UE locals are the most important part of our union. As autonomous bodies,
chartered by the National UE, all locals are responsible for defending
their members and advancing the needs of the membership on the job and
through political action. High levels of membership participation are encouraged
and made possible by the structure of our local unions.
Constitution and By-Laws
Each local adopts its own constitution, written and ratified by the
members. The constitution spells out the rights and duties of the membership,
how the local will be governed, and how the local’s activities will
be financed. Every member is welcome to read and become familiar with the
local constitution and, if necessary, propose changes.
The only requirement: UE local constitution's cannot be in conflict
with the constitution of the National Union, especially in the areas of
union democracy, finances, and the right of all workers to belong
to the union—regardless of "craft, age, sex, nationality, race,
creed, or political beliefs." The reason? If union democracy is corrupted
by excluding groups of workers from membership, true rank-and-file control
is also destroyed—and bosses are given yet another tool with which
they can divide workers.
Membership Meetings
Regular membership meetings are held where the rank-and-file acts on
all matters affecting the operation of the local. This includes everything
from the election of officers, to collective bargaining, to the decision
to call—or end—a strike.
UE Members Vote:
• ...on their own collective bargaining policy
and strategy (everything from developing contract demands to defending
the members);
• ...on all agreements with employers;
• ...to strike, not to strike, or end a strike;
• ...to elect all local officers, stewards,
and trustees.
• ... to elect their own negotiating committee;
• ... to elect delegates to District Council
meetings and UE National Conventions;
• ...on local dues—and how they are
used (note: national dues are set at UE Conventions);
• ... on legislative and political action
programs;
• ... to decide all issues affecting their
UE Local.
Local Leadership
Each local union elects its own officers who make up the local Executive
Board. Any member in good standing is eligible to run for office. Most
UE locals hold elections for officers every year (at most, every two years).
The Executive Board is responsible for directing the activities of the
local between membership meetings by carrying out policies adopted by the
members.
Trustees, acting independently of the Executive Board, are also elected.
Their duty is to safeguard the members' dues by regularly checking the
local's finances. Full reports are made by the trustees at membership meetings.
The Steward System
UE stewards are the backbone of our union—our "first line
of defense." Stewards are elected—never appointed (as in some
other unions)—to actively fight for the rights of UE members
on the job. As the main link between the members and their union, UE stewards
play a crucial role in building unity and involvement—and maintaining
the rank-and-file nature of UE.
Bosses have never liked strong steward systems and, indeed, many unions
have agreed over the years to replace their workplace representatives with
centralized and bureaucratic "grievance handlers." We've fought
attempts to limit the number of UE stewards and have retained the best
steward-to-member ratio of any union, averaging one steward for every fifteen-to-twenty
members.
The members elect stewards to:
• Help enforce the contract in the workplace;
• Maintain a strong union organization;
• Fight grievances with the employer by organizing the members;
• Keep the membership fully informed of the union's program and
activities.
Collective Bargaining
Before negotiating with an employer, the local union develops a collective
bargaining program which is discussed and ratified by the membership. Every
member has a right to raise issues for consideration in negotiations. Local
negotiating committees are elected by the members to bargain with the boss.
No agreement with an employer can take effect without ratification by
the membership. Strikes can only be called after a majority of the members
vote to take such action. In each case, the decision is up to the local
UE membership. Unlike most other unions, the National Union cannot force
a local to accept or reject a contract, go on strike, end a strike, or
withhold strike benefits to force a settlement. Likewise, local leaders
cannot make these decisions without a vote by the membership.
Negotiating Contracts
A negotiating committee, elected by the membership
presents the union's proposals and bargains with the employer. The committee
keeps the membership informed about negotiations. There are no closed-door
negotiations or "information blackouts" during negotiations.
We don't use lawyers to negotiate contracts, either. Why?
We believe that the members—not outside
"experts"—are in the best position to argue about their
wages, benefits and working conditions—and only an organized, unified,
and informed membership can win gains in these areas. No negotiator,
no matter how gifted, can "make the boss give in" on something
he or she doesn't want to. A unified membership can—and does.
UE locals regularly win better contract settlements than those of unions
in comparable workplaces.
Representation in the Larger Union
Members elect delegates to attend District Council meetings and the
union's annual National Convention. These meetings are impressive because
of their genuine rank-and-file nature—only elected UE members can
debate and vote on issues affecting the union.
Unlike many other unions, UE staff are not assigned to represent the
members at either of these gatherings.
(Note: Since all UE field staff are dues-paying members of a UE local,
it is possible—but unlikely—that a member of the staff could
be elected as a local union delegate. The structure of the union does,
however, make it impossible for the national union or districts to assign
delegate status to a staff member.)
Making Democracy Work:
The Responsibilities of Membership
Since UE's programs and policies are designed to improve the living standards
of our members, each member is directly tied to the success of the union.
But our style of rank-and-file unionism can only be maintained if each
UE local member, steward, and officer is actively involved. Important areas
of participation include:
-
Electing local delegates and encouraging interested
officers, stewards, and members to attend each District Council meeting
and National Union convention;
-
Helping stewards do their jobs, especially by
showing solidarity and building unity in our workplaces.
-
Serving on a local committee and attending membership
meetings. Propose ideas that will improve the union's work in carrying
out UE policy. Discuss resolutions that can be brought to the District
Council and National Convention—every member has the right and obligation
to help formulate UE's policies.
-
Making sure that full reports of District Council
meetings and the National Convention are made to the membership.
-
Helping in UE organizing campaigns. Members can
speak from experience, with honesty, about the union—a powerful message
to workers who are considering joining UE.
