ARTICLE 36
Local Union Charters and Subordinate Bodies
Section 1. A Local Union may be formed by fifteen (15) or more persons working within the jurisdiction of the International Union by applying to the International Secretary-Treasurer for a charter.
Section 2. The International Secretary-Treasurer shall furnish the applicants for a charter with an application blank, and when the same has been properly filled out and returned with fifteen dollars ($15.00) charter fee, upon approval of the International Executive Board, a charter shall be granted and initial supplies furnished.
Section 3. The charter fee for Local Unions shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00), which shall entitle the Local Union to a charter, one (1) membership receipt book, one (1) International bookkeeping set, one (1) Recording Secretary's minute book, fifteen (15) Constitutions, one (1) roll call book and one (1) gavel.
Section 4. The charter and supplies shall remain the property of the International Union, to be used by the Local Union only as long as said Local Union and its members comply with the laws of the International Union.
Section 5. Any member who shall counterfeit, imitate or falsify the International Union dues receipts, insignia, label or buttons, or knowingly use such imitations or counterfeits, shall be expelled from this Union as the circumstances may warrant after trial has been accorded the accused.
Section 6. The charters to be issued to Local Unions shall be in the following form:
CHARTER
To All Whom These Presents Shall Come:
Know Ye, that the International Union, UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMERICA (UAW), established for the purpose of effecting through organization of the Automobile, Aerospace, Agricultural Implement, and other industries and composed of Local Unions and Members in different sections of the United States and Canada, doth, upon proper application and under conditions herein provided hereby grant unto
........................................................................................
........................................................................................
........................................................................................
and to their successors, this Charter for the establishment and future maintenance of a Local Union at ............................................................................ to be known as Local Union No. ................................... of.................................................................................... Now, the conditions of this Charter are such: That said Union forever and under any and all circumstances shall be subordinate to and comply with all the requirements of the Constitution, Bylaws and General Laws or other laws of the International Union, UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMERICA (UAW), as they may from time to time be altered or amended: That said Union shall for all time be guided and controlled by all acts and decisions of the International Union, UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMERICA (UAW), as they may from time to time be enacted: That should the Local Union above chartered take advantage of any powers, privileges or rights conferred under the laws as they may exist at any time, said action shall not prevent the International Union, UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMERICA (UAW) from recalling, amending, changing or abolishing any such powers, privileges or rights.
So long as the said Union adheres to these conditions, this Charter to remain in full force; but upon infraction thereof, the International Union, UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMERICA (UAW) may revoke this Charter, thereby annulling all privileges secured hereunder.
In Witness Whereof, We have hereunto set our hands and affixed the Seal of the International Union, UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMERICA (UAW) This___ day of____ , 20___ .
INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD
........................................................................................
International President.
........................................................................................
International Secretary-Treasurer.
Section 7. No Local Union, Family Auxiliary or subordinate body shall disband as long as fifteen (15) members or two (2) Local Unions desire to retain the Charter, and then only upon the approval of the International Executive Board. In localities where there are two (2) or more Local Unions and where the member ship of any Local Union drops below fifteen (15) members in good standing, such Local Union may be merged with another Local Union in that locality, at the discretion of the International Executive Board.
Section 8. The above Section shall not apply to the issuance of charters covering plants under the jurisdiction of a previously chartered Amalgamated Local Union.
Section 9. If a Local Union disbands or if a Local Union goes out of existence by reason of cessation of production at the workplace over which it has jurisdiction, all of the funds, property and assets of the Local Union shall forthwith revert to and become the property and assets of the International Union. If within one (1) year thereafter a new charter is issued to a Local Union with the same or similar jurisdiction, the International Executive Board shall, in order to aid such newly chartered Local Union in the commencement of its operations, make an appropriation to it in an amount not to exceed the value of such funds, property and assets.
Section 10. If as the result of a drastic reduction in the membership of a Local Union because of layoffs or other reasons, the funds, property and assets of such Local Union become grossly disproportionate to the number of members remaining, the International Executive Board may, by seven-eighths (7/8) vote, after a hearing, and for such period of time as it may deem necessary, take possession of and assume control over the expenditure and use of such funds, property and assets for the purpose of insuring their application in furtherance of the objectives of the Local Union and the International Union, and their conservation in the interest of the membership of the Local Union as then existing and as subsequently augmented.
Section 11. In case the membership of a unit covered by the jurisdiction of an Amalgamated Local Union feels that there is just cause for withdrawal from the Local Union, the question may be raised in any regularly called meeting. If approved by a majority vote of such meeting, a date shall be set for a special meeting to discuss and decide whether or not to petition the International Executive Board for withdrawal from the Local Union. The membership of such unit shall be given at least seven (7) days' notice of the time, place and purpose of such special meeting. If at this meeting, in a vote by secret ballot, a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members present vote to petition the International Executive Board, such a petition, containing a detailed statement setting forth the reasons for withdrawal from the Local Union shall be forwarded to the International Executive Board. The International Executive Board upon receipt of such petition shall investigate the circumstances and determine if just cause for withdrawal exists and the effect such withdrawal would have upon the Local Union and the petitioning unit. If, following its investigation, the International Executive Board is satisfied that the petitioning unit has just cause for withdrawal and that such withdrawal will not adversely affect the Local Union or the unit, the International Executive Board will direct a referendum vote of the unit membership.
The membership of such unit shall be given at least seven (7) days' notice of the time, place, and purpose of such referendum vote. Voting in such election shall be by secret ballot in booths conveniently located to allow all members an opportunity to vote. All ballots shall have printed thereon the following words: "Are you in favor of withdrawal from Local___? Yes No ."
In the event that the members present at the special meeting provided for in this Section decide against petitioning the International Executive Board for withdrawal, or if a petition is submitted but the International Executive Board denies it, or in the event the referendum vote fails to obtain the required two-thirds (2/3) majority, the question shall not be acted or voted on again for a period of two (2) years. In case a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the unit membership voting in such referendum vote in favor of withdrawal, the International Executive Board shall issue a separate charter.
Section 12. In the event an Amalgamated Local Union desires to discontinue the affiliation of a unit of the Local Union, such desire may be raised in any regularly called meeting of the Local Union member ship or the Joint Council where such body exists. If approved by a majority vote of such meeting, a date shall be set for a special meeting to discuss and decide whether a vote shall be taken on the proposed discontinuation of affiliation. The membership, or Joint Council delegates where such body exists, shall be given at least seven (7) days' notice of the time, place and purpose of such special meeting. If at this meeting a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members (or Joint Council delegates) present vote in favor of holding an election to decide the issue, the Local Union membership shall be given at least seven (7) days' notice of the time, place and purpose of such election. Voting in such election shall be by secret ballot in booths conveniently located to allow all members an opportunity to vote.
All ballots shall have printed thereon the following words only: "Are you in favor of discontinuing the affiliation of the___Unit of Local___? Yes No ."
In the event that the members (or Joint Council delegates, where such body exists) present at the special meeting provided for in this Section decide against holding an election or in the event that the vote of the Local Union membership voting in such election does not obtain the required majority, the question shall not be acted or voted on again for a period of two (2) years.
Section 13. In case a two-thirds (2/3) majority of an Amalgamated Local Union membership voting vote in favor of discontinuing the affiliation of a unit as provided in Section 12, the International Executive Board may issue a separate charter.
Section 14. All funds and other assets of an Amalgamated Local Union shall be and remain the property of the membership of that Local Union, and any unit withdrawing from an Amalgamated Local Union and obtaining a separate charter shall only be entitled to the balance of such funds or property as may have been allocated to it by the Local Union up to the time of separation where such unit funds are established.
Section 15. Local Unions, District Councils organized pursuant to Article 34, Family Auxiliaries and Community Action Program (CAP) Councils shall be the only chartered subordinate bodies of this International Union. All other subordinate bodies of the International Union which may at any time exist shall not be chartered and shall have no autonomy under this Constitution, but shall exist upon the authority of, and be generally supervised by and responsible to, the International Executive Board.