Delegates to the 41st IBEW International Convention on Sept. 23 considered eight proposed amendments to the IBEW Constitution.
The amendments were introduced by Law Committee Chairman Bob Dean, business manager of Vacaville, Calif., Local 1245, and committee Secretary Mark Lynch, business manager of Philadelphia Local 98.
The first amendment would amend the second paragraph of Article 15, Section 14 of the Constitution to require a local union to offer membership and admittance to an apprentice as soon as possible after the apprentice has worked in the local’s jurisdiction.
Shreveport, La., Local 194 Business Manager William Upchurch spoke in favor of the amendment
“Yesterday, we removed the waiting period for PBF death benefits. Apprentices should have that benefit,” he said. “If apprentices are working, they should be members.” PBF death benefits are only available to members.
No one spoke against adoption, and delegates approved the amendment.
The delegates then voted on an amendment to clarify language in Article 15, Section 14 about apprentice eligibility for election to union office. Apprentices would still be ineligible for elected office, but they could be nominated for a position if the installation of officers occurred after they topped out of the apprenticeship.
Larry Roberts, business manager of Martin, Tenn., Local 1925, rose in support, and the amendment was approved.
Delegates also approved an amendment simplifying the constitutional section on good standing. The amendment changes Article 21, Sections 3 and 4, to clarify when a member is no longer in good standing because the member is in arrears on dues, per capita taxes or both.
Orlando, Fla., Local 606 Business Manager Todd Provost spoke in support of the amendment.
“This aligns the constitution with common practice, removes confusing language and ensures A and BA members are the same,” he said.
No one spoke against the proposed amendment, and it was approved.
Delegates rejected three proposed amendments.
First, there was a proposal to add language to Article 25, Section 1, stating that a member could be disciplined for violating the Constitutional oath of obligation. The law committee recommended against adopting the amendment, because, it said, it was duplicative and could cause confusion.
Price Warwick of Dallas-Fort Worth Local 20, spoke in favor of rejecting the amendment, and the Law Committee’s recommendation of nonconcurrence passed.
The delegates then rejected a proposal from Detroit Local 58 to change the word “object” to “objectives” on page iv of the IBEW Constitution. The law committee recommended against adopting the language change because the two words have the same meaning, and the IBEW Constitution has had an “objects” provision since the founding of the IBEW.
Rumford, Maine, Local 2144 Business Manager Dan Swett spoke in favor of nonconcurrence.
“This isn’t necessary,” he said.
Detroit Local 58 member Kevin Mack then spoke against the nonconcurrence.
“The proposal was not to be disrespectful. It was for clearing up the language we use today and the language they used then,” he said.
The delegates approved the Law Committee’s recommendation of nonconcurrence.
The last rejected proposed amendment came from Orlando Local 2222. The amendment proposed to Article 20, Section 12(a) to prohibit an ex-member who resigned their membership from being admitted to any other local union except the one from which they had resigned.
The law committee recommended nonconcurrence because the amendment was not aligned with the union’s many efforts to remove impediments to organizing. The amendment would make it nearly impossible to organize former members who had relocated since a local union can only admit an applicant that lives or works in its jurisdiction.
Milwaukee Local 494 Assistant Business Manager Nicholas Campbell spoke in favor of nonconcurrence.
“The first object is to organize all workers. We have a goal of 1 million members. If we want to reach it, we will need to organize new members, as well as bring back former members,” he said.
No one spoke in favor of adoption, and the nonconcurrence recommendation passed.
Two amendments passed to allow the use of modern technologies.
First up was an amendment to Article 15, Section 6 to allow the international president to implement a system for railroad locals and system councils to submit agreements and documents electronically. The amendment removes language required railroad system councils to submit some documents “in duplicate.”
San Antonio, Texas, Local 1911 Financial Secretary Alex Avila spoke in support of the Law Committee’s recommendation of concurrence.
“It’s common sense. The day of submitting anything in duplicate are long gone,” he said.
The amendment was approved.
Finally, delegates approved an amendment to Article 6, Section 1g, removing the requirement that the international secretary-treasurer produce a physical local union directory. The Law Committee recommended supporting the amendment because physical “tramp guides” can be outdated before they are even published and an easily searchable version of the directory also already exists online.
Santa Rosa, Calif., Local 551 Business Manager John McEntagart spoke in favor of the amendment.
“This is necessary to reflect modern times,” he said.
No one spoke against the Law Committee recommendation of concurrence, and the amendment was approved.
