ARTICLE 55
Retirees
The International Executive Board shall establish a retiree structure within the International Union as follows:
Section 1. Local Union Retired Workers Chapters
(a) A Local Union having twenty-five (25) retired members or more shall establish a Local Union Retired Workers Chapter which shall hold a regular general membership meeting at least once a month.
(b) The retired members of the Local Union Chapter shall elect a retired member to be a member of the Local Union Executive Board with voice and vote. The election of such retiree board member shall be pursuant to Article 38, Section 5 of this Constitution.
(c) The Local Union President or her/his designee shall serve as a member of the governing board of the Local Union Retired Workers Chapter with voice and vote.
(d) Each Local Union shall amend its bylaws to provide for the above measures and such other measures concerning the Retired Workers Chapter as it deems appropriate.
(e) Local Union Retired Workers Chapters shall conform to the policies of the International Union.
Section 2. Area Retired Workers Councils
(a) Each Regional Director shall establish Area Retired Workers Councils in designated geographic areas, or by combination of designated Local Unions, or on any other reasonable basis.
(b) Additional Area Retired Workers Councils may be established by the International Executive Board as needed to permit retired members to participate in those areas in which they have settled in considerable numbers.
(c) Area Retired Workers Councils may be either membership or delegate bodies, as the Regional Director shall direct. If such a Council is constituted as a membership body, all retired members within its jurisdiction may join the Council.
(d) The President of each Local Union within the jurisdiction of an Area Retired Workers Council shall be entitled to designate one (1) delegate to the Area Council.
Section 3. Regional Retired Workers Councils
(a) Each Regional Director shall establish a Regional Retired Workers Council in her/his Region.
(b) Representation to the Council shall be as follows:
(1) Each Local Union Retired Workers Chapter shall be entitled to one (1) retiree delegate.
(2) Each Local Union Retired Workers Chapter having more than one thousand (1,000) retired members shall be entitled to one (1) additional retiree delegate for each one thousand (1,000) re tired members or major fraction thereof; provided, however, that where appropriate the International Executive Board may approve additional representation.
(3) Each Area Retired Workers Council established by the Regional Director shall be entitled to three (3) retiree delegates, and each additional Area Retired Workers Council established by the International Executive Board shall be entitled to one (1) retiree delegate.
(4) Each Local Union shall be entitled to one (1) delegate to be designated by the President of the Local Union.
Section 4. International Retired Workers Advisory Council
(a) An International Retired Workers Advisory Council shall be established.
(b) Representation to the Council shall be as follows:
(1) One (1) retiree delegate from each of the Regional Retired Workers Councils.
(2) One (1) retiree delegate from the Area Councils within a region as established by the International Executive Board. Regions with fifteen (15) or more Area Councils shall have one (1) additional retiree delegate.
(3) Area Council delegates to the Regional Council shall have voice and vote on all matters in the Council, except that such delegates shall not be eligible to vote or be a candidate for the Advisory Council delegate position from Regional Councils.
(c) Each delegate to the International Retired Workers Advisory Council shall be elected by the members of the delegate's Region or Area Retired Workers Council pursuant to the election procedures established by the bylaws of the Regional or Area Retired Workers Council.
(d) The International Retired Workers Advisory Council shall elect a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and a Secretary from among its delegates.
(e) The International Executive Board shall consult with representatives of the International Retired Workers Advisory Council concerning retired workers programs and policies and such other matters as affect the welfare of retired members.
(f) Each elected member of the International Retired Workers Advisory Council shall automatically be a delegate to the UAW Constitutional Convention with voice and one (1) vote. Each appointed member of the International Retired Workers Advisory Council may attend UAW Constitutional Conventions as a guest.
Section 5. Membership and Dues
(a) Membership in the Retired Workers bodies provided for in this Article is open to any member entitled to retired membership status, as provided in Article 6, Section 19 of this Constitution. Members are eligible for full participation in such Retired Workers bodies.
(b) Retirees will not be required to pay membership dues during the period of retirement, in accordance with Article 6, Section 19 of this Constitution. To assist in financing these activities, a two dollar ($2.00) per month voluntary retired membership dues is hereby established. All UAW retirees are eligible to participate in the two dollar ($2.00) voluntary retired membership dues.
(c) Dues shall be allocated as follows:
(1) International Retired Workers Fund .....40%
(2) Regional Retired Workers Fund ...........25%
(3) Local Union Retired Workers Chapter .35%
Distribution of funds from the International Retired Workers Fund and each Regional Retired Workers Council Fund shall be determined by the Officers of the International Union and the Regional Director respectively. Each Local Union Retired Workers Chapter Fund shall be held by the Local Union for disbursement upon the request of the Retired Workers Chapter.
Section 6. Retired Workers Council Bylaws
Each Regional and Area Retired Workers Council shall enact bylaws consistent with and subject to the approval of the International Union.
Section 7. Associate Status
The spouse or surviving spouse of any retired member may request and receive associate status in a Local Union Retired Workers Chapter, with full rights of participation in its activities. Such associate, however, shall not have the rights of a member of the Local Union as set out in Article 6 - "Membership," nor those described in Article 6, Section 19 which addresses retired UAW members. The administrative procedures for Retired Workers Chapter associate status shall be established by the International Executive Board.