| Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO |
Constitution and BylawsPREAMBLE This Federation was established as an expression of the hopes and aspirations of the working people of the State of Iowa. We seek the fulfillment of these hopes and aspirations through democratic processes within the framework of our constitutional government and consistent with our institutions and traditions. At the collective bargaining table, in the community, in the exercise of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, we shall responsibly serve the rights of all the American people. We pledge ourselves to the more effective organization of working men and women; to the securing to them of full recognition and enjoyment of the rights to which they are justly entitled; to the achievement of ever higher standards of living and working conditions; to the attainment of security for all the people; to the enjoyment of the leisure which their skills make possible; and to the strengthening and extension of our way of life and the fundamental freedoms which are the basis of our democratic society. We shall combat resolutely the forces which seek to undermine the democratic institutions of our State and Nation and enslave the human soul. We shall strive always to win full respect for the dignity of the human individual whom our Unions serve. Grateful for the fine traditions of our past and confident of meeting the challenges of the future, we proclaim this Constitution. CONSTITUTION ARTICLE I This Organization shall be known as the IOWA FEDERATION OF LABOR, AFL-CIO, with office and headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, where the President and Secretary-Treasurer shall be located to carry on the work of the Organization. ARTICLE II The objectives and principles of this Federation are: 1. To aid workers in securing improved wages, hours and working conditions with due regard for the autonomy and integrity of affiliated Unions. 2. To aid and assist affiliated Unions in extending the benefits of mutual assistance and collective bargaining to workers and to promote the organization of the unorganized into Unions of their own choosing for their mutual aid, protection and advancement, giving recognition to the principle that craft, industrial, service and public sector Unions are appropriate and necessary as methods of Union organization. This State Federation will not participate in any organizing campaign where there is more than one International Union which is affiliated with the National AFL-CIO seeking the same bargaining unit. 3. To encourage all workers, without regard to race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability or sexual orientation to share in the full benefits of Union organization. 4. To secure legislation which will safeguard and promote the principle of free collective bargaining, the rights of workers, farmers and consumers and the security and welfare of all people. 5. To aid and encourage sale and use of Union-made goods and Union services through the use of the Union Label and other symbols, to promote the Labor Press and to carry on a sound and responsible public relations program with all other segments of our society and any other means of furthering the education of the Labor Movement. 6. To protect the Labor Movement, both from within and without, from any and all corrupt influences and from the undermining efforts of authoritarianism, totalitarianism, terrorism and all other forces that suppress individual liberties and freedom of association and oppose the basic principles of our democracy and of free and democratic unionism. 7. While preserving the independence of the Labor Movement from political control, to encourage workers to register and vote, to exercise their full rights and responsibilities of citizenship and to perform their rightful part in the political life of their local, state and national communities. ARTICLE III Section 1. This Federation shall be affiliated with the National AFL-CIO in accordance with the terms of the charter granted by the National AFL-CIO. Section 2. The Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO shall be composed exclusively of such of the following organizations within the State of Iowa as shall conform to this Constitution and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto: (a) Local Unions of National and International Unions and Organizing Committees affiliated with the AFL-CIO and Local Unions chartered directly by the AFL-CIO. (b) Local Central Bodies chartered by the AFL-CIO. (c) Local and State Councils chartered by the Trade, Industrial and Public Employee Departments of the AFL-CIO. (d) Joint Boards, District Councils and similar subordinate organizations which are duly chartered by an affiliate of the AFL-CIO. (e) Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans. (f) State chapters of AFL-CIO constituency groups and/or local chapters of such groups if there is no state chapter and they have been designated by the national constituency group. Section 3. No organization or person that has seceded, has been suspended or has been expelled by the American Federation of Labor, the Congress of Industrial Organizations or by any national or international organization connected with this Federation shall, while under such penalty, be allowed representation or recognition in this State Federation of Labor. No organization officered, controlled or dominated by persons whose policies or activities are consistently directed toward the achievement of the program or purpose of authoritarian, totalitarian, terrorist or other forces that suppress individual liberties and freedom of association shall be permitted as affiliates of this Federation of Labor. ARTICLE IV Section 1. The Officers of this Federation shall consist of the President, Secretary-Treasurer, six Vice Presidents at Large, five District Vice Presidents, one Vice President representing Central Labor Councils and one Vice President representing the Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans. These Officers shall constitute the Executive Council. No full-time officer of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO may hold any other full-time elective or appointive office. Section 2. Anyone, after being elected to the Executive Council of this Federation, must become a legal resident of the State of Iowa. No more than one delegate from any one International Union shall serve as President, Secretary-Treasurer or any of six Vice Presidents at Large. Section 3. No more than two delegates from any one International Union shall serve on this Executive Council, which shall carry out the business of the State Federation between Conventions. Section 4. The Executive Council shall meet in regular session once approximately six (6) months after the Convention adjourns. Special Council Meetings may be called by the President, Secretary-Treasurer or by a request of the majority of the Executive Council members. The Executive Council will decide upon all issues by a majority vote of all members present and voting. The President shall vote only in case of a tie vote of the Council. No member of the Council shall cast his or her votes by proxy. Executive Council meetings shall be open to any member of an affiliated body. Meeting notices will be printed in the Iowa AFL-CIO News and/or the Political Action Update prior to the meeting. Section 5. A quorum of the Executive Council shall be eight (8) members of said Council. Section 6. Notification of all meetings of the Executive Council shall be in writing at least ten (10) days prior to such meeting date. Section 7. A special convention of this Federation may be called by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the entire Executive Council. Section 8. In the event an elected Officer of this Organization is absent from two (2) consecutive meetings of the Executive Council, without an acceptable excuse to said Council that office shall be declared vacant and filled by the Executive Council, until an election can be held at the next regular scheduled convention of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. ARTICLE V Section 1. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of this Federation, and shall preside at all meetings of this Federation, preserve order and appoint all convention committees, with approval of the Executive Council, other than the Credentials, Rules and Resolutions Committees, which shall be at his or her discretion. THE PRESIDENT SHALL: Issue the call for the annual convention of the Federation at least sixty (60) days prior to the opening of the Convention. Be the legislative representative and the fraternal delegate to conventions of neighboring State Federations of Labor and delegate to the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations Conventions. In the event it is impossible to serve as fraternal delegate, the President may appoint a member of the Executive Council to represent the Federation. Provide for membership and public education and the research necessary for the performance of the Federation’s proper functions and shall have authority, with the approval of the Executive Council, to employ such educational and research assistance as is deemed necessary and to pay for the same out of the funds of the Federation. As legislative representative be knowledgeable with all matters pertaining to labor legislation. Have authority, with approval of the Executive Council, to employ such legislative assistance as is deemed necessary during the sessions of the Iowa State Legislature and to pay same out of the funds of the Federation. Interpret the Constitution and direct and exercise general supervision of the work of the Federation between conventions, subject to the approval of Executive Council. At the end of the official term turn over all books, papers and other property belonging to this Federation to successor in office. The President’s compensation shall be $84,789 per year, payable weekly. Each January 1st the President’s salary shall be increased by the amount of increase in the Consumer Price Index (Urban) as published by the U.S. Department of Labor and shall be based on the preceding July 1st - June 30th twelve month period. In the event the CPI-U goes down during that twelve month period, wages shall be frozen for the following year starting the following January 1st. The wages shall be rounded to the next highest dollar. Other compensation shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per day, or the I.R.S. allowable per diem when traveling out of state, plus hotel room, with receipt attached while away from the home office, plus cents per mile in the amount allowable by the I.R.S. when using own transportation, otherwise, actual expense of any other type of transportation. Any other expense incurred by the President shall be submitted in an itemized form for approval by the Executive Council. The President’s salary for 2010 shall be the same as the President’s salary for 2009. The President shall be empowered with the approval of the Executive Council, to employ regular employees necessary to carry out the work of the Federation and be empowered to employ such part-time or temporary employees as are necessary to carry out the work of the office. Section 2. The Office of the Secretary-Treasurer shall be a full-time position. The Secretary-Treasurer’s compensation shall be $2,000 less than the President’s compensation, per year, payable weekly. Other compensation shall be calculated in the same manner as is the President’s. THE SECRETARY-TREASURER SHALL: Keep a record of the proceedings of this Federation and shall cause the same to be printed and distributed. Not later than the twentieth (20th) day of January and July of each year, forward to the Executive Council a statement of receipts and expenditures for the preceding six (6) months together with the number of Unions admitted, withdrawn and suspended. Forward to the mail receiving officer of each affiliated Local Union, suitable blanks for the purpose of ascertaining the name and address of the president and secretary thereof, and the number of members on which per capita tax is being paid monthly. Cause all money belonging to the Federation to be deposited in such banks as designated by the Executive Council and cause records to be kept of each deposit made. Cause a complete set of books and records to be kept in the Federation office as prescribed by the Executive Council. Pay out no money without a proper bill. All payments shall be made by check, countersigned by the President. Furnish canceled checks for each item of expense to the Auditors. Pay travel or other expense of officers or staff employees upon presentation of properly executed vouchers. Be the Acting Education and Research Director of the Federation. Be responsible to promote the political and legislative program under the direction of the President and the Executive Council. Spend full time, if possible, at the State House when the State Legislature is in session. Keep an accurate record of the vote of each State Senator and Representative and members of Congress on bills and amendments to bills of interest to labor. Such records shall be summarized and printed in proper form and distributed to the affiliated organizations. Have printed in suitable form, the reports which are required of the Officers. At the end of the official term deliver to successor in office, all books, funds, and property belonging to the Federation. Perform such other duties as may be required by the President and Executive Council. Section 3. The Federation vice presidents shall be elected positions. Executive Council compensation shall be per section 9 below. The Executive Council members shall: • Attend all meetings of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Section 4. Effective July 1, 2002, the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO will participate in the AFL-CIO Staff Retirement Plan for all full-time employees. Section 5. In the event of a vacancy in the Office of the President, by reason of death, resignation or recall, the Office will be filled by the Secretary-Treasurer temporarily. The Secretary-Treasurer shall, within ten (10) days of the date of the vacancy, call a meeting of the Executive Council, who will appoint a successor until an election can be held at the next regular scheduled annual convention of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. Any subsequent vacancy on the Council may be filled by the Executive Council at the same meeting. Section 6. In the event of a vacancy in the Office of Secretary-Treasurer, Vice President at Large or Auditor, by reason of death, resignation or recall, the vacancy shall be filled by the Executive Council until an election can be held at the next regular scheduled annual convention of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. The President shall call a meeting within ten (10) days of the date of the vacancy to fill such vacancy. Any subsequent vacancy on the Council may be filled by the Executive Council at the same meeting. Section 7. In the event of a vacancy in the Office of District Vice President, the Executive Council shall have the power to fill the vacancy for the period of the unexpired term. Such successor will be chosen from the district from which the vacancy occurred, with recommendation from the district involved until an election can be held at the next regular scheduled annual convention of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. Section 8. The Auditors shall examine the books and accounts of the Federation in January and July of each year and shall certify as to the correctness of the accounts. They shall furnish the Executive Council of the Federation with a copy of their report and statements which shall include all financial assets of the Federation. In the event of a change in the Office of the Secretary-Treasurer, there shall be an immediate audit of all accounts. Section 9. As compensation for their services, all Council members, Committee members and Auditors - - with the exception of the full-time Officers and those Council members, Committee members and Auditors who are compensated by their Local Union and/or International Union - - shall receive twenty ($20.00) per day or their lost time, whichever is greater, and twenty-five ($25.00) per diem plus hotel room, with receipt attached, and cents per mile in the amount allowable by the I.R.S. when using their own transportation, otherwise, actual expense of the type of transportation used. Any other expense incurred by these members shall be submitted in an itemized form to be approved by the Executive Council. This shall be construed to mean that there will be no dual payment to any Council member, Committee member or Auditor. Section 10. The Executive Council of this Federation is authorized to buy or lease automobiles for its full-time officers and to establish procedure for proper maintenance and use of these automobiles. ARTICLE VI Section 1. The Executive Council shall have power to suspend or remove from office any officer found guilty of malfeasance or maladministration of his or her office or who may be found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this Constitution. The Executive Council shall exercise such power of suspension or removal from office only after: (a) Filing written charges with the accused, and (b) Granting the accused adequate hearings before the Executive Council after due and proper notice. Any officer so suspended or removed may appeal the action of the Council to the next regular convention of the State Organization, but shall remain suspended or removed until action is taken by the convention reversing the decision of the Executive Council. Section 2. The Executive Council shall have the further authority to refuse to seat or to remove from office, by two-thirds (2/3) vote, any member of the Executive Council who is found by the Council to consistently pursue policies and activities directed toward the achievement of the programs or the purposes of authoritarian, totalitarian, terrorist or other movements that suppress individual liberties and freedom of association. The Executive Council must act only after written charges, notice and hearing. ARTICLE VII For the purpose of the Executive Council representation, the State of Iowa shall be divided into five (5) Districts. They shall coincide with the five (5) Congressional Districts. District One (1) – Counties: Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Clayton, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Jackson, Jones, Scott. District Two (2) – Counties: Appanoose, Cedar, Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Johnson, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Muscatine, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington, Wayne. District Three (3) – Counties: Benton, Grundy, Iowa, Jasper, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Polk, Poweshiek, Tama. District Four (4) – Counties: Allamakee, Boone, Calhoun, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Dallas, Emmet, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Howard, Humboldt, Kossuth, Madison, Marshall, Mitchell, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Story, Warren, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Worth, Wright. District Five (5) – Counties: Adair, Adams, Audubon, Buena Vista, Carroll, Cass, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, Crawford, Decatur, Dickinson, Fremont, Guthrie, Harrison, Ida, Lyon, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, O’Brien, Osceola, Page, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Sac, Shelby, Sioux, Taylor, Union, Woodbury. Section 1. The revenues of this Federation shall be derived through monthly per capita tax payments from affiliated organizations and from other authorized sources. Per capita tax payments must be received at least thirty (30) days prior to the convening of a convention in order to be credited for calculating voting strength at that convention. Effective January 1, 2010 per capita tax of Local Unions shall be one dollar and sixty-five cents ($1.65) per member per month on the total working membership. Each succeeding January 1st, the per capita tax of Local Unions shall be increased by the amount of increase as measured by the Consumer Price Index (Urban) as published by the U.S. Department of Labor and shall be based on the twelve month period beginning July 1st of each year and ending June 30th of the following year. The per capita tax shall be rounded to the next highest penny. The resulting increase in per capita tax shall be divided among the various funds by the Executive Council. The computed amount and the amount divided among the various funds by the Executive Council shall automatically be added to the stated per capita tax in Article VIII, Finances, Section 1 and Section 2 of the Constitution. Said per capita tax to be forwarded not later than the fifteenth (15th) day of the month on the membership of the previous month. A Local Union paying per capita tax on less than its full dues-paying membership employed in the State of Iowa as required by the Rules of the AFL-CIO shall be subject to suspension by the Executive Council. Before taking such action, the Local Union shall be given written notice that such action is being considered and the Local Union shall be accorded an opportunity to be heard by the Executive Council of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. Per capita tax payments shall be forwarded to the Federation by the affiliated organizations. However, State or District organizations may remit the tax for their respective Local Unions, in which case they shall supply the names of the Local Unions together with the number of members being reported on from each Local Union. State Organizations, Local Central Bodies, Local Trade Councils, Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans and AFL-CIO constituency groups shall pay a yearly membership fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) payable in advance during the month of July. Section 2. Twelve cents (.12) per member per month of all per capita tax payments shall be used for registration, education and get-out-the-vote. Fourteen cents (.14) per member per month of all per capita tax payments shall be placed in a Newspaper Fund to be administered by the Newspaper Corporation Trustees who are the Executive Council members of this Federation plus two additional members. Two cents (.02) per member per month of all per capita tax payments shall be used for Iowa Labor History Oral Project. This will remain in effect until project is completed. Sixteen cents (.16) per member per month will be placed in the Iowa Committee on Political Education, AFL-CIO Fund. All other revenues derived from sources provided for in this article or from all other sources shall be placed in a General Fund. The Executive Officers shall, at the first meeting of each calendar year, submit to the Executive Council for approval a proposed budget for the ensuing year. After adoption of such budget, it may be amended only by action of the Executive Council. If, at any time, the amount in the General Fund exceeds a sum necessary for the proper operation of the Federation, such excess shall be invested in United States Government Bonds, Certificates of Deposit, Money Market Account or a savings account in the bank(s) that the Federation does business with. Such bonds and CDs shall be placed in a safety deposit box rented for that purpose in the bank in which the Federation’s funds are on deposit. Interest from these financial instruments shall become a part of the General Fund. ARTICLE IX Section 1. When an affiliated organization is in arrears in the payment of per capita tax or membership fees for a period of three (3) months, it shall be suspended. However, such organization in arrears shall have thirty (30) days notice before suspension becomes effective. Section 2. A Local Union or other organization which has been suspended, or which has withdrawn from membership, may be reinstated by payment of all amounts due at the time of suspension or withdrawal and the current per capita tax or annual fee. This amount shall not exceed three (3) months per capita tax plus the current month. With the approval of the Executive Council, the President may allow a Local Union to re-affiliate by paying the current month only. ARTICLE X Section 1. Where Local Unions are unable to pay per capita tax due to strike, lockout, lay-off, or for any other reason, such local unions shall be exonerated from per capita tax payments to the State Federation for a reasonable period of time, upon approval of the Executive Council and subject to approval by the respective International Union, AFL-CIO. Exonerated members shall be regarded, for purposes of this Constitution, as paid up members for the period of exoneration. The voting strength of a Local Union on roll call votes for months that it has been exonerated, shall be the average number of members on which per capita tax has been paid to this Federation over the one (1) year immediately preceding the exoneration. Section 2. Boycotts and Unfair Lists. No State Central Body shall have power or authority to originate a boycott. Nor shall such body endorse any boycott or order the placing on an unfair list the name of any person, firm or corporation that has an agreement with any National or International Union or Organizing Committee affiliated with the AFL-CIO or any of its subordinate bodies, or any subordinate body of the AFL-CIO, until the Union having such agreement is informed of the request made upon the State Body and has had reasonable time to intercede and the Union desiring action by the State Body has, before declaring the boycott, submitted the matter in dispute to the State Body for investigation and the State Body has exhausted all efforts to secure agreement between the Unions involved. After the foregoing procedure has been exhausted and the Unions involved have, nevertheless, failed to reach an understanding with the State Body, the matter shall be referred to the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO, which shall be empowered to grant or refuse the request for a boycott or other action. All action respecting boycotts and unfair lists shall be in accord with the applicable rules of the AFL-CIO. Section 1. The President, in cooperation with the Executive Officers, with due regard to finances available, shall carry out through any medium available a program which shall assist and promote the objects and principles to which Organized Labor is dedicated. Section 2. In an effort of communication the Executive Council shall produce a political report on the Iowa Legislature and the Iowa Federation of Labor’s efforts and opinions of current legislation. The Report will be published in the Iowa AFL-CIO News. ARTICLE XII Section 1. The regular conventions of this Federation shall be held annually. The convention shall be held during the months of July, August, September or October. In the even-numbered years (national and state election years), a one (1) day Committee on Political Education (C.O.P.E.) convention shall be held prior to the Iowa Primary Election day. The Executive Council shall select the city in which the convention will be held unless otherwise designated by the action of the previous convention. Delegates wishing the convention to be held in their city shall furnish proof in writing that such facilities needed are available to take care of all delegates and the convention. The Executive Council may change the city in case of emergency. Convention entertainment shall be arranged and paid for by the host city. All conventions must be held in Union establishments if available. Section 2. Representation. No person shall be eligible to serve as a delegate to conventions of this Federation unless he or she is a member of a Local Union affiliated with this Federation, with the exception of an Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans delegate and AFL-CIO constituency group delegate. Local Unions affiliated with this Federation, which do not choose to be represented with a delegate, may transfer the vote or votes of their Union to one of the delegates from their organization. Further, no delegate shall be seated except upon presentation of proper credential from an affiliated organization in good standing, which credential shall be examined and attested to by the Credentials Committee as to the eligibility of the delegate and the standing of the organization sending the delegate. The basis of representation and the allowed voting strength in the convention of this Federation shall be: From State Organizations - - one delegate with one vote. From Local Central Bodies - - one delegate with one vote. From Local Trade or Industrial Councils - - one delegate with one vote. From Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans - - one delegate with one vote. From AFL-CIO constituency groups - - one delegate with one vote. Each Local Union shall be entitled to the number of delegates according to the following scale: Members Delegates 1 – 149 1 One (1) additional delegate for each one hundred (100) members thereafter. The voting strength of a Local Union on roll call votes shall be the average number of members on which per capita tax has been paid to this Federation over the one (1) year immediately preceding the issue of the Convention Call. The average membership of the Local Union, which has affiliated within the past year, shall be computed from the month of affiliation and shall be determined by dividing the total per capita tax for all months affiliated by twelve (12). The votes of a Local Union shall be divided among all of its registered delegates and each delegate present shall be entitled to cast only the assigned number of votes except that, to facilitate the calling of the roll, one delegate may be designated to cast all of the votes of the delegates representing his or her Local Union provided that, if any delegate from that Local Union shall challenge the correctness of the votes so cast, the individual delegates of that Local Union shall be polled. If any Local Union fails to designate the number of votes assigned to each of its delegates from said Local Union, the Secretary-Treasurer of the Iowa Federation shall divide the total number of votes of said Local Union as equally as possible among the registered delegates of that Local Union. A delegate may represent more than one Local Union provided that such Local Unions are affiliated with the same International Union and is a member of such International Union. A delegate from a Local Union may carry the vote of any city, county or state organization if the delegate is a member of a Local Union affiliated with such body. A delegate from a city, county or state organization may carry votes from a Local Union if he or she is a member of the same International Union as is the Local Union from which he or she is carrying the votes. Should any registered delegate be required to leave the convention under emergency conditions, he or she may - - upon notification to the Credentials Committee - - be empowered to assign his or her votes to the remaining delegates of his or her Local Union or to another delegate representing a Local Union within his or her International Union. Such action shall be reported to the convention by the Credentials Committee. The time will be set for the closing of registration at 5 p.m. on the first day of the convention, except in case of emergency - - then the registration may be made at the discretion of the delegates assembled. Fraternal delegates shall be honorary members of all conventions of this Federation provided that they are members in good standing of bona fide Labor Organizations. All Local Unions affiliated with this Federation are urged to also affiliate with the Local Central Body and their respective Trades Council where such exist, provided that said Local Trades Councils are directly chartered by the National Trades Council in their respective departments of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. Section 3. Resolutions. Resolutions may be submitted to the convention by the Executive Council and shall bear the signature of the President and Secretary of the Federation. Resolutions may be submitted by an affiliated body of the State Federation of Labor providing that such resolutions - - properly signed by the President and another principal officer of the affiliated organization - - are received by the State Federation of Labor fourteen (14) days prior to the convening of the convention; all resolutions as received shall be placed in the hands of the Executive Council. All Resolutions submitted by the deadline and not in conflict with the National AFL-CIO Constitution and Rules will be stamped with the name of the standing committee to which they are tentatively assigned. All committee changes will be reported to the convention. The appropriate committees will consider the Resolutions before them and report to the convention with their recommendation. Any person or persons wishing to submit a resolution after the convening of the convention must have the consent of two-thirds (2/3) of the delegates assembled. State Organizations or Councils may submit resolutions during the first day of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Convention before the hour of Noon. 1. Thirty percent (30%) of delegates present may demand a roll call vote on any question before the convention. Election of Officers shall be by roll call when there is more than one candidate for each vacancy. 2. Robert’s Rules of Order, in its latest edition, shall be considered as authority on all questions of order not covered by the rules submitted to and accepted by the convention by the Rules Committee. 3. Visitors may be excluded from the hall by a majority vote of the delegates present. 4. The hours of meeting for the first day will be 9 a.m. to 12 Noon. Convention will be recessed until 9 a.m. the second day. The hours of meeting for the second day will be 9 a.m. to 12 Noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The hours of meeting of the third day will be 9 a.m. until business is completed. 5. Each delegate when asking for the floor must give his or her name, city, Local Union number and National or International Union. 6. On motion, the regular order of business may be suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members at any time to dispose of any urgent business. Section 5. Credentials. Delegates’ credentials to the convention of this Federation, should be forwarded to the Federation not later than fourteen (14) days prior to the time of the convention. Each duly accredited delegate to the annual convention shall be assessed a registration fee of forty dollars ($40.00), the money to be placed in the general fund to help defray the cost of the convention. Registration fee must accompany credentials when completed and returned to the Federation. CREDENTIALS NOT RECEIVED WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLY BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE DELEGATES SEATED. All credentials shall be properly signed by the President and Secretary or authorized Officers of the organization they are to represent. Duplicate credentials shall be placed in the hands of the delegates for presentation at the convention. The credentials of delegates at large from State Organizations and Local Central Bodies must contain the name of the Local Union and the number of the same of which the delegate is a member. A Credentials Committee of five (5) shall be appointed by the President from among the delegates elected. Said committee, together with the Secretary-Treasurer, shall meet on the day previous to the convention in the convention city. They shall examine the credentials and submit their report at the opening of the first session. 1 – Committee on Appeals and Grievances All committees to consist of not more than five (5) members - - except the Building Trades, Education, Industrial Unions, and Community Services Committees, which shall be composed of a Chairperson, Secretary and five (5) delegates. It shall be mandatory for all convention committees, with the exception of the Credentials Committee and the Rules Committee, to meet at 2 p.m. the first day of convention and take action on any matters referred to them for their report to the convention. It shall be the duty of the Chairperson of each Committee to call his or her meeting at 2 p.m. at a place designated by that Chairperson. Any Committeepersons called in early to work on a committee will be compensated the same as a member of the Executive Council for service prior to starting the convention. Section 7. Parliamentarian. Immediately after the convening of any regular or special convention of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, the Chairperson of the convention shall appoint a Parliamentarian to assist in the parliamentary procedures necessitated by the actions and circumstances of such convention. ARTICLE XIII Section 1. The President shall appoint an Election Committee composed of ten (10) delegates prior to the election subject to the approval of the convention. No candidate for any office shall be eligible to serve on the Election Committee. Section 2. Candidates for the Office of President, Secretary-Treasurer, six Vice Presidents at Large, three Auditors and Convention City shall be placed in nomination on the first day of the convention at 11 a.m. Section 3. Nominations for the Office of President, Secretary-Treasurer, six Vice Presidents at Large, three Auditors and the Convention City shall be made from the floor of the convention and nomination speeches shall be limited to five (5) minutes. After the nominations are closed, the Election Committee shall take charge of the election. The election of Officers shall be held on the Convention floor at 9:30 a.m. on the third day of the convention. Where there is only one candidate for any office, he or she shall be elected by acclamation. If more than two delegates are nominated for any office and none of the nominees receives a majority of the votes cast for said office, then all but the two receiving the highest number of votes shall be eliminated and a run-off election shall be held under the direction of the Election Committee in the same manner as the original election. Immediately after the roll call votes have been counted in either the final or run-off election, the Chairperson of the Election Committee shall announce the results. In the event of a tie vote for any office, the Election Committee shall immediately recount the votes in dispute and the Chairperson shall again announce the results. Wherever the results show a tie, the Election Committee shall immediately prepare a new roll call, involving the names of the candidates involved in the tie, together with the office they are seeking in election and proceed with the run-off election and announce the results at the earliest possible moment. After the election, the Chairperson of the Election Committee shall request of the convention whether or not there is any delegate who did not receive his/her proper number of votes in said election. At that time delegates will have an opportunity to raise any objections they may have. If none are raised, the Chairperson shall close such business, and no further discussion will be held on the matter. Delegates from State Organizations, Councils, Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans and AFL-CIO constituency groups shall cast such votes only for the Offices of President, Secretary-Treasurer, six (6) Vice Presidents at Large, three (3) Auditors and Convention City. The delegates of the Five Districts shall meet following the announcement of the final election results, or sooner if possible, for the purpose of selecting the representative of their respective group. No District meeting shall be called with less than two hours notice. Such notice shall be given to the delegates from the convention floor. They shall elect their representative by credentials in each district. The Secretary-Treasurer shall notify each local union when their credentials are mailed for the convention call, how many votes they may cast in each district, based on the computerized mailing list at least sixty (60) days, but not more than ninety (90) days prior to convention. A Local Union shall be able to cast one vote for each member that resides in the district for whom per capita tax is paid to the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. For those members who reside outside of the State of Iowa, a Local Union may cast one vote for each member for whom per capita tax is paid to the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, in the district which is directly across the state line (i.e. those who reside in Rock Island, Illinois would vote in the same district as Davenport, Iowa). If more than two delegates are nominated for any office and none of the nominees receives a majority of the votes cast for said office, then all but the two receiving the highest number of votes shall be eliminated and a run-off election shall be held under the direction of the Election Committee in the same manner as the original election. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected. At the convening of the convention on the last day, each District shall submit to the convention the name of the representative of their group for approval or rejection. If any District fails to submit to the convention the name of their representative, then such vacancy shall be filled as provided in Article V, Section 6. Nominated candidates for District Vice President shall be: (a) In good standing in their Local Union. (b) A resident of or work within the District from which they are nominated. The delegates representing Central Labor Councils shall meet following the announcement of the final election results, for the purpose of selecting their representative, who shall be a member of a union affiliated with the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, and shall also be a President, Vice-President or Secretary/Treasurer of a Central Labor Council. Each affiliated Central Labor Council shall have one vote in selecting the Central Labor Council Vice President. At the conclusion of the meeting of delegates representing the Central Labor Councils, they shall submit to the convention the name of the representative of their group for approval or rejection. The delegates who are also officers or board members of the Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans shall meet following the announcement of the final election results, for the purpose of selecting their representative, who shall be a member of a union affiliated with the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, and shall also be one of the highest eligible officers of the Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans such as a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer or executive board member. At the conclusion of this meeting, they shall submit to the convention the name of the representative of their group for approval or rejection. In order to comply with this Constitution in the selection of not more than one member from any International Union to the office of President, Secretary-Treasurer, and six Vice Presidents at Large and no more than two members of an International Union to the Executive Council, the following order of sequence in determining who shall be a member of said Council shall govern: President, Secretary-Treasurer, Vice Presidents at Large, five District Vice Presidents, the Central Labor Council Vice President and the Vice President representing the Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans. The sequence for which the District Vice Presidents will be reported and elected, shall be determined by the drawing of numbers of their respective districts. When two members of the Council from any International Union have been elected or selected, no further names of members of that International Union shall be accepted to be members of the Executive Council. The election of Officers to the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO shall be held at the annual convention every four years beginning in 1973. The official term of all the elected Officers shall begin at the close of the Convention at which they are elected and shall continue for four (4) years or until their successor or successors are duly elected and qualified. Full-time Officers of the Federation shall receive their full pay and benefits until the end of the month in which they are defeated or retire. The Officers and Auditors shall be delegates to the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO conventions, and they shall be compensated for attending such convention, as provided elsewhere in this Constitution and By-Laws. All Officers and Auditors of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO shall carry one vote by virtue of their office, with full rights. Individuals designated as President Emeritus shall be convention delegates and each shall carry one vote. Section 1. I, (giving name), do solemnly pledge my word and honor before these witnesses that I will, to the best of my ability, perform the duties of the Office to which I have been elected. At the close of my official term, I will turn over all books, papers and all other property of the Federation to my successor. ARTICLE XV This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended only at a regular convention of this Federation upon a majority vote of all delegates present, providing such amendments do not conflict with the National Constitution of the AFL-CIO or its rules and regulations. All amendments shall be subject to the approval of the President of the AFL-CIO. |
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