Proposed changes to by-laws to be
decided at December meeting
The following two proposed changes to the By-laws of Local
7-232 were read at the November membership meeting. These proposed changes are
being recommended by the By-law Committee.
Members will vote to accept or reject these proposed changes
at the December 14, membership meeting. Both changes are amendments to the
Local’s by-laws. Amendments require approval of two-thirds of the members
voting at the meeting and the approval of the International President to be
ratified.
These changes will move elections to fill vacancies to a less
expensive format at the membership meeting location rather than the current
process which has led to these elections being held in the plants requiring many
members of the election committee to work a long day on lost time for each
election.
While the process of having in-plant elections do lead to
more participation, the cost of holding these elections with twelve or more
members of the election committee on lost time for at least one day for both the
primary and final election is prohibitive. There also are difficulties in
informing members of candidates and election times and locations with the
current process.
These changes were proposed by Ann Murphy, Briggs Unit Chair
of the Election Committee. The changes are unanimously recommended by the B-law
Committee.
Proposed Changes
Article XIV
Section 7. Vacancies
In the event of the death, removal or resignation of any
Local Union officer or Board member, except President, such vacancy shall be
temporarily filled by appointment of a temporary Officer or Executive Board
member upon concurrence of two-thirds of the Local Executive Board. If such
vacancy occurs in the office of President, the Vice-President will automatically
assume the duties of the President in accordance with Article X, Section 7 of
the International Union Constitution until an election can be held to fill the
vacancy of President. Within one hundred and twenty (120) days of a vacancy in
any office, such vacancy shall be filled by election. This election will
be held within two weeks of the nomination meeting. Nominations
will be taken at the first meeting possible after the vacancy occurs. The
election will be held on the day of the next meeting, ending one hour after the
start of the last session. If more than two candidates are nominated
for an office and no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes cast in the
election, a runoff election will be held between the two candidates receiving
the highest vote count in the first election on the day of the next
meeting, ending one hour after the start of the last session. The
runoff election will be held within two weeks of the first election.
Reasonable notice, of not less than seven (7) days, shall be given before any
nomination and election to fill a vacancy. The election committee will
determine the times and locations of these elections. Any vacancies
created on the Executive Board as a result of such election, shall be filled by
additional elections following this same procedure.
Article XV
Section 6. Vacancies
In the event of the death, removal from office or
resignation of any Bargaining Committee Grievance Representative, the President
with the concurrence of the majority of the Executive Board, may fill the
position for a period of up to one hundred and twenty (120) days. Within the one
hundred and twenty (120) day period, an election will be held to fill the
unexpired term. Nominations will be taken at the first meeting possible
after the vacancy occurs. The election will be held on the day of the next
meeting, ending one hour after the start of the last session. This
election will be held within two weeks of the nomination meeting. If
more than two candidates are nominated for an office and no candidate receives
more than 50% of the votes cast in the election, a run-off election will be held
between the two candidates receiving the highest vote count in the first
election on the day of the next meeting, ending one hour after the
start of the last session. The runoff election will be held
within two weeks of the first election. The election committee will determine
the times and locations of these elections.