On Tuesday afternoon, delegates to the 40th International Convention approved amendments that make a series of changes to convention attendance, provided an alternative for the oath of admission if a new member cannot attend a meeting, and required local unions to transmit their per capita payments electronically.
Since 1958 members of convention committees received a $50 per diem and reimbursement for expenses.
And while times have changed, Article XXVII, Section 2 had not.
International President Lonnie Stephenson and International Secretary-Treasurer Kenny Cooper proposed and amendment that would double committee members’ per diem to $100.
With no one speaking in opposition, the convention approved the change.
Article XX, Sections 4 and 5 were then amended to allow an applicant for membership to make a written Oath of Admission outside the physical presence of IBEW members where it is impractical to do so. Permission would have to come from the international president. If granted, applicants could sign a modified Oath that removed traditional opening “in the presence of members of the” IBEW.
The era of per capita payments by physical checks is officially over.
Delegates approved a change to Article XVII, Section 4 that requires locals to use electronic payment of the per capita tax to the International Office.
Any exceptions would require a special arrangement with the international secretary-treasurer.
The Law Committee concurred with the proposal, noting that the vast majority of locals already use electronic payments and the few that don’t greatly reduce the efficiency of International Office operations. The amendment was approved by acclamation.
The convention then considered two amendments that sought to clarify the eligibility requirement for delegates to the convention.
The convention approved a change that requires delegates to be in good standing not only for 24 months before nomination, but also that they remain in good standing through the convention unless special permission was granted by the international secretary-treasurer.
The law committee recommended rejecting a competing amendment on good standing that only required a 24-month continuous good standing requirement after a delegate was nominated.
By acclamation, the delegates agreed with the law committee’s recommendation of nonconcurrence on the competing amendment.
Just before the gavel fell to close the second day of the International Convention, delegates approved a change to Article II, Section 10 to codify long-standing IBEW policy to clarify that the offices of business manager and/or president may be automatic delegates if the local union bylaws so provide, and depending upon the number of delegates the local has for the convention.
Again, the convention body approved the amendment by acclamation.