liable and subject to penalty
from the I.P. for permitting violation of this provision. (When a
L.U.'s members are engaged in operations of a continuous nature, and it
is impossible or impractical to comply with the above provision, the
I.P. may grant special dispensation in such cases.)
Sec. 3.
Any L.U. falling to hold a regular meeting for a period of one month
shall forfeit its charter, unless it shows good cause for not doing so.
Seven (7) members in good standing shall constitute a quorum provided
the L.U. has a membership of seventy-five (75) or more. If the L.U. has
less than seventy-five (75) members, then five (5) shall constitute a
quorum.
Sec. 4. L.U.'s
shall affiliate, or shall not affiliate, with state, provincial,
central or trades councils or bodies, as decided by the I.P.
Sec. 5.
No L.U. shall allow any member who becomes an electrical employer, or a
partner in an electrical employing concern, to hold office in the L.U.
or attend any of its meetings, or vote in any election of a L.U. The
L.U. shall allow such a member to continue his membership in the L.U.
or take a withdrawal card for deposit in the I.0.
Sec. 6.
L.U.'s are empowered to make their own bylaws and rules, but these
shall in no way conflict with this Constitution. Where any doubt
appears, this Constitution shall be supreme. All bylaws, amendments and
rules, all agreements, jurisdiction, etc., of any kind or nature, shall
be submitted in duplicate form to the I.P. for approval. In the case of
agreements, however, additional copies are required by the I.0.
Therefore, six (6) signed copies of construction trades agreements or
amendments and five (5) signed copies of all other agreements or
amendments shall be submitted to the l.P. No L.U. shall put into effect
any bylaw, amendment, rule or agreement of any kind without first
securing such approval. All these shall be null and void without I.P.
approval. The I.P. has the right to correct any bylaws, amendments,
rules or agreements to conform to this Constitution and the policies of
the I.B.E.W.
Approval of L.U. collective bargaining agreements
by the I.P. does not make the International a party to such agreements
unless the I.P. specifically states in writing that the International
is a party to any such agreement.
Sec. 7.
This Constitution and the rules herein shall be considered a part of
all L.U. bylaws and shall be absolutely binding on each and every L.U.
member.
Sec. 8. All L.U. bylaws or rules in conflict with this Constitution and the rules herein are null and void.
Sec. 9.
Except when decided otherwise by the I.P. agreements between L.U.'s and
employers must contain a condition that the L.U. is part of the
I.B.E.W. and that a violation or annulment of agreement with any L.U.
annuls all agreements entered into with the same employer, corporation
or firm and any other L.U. of the I.B.E.W.
Sec. 10.
All L.U.'s shall be compelled to live up to all approved agreements
unless broken or terminated by the other party or parties, which fact
shall first be ascertained by the I.P. No agreement of any kind or
nature shall be abrogated without sanction of the I.P.
Sec. 11.
No L.U. shall allow its members to work for any employer in difficulty
with it or any other L.U. of the I.B.E.W., or directly with the
I.B.E.W., providing the I.P. has recognized such difficulty.
Sec. 12.
No L.U. shall cause or allow a stoppage of work in any controversy of a
general nature before obtaining consent of the I.P. The I.P. or his
representative has the power at any time to enter any situation or
controversy involving a L.U. or any of its members, and the decision of
the I.P., direct or through his representative, shall be accepted by
the L.U. and its officers, subject to appeal to the l.E.C. and I.C.
Sec. 13.
No L.U.'s shall by any action, law, rule, agreement or understanding,
refuse to furnish members to, or prevent their members working for,
outside employers who have work within their jurisdiction, under the
same working conditions and wages that the L.U. members work for local
employers, provided that such outside employers recognize the I.B.E.W.
as the collective bargaining agency on their other work.
Sec. 14.
Each L.U. has power to adopt, or subscribe to, an apprenticeship
system, training program, or helper rules, as the conditions may
require. However, such shall not conflict with applicable standards or
policies of the I.B.E.W or to which it is a party.
After such an
apprentice has worked one year in the jurisdiction of the L.U., he
shall be admitted into the I.B.E.W. through the L.U. without further
action by the LU.
Apprentices, helpers and groundmen may or may not have a voice and vote at L.U. meetings or elections as the L.U. decides and as provided in the L.U. bylaws.
No apprentice shall be eligible to hold any office in the L.U., except that a member who was previously eligible to hold office in the L.U. shall remain eligible if he entered an apprenticeship program for the purpose of upgrading his classification.
Apprentices, helpers and groundmen may or may not have a voice and vote at L.U. meetings or elections as the L.U. decides and as provided in the L.U. bylaws.
No apprentice shall be eligible to hold any office in the L.U., except that a member who was previously eligible to hold office in the L.U. shall remain eligible if he entered an apprenticeship program for the purpose of upgrading his classification.
Sec. 15.
Each L.U. shall have a safety and health committee which shall:
investigate and report serious accidents and fatalities; cooperate with
the I.0. on safety and health matters; promote safety and health; and
cooperate with safety and health organizations as determined by the
L.U. and as directed by the I.0. Each L.U. shall investigate and report
to the I.O. all serious lost time accidents and fatalities. Reports
shall be submitted using the web-based, electronic version of Form 173
IBEW Report of Occupational Injury or Fatality. Nothing in this
section, or in the activities of the safety and health committee, is
intended to create any right or obligation enforceable by individual
members or employees against the L.U., the I.B.E.W. or members of the
committee.
Sec. 16.
Each L.U. shall establish the amount of its admission fee subject to
approval of the I.P. Such fees must be stated in the L.U. bylaws; and
in case of a dispute, the fees recorded in the bylaws shall be
conclusive of the correct amount.
Sec. 17. In no case shall a L.U. charge any member of the I.B.E.W. an examination fee.
Sec. 18.
No L.U. shall send out, or approve the sending out of, financial
appeals of any kind without first having consent of the I.P. No L.U.
shall recognize or pass upon any financial appeals, etc., it may
receive without such appeals having received approval of the I.P.
Sec. 19.
Whenever the I.P. deems it necessary to protect or advance the
interests of a L.U. and the I.B.E.W., or to organize and protect its
jurisdiction, the I.P. may require the L.U. to employ a sufficient
number of representatives to cover the jurisdiction or territory
involved.
Sec. 20.
Railroad L.U.'s shall join Railroad System Federations and System
Councils where such are formed. Railroad L.U.'s must contribute to the
support of and conform to the laws of Railroad Councils where such are
formed. Railroad L.U.'s shall cooperate in the manner directed by the
I.P.
Sec. 21. L.U.'s
outside the railroad industry may form System Councils for bargaining
purposes, with approval of the I.P. and shall do so when directed by
the I.P. Where formed, the L.U.'s affected or involved shall affiliate,
and remain so, and shall pay for the support of, and conform to the
approved bylaws of, such System Councils.
The I.S.T. shall grant a charter to such System Council when authorized by the I.P. The type of work and the territory or jurisdiction covered by the charter must be defined in the approved bylaws. Each delegate to the System Council shall be elected in the same manner as are the officers of the L.U. he represents.
Such System Councils, and their officers and representatives, shall be subject to and be governed by the same rules and laws (where such apply to them) as appear in this Constitution for L.U.'s.
The I.S.T. shall grant a charter to such System Council when authorized by the I.P. The type of work and the territory or jurisdiction covered by the charter must be defined in the approved bylaws. Each delegate to the System Council shall be elected in the same manner as are the officers of the L.U. he represents.
Such System Councils, and their officers and representatives, shall be subject to and be governed by the same rules and laws (where such apply to them) as appear in this Constitution for L.U.'s.
Sec. 22. No L.U.
shall withdraw from the I.B.E.W. or dissolve as long as five (5)
members in good standing object thereto. Before withdrawal, written
notice must be given to the I.P. and all books, papers, charters, funds
and all property are to be forwarded to the I.S.T.
Sec. 23.
L.U.'s, Railroad Councils or System Councils whose charters have been
revoked or suspended for violation of this Constitution, or for
noncompliance with decisions rendered by proper International
authority, shall have no right or power to take any action, except
actions necessary to comply with the Constitution or decisions rendered
by proper I.B.E.W authority. After such action has been taken, no
further action can be taken until notice from the I.P. is received that
revocation or suspension has been terminated.
Sec. 24.No
L.U., or its officers, employees or representatives, is authorized to
act on behalf of the I.B.E.W., or shall be deemed an agent of the
I.B.E.W., except upon specific authorization granted by the I.P.
Parliamentary Rules
- The chairman may save time in deciding certain questions by asking if there are any objections. If there are none, he shall declare an action be adopted.
- He shall not allow any member of the L.U. to speak more than once on the same subject until all members desiring the floor have spoken, and not more than twice, and not more than seven minutes at any one time, except those making reports.
- Sectarian discussions shall not be permitted under any circumstances.
- When members desire all talk or debate stopped and a vote taken, they may call for the previous question. When this is done it shall be put to a vote at once in this form: "Shall all debate be closed and the main question voted upon?" If this carries by a majority vote, then a vote shall be taken at once on the question before the meeting.
- An appeal may be taken at the meeting on any ruling of the chairman, but not when a question of law is involved. When a appeal is taken to the meeting, the chairman shall state it in these words: "Shall the decision of your chairman be upheld?" The member making the appeal shall than state his grounds and the chairman shall give the reason for his dicision. The vote shall than be taken without further debate.
- A question can be reconsidered only at the same meeting or at the next regular meeting. If reconsidered at the same meeting, a majority vote is sufficient. If reconsidered at the next meeting, a two-thirds vote is required. A motion to reconsider must be made and seconded by two members who voted with the majority.
- A motion can only be amended only twice.
- If a motion has been amended, then the amendment shall be voted upon first. If more than one amendment has been offered, then the vote shall be first on the amendment to the amendment; next on the amendment to the motion; and last on the original motion.
- Motions to lay on the table, or to read a paper or document, or to adjurn, are not debatable.
- All resolutions and resignations must be submitted in writing.
- All other parliamentary questions not decided in these rules shall be decided by the Robert's Rules of Order, revised.
Order of Business For Local Unions
- Opening. (See Ritual.)
- Roll Call of Officers and Reading of Minutes.
- Communications and Bills.
- Reports of Executive Board and Officers.
- Propositions for Membership.
- Reports of Candidates.
- Balloting or Voting for Candidates.
- Obligation of Candidates. (See Ritual.)
- Reports of Delegates and Committees.
- Reports of Accidents, Sickness or Death of Members.
- Roll Call of Members. (Optional with Local Unions.)
- Unfinished Business.
- New Business. (Matters relating to any election and installation of officers.)
- Good of the Union.
- Receipts and Expenses. (Read Constitution.)
- Closing. (See Ritual.)
Name and Constitution
