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UAW Constitution - Duties of the International Executive Board

ARTICLE 12

Section 1. The International Executive Board shall execute the instructions of the International Convention and shall be the highest authority of the International Union between Conventions, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, and shall have the power to authorize strikes, issue charters, and punish all subordinate bodies for violation of this Constitution.

Section 2. In case of disputes or conditions within a subordinate body that might threaten its existence, the International Executive Board by majority vote, may reorganize the subordinate body by ordering a special election to be held within thirty (30) days after the members in good standing are notified by mail. Under no circumstances shall more than one (1) such special election be held within a year's period in any one (1) subordinate body. Under this provision, the elected officers of the subordinate body shall continue to hold office until the election and may run for re-election. The International Executive Board may have two (2) representatives to work with the elected Local Union Election Committee. The procedures of this Section shall be equally applicable to units of Amalgamated Local Unions.

Section 3. Where necessary to:

(a) prevent or correct corruption or financial malpractice;

(b) assure the performance of collective bargaining agreements or other duties as a bargaining representative;

(d) otherwise assure carrying out the legitimate objectives of this International Union by such subordinate body, the International Executive Board by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire Executive Board may, after a hearing, reorganize or disband the chartered subordinate body, revoke the charter, suspend any officer or officers from office and/or take over supervision of the chartered subordinate body until its affairs have been properly adjusted. In such event, the Board shall designate one of its members as administrator who shall have full authority over and supervision of all functions of the Local Union and may suspend any or all officers and officials of the Local Union and take over their functions either as directed by the Board or in her/his own discretion where s/he believes it necessary to accomplish the purposes of the administratorship. The administrator may utilize such staff assistants as s/he deems advisable to assist in supervising the affairs of the Local Union.

In any case of suspension of officers, an election of new officers shall take place within sixty (60) days from date of order whereupon the subordinate body shall be returned its autonomy under this Constitution; unless circumstances which necessitate an extension of time, in which event the Executive Board during said administratorship may specifically extend this period for a total of no more than one hundred twenty (120) additional days. The conduct of all elections during an administratorship shall be the responsibility of the administrator.

The procedures of this Section shall be equally applicable to units of Amalgamated Local Unions insofar as appropriate.

Section 4. In case of vacancy, the Board shall cause such vacancy to be filled until the next Convention, in accordance with Article 10.

Section 5. It shall repeal any bylaws of any subordinate body which do not conform to this Constitution.

Section 6. It shall review and decide, between Conventions, all questions involving interpretation of this Constitution when any member or subordinate body wishes to appeal, or the Board on its own initiative wishes to consider the decision on any such question made (pursuant to Article 13, Section 8) by the International President.

Section 7. It shall pass upon all claims, grievances and appeals from the decisions of subordinate bodies of the International Union, in the manner provided by this Constitution.

Section 8. It shall transmit a report of the activities of the International Union and a summary and explanation of the actions of the International Executive Board relating to International finances to each Local Union of this International Union.

Section 9. If any elective officer is found guilty and removed from office through trial procedure, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with this Constitution.

Section 10. Upon written request of three (3) members of the International Executive Board, the International Secretary-Treasurer, within forty-eight (48) hours of receipt of such a request shall poll the International Executive Board on the question of a Special Board Meeting. Upon a majority vote for such a meeting, the President shall convene the Board within five (5) days. In case the International President fails to convene the Board within the time allotted, the International Secretary-Treasurer or a Board Member previously designated by the Board shall convene the Board.

Section 11. Two-thirds (2/3) of the number of members comprising the International Executive Board present in person shall constitute a quorum of the International Executive Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, when the International President calls a special meeting of the International Executive Board because s/he believes action under Sections 2 and 3 of this Article, or Sections 9 and 10 of Article 36, to be essential with regard to a specific dispute in any area with the objective of protecting the interests of a subordinate body, or any part of the membership thereof, and less than the regular quorum answers such call, those members answering the call may act within the limited area described above provided they constitute a special quorum. Such special quorum shall in any event consist of not less than eight (8) members of said International Executive Board, present in person, which must include at least two (2) International Officers and at least four (4) Board Members. Any such Special Board Meeting operating on the basis of such a special quorum shall be empowered to conduct any hearing and by a seventy-five (75) percent vote of its members, take any action, make any decision, or impose any penalty concerning said specific dispute which the full International Executive Board could take pursuant to any of the above noted applicable provisions of this Constitution which shall be binding until the last day of the next succeeding regular meeting of the International Executive Board. All proceedings of such Special Board Meeting shall be reported to the next regular meeting of the International Executive Board, and any member or subordinate body feeling aggrieved by any such action, decision or penalty of such Special Board Meeting may file a protest with the International Executive Board and shall have the right to be heard in person by such International Executive Board upon request. Whether or not any protest is taken, the International Executive Board shall review the action, decision or penalty taken or imposed by the Special Board Meeting and shall, if satisfied as to its propriety, affirm such action, decision or penalty. Any member or subordinate body feeling aggrieved by such decision of the full International Executive Board shall have the normal right of appeal pursuant to Article 33, Section 3, even though the member or subordinate body did not avail her/himself to the right herein above to file a protest from the action, decision, or penalty of the Special Board Meeting to the full International Executive Board.

Section 12. Only a majority of the International Executive Board can adjourn a Board Meeting.

Section 13. The International Executive Board shall set up such departments as provided for in this Constitution. It may, if voted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, create additional departments for promoting the business of this International Union or the welfare of its membership. It may hire professional specialists not members of the International Union for such departments if they are not available within the membership.

Section 14. If and when a strike has been approved by the International Executive Board, it shall be the duty of the International Executive Board to render all financial assistance to the members on strike consistent with the resources and responsibilities of the International Union.

Section 15. Financial Officers (including Presidents) of the Local Unions of this International Union shall be bonded by such methods and agencies and in such amounts as the International Executive Board may determine, but in no case shall the bond be for less than the amount required by law.

Section 16. The International Executive Board shall have power to adjust disputes between employers and employees and to make contracts with employers in accordance with this Constitution. In addition, the International Executive Board shall have power to adjust jurisdictional disputes between Local Unions.

Section 17. Where the International Executive Board has established a satisfactory administrative arm for the handling of members' appeals relating to the processing of collective bargaining grievances, a decision by such administrative arm may be appealed to the International Executive Board by the procedures set forth in Article 33, Section 3.

Section 18. The International Executive Board may rescind, reverse or repeal any action of any of the International Officers or Representatives.

Section 19. Verbatim minutes shall be taken at all meetings of the International Executive Board (except when the Board, by a seven-eighths (7/8) vote of those present, decides that the best interests of the Union would be served by an informal discussion of the membership of the Board in session as a committee of the whole, in which event the Board shall confine itself to discussion but shall take no formal action, and no minutes shall be taken). Such minutes shall be transcribed immediately and copies thereof shall be distributed to all elected officers of the International Union as soon as completed. Such copies shall be made available to any interested member in good standing for inspection at the offices of the International Secretary-Treasurer and of each International Executive Board Member. In addition, the Secretary-Treasurer shall prepare a summary of official International Executive Board action after each International Executive Board Meeting, which shall be sent to each Local Union.

Section 20. The International Executive Board shall create and operate a Political Action Committee to be known as UAW Voluntary Community Action Program Committee (UAW V-CAP). This Committee shall be authorized to make policy decisions concerning expenditures and contributions involving federal elections and to make expenditures and contributions from a fund established by voluntary contributions from UAW members, their families and friends. Once each year a summary report of income and disbursements in federal elections by category shall be made.