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Amended and Adopted December 2002 #ORDER OF BUSINESS #SAVING CLAUSE #PREAMBLE #CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS #Affiliation and Delegates #Roll Call Voting #Meetings #Officers and Elections #Duties of Officers #Executive Board and Duties #Charges and Hearings #Per Capita and Fees #Financial Practices and Audits #Committees and Duties #Legislative, Political Action, and COPE #Rules, Parliamentary Authority and Amendments #Convention Delegates
1. Call to Order by President 2. Pledge of Allegiance to Flag, Invocation or Guest Speakers 3. Roll Call of Officers 4. Acceptance of New Delegates and Obligation 5. Financial Report 6. Reading of Minutes of Previous Meetings 7. Reading of Communications and Bills 8. Report of Executive Board 9. Reports of Committees - Standing and Special 10. Reports of Local Unions 11. Unfinished Business 12. New Business 13. Nominations and Elections 14. Good and Welfare 15. Adjournment
NOTE: The Order of Business, like Parliamentary Rules of Order, may be suspended temporarily for a particular purpose by a two-thirds vote. The Constitution and Bylaws cannot be suspended.
This Constitution and Bylaws has been adopted by the South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, for the regulation and procedure of the members of the Federation. It applies under normal conditions and any provision herein which is found to be contrary to the laws of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations and its policies, or by authoritative determination to be contrary to civil laws, shall not be enforced until such laws are changed to permit the intended application of the laws herein.
The establishment of the local Central Body as a subordinate unit of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations is an expression of the desire of the unions in this community to participate fully in the achievement of the objectives of the parent Federation as it seeks to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the working people of all America.
We seek the fulfillment of these hopes and aspirations through democratic processes within the framework of our constitutional government and consistent with our institutions and traditions.
At the collective bargaining table, in the community, in the exercise of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, we shall responsibly serve the interest of all the American people.
We pledge ourselves to the more effective organization of working men and women; to the securing to them of full recognition and enjoyment of the rights to which they are justly entitled; to the achievement of ever higher standards of living and working conditions; to the attainment of security for all the people; to the enjoyment of the leisure which their skills make possible; and to the strengthening and extension of our way of life and the fundamental freedoms which are the basis of our democratic society.
We shall combat resolutely the forces, which seek to undermine the democratic institutions of our nation and to enslave the human soul. We shall strive always to win full respect for the dignity of the human individual whom our unions serve.
With Divine guidance, grateful for the fine traditions of our past, confident of meeting the challenge of the future, we proclaim this Constitution and Bylaws.
ARTICLE I
Name and Affiliation
Section 1. This organization shall be known as the South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, hereinafter referred to as the Central Body. It shall at all times maintain affiliation with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations in accordance with the laws of that organization. As a chartered organization of the AFL-CIO, this Central Body shall conform its activities on state matters to the policies of the State Central Body, and on national affairs to the policies of the AFL-CIO.
ARTICLE II
Objects
Section 1. The objects of this Central Body shall be to promote, through appropriate activities in the geographical area covered by the charter of the Central Body, the principles of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, including the following: (a) To assist in furthering the appropriate objects and policies of the AFL-CIO, or of organizations affiliated with the AFL-CIO (provided such objects or policies are not inconsistent with the objects or policies of the AFL-CIO); (b) To serve as a means of exchanging information among affiliated bodies on matters of common interest; (c) To provide aid, cooperation and assistance to affiliated Local Unions and other affiliated bodies in their common and individual endeavors; (d) To propose, support and promote legislation favorable to and to oppose legislation detrimental to the interest of workers and organized labor; (e) To assist workers to register and vote, to exercise their full rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and to perform their rightful part in the political life of the local, state and national communities; (f) To encourage all workers, without regard to race, creed, color, sex, national origin or ancestry, to share equally in the full benefits of union organization; (g) To engage in such other activities as are consistent with the objects and principles set forth in the Constitution of the AFL-CIO and the policies of the AFL-CIO.
ARTICLE III
Section 1. This Central Labor Council shall be composed exclusively of the following organizations within the geographic boundaries covered by the Central Labor Council's Charter, which organizations shall conform to this constitution and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto: (a) Local Unions of National and International Unions and organizing committees affiliated with the AFL-CIO, and Local Unions chartered directly by the AFL-CIO; (b) Local Councils chartered by the Trade and Industrial Departments of the AFL-CIO; (c) Joint Boards, District Councils and similar subordinate organizations, which are duly chartered by an affiliate of the AFL-CIO; (d) Auxiliaries, Associate Member Organizations as approved by the AFL-CIO; (e) A local union retiree club. Where two or more local union retiree groups exist, affiliation shall be through a Union Retiree Council; (f) Local chapters of AFL-CIO constituency groups, as defined in the Rules Governing AFL-CIO Area Labor Councils and Central Councils, that are chartered by a national AFL-CIO constituency group.
Section 2. No organization that is not affiliated with the AFL-CIO or with an affiliate of the AFL-CIO shall be permitted to affiliate or be retained as an affiliate. No organization that has been suspended or expelled by a parent body affiliated with the AFL-CIO or by the AFL-CIO shall be permitted to affiliate or be retained as an affiliate. No organization officered, controlled or dominated by persons whose policies and activities are consistently directed toward the achievement of the program or purposes of authoritarianism, totalitarianism, terrorism and other forces that suppress individual liberties and freedom of association shall be permitted to affiliate or be retained as an affiliate.
Section 3. Affiliated local unions in good standing shall be entitled to representation based on per capita tax paid according to the following schedule:
50 members or less - 2 delegates 51-100 members - 3 delegates 101-200 members - 4 delegates 201-400 members - 5 delegates 401-700 members - 6 delegates 701-1100 members - 7 delegates
One additional delegate for each 500 members or major fraction thereof above 1100.
Section 4. (a) Affiliated subordinate bodies other than local unions shall be entitled to one (1) delegate and one (1) vote each. (b) A Union Retiree Club shall be entitled to one (1) delegate(s) and one (1) vote(s). A Union Retiree Council shall be entitled to one (1) delegate(s) and one (1) vote(s). (c) A local chapter of an AFL-CIO constituency group shall be entitled to one (1) delegate and one (1) vote. No AFL-CIO constituency group, or its delegate, may be present for or have voice or vote in any meeting or proceeding concerning the endorsement of a political candidate or other partisan political activity concerning public elective office by this central body, nor may any AFL-CIO constituency group, or its delegate, be present for or have voice or vote in any meeting or decision of this central body's Committee on Political Education.
Section 5. No person shall be eligible to serve as a delegate unless he or she is a member of a local union affiliated with this Central Labor Council or is a National or International Union representative regularly servicing such an affiliated union.
Section 6. Disqualification’s: (a) No person shall be eligible to serve as a delegate who holds a salaried position, or any other position of administrative or executive authority, in a union or any subordinate branch of a union which has been suspended or expelled from the AFL-CIO. (b) No individual shall be eligible to serve as an officer, member of the executive board or committee or other governing body of, or any other committee of, or as a delegate from, or as a representative, agent or employee of this Council who consistently pursues policies and activities directed toward the achievement of the program or purposes of authoritarianism, totalitarianism, terrorism and other forces that suppress individual liberties and freedom of association. No person shall be eligible to serve in any of the aforementioned capacities who holds a salaried position or any other position of administrative or executive authority in a union, or any subordinate branch of a union, which has been suspended or expelled from the AFL-CIO.
Section 7. No delegate shall be seated except upon presentation of a proper Credential form from an affiliated organization in good standing which credential shall be examined and attested to by the Executive Board as to the eligibility of the delegate and the standing of the organization sending the delegate. The report of the Executive Board shall not be made until it shall have had adequate opportunity to examine the credential and to ascertain its validity, but in no case shall the report be delayed beyond the meeting following the meeting at which the credential was first presented.
Section 8. Upon acceptance of a delegate's credential, the presiding officer shall administer the following obligation: "I (name of delegate) do solemnly pledge my honor that I will obey the rules and regulations of this Central Body and, to the best of my ability, perform all the duties I may be called on to discharge as a delegate thereto. I also pledge that I will patronize only union labels, shop cards, and service button when they are available and that I will qualify myself to vote in all local, state, and federal elections if eligible to do so".
Section 9. Absence from three consecutive meetings of the Central Labor Council without an acceptable excuse shall be sufficient grounds for declaring a delegate's seat vacant, following which the Secretary-Treasurer shall notify the delegate's organization and request that a new delegate be sent.
ARTICLE IV
Section 1. A roll call vote shall be held on any pending question, including election of officers, upon demand of thirty percent (30%) or more of the delegates present.
Section 2. On roll call votes each Local Union shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote for each member based upon the average membership of the Local Union, as determined according to the provisions of Section 3 of this Article.
Section 3. The average membership of a Local Union shall be determined on the basis of per capita payments for the first twelve (12) of the immediately proceeding thirteen (13) months. This twelve (12) month period shall be known as the base period. The average membership of a Local Union affiliated for less than this twelve (12) months’ period shall be computed from the month of affiliation, and shall be determined by dividing the total per capita paid for all months affiliated by twelve (12).
Section 4. The votes of a Local Union shall be divided equally among all its accredited delegates present and each delegate shall be entitled to cast only his/her assigned number of votes, except that to facilitate the calling of the roll, one (1) delegate may be designated to cast all of the votes of the delegates representing his/her Local Union, provided that if any delegate shall challenge the correctness of the votes so cast the individual delegates of that Local Union shall be polled.
Section 5. The Secretary-Treasurer shall maintain, on a current basis, the official roll of delegates, showing the average membership of each Local Union as established under the provisions of Article IV, Section 3.
ARTICLE V
Section 1. Regular meetings of the Central Body shall be held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at 7:30 p.m. at such place as the Central Body shall from time to time determine. Due notice shall be given all affiliated organizations and delegates of any change of meeting place. Regular Central Body meetings shall adjourn by 9:00 p.m. unless the time is extended by majority vote. The President shall call the meetings to order and in his/her absence the Vice President shall act for him/her. If both are absent, the Recording Secretary shall call the meeting to order and a temporary Chairperson shall be selected.
Section 2. Special meetings for consideration of specified matters shall be held when ordered by a regular meeting of the Central Body, the President, the Executive Board, or by written request of ten (10) members representing at least six (6) Local Unions in good standing. Written notice of the special meeting shall be given to all affiliated organizations and to each delegate at least five (5) days in advance of the meeting. The matter, or matters, for consideration of the special meeting shall be stated in the notice and no other business shall be transacted.
Section 3. Ten (10) delegates representing six (6) different affiliated Local Unions shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business.
ARTICLE VI
Section 1. The officers of the Central Body shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary-Treasurer and a Recording Secretary. In addition to the officers there shall be three (3) Trustees elected at the same time, for the same term and in the same manner as the officers. No person shall be eligible to serve as an officer, a member of the Executive Board or a member of any committee of the Central Body or as a delegate from, or as a representative, agent or employee of the Central Body who is a member of any fascist organization or other totalitarian movement, or who consistently pursues policies and activities directed toward the achievement of the program or the purposes of any fascist organization or other totalitarian movement who consistently pursues policies and activities directed the achievement of the program or purposes of authoritarianism, totalitarianism, terrorism and other forces that suppress individual liberties and freedom of association or who holds a salaried position or any other position of administrative or executive authority in a union, or any subordinate branch of a union, which is unaffiliated with or suspended from the AFL-CIO.
Section 2. Each officer shall be a duly accredited delegate from an affiliated organization.
Section 3. The term of office shall be four (4) years and each officer shall hold office until his/her successor has been elected and installed.
Section 4. Not more than one (1) delegate from the same international union shall be eligible to be an officer at the same time. If more than one (1) delegate is nominated from an international for an office a caucus will be held by the delegates of the International involved to determine who the nominee will be.
Section 5. Every fourth year, nominations shall be held at the first meeting in July and the election shall be held at the second meeting in July. Notice of nominations and elections must be sent to the delegates at least one (1) week prior to the meeting at which nominations or elections are held. Not less than (forty-five) 45 nor more than (one hundred twenty (120) days prior to an election, the Central Body shall compile and notify each affiliated organization of the availability of a list containing the following information: (I) the name and address of each of the Central Body’s elected officers (including executive board members); (II) the name and mailing address of each of the organizations affiliated with the Central Body; (III) the name of each of the affiliated organization’s principal officers; (IV) each organization’s projected per capita voting strength and delegate entitlement at the election; and (V) to the extent available, the names and mailing addresses of the delegates. The Central Body shall compile and notify each affiliated organization of the availability of a list containing the information set forth above in each non-election year in the same month in which the information was last provided. Officers of organizations affiliated with the Central Body shall also be entitled at the place where the records are kept, to inspect and to make their own notes concerning the most current underlying records relating to the information included in the lists provided for above.
Section 6. Election for uncontested offices may be by acclamation. Election for contested offices shall be by roll call vote. A majority shall be required to elect. The three (3) Trustees receiving the greatest number of votes shall be declared elected, provided each has received a majority of the votes cast. The Trustee receiving the most votes shall be the Chairperson. If no candidate for a particular office receives a majority of the first vote, all but the two (2) candidates for that office receiving the greatest number of votes shall be eliminated and a second vote shall be taken; except if a second vote is required for election of Trustees the candidates receiving the fewest votes shall be eliminated so as to leave two (2) candidates for each unfilled Trustee's position.
Section 7. Election by roll call vote may be conducted orally or may be conducted by written or printed ballots which conform to subsection (b) of Rule 10 of the Rules Governing AFL-CIO Area Labor Councils and Central Councils. Such ballots shall become part of the records of the Central Body, and shall be preserved for a period of not less than six (6) months.
Section 8. In the event of a vacancy, the position shall be filled by a special election, with nominations at the next meeting following the vacancy and the election at the succeeding meeting. Said election shall be conducted as provided in other sections of this Article.
Section 9. Each officer elected shall take office immediately upon election.
Section 10. Before entering upon his/her duties each officer-elect shall assume the following obligation: "I (give name) do hereby promise to faithfully perform all the duties of the office to which I have been elected to the best of my ability and to uphold the Constitution and Bylaws of this Central Body and of the AFL-CIO. I further promise to deliver all property in my possession belonging to this Central Body to my successor in office or to surrender such property to the President of the AFL-CIO upon his/her official demand."
ARTICLE VII
Section 1. The President shall be the presiding officer of all meetings of the Central Body and of the Executive Board. He/she shall be Chairperson of the Central Body's COPE Committee. He/she shall countersign all orders for the payment of funds of the Central Body. He/she shall exercise general supervision over the affairs and activities of the Central Body and shall perform such other duties as usually appertain to the office and as may be ordered by the Central Body or the Executive Board. He/she shall have the power to interpret this Constitution and Bylaws, subject to ratification of the Executive Board and of the Central Body.
Section 2. The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in his/her absence or incapacity and shall assist the President when requested.
Section 3. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be the custodian of the financial records of the Central Body. He/she will receive and disburse all funds of this Central Body upon proper authorization. He/she shall maintain adequate financial records showing the standing of all affiliated organizations and the source and disposition of all funds in his/her care. He/she shall handle the funds and keep the financial records in a manner which will meet the applicable requirements of the Code of Ethical Practices concerning accounting and financial controls as approved by the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO and as may be required by the Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO under the Rules Governing AFL-CIO Area Labor Councils and Central Councils. He/she shall submit to the Central Body a monthly financial statement of all funds in his/her keeping, showing the accounts in such detail as the Executive Board or the Central Body may require, and shall submit his/her books for audit on request of the Executive Board but at least annually.
Section 4. All approved expenditures of the Central Body will require two (2) signatures. The President and Secretary-Treasurer will be the authorized signers. The Vice President shall be empowered to countersign, with proper approval, in the absence of the President.
Section 5. The Recording Secretary shall keep written minutes of all meetings of the Central Body and Executive Board, copies of which shall be mailed to all affiliated Local Unions, delegates and alternates; and shall keep a record of signed attendance cards. He/she shall report on all correspondence received.
Section 6. The Trustees shall be the custodians of the physical properties of the Central Body and shall prepare and maintain an inventory of all such properties showing the date of purchase, the cost and the estimated current value. They shall examine the records of the Secretary-Treasurer quarterly and shall report to the Central Body on the condition of these records, and shall have the authority to have the books audited by a certified public accountant.
ARTICLE VIII
Section 1. The Executive Board shall be composed of the Central Body's President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Chairperson of the Trustees, and eleven (11) Board members who are accredited delegates elected at large under the same procedure and under the same requirements as stated in Article VI, Section 2 through Section 10.
No two (2) of the eleven (11) Board members at large or the Chairpersons of the Trustees shall come from any one (1) national or international union. Mergers of national and international unions shall have no effect on the current Board members and these members if so elected shall be eligible to serve for one additional term.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall be the governing body of the Central Body between meetings and it is authorized and empowered to take such action and render such decisions as may be necessary to carry out fully the decisions and instructions of the Central Body and as may be necessary and appropriate to safeguard and promote the best interests of the Central Body and its affiliated unions. Actions of the Executive Board shall be subject to the approval or disapproval of the Central Body.
Section 3. The Executive Board shall meet regularly at least once each month at such time and place as it may determine and it shall meet on call of the President when a special meeting is necessary.
Section 4. A quorum for transaction of the business of the Executive Board shall consist of a majority of its members.
ARTICLE IX
Section 1. Any affiliated organization, by vote of its membership, or any officer of or delegate to the Central Body shall have the right to file charges: against any delegate to the Central Body for having engaged in conduct or a course of activity hostile or contrary to the best interests of the Central Body or contrary to its Constitution and Bylaws; or against any officer of the Central Body for violating the Constitution or Rules of the AFL-CIO or the Constitution and Bylaws of the Central Body, or for conduct unbecoming an officer, misappropriation of funds, malfeasance in office or neglect of duty; or against any organization affiliated with the Central Body for having engaged in conduct or a course of activity hostile or contrary to the best interests of the Central Body or contrary to this Constitution and Bylaws.
Section 2. All charges shall be in writing, specifying the particular act or acts charged; shall be signed by the charging party or by its officers, if an affiliated organization; and shall be filed with the President or the Secretary-Treasurer of the Central Body, or with any other officer of the Central Body, if both the President and the Secretary-Treasurer are charged.
Section 3. Upon receipt of the charges properly filed, the officer receiving the charges shall present them to the Executive Board at its next meeting and the Executive Board shall determine by majority vote whether or not the charges merit a hearing.
Section 4. The Executive Board may take appropriate disciplinary action including the suspension or expulsion of any delegate or affiliated organization, and the suspension or removal of any officer found guilty of the charges by a two-thirds vote, following a hearing, of which the accused shall have been notified and furnished with a copy of the charges not less than thirty (30) days in advance of the hearing. Both the accused and the charging party shall be accorded full opportunity to be heard and to present evidence.
Section 5. The decision of the Executive Board under Section 3 or 4 shall be reported to the next meeting of the Central Body. Such decision shall be final and binding unless appealed as hereinafter provided.
Section 6. The decision of the Executive Board may be appealed to the Central Body by either party. Notice of such appeal shall be filed in writing with the President or the Secretary-Treasurer within ten (10) days after the Executive Board's report to the Central Body. The appeal shall be heard expeditiously and at a regular meeting of the Central Body, at which time the charging party, the defendant and the Executive Board, through its selected spokesperson, in that order, shall be allowed ten (10) minutes each to present statements of the case, following which the delegates shall vote on the question of sustaining the decision of the Executive Board. It shall require a majority vote to sustain the decision.
Section 7. The final decision of the Central Body may be appealed to the AFL-CIO as provided in the Rules Governing AFL-CIO Area Labor Councils and Central Councils.
ARTICLE X
Section 1. Affiliated Local Unions shall pay a monthly per capita of seventy-five cents (.75) on each dues-paying member of the Local Union. Effective September 1 of each successive year, Local Unions shall pay an additional one-cent (.01) per capita on each dues-paying member of the Local Union (except as shown in Section 6 of this Article). Prior to September 1 each year, the Executive Board shall evaluate the proposed one-cent (.01) increase in per capita, and submit its evaluation to the membership for approval. Such approval shall be necessary each year to effectuate the increase. A Local Union desiring to affiliate shall pay one (1) months per capita at the time of affiliation. Per capita for succeeding months shall be due on the first of each month thereafter. Per capita in each case shall be based on the number of dues-paying members for the preceding month. If per capita for any month is not paid by the first of the following month, the Local Union shall be deemed in arrears. The per capita shall be distributed as follows: Ninety-four percent (94%) to the General Fund and six percent (6%) to the Citizenship Fund. These distinct and separate funds, to be accountable to all, shall be governed by a majority of the Executive Board of the Central Body. Retroactive per-capita payments may only be accepted following a recommendation for acceptance from the Executive Board Committee and approved by two-thirds of the votes cast by delegates at a meeting of the Central Body. Under no circumstances, will retroactive per-capita payments, approved or received, after six (6) months prior to the commencement of the base period, as defined in Article IV, Section 3., be allowed to increase the voting strength of any affiliate.
Section 2. Other affiliated organizations (as defined in Article III, Section 1) shall pay an annual fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00). Any such organization desiring to affiliate shall pay one (1) year's fee at the time of affiliation. The annual fee for succeeding years shall be due on the first of the anniversary month each year thereafter, and if not paid by the first of the succeeding month after it is due, the organization shall be deemed in arrears.
Section 3. A Local Union or other organization which becomes three (3) months in arrears shall stand suspended from membership without voice or vote and shall be so notified in writing by the Secretary-Treasurer. A Local Union or other affiliated organization which becomes six (6) months in arrears shall be deemed suspended.
Section 4. A Local Union or other organization, which has been suspended or has withdrawn from membership, may be reinstated by payment of all amounts due at the time of suspension, plus the current per capita or annual fee. However, the average membership of a reinstated Local Union for purposes of roll call voting shall be computed from the date of reinstatement as if it were a newly affiliated Local Union. This payment of all amounts due at the time of suspension is not considered retroactive payment of per-capita. Said payment shall not exceed six (6) months plus the current month’s per capita tax.
Section 5. A Local Union paying per capita on less than its full dues-paying membership, within the jurisdiction of the Central Body, shall be subject to suspension by the Executive Board. A Local Union paying per capita on more than 100% of its dues-paying membership within the jurisdiction of the Central Body shall be subject to suspension by the Executive Board. The Executive Board may require a Local Union to produce proof of membership where circumstances indicate that such Local Union is violating this provision. If the Local Union shall fail or refuse to produce such proof on request, the Executive Board may base its determination on such evidence as may be available.
Section 6. Subject to ratification by the Central Body, the Executive Board may exonerate any Local Union from paying per capita for any month that, in the opinion of the Executive Board, good cause for exoneration exists. Exonerated members shall be regarded, for the purpose of this Constitution and Bylaws, as paid-up members for the period of exoneration. However, the delegates representing such Local Union shall not vote on the question of exoneration.
ARTICLE XI
Financial Practices and Audits
Section 1. All funds of this Central Body shall be placed on deposit in a national bank or other federally insured financial institution, as designated by the Executive Board, and shall be paid out only by check bearing two (2) signatures of either the President or Vice President and the Secretary-Treasurer.
Section 2. The accounts and financial records of the Central Body, including all committees and subordinate agencies of the Central Body, shall be audited annually and shall cover the fiscal year commencing July 1. The Chairperson of the Trustees shall submit an audit report to the Central Body. The Executive Board may require more frequent audits or examination of the accounts and financial records of the Secretary-Treasurer at its discretion.
Section 3. Salary and expenses for the President shall be set by the Executive Board with approval of the Central Body.
Section 4. The Secretary-Treasurer shall receive monthly expenses incurred while fulfilling his/her duties, to be established by the Executive Board with the approval of the Central Body.
Section 5. Officers, delegates and other authorized persons shall be reimbursed for necessary and legitimate expenses, including actual loss of salary, which may be incurred in the performance of activities authorized by the Central Body. An itemized accounting of such expenses shall be submitted to the Executive Board.
Section 6. All officers and agents of the Central Body having a financial responsibility shall be covered by a fidelity bond in an amount to be determined by the Executive Board, or as may be required by the Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO. Should the amount of this bond exceed the amount of the bond regularly furnished without cost by the AFL-CIO, the Central Body shall pay the additional cost of such bond.
ARTICLE XII
Section 1. The following standing committees, with a maximum of five (5) members each, shall be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Executive Board: (a) Educational; (b) Organizational and Union Label and Service Trades; (c) Community Services and Veterans; (d) Public Relations and Human Relations and Civil Rights; (e) Appeals and Grievances; (f) Constitution and Bylaws and Resolutions; (g) Conservation; (h) Public Employee; and (i) Ethical Practices Committee. The Educational, Community Services and Veterans, and Public Employee Committees shall be allowed additional members.
Section 2. The members of the standing committees shall serve at the pleasure of the President.
Section 3. Special committees may be established from time to time by the Central Body as needed and shall be appointed by the President unless otherwise directed by the Central Body. The number of members on special committees is not limited.
Section 4. All committees shall report regularly to the Central Body and any committee, which fails to function, shall be dismissed and a new committee appointed.
Section 5. No absent delegate shall be appointed on any special committee unless he/she signifies his/her willingness to serve in writing.
Section 6. All committee actions and recommendations shall be reported to the Executive Board prior to reporting to the delegates in regular meeting. The Executive Board shall consider all committee reports and recommendations and make such decisions known in the report of the Executive Board at each regular meeting.
Section 7. Minutes of all committee meetings shall be taken by the committee secretary for the Recording Secretary's records.
Section 8. Duties of committees.(a) The Educational Committee shall educate the membership on the trade labor movement, on the purpose and benefits of unions, on the rights and responsibilities of union membership, and shall assist all other committees on matters of education. (b) The Organizational and Union Label and Service Trades Committee shall assist the State and National AFL-CIO, national, international, and Local Unions on their organizational programs; shall encourage the use of the union label, the purchase of union label goods, and develop programs to inform the public on union-made products; shall formulate "Don’t Buy" programs covering nonunion-made goods and inform the membership and the public where union-made goods are available; shall promote measures designed to encourage patronage of concerns that employ members of the various unions affiliated with this Central Body. (c) The Community Services and Veterans Committee shall prepare and make available to all Local Unions material and information on veterans' rights; shall study proposed legislation concerning veterans and make recommendations to the Central Body thereon; shall promote the health and welfare of the union membership; shall study and make recommendations to the Central Body on all phases of community development pertaining to the better way of life for union families and the entire community; shall help establish community services committees in all affiliated Local Unions; shall promote and secure representation of labor on all community boards, commissions and any committees dealing with human welfare; shall sponsor training programs that will train members on meeting their out-of-workplace problems and needs; shall study and make recommendations on needed legislation to the Executive Board; shall promote the full time employment of labor representatives on health and welfare staffs; shall assist health and welfare organizations to formulate more progressive policies on health, recreation and welfare programs; shall take the lead when necessary in inaugurating new programs for the advancement of better living conditions within the community; shall recommend to the Executive Board candidates for United Community Services labor staff representatives and shall establish the terms and agreements for the employment of labor staff representatives between the Central Body and United Community Services of Greater Des Moines, subject to the approval of the Executive Board and the delegates in regular meeting.
The labor staff representatives of the Community Services of Greater Des Moines shall be, by virtue of their position, members of this Community Services and Veterans Committee, provided they are delegates to the Central Body. (d) The Public Relations and Human Relations and Civil Rights Committee shall handle the publicity of the Central Body; shall formulate publicity programs that will promote better public relations for the trade labor movement; shall encourage all workers, without regard to race, creed, color, sex, national origin or ancestry, to share equally in the full benefits of union organization. (e) The Appeals and Grievances Committee shall have jurisdiction over all contested credentials and disputes between organizations, officials or members of the Central Body. Accusations against any official or member of the Central Body for any violations of the Constitution and Bylaws, or disputes by any affiliated Local Union shall, so far as possible, be adjusted by this committee in accordance with National AFL-CIO Rules Governing AFL-CIO Area Labor Councils and Central Councils (f) The Constitution and Bylaws and Resolutions Committee shall perform such duties as may properly come before it in accordance with this Constitution and Bylaws regarding amendments and pertaining to resolutions properly submitted in writing to the Executive Board. After investigation, this committee shall report directly to the Executive Board prior to the next regular meeting of the Central Body. (g) The Conservation Committee shall promote measures relating to the preservation of Iowa's soils, woods, waters and wildlife. (h) The Public Employee Committee shall advise the Central Body on public employee affairs and shall keep current on legislative action and any developments affecting public employees at the state and local level. The committee shall include at least one (1) delegate from each affiliated public employee local that desires representation on this committee. (i)) The Ethical Practices Committee shall have the authority to investigate and, where the EPC finds reasonable cause to believe that a violation of the Ethical Practices Code has occurred, to bring the matter to an appropriate hearing before an impartial hearing panel drawn from within the Central Labor Council, if the matter is not otherwise resolved.
ARTICLE XIII
Legislative, Political Action and COPE
Section 1. The Committee on Political Education (COPE) of the Central Body shall be the political arm of the Central Body and all political activities of the Central Body shall be under its direction. The committee shall operate in conformity with the policies of the AFL-CIO and the National, State and Congressional District COPE organizations.
Section 2. The President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recording Secretary and other members of the Executive Board of this Central Body shall serve in corresponding positions in the Central Body's COPE and shall constitute the COPE Executive Committee.
Section 3. The Executive Committee of COPE shall have the power to formulate bylaws to govern COPE which shall be consistent with the policies of National COPE. Such bylaws shall be subject to ratification by the Central Body.
Section 4. The COPE Committee shall study and make recommendations to the organization on needed legislation; shall organize legislative programs for the purpose of educating the membership on legislative matters; shall prepare information on legislative issues and make it available for use by other standing committees; shall formulate a political program that will encourage registration and voting; shall interview candidates for elective office; shall prepare material on political issues; shall make careful studies of all phases of the political situation as it exists and make regular reports and recommendations of its findings to the delegates of the Central Body for approval.
This committee shall have the responsibility of formulating the details of registration, getting out the vote, and educating the membership on political problems of the Central Body. It shall formulate programs on financing the political education of the membership, but shall not put into effect any political program, endorse any candidate, take any action or make any statement of policy involving the Central Body before such proposals have been approved by the Central Body in a regular or special meeting. Before making recommendations on candidates for Congressional District, State and National offices, the committee shall confer and work with the Congressional District, State and National COPE organizations so all programs of COPE will be coordinated. No member of the committee, nor the committee itself, shall make any commitment to any candidate or political party without first having the approval of the Central Body.
ARTICLE XIV
Rules, Parliamentary Authority and Amendments
Section 1. The procedures to be followed by the Central Body with respect to boycotts, unfair lists, strikes, collective bargaining and publications issued or endorsed by the Central Body shall be in accordance with the AFL-CIO Rules Governing AFL-CIO Area Labor Councils and Central Councils.
Section 2. The parliamentary rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall govern the Central Body in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution and Bylaws or such special rules of order as may be adopted by the Central Body. All meetings shall be held in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order Revised, except that no delegate shall be allowed to speak more than twice on one question and not longer than five (5) minutes each time, except by consent of the delegates to the Central Body. Any person who enters the meeting in a state of intoxication, or disturbs the harmony thereof, or uses abusive, disorderly or profane language, or refuses obedience to the presiding officer, shall be admonished by the Chair, and if he/she offends again he/she shall be ejected from the meeting. If any delegate is ejected from the meeting, his/her Local Union shall be requested to withdraw such delegate.
Section 3. This Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by any regular meeting of the Central Body by two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast, providing the proposed amendment shall have been submitted in writing to the Executive Board at the preceding regular meeting, properly certified by ten (10) delegates representing five (5) affiliated organizations. Amendments may also be proposed by the Executive Board. All proposed amendments shall be read in full at the meeting at which received, and copies shall be mailed to all affiliated Local Unions, delegates and alternates prior to final consideration. The proposed amendment or resolution shall be submitted to the Constitution and Bylaws and Resolutions Committee for consideration and report to the Executive Committee. Amendments to this Constitution and Bylaws shall become effective when approved by the President of the AFL-CIO.
ARTICLE XV
Section 1. The President of this Central Body shall, by virtue of office, be a delegate to all State and National Conventions.
Section 2. Additional delegates to any convention to which this Central Body is entitled to representation shall be elected from the eligible delegates. To be eligible for nomination as a delegate to any convention, the Central Body delegate must have attended at least fifty percent (50%) of all regularly scheduled meetings in the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the meeting at which nominations are to be held, unless excused by the Executive Board for justifiable reasons.
Section 3. Delegates elected and attending any convention shall be reimbursed for unpaid time lost from work; for unpaid travel expenses to and from the convention by the shortest route; and for unpaid housing, unpaid meals and other reasonable expenses.
Section 4. When any convention is held in Des Moines, delegate expenses shall not exceed ten dollars ($10.00) per day.
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