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PRIVATIZATION AND CONTRACTING OUT

Resolution No. 218
Submitted by CUPE British Columbia, Locals 416 (Ont.), 389 (B.C.)
Committee recommendation: Covers 219 and 221
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

  • Conduct a comprehensive review of the impact on communities where P3s have been implemented.
  • Develop case studies of failed P3s and contracting out across the country reflecting the regions and sectors.

 BECAUSE:

  • Local unions need additional resources to resist P3s and contracting out.
  • The push to privatize is increasingly promoted by corporate lobby groups, and the federal government through PPP Canada Inc.

 TRADE

Resolution No. 233
Submitted by CUPE Ontario
Committee recommendation: Covers 232
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

  1. Campaign against the proposed trade agreement between Canada and the European Union;
  2. Support the Trade Justice Network (TJN) and provincial coalitions working against CETA;
  3. Work with the CLC and the NDP to encourage parliamentary opposition to CETA;
  4. Work with Public Services International (PSI), European trade unions, civil society allies in Europe and progressive members of the European Parliament to oppose CETA in Europe;
  5. Work with CUPE divisions to encourage provincial governments to oppose CETA and to be transparent about their CETA negotiating positions;
  6. Lobby the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, provincial municipal associations and local municipalities to seek a permanent exemption from CETA for local governments; and
  7. Inform CUPE members and the public about the dangers of CETA for public services and democracy in Canada.

 BECAUSE:

  • CETA is a direct threat to Canadian public services, the rights of local governments, water services, Medicare and jobs;
  • The Conservative Government and the EU aim to conclude a CETA treaty by early 2012; and
  • CUPE is working with the TJN, the CLC and civil society allies to campaign against CETA.

 PENSIONS

Resolution No. 207
Submitted by Local 951 (B.C.)
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

  1. Continue to participate in progressive pension reform on a provincial and federal basis to secure defined benefit pension plans for all workers.
  2. Continue to support the Canadian Labour Congress plan for pension reform.
  3. Continue CUPE’s campaign to secure defined benefit pension plans for all CUPE members who don’t have pension plans and to secure and maintain defined benefit pension plan coverage for those whose plans may be under attack.
  4. Continue to raise awareness with CUPE locals of the importance of bargaining and/or maintaining defined benefit pensions with their employers.
  5. Continue to ensure that training and resources are available to help CUPE locals fight threats to their negotiated pension plans.
  6. Make portability of pensions between plans and jurisdictions a priority.
  7. Continue to devote adequate resources to a campaign to educate CUPE members as to the maximum benefits they are entitled to under the Canada and Quebec pension plans.
  8. Fight the Canadian Government’s “fend for yourself” approach to public pensions and prevent the transfer of risks and costs from investors and corporations to pensioners and workers.

 BECAUSE:

  • The economic and financial crisis has exposed deep flaws in the Canadian pension system and identified that it cannot guarantee and sustain pensions as deferred wages for workers;
  • If implemented. CUPE’s proposals would offer meaningful and greatly needed income security in retirement to all Canadians including women and other increasingly vulnerable populations;
  • All workers deserve a pension that is secure, includes post-retirement health and welfare benefits, indexing to meet cost of living adjustments and allows them to retire with dignity;
  • Improving retirement income through the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) will enhance all Canadians’ ability to retire with dignity;
  • CUPE Locals 917 and 951 just completed a five-year battle to save their defined benefit pension plan and their success was a direct result of the staff and resources provided by CUPE National.

 ENVIRONMENT

Resolution No. 94
Submitted by the Hospital Employees’ Union (B.C.)
Committee recommendation: Covers 93
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Develop a national environment policy by the end of 2012.

 BECAUSE:

  • Climate change is the greatest threat to our environment and communities; and
  • CUPE must have a clear direction to address climate change; and
  • A national environment policy will help set a course for future CUPE work on the environment; and
  • A national environment policy for CUPE will serve as a model for other organizations within labour and other socially progressive movements.

LIVING WAGE/POVERTY

Resolution No. 193
Submitted by the Hospital Employees’ Union (B.C.)
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

  1. Work with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and its affiliates to make the achievement of a living wage a priority for all workers; and
  2. Work with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) to encourage affiliates to apply to become living wage: employers and as such, pay fair wages to all their employees and ensure that companies or services they deal with also pay their employees a living wage.

 BECAUSE:

  • The living wage is based on the real costs for a family of four to stay above the poverty line in their community;
  • Minimum wages across Canada are too low to properly support a family;
  • Child poverty remains too high and a living wage helps alleviate this situation; workers and their families should not be forced to live in poverty; and
  • All workers deserve to be paid a living wage for their labour.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Resolution No. 37
Submitted by the Locals 1979, 2204 (Ont.)
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

  • Launch a broad-based campaign to fight the imposition of two-tier contracts with lower wages, benefits and working conditions;
  • Include an education component in this campaign that highlights the additional impact two-tier contracts have on youth, equity-seeking groups and non-unionized workers.

 BECAUSE:

  • Unionized workers are under attack by governments determined to make them pay for a financial crisis they did not cause;
  • In the name of “austerity,” governments are imposing a big business, union-busting agenda even though big businesses continue to reap major profits;
  • Gains made by workers over decades of struggles are being swept away by union-busting legislation as with Air Canada and CUPW;
  • Young workers are being told to expect less, work for less and do more with less;
  • Rollbacks in wages and benefits create an unequal two-tier system and undermine the union.

EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

Resolution No. 87
Submitted by CUPE Manitoba, Local 500 (Man.)
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

  • In conjunction with the CLC, lobby the Federal government to alter the Employment Insurance system to drop the waiting period for apprentices.
  • Encourage the employment system to streamline and fast track claims for apprentices.
  • Encourage the CLC to accept and debate this resolution at their upcoming conventions.

 BECAUSE:

  • Workers are being penalized two weeks pay for every level of apprenticeship they take, even though the layoffs are for educations purposes of eight weeks or less and not permanent.
  • Trades across Canada are experiencing shortages of people. Attracting young people to the trades will benefit Canada as a whole.
  • One people finish an apprenticeship program they are very unlikely to have to use the Employment Insurance program ever again.
  • Apprentices are laid off in a scheduled planned format, yet most time they do not receive a check for Employment Insurance until after they are done the schooling and are back to work, creating financial hardships.

CASUAL WORKERS

Resolution No. 18
Submitted by Local 1190 (N.B.)
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

  1. Encourage CUPE New Brunswick with CUPE National’s help to take the New Brunswick Provincial Government to court for the casuals covered under Part 1 of the New Brunswick Civil Service Act; and
  2. Encourage all CUPE locals under Part 1 of the New Brunswick Civil Service Act to help so all their casuals are treated fairly in New Brunswick; and
  3. Encourage other unions who are covered under Part 1 of the New Brunswick Civil Service Act to join forces with CUPE to get changes to this Act that limits casual workers.

 BECAUSE

  • The casuals under Part 1 of the New Brunswick Civil Service Act are limited to only six months work per year or 12 months of work per 24 months; and
  • The casuals deserve to be able to work year-round like other workers in the Province of New Brunswick without constrictive boundaries placed on them due to an outdated New Brunswick Civil Service Act.

ABORIGINAL ISSUES

Resolution No. 1
Submitted by CUPE Prince Edward Island, CUPE British Columbia, the Toronto District Council (Ont.), Locals 2191, 2936 (Ont.), 998, 2348 (Man.)
Committee recommendation: Covers 2
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

  • Launch an education and action “Enough is Enough Campaign” to rectify the Aboriginal Nations’ lack of access to clean, safe public water;
  • Insist that Aboriginal Nations’ rights to water and self-determination be protected from trade agreements like NAFTA, CETA and the WTO;
  • Work with the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit, the Métis, Council of Canadians, The Polaris Institute and other allies in taking action to ensure the Aboriginal Nations no longer have to endure unsafe water conditions;
  • Develop the “Enough is Enough Campaign” to include actions that are coordinated in provinces across the country and escalate towards a national day of action by the end of 2012.

 BECAUSE:

  • Many of the half million people on First Nations Reserves do not have access to clean, safe drinking water, which is a fundamental human right;
  • Aboriginal women have a significant spiritual connection to water and “boil water advisories” have an even more adverse effect on them as they are most likely to have the primary household and child care responsibilities;
  • A coordinated education and action campaign will focus labour and social activists to rectify this great injustice.

  

  

Resolution No. 5
Submitted by CUPE Prince Edward Island, the Hospital Employees’ Union (B.C.), Local 1870 (P.E.I.)
Committee recommendation: Covers 6 and 7
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

  • Lobby the federal government concerning the right of the Algonquin’s of Barriere Lake to retain their tradition of customary self-government to run their affairs and for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) to cease and desist in its imposition of an Indian Act system of band council elections;
  • Lobby the federal government to honour the letter and the spirit of 1991 Trilateral Agreement with the Algonquin’s of Barriere Lake of which the federal government is a signatory;
  • Along with the CLC will continue to support the work of the Defenders of the Land in this and related struggles.

 BECAUSE:

  • The Algonquin’s Barriere Lake have been living sustainably on their land for thousands of years: and
  • They have operated for countless generations under traditional governance system connected to their use of the land; and
  • The Government of Canada is using section 74 of the Indian Act to abolish Barriere Lake’s traditional governance system and impose a colonial electoral system, and
  • The acclaimed chief in the imposed section 74 election refused the position, and those now in place had the support of only 3% of the band members, and
  • The Government of Canada has not honoured 1991 Trilateral Agreement for environmental management/protection which they signed, and
  • Many of the people of Barriere Lake who are protesting this situation are being arrested and criminalized for standing up for their rights.

HARASSMENT AND BULLYING

Resolution No. 114
Submitted by CUPE Prince Edward Island, the Hospital Employees’ Union (B.C.), Locals 2191, 2936 (Ont.), 4828 (Sask.)
Committee recommendation: Covers 115
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

  1.   
  2. Support and promote the national anti-bullying day, the Day of Pink, April 13th (dayofpink.org);
  3. Develop, update and/or distribute training and promotional materials that oppose homophobic and transphobic bullying in the workplace for CUPE members;
  4. Develop promotional give-aways for Pride marches on the theme of homophobic and transphobic bullying in the workplace; and
  5. Support Egale Canada’s (“Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere”) Safe Schools Campaign.

 BECAUSE:

  • Homophobic and transphobic bullying is an issue in our schools, in our workplaces, in our unions and in our society;
  • We have all been touched by bullying on some level; and
  • Homophobic and transphobic bullying causes low self-esteem, keeps us silent and in the closet, negatively affects our physical and mental health, creates job loss and poverty, increases the threat of gay-and trans-bashing and suicide.

 EQUALITY

Resolution No. 104
Submitted by CUPE Prince Edward Island, Locals 2191, 2936 (Ont.), 2348 (Man.)
Committee recommendation: Covers 105 and 106
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

  1. Develop an employment equity policy and strategy for CUPE.
  2. Ensure that the policy is implemented and enforced.
  3. Support employment equity as a committed employer and a largest labour organization.
  4. Promote employment equity education among the leadership, department heads, union staff and membership.
  5. Provide resources to set up education courses, workshops and conferences to promote employment equity.

 BECAUSE:

  • The five designated groups (Aboriginal Peoples, people with disabilities, LGBTTI, women and visible minorities) deserve equal opportunities and fairness in employment.
  • It is imperative that employment equity programs be negotiated. CUPE must be involved in every step of the process.
  • The participation of the union is critical to ensuring that there is more buy in from the members.
  • The role of the union in the promotion of employment equity goes beyond normal collective bargaining agreements.

 ENVIRONMENT

Resolution No. 95
Submitted by Local 957 (Que.)
Committee recommendation: Covers 105 and 106
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL

  1. Organizes a cross-Canada campaign on the importance of maintaining government control over our natural resources and energy;
  2. Lobbies our governments to demand public sector involvement in the area of energy.

 BECAUSE:

  • The two essential factors in a country’s economic development, apart from its human potential, are unquestionably its natural resources and its various sources of energy;
  • Canada is rich in natural resources and energy in all forms, and their exploitation should first and foremost be of benefit to the people;
  • Far too many countries have privatized their main sources of energy and ceded development rights over their natural resources for next to nothing, generating astronomical profits for a few individuals and private companies while the population has less and less access to public services worthy of the name;
  • To do nothing would be to encourage social inequity, since the inevitable result is the enrichment of a few at the expense of the many, and a union like ours must put a priority on the equitable distribution of wealth and on closing the gap between rich and poor.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Resolution No. C1
Submitted by the National Executive Board
Convention decision: Adopted

The CUPE Constitution has been rewritten in clear language following adoption of resolution No. 44 submitted to the 24th CUPE National Convention in 2009.

Please refer to the document titled Constitutional Amendment No. C1 – The CUPE Constitution in Clear Language for the complete text of this resolution.

  

  

Resolution No. C2
Submitted by the National Executive Board
Convention decision: Adopted

Article 2.1 Goals

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend Article 2.1 of the Constitution by replacing “are” with “include”.

 BECAUSE:

  • The goals of the Union should be permitted to go beyond those listed in the Article 2.1.

Article 3.5 Jurisdictional Disputes

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend Article 3.5(c) by replacing the second sentence with:

“The decision of the National Executive Board is final and binding on the chartered organizations, except that it may be appealed to Convention.”

 BECAUSE:

  • Article 3.5(c) is not clear on whether the decision of the National Executive Board can be appealed to Convention or is subject to approval by Convention.

Article 9.5 Employing Staff

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend Article 9.5(c) to read:

“The Regional Director selects National Representatives in the region with the approval of the Managing Director of Organizing and Regional Services.”

 BECAUSE:

  • The hiring of National Representatives must be approved by the Managing Director of Organizing and Regional Services.

Article 9.5 Employing Staff

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend Article 9.5(d) to read:

“The National Officers appoint Assistant Regional Directors, with the approval of the National Executive Committee.”

 BECAUSE:

  • The National Officers appoint Assistant Regional Directors, subject to approval by the National Executive Committee.

Article 9.5 Employing Staff

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

  • . Amend Article 9.5(f) by replacing “Assistant National Directors” with “Assistant Branch Directors”.
  • Amend Article 9.5(g) by “National Directors” with “Branch Directors”.

 BECAUSE:

  • The titles of these positions have been changed.

Article 9.5 Employing Staff

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

1. Add a new paragraph to Article 9.5 as Article 9.5(g):

“The National Officers appoint Managing Directors, with the approval of the National Executive Board.”

2. Re-letter the current Article 9.5 (g) as Article 9.5 (h).

 BECAUSE:

  • The Constitution does not contain a process for the hiring of Managing Directors.

Article 11.6(a) Oath of Nomination

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Remove the phrase “come forward to the podium and” from Article 11.6(a).

 BECAUSE:

  • At convention candidates for office take the oath of nomination from the floor at a microphone.

Article 11.8 Vacancy for National Officer

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend Articles 11.8(a) and 11.8(b) so that, if the office of National President or National Secretary-Treasurer becomes vacant, the replacement will be elected by a majority of members of the National Executive Board by adding this sentence to both Article 11.8(a) and Article 11.8(b):

“The National Executive Board will elect a replacement by majority vote of all its members.”

 BECAUSE:

  • The Constitution now requires that replacements for General Vice-Presidents and Regional Vice-Presidents be elected by a majority of all members of the National Executive Board and not just a majority of members voting; and
  • This requirement should also apply to replacements for the National President and the National Secretary-Treasurer.

Article B.2.5 Failure to Attend Meetings

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend Article B.2.5 by replacing “three consecutive meetings” with “three consecutive membership meetings or three consecutive executive meetings”.

 BECAUSE:

  • This change reflects the interpretation of this article. Specifically absences from membership meetings and executive meetings cannot be combined to declare a position vacant.

Article B.3.3 Recording Secretary

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend the last sentence of Article B.3.3 by adding duties contained in the Local Union’s bylaws so that it reads:

“The Recording Secretary performs other duties required by the Local Union, its bylaws or this Constitution.”

 BECAUSE:

  • The duties of a Recording Secretary also include duties that are set out in a Local Union’s bylaws.

Article B.3.9 Return of Property by Secretary-Treasurer

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Replace the current Article B.3.9 with:

“B.3.9 Return of Property by Officers

All officers must give all properties, assets, funds and all records of the Local Union to their successors at the end of their term of office.”

 BECAUSE:

  • All officers of a Local Union should be required to turn over all property belonging to the Local Union to their successors at the end of their term of office.

Article B.4.4 Expenditures

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend the first sentence of Article B.4.4 to read:

“Funds can only be spent for the valid purposes of the Local Union and as permitted in the bylaws or as approved by a majority vote at a regular or special membership meeting.”

 BECAUSE:

  • A Local Union should be able to approve expenditures at a special membership meeting as well as at a regular membership meeting.

Article B.9.2 Transfer Card

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend the first sentence of Article B.9.2(b) by removing the requirement that the seal of the Local Union be attached to a transfer card so that it reads:

“All Local Unions will recognize transfer cards issued by other Local Unions if the card is on the form provided by the National Union.”

 BECAUSE:

  • Most Local Unions do not have seals and cannot attach them to a transfer card.

Article B.11.3 Selecting a Trial Panel and Trial Committee

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend Article B.11.3(h) to read:

“The President will carry out the duties of the Recording Secretary if the Recording Secretary is the accuser or the accused. The President will carry out the duties of the Vice-President if the Vice-President is the accuser or the accused. The Vice-President will chair the meeting if the President is the accuser or the accused.”

 BECAUSE:

  • No officer who is an accused or an accuser should have a role as a local union officer in the Trial Procedure.

Article B.11.5 Appeal

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend the last sentence of article B.11.5(d) by replacing “present evidence” with “present their case” so that it reads:

“The Appeal Panel will determine its own procedure and will give the parties a full opportunity to present their case and make submissions on the issues in the appeal.”

 BECAUSE:

  • The parties do not normally present evidence in an appeal.

Article B.11.5 Appeal

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend Article B.11.5(i) by requiring that the decision of the Appeal Panel also be reported to the accused and the accuser so that the first sentence reads:

“The Appeal Panel will report its decision to the accused, the accuser and the Recording Secretary of the Local Union.”

 BECAUSE:

  • The Appeal Panel should be required to report its decision to the accused and the accuser as it now does in practice.

Article B.11.5 Appeal

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend the last sentence of Article B.11.5(i) by requiring the Local Union to report the result of the appeal to the next membership meeting whether the appeal is upheld or dismissed so that the last sentence reads:

“The decision of the Appeal Panel will be reported to the next membership meeting and recorded in the minutes of the meeting.”

 BECAUSE:

  • The decision of the Appeal Panel should be reported to the next regular membership meeting and included in the minutes of the meeting.

  

  

Resolution No. C3
Submitted by the National Executive Board
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend Article 4.7 and the title of Article IV by replacing “Provincial Occupational Groups” with “Provincial Sectoral Groups”

 BECAUSE:

  • These groups are made up of workers in the same sector not in the same occupation.

  

  

Resolution No. C4
Submitted by the National Executive Board
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend Article 6.8(a) to add Provincial Council of Unions and Airline Division Components to the list of organizations which can be represented only by a member in good standing from a Local Union affiliated to that organization. The second sentence of Article 6.8(a) will read:

“Only a member in good standing of a Provincial Division, District Council, Service Division, Provincial Council of Unions, Council of Unions or Airline Division Component to which their Local Union is affiliated can be a delegate representing that organization.”

 BECAUSE:

  • The requirements to be a delegate from a Provincial Council of Unions or an Airline Division Component should be the same as to be a delegate from the other organizations listed in Article 6.8(a).

  

  

Resolution No. C5
Submitted by the National Executive Board
Convention decision: Adopted

 CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend Article 6.8(b) to add Provincial Council of Unions, Council of Unions and Airline Division Component to the list of organizations that can be represented at Convention by a person who meets the requirements of this Article. Article 6.8(b) will read:

“A full-time elected officer or appointed official of a Local Union, Provincial Division, District Council, Service Division, Provincial Council of Unions, Council of Unions or Airline Division Component can be recognized as a delegate representing that organization only if the officer or official was a member in good standing of a Local Union and covered by the collective agreement of that Local Union when elected or appointed to office.”

 BECAUSE:

  • Officers or officials who represent a Provincial Council of Unions, Council of Unions or Airline Division Component should be subject to the same requirements as the other organizations listed in Article 6.8(b).

  

  

Resolution No. C6
Submitted by the National Executive Board
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend Article 11.1(b) to make the eligibility requirements for Regional Vice-Presidents clear to read as follows:

“Only members who reside in the region and who are members in good standing of a Local Union in the region are eligible for election to the office of Regional Vice-President. A Regional Vice-President who ceases to meet these requirements cannot continue in office.”

 BECAUSE:

  • The Constitution currently contains different requirements to be eligible for election and to hold office as a Regional Vice-President; and
  • These eligibility requirements should be consistent.

  

  

Resolution No. C7
Submitted by the National Executive Board
Committee recommendation: As amended
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend Article 15.1 to permit the Constitution to be amended at a regular or special Convention so that Article 15.1 reads:

“This Constitution can only be amended at a regular or special Convention by a two-thirds majority of voting delegates who vote”.

 BECAUSE:

  • The Union should be able to amend this Constitution at a special Convention if necessary.

  

  

Resolution No. C8
Submitted by the National Executive Board
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend Article B.4.3(c) to allow a Local Union to set or change its regular monthly dues by referendum vote, as well as at a membership meeting. Article B.4.3(c) will read:

“A Local Union can set or change the regular monthly dues at a regular or special membership meeting or by referendum vote. Notice of at least seven days at a previous meeting or 60 days in writing must be given.”

 BECAUSE:

  • A Local Union should be able to change its dues structure by referendum vote.

  

  

  

Resolution No. C9
Submitted by the National Executive Board
Convention decision: Adopted

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Amend Article B.7.1 to read:

“B.7.1 Retired Members’ Associations

(a) A Local Union can form a Retired Members’ Association. The National Union will charter the Retired Members’ Association. All members of the Local Union who hold an Honorary Retiring Card and their spouses can join the Association. The Association will hold regular membership meetings.

(b) Every Retired Members’ Association must have an Executive Board made up of its President and Recording Secretary and other officers or members of the Executive Board needed by the Retired Members’ Association to conduct its affairs.

(c) The President of the Local Union is a member of the Executive Board of the Association with voice but no vote.

(d) The Association will elect a member to the Executive Board of the Local Union with voice but no vote.

(e) Every Retired Members’ Association must have bylaws approved by a majority of its members. These bylaws do not come into effect until approved in writing by the National President.

(f) If a Local Union has too few retired members to form a viable Association, its retired members can join a Retired Members’ Association in the area.

(g) The National Union may charter a District Council of Retired Members’ Associations for an area. A District Council of Retired Members’ Associations must have bylaws approved by a majority of its members. These bylaws do not come into effect until approved in writing by the National President. A Retired Members’ Association in the area covered by a District Council of Retired Members’ Associations can join it.

(h) Retired Members’ Associations and District Councils of Retired Members’ Associations must comply with the policies and programs of the National Union. They may submit resolutions to Convention through a Local Union.”

 BECAUSE:

  • Every Retired Members’ Association needs an Executive Board to conduct its affairs;
  • Every Retired Members’ Association needs bylaws to give it an operating structure and these bylaws should be subject to approval by the National President in writing;
  • Every District Council of Retired Members’ Associations needs bylaws to give it an operating structure and these bylaws should be subject to approval by the National President in writing; and
  • Only a Retired Members’ Association within the area covered by a District Council of Retired Members’ Associations should be able to join the District Council.