ARTICLE 45
Stewards and Committeepersons
Section 1. The Bargaining Committee may but does not necessarily have to consist of the members of the Executive Board of the Local Union.
Section 2. All Stewards and/or Committeepersons shall be democratically elected for three (3) year terms. A Local Union or unit of an Amalgamated Local Union may have, after July 1, 1998, a shorter term, of no less than two (2) years, only by affirmative membership action, and permission granted by the International Executive Board, Stewards and Committeepersons shall be required to take the oath of office as provided in Article 39.
Section 3. A Steward or Committeeperson may be recalled by the members s/he represents for failure to perform the duties of the office. A valid petition setting forth specific complaints of the Stewards or Committeeperson's failure to perform the duties of the office shall be signed by the members s/he represents. The Steward or Committeeperson so complained against shall receive notification of the specific com plaints. Upon the filing of such a petition with the Local Union, a special meeting for recall shall be held, of which due notification shall be given. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at such special meeting shall be required to recall. Each Local Union or unit of an Amalgamated Local Union shall establish in its bylaws the number of petitioners required for a recall and the quorum necessary to establish such re call meeting.
Section 4. Upon application to and approval of the International Executive Board, Stewards and/or Committeepersons may be elected exclusively by and from appropriate groups (as specified in Article 19, Section 3) in keeping with the policy resolution adopted by the Sixteenth (16th) Constitutional Convention.
Section 5. No protest to an election shall be considered unless raised within seven (7) days of the closing of the polls or at the next membership meeting, whichever is later. A protest must either be in writing, or made at the membership meeting. If written, the protest must be actually received by the Local Union Recording Secretary before the deadline. In the event that membership meeting(s) have been suspended by affirmative membership action(s) pursuant to Article 37, Section 4(c), the protest must be submitted to the Local Union Recording Secretary within seven (7) days of the closing of the polls or the next Local Union Executive Board meeting (not to exceed thirty (30) days from the date of the election), whichever is later. The protest will be directed to the Local Executive Board, which shall rule on the protest within thirty (30) days after receipt. If a new election for Committeeperson or Steward is ordered as the result of a protest and this order is appealed, no such election shall be held until the matter has been submitted to and an order thereon received from the International President.