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CONSTITUTION
UE NORTHEAST REGION

PREAMBLE

We, the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers (UE), realize that the struggle to better our working and living conditions is in vain unless we are united to protect ourselves collectively against the organized forces of the employers.

Realizing that the old craft form of trade union organization is unable to defend effectively the interests and improve the conditions of the wage earners, we, THE UNITED ELECTRICAL, RADIO AND MACHINE WORKERS (UE) form an organization which unites all workers in our industry on an industrial basis, and rank and file control, regardless of craft, age, sex, sexual orientation, nationality, race, creed or political beliefs, and pursue at all times a policy of aggressive struggle to improve our conditions.

We pledge ourselves to labor unitedly for the principles herein set forth, to perpetuate our Union and work concertedly with other labor organizations to bring about a higher standard of living of the workers.

ARTICLE 1
NAME

This organization shall be known as the NORTHEAST REGION OF THE UNITED ELECTRICAL, RADIO AND MACHINE WORKERS OF AMERICA (UE). The term "Northeast" as used in this constitution shall be synonymous with the term "Northeastern" described in the UE National Constitution, Article 13.

ARTICLE 2
OBJECT

It shall be the object of the Northeast Regional Council to co-ordinate the activities of and assist member Locals, to organize the unorganized workers falling under the jurisdiction of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) in the Northeast Region, to educate their membership in industrial union principles and to advance the interest of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE).

ARTICLE 3
MEMBERSHIP

All Locals of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America in the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York State (the area east of Utica while north of White Plains) shall become affiliated with the Northeast Regional Council. The Council shall be composed of delegates from each Local Union of UE located within the jurisdiction of the Region.

ARTICLE 4
OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES

Section 1: The Executive Officers of the Northeast Region shall consist of a President, Vice-President, and a Secretary-Treasurer. The President and the Secretary-Treasurer shall be members of the General Executive Board of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE). In addition to the above Executive Officers there shall be three (3) Trustees. Terms of office shall be one (1) year.

Section 2: The President and Vice-President of the Northeast Region shall be the National Vice- President and alternate respectively from this Region to the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) General Executive Board.

Section 3: In case of death, resignation or recall of any Executive Officer, except President, a successor shall be elected to fill the unexpired term of such Officer at the next regular meeting of the Regional Council

ARTICLE 5
REGIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1: There shall be a Northeast Regional Executive Board consisting of the President, the Vice- President, the Secretary-Treasurer, and nine (9) members elected by the Regional Council. Their term of office shall be for one (1) year.

Section 2: The Executive Board shall meet between regular Regional Council Meetings. Executive Board meetings may be convened by call of the Regional President or by a majority request of the Regional Executive Board, submitted in writing to the President. Seven members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.

Section 3: The Regional Executive Board shall have the power to act in behalf of the Regional Council in cases of emergency which may arise between regular Regional Council Meetings. All decisions of the Regional Executive Board shall be by a majority vote of those members present.

Section 4: Any officer or member of the Executive Board who incurs expenses by reason of attending meetings or conducting business at the direction of the Regional Council, Regional Executive Board, or Regional President, shall be reimbursed by the Regional Council for such expenses.

ARTICLE 6
DUTIES OF OFFICERS

President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Regional Council and Regional Executive Board. S/he shall be an ex-officio members of all committees of the Regional Council. S/he shall countersign, with the Secretary-Treasurer, all checks drawn on the Regional Treasury. S/he shall take recommendations of the Regional Council to the General Executive Board of the International Union. S/he shall be a delegate to National Conventions of UE. S/he shall assume the full responsibility for the proper functioning of the Regional Council and Regional Office, and shall perform such other duties as may be necessary for the proper and effective administration of the activities, business, and financial affairs of the Council. S/he shall maintain the personnel of the Regional Office consistent, in her/his judgment with the efficient discharge of the duties thereof. S/he shall be responsible for all Regional Office equipment and furnishings. S/he shall be bonded for no less than the amount of money entrusted to his care. The minimum amount of bond shall be five hundred ($500) dollars. The cost of bonding shall be paid from the Regional Treasury. The salary of the President shall be determined by the Executive Board, subject to the approval of the Regional Council.

Vice-President: The Vice-President shall, in the absence of the President, perform all the duties of the President. In case of death, resignation or removal of the President, the Vice-President shall serve as President of the Regional Council for the remainder of the term. The Vice-President shall be an authorized signee of checks in the event one of the other officers is not available. S/he shall be bonded for no less than the amount of money entrusted to his/her care. The minimum amount of bond shall be five hundred ($500) dollars. The cost of bonding shall be paid from the Regional Treasury.

Secretary-Treasurer: The Secretary-Treasurer shall countersign, with the President, all checks drawn on the Regional treasury S/he shall make a financial report at each Regional Council Meeting. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be bonded for no less than the amount of money entrusted to her/his care. The minimum amount of bond shall be five hundred ($500) dollars. The cost of bonding shall be paid from the Regional treasury. S/he shall be a delegate to the National Conventions of UE.

ARTICLE 7
DUTIES OF TRUSTEES

The Trustees shall examine all books, accounts, and vouchers, pertaining to the finances of the Regional Council every four (4) months or when ordered to do so by the Council. They shall make regular reports of their findings at the Council Meetings. Expenses incurred in the course of performing these duties shall be paid by the Regional Council.

ARTICLE 8
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1: Nominations and elections of Officers, Executive Board Members, Trustees and UE General Executive Board (GEB) delegates-at-large. shall take place at the February meeting of the Regional Council.

Section 2: No Local shall have more than (1) representative of the nine (9) members elected to the Regional Executive Board.

Section 3: Any member, to be eligible as a candidate for any office in the Regional Council, shall be a member in good standing of any local in the Region for a period of not less than three (3) months. A GEB delegate-at-large must have been a member of UE for one (1) year or longer and be a member of the regional council executive board. GEB delegates-at-large shall not be members of the same local union, or a member of the same local as the regional secretary. One GEB delegate-at- large may be from the same local as the regional President.

Section 4: Nominations and elections for each office shall be held separately and a candidate defeated for one office shall be eligible to become a candidate for another office.

The order of nominations and elections shall be as follows: President, Vice-President, Secretary- Treasurer, Executive Board Members, Trustees and GEB delegates-at-large. Candidates for office will be listed alphabetically.

Section 5: The election for President, Vice-President, or Secretary-Treasurer shall be held by roll call vote.

The election for Executive Board Members, Trustees, and GEB delegates-at-large shall be held by written ballots identified by Local Number or upon request and a majority vote of the delegates present, a roll call vote. There shall be no bullet voting.

Voting strength for all elections shall be determined on the basis as provided in Article 9. The Chairman shall declare elected the candidate for each office receiving the highest number of votes.

Section 6: In nomination and election of Officers, Executive Board Members of the Regional Council, and GEB delegates-at- large due consideration should be given to various areas, shops and locals so that the best possible unity and representation in the Region can be obtained.

Section 7: The Region shall elect GEB rank and file delegates-at-large from among the elected members of the Regions Executive Board in accordance with the UE National Constitution.

Section 8: The newly-elected Regional Officers, Trustees, Executive Board Members and GEB delegates-at-large shall be installed at the February Regional Council Meeting. Their term of office shall be one year beginning May 1st and ending April 30th of the following year. The election results shall be submitted to the Office of the National Union by May 1st.

Section 9: Elections shall be conducted by a committee of three (3) members of the Regional Council who shall be appointed by the President, subject to the approval of the Regional Council. No candidate for office shall be a member of the Elections Committee. After the closing of the ballots, the committee shall count the ballots and keep an exact tally of all the votes cast for each candidate. The committee shall submit a written report of the results of the election to the Regional Council. They shall keep all ballots for a period of one (1) year after the election. Results of written ballots may be obtained through the Elections Committee by written request.

ARTICLE 9
REPRESENTATION

A Local Union shall be entitled to one (1) vote for the first 100 members or less, and one (1) additional vote for each additional one hundred (100) members or major fraction thereof. A Local shall be considered in good standing if it meeting its per capita tax obligations to the National Office and Regional Council up to two (2) months preceding the month of the Regional Council Meeting.

ARTICLE 10
DELEGATES

Locals of the Regional Council shall be entitled to delegates, elected by secret ballot among their members in good standing, to the Regional Council meetings on the following basis: two (2) delegates for the first two hundred (200) members or less, and one (1) delegate for each additional two hundred (200) members or major fraction thereof.

No Local shall be entitled to more than six (6) delegates. The voting power of each Local shall be determined on the basis of average per capita tax paid during the preceding quarter.

The voting power of each Local shall be divided equally among its delegates present.

Delegations whose Locals are delinquent in per capita payments to the Regional Council, for two months or more, shall have no vote, but may have a voice on the floor by consent of the Regional Council.

Locals failing to pay per capita tax for three (3) months shall be suspended from the Regional Council in accordance with the National Constitution.

ARTICLE 11
PER CAPITA

The revenue of the Regional Council shall be derived from the per capita of two dollars ($2.00) per member per month. ($2.00 amount effective May 2003)

The per capita payment of the local unions shall be due to the Regional Council not later than the 20th of each month for the previous month.

ARTICLE 12
MEETINGS

The Regional Council shall meet in the months of February, June and October. Special meetings of the Council may be called by the Regional Executive Board or by request of one-third of the affiliated Locals, such request to be made in writing to the Regional President.

Sub-Regions within the Northeast Region shall be proposed by the Executive Board subject to approval of the Council. The sub-regions shall be supervised by the Council. None of the activities or actions of a sub-region shall conflict with the activities or actions of the Council or the National union. Each sub- region shall meet at least one time per year.

ARTICLE 13
DELEGATES TO CONVENTIONS

The Northeast Region shall be entitled to four delegates and four votes in the National Convention in accordance with Section J of Article 13 of the National Constitution.

The Regional President and the Secretary-Treasurer shall automatically be delegates to the National Conventions of UE.

ARTICLE 14
ORGANIZERS

Regional Organizers may be elected at the same time as the rest of the Regional Officers, but in between elections, they may be elected by a majority vote of the Regional Council.

ARTICLE 15
COMMITTEES

The Committees of the Regional Council shall be established as deemed necessary by the Executive Board of the Regional Council.

ARTICLE 16
APPEALS

The Regional Council shall hear appeals as provided in the National Constitution.

ARTICLE 17
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Amendments to the Constitution may be recommended by a majority vote of the Regional Council and shall become effective upon ratification by the majority of the Locals, crediting each Local with the number of votes as determined by the basis of representation. Any Local not informing the Regional Council by registered mail within forty-one (41) days after the Regional Council meeting of its action on amendments shall be counted as voting in the affirmative.