Constitutional Amendments
Adopted by the IBEW 36th International Convention
October/November 2001 IBEW Journal
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Officers and Staff Compensation
Article III, Section 8
This amendment increases the formula for determining
annual salary increases for international officers, international
representatives, assistants and directors. The change makes such
increases equal to the combined average of the percentage increases
negotiated for members through collective bargaining agreements.
Previously, such officers and staffs increases were limited
to 75 percent of that average.
Salaries of the International President, International
Secretary-Treasurer, International Vice Presidents, I.E.C. members,
Executive Assistants, Directors and Senior International Representatives
shall be increased annually on October 1. The increase shall be
equal to the combined average of the percentage increases negotiated
and approved by the membership for the members of the construction,
manufacturing, telephones, and utility branches of the IBEW.
Pension Benefits for International Officers,
Representatives and Assistants of the IBEW
Article III, Section 11
This amendment enhances the benefit being paid to all of those
participants (or their beneficiaries) who retired prior to the
1996 increase in the basic pension. It also enhances the basic
benefit formula for those now-active participants who retire in
the future. Finally, it also improves the pre-retirement spouses
benefit.
It is appropriate to utilize the positive financial condition
of the Pension Plan and to use it in a manner which will improve
the benefits of the Plan for both those who retired prior to October
18, 1996, and those who are still active employees and who will
retire in the future; and such improvements will be as follows:
For a retiree or his or her surviving beneficiary currently
in pay status who went into pay status prior to October 18,
1996, the benefit shall be enhanced starting on January 1, 2002,
by (a) using his or her actual salary and years of service and
recalculating the benefit under the formula which became effective
as of October 18, 1996 (a maximum potential of 75 percent);
and (b) increasing that recalculated benefit by the cost-of-living
increases previously given to such retiree or beneficiary.
Employees who retire on or after the 30th day following adoption
of this resolution shall receive a benefit based on three and
three-quarters percent (3.75 percent) of the average annual
salary for the three (3) years during which the highest salary
was payable to the individual. Previously the formula was 3.5
percent.
Effective 30 days after the adoption of this resolution, future
"Pre-Retirement Spouses Benefits" shall be increased
from 50 percent to 100 percent.
Per Capita Tax
Article IX, Sections 2, 4 and 5
This amendment seeks to prevent the Brotherhood from going into
deficit spending prior to the next Convention. It authorizes a
$1 monthly per capita increase on January 1, 2004, or earlier
if necessary.
Sections 2 and 4 shall be amended to reflect a one dollar ($1)
increase in
the monthly per capita tax, effective January 1, 2004.
If the IEC determines, during any fiscal year prior to January
1, 2004, that the projected budget for that year will result in
deficit spending, the IEC is authorized to increase the monthly
per capita for all members at that time.
Pension Benefit Fund
Article XI, Sections 1, 2 and 3
This amendment increases the pension formula for the normal,
early, disability and vested pensions. Second, the resolution
adopts a pop-up provision for members who are receiving a reduced
optional spouses benefit in the event their spouse predeceases
them or they are divorced. And the amendment increases the maximum
death benefit payable under the plan for deaths of nonretired
A members after September 10, 2001, to $6,250 (up from $5,000)
for a natural death and $12,500 (up from $10,000) for an accidental
death. The amendments effective date makes the 25 percent increase
available to families of the IBEW victims of the attack on the
World Trade Center.
Basic Benefit Formula. An "A" member who retires under
a normal or early pension, becomes disabled, or is approved for
a vested pension after December 31, 2001, shall be entitled to
benefits computed on the basis of $3.50 per month for each full
year of continuous "A" membership earned through 1997
and $4.50 per month for each full year of "A" membership
earned in and after 1998.
Optional Spouses Benefit. Improves the Optional Spouses Benefit
effective as of January 1, 2002, so that a member who is receiving
a benefit which was reduced to reflect the election of an optional
spouses benefit, will receive an increased benefit by having
his benefit "pop up" and be raised to the amount of
the respective pension that was in effect at the time of that
members going into benefit payment status, if, after commencing
his benefit either he and his spouse are divorced or his spouse
predeceases him.
Death Benefits. Upon the death after September 10, 2001, of a
nonretired "A" member who then has at least six months
continuous and active good standing, the beneficiary to receive
the death benefits shall be paid the sum of $6,250 if the member
died of natural causes or the sum of $12,500 if the member died
from accidental means. In addition, for retired members, the death
benefit shall be computed by subtracting from $6,250 all pension
benefits received from the Pension Benefit Fund. The death benefit,
however, shall not be less than $3,000.
Rules for Local Unions
Article XV, Section 3
This amendment lowers the number of members required to constitute
a quorum for monthly local union meetings of smaller locals.
Any local union failing to hold a regular meeting for a period
of one month shall forfeit its charter, unless it shows good cause
for not doing so. Seven members in good standing shall constitute
a quorum provided the local union has a membership of 75 or more.
If the local union has less than 75 members, then five shall constitute
a quorum.
Applicants
Article XX
Changes were made to provide that names of applicants can be
read or posted at a regular meeting. Also, obligations of membership
can be given now by the Business Manager, or his designated representative
which is in addition to the President, or Vice President or Recording
Secretary.
The local union shall have each applicant take the obligation
before a regular meeting or outside the regular meeting in the
presence of the president or the vice president or the business
manager or the business managers designated representative or
the recording secretary.
Distributed Energy and Renewable Energy Generation
Article XXVI, Sections 4 and 5
The intent of the resolution is to identify technological advancements
in our industry and incorporate them into the Constitution. It
strongly emphasizes that the jurisdiction of the IBEW includes
distributed energy and renewable energy generation such as solar
photovoltaic, geothermal, wind, biomass, wave, etc.
The IBEW Constitution will be amended to add the following at
Article 26, Section 4 and 5, after the last paragraph to read:
"Renewable electrical energy sources such as solar photovoltaic,
geothermal, wind, biomass, wave, etc. and other distributed energy
installations such as fuel cells, microturbines, etc." Ongoing
construction and industrial organizing efforts are to include
workers, employees and establishments operating in these industries.
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