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UAW's Constitution Greetings: The Constitution of the UAW is the highest law of our union. It provides the foundation for the day-to-day operations of our great union, and equally important, it sets forth the rights, guarantees and responsibilities of all UAW members. The UAW’s Constitution expresses our union’s values and vision of a democratic society that embraces economic and social justice for all people. It unites us in solidarity and strengthens our union. We are proud of our Constitution and our power to stand together and adopt and abide by these guiding principles that determine our union’s path and its future. This document, adopted at the UAW’s 37th Constitutional Convention, reminds us that we are called to participate meaningfully in making positive decisions affecting our communities and our nation. I urge you to carefully study our Constitution and apply its principles in your daily life, both as a member of a great democratic union and as a citizen in a democratic society. In Solidarity, Rory L. Gamble President International Union, UAW Reprinted February 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS Article Page Preamble..............................................................................................3 1. Name....................................................................................................5 2. Objects.................................................................................................5 3. Constitution........................................................................................6 4. International Union Headquarters...................................................7 5. Jurisdiction..........................................................................................7 6. Membership........................................................................................7 7. Powers of Administration...............................................................12 8. Conventions......................................................................................13 9. Political Requirements of Union Officials.....................................21 10. Officers and Elections......................................................................22 11. Salaries...............................................................................................28 12. Duties of the International Executive Board................................30 13. Duties of International Officers......................................................35 14. International Representatives.........................................................40 15. Fiscal Year..........................................................................................41 16. Initiation Fees and Dues..................................................................41 17. Honorable Withdrawal Transfer Cards.........................................53 18. Unemployment and Welfare...........................................................55 19. Contracts and Negotiations............................................................56 20. National and Corporation Bargaining Councils..........................58 21. National and Regional Wage-Hour Conferences.........................59 22. National and Regional Wage-Hour Councils...............................59 23. Community Action Program Councils.........................................61 24. Competitive Shop Department......................................................64 25. Research Department......................................................................64 26. Civil and Human Rights Department...........................................65 27. Education Department....................................................................66 28. Family Education Center Department..........................................67 29. Communications..............................................................................68 30. Charges and Trials of International Officers.................................69 31. Trials of Members.............................................................................72 32. Public Review Board........................................................................82 33. Appeals...............................................................................................85 34. District Councils...............................................................................95 35. Amalgamated Local Unions............................................................96 36. Local Union Charters and Subordinate Bodies............................97 37. Duties and Powers of Subordinate Bodies..................................102 38. Local Union Officers......................................................................105 39. Installation Ceremony....................................................................110 40. Duties of Local Union Officers.....................................................111 41. Duties of Local Union Members..................................................115 42. Opening and Closing Ceremonies...............................................115 43. Initiation Ceremony.......................................................................116 44. Local Union Committees..............................................................116 45. Stewards and Committeepersons.................................................117 46. Local Union Finances....................................................................118 47. Local Union Dues..........................................................................118 48. Local Union Audits........................................................................119 49. Fraud in Local Union Elections...................................................122 50. Strikes...............................................................................................122 51. Board of International Trustees....................................................124 52. Family Auxiliaries...........................................................................125 53. Canadian Local Unions.................................................................127 54. Union Label.....................................................................................128 55. Retirees.............................................................................................129 Ethical Practices Codes..................................................................133 Subject Index...................................................................................138 Interpretations.................................................................................165 CONSTITUTION of the International Union United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, UAW Note: Amendments adopted by the 2018 Constitutional Convention appear in bold type. Where a portion of a section has been deleted, the entire section, as amended, appears in bold type. The 2018 Convention provided that where the meaning of one article is changed, all related articles are automatically changed to carry out the intent of the change. PREAMBLE We hold these truths to be self-evident; expressive of the ideals and hopes of the workers who come under the jurisdiction of this INTERNATIONAL UNION, UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMERICA (UAW): "that all men and women are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men and women, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Within the orderly processes of such government lies the hope of the worker in advancing society toward the ultimate goal of social and economic justice. The precepts of democracy require that workers through their union participate meaningfully in making decisions affecting their welfare and that of the communities in which they live. Managerial decisions have far reaching impact upon the quality of life enjoyed by the workers, the family, and the community. Management must recognize that it has basic responsibilities to advance the welfare of the workers and the whole society and not alone to the stockholders. It is essential, therefore, that the concerns of workers and of society be taken into account when basic managerial decisions are made. The structure of work established by management is designed to make of the workers an adjunct to the tool rather than its master. This, coupled with the authoritarian climate of the workplace, robs the worker of her/his dignity as an adult human being. This belies the democratic heritage we cherish as citizens in a society rooted in democratic values. 3 Essential to the UAW’s purpose is to afford the opportunity for workers to master their work environment; to achieve not only improvement in their economic status but, of equal importance, to gain from their labors a greater measure of dignity, of self- fulfillment and self-worth. Workers must also participate meaningfully in political and legislative action because government impacts importantly on their lives and on their communities. If government is to be the means by which people achieve a humanitarian and equitable society, it must be a responsible and accountable government. Therefore, the UAW has the duty and responsibility to promote real and meaningful participatory democracy through its members and their families, so that free people and their institutions may
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