As Amended July 2011
Articles
- Article I—Name
- Article II—Jurisdiction
- Article III—Objects
- Article IV—Organizational Structure
- Article V—Membership
- Article VI—Dues, Fines and Assessments
- Article VII—Governing Authority
- Article VIII—Conventions
- Article IX—Executive Board
- Article X—Executive Committee
- Article XI—Districts and The Canadian Region
- Article XII—Officers and Their Duties
- Article XIII—Locals
- Article XIV—Councils
- Article XV—Elections
- Article XVI—Committees
- Article XVII—Collective Bargaining
- Article XVIII—Strikes
- Article XIX—Charges Against Members
- Article XX—Trials and Appeals—General Membership and Officers of Locals
- Article XXI—Recall Petition Against Persons Holding Elective Office in the Union
- Article XXII—Referendum and Recall
- Article XXIII—Quorum
- Article XXIV—Proxy Voting
- Article XXV—Gender
- Article XXVI—Union Publication
- Article XXVII—Affiliation
- Article XXVIII—Amendments
Permanent Rules Governing Conduct of CWA Conventions
- Rule I—Source of Rules
- Rule II—Delegates to the Convention
- Rule III—Voting at Conventions
- Rule IV—Alternate Delegates and Visitors to the Convention
- Rule V—Conduct During the Convention
- Rule VI—Hours of Convention
- Rule VII—Microphones
- Rule VIII—General Information and Committee Booth
- Rule IX—Convention Committees
- Rule X—Suspension of Rules
- Rule XI—Amendments
I. Complaints against the Local, its officers or governing body
II. Complaints against the Union, its officers or Executive Board
III. Arbitration Complaints
Notice Regarding Union Security Agreements and Agency Fee Objections
Rule III—Voting at Conventions
A delegate shall vote in the Convention, District meeting, or a meeting of a bargaining unit in
accordance with Article VIII, Section 5, of the
Constitution which reads as follows:
(a) A Local delegate shall have one vote in the Convention, District Meeting or a meeting of a Bargaining Unit, except on a roll call vote.
(b) A roll call vote of the Convention, District Meeting,
or a meeting of a Bargaining Unit may be had upon the request of twenty percent (20%) of the delegates.
(c) Voting by roll call shall be by per capita vote with each delegate casting the number of votes assigned to the delegate by the delegate’s Local and approved by the Credentials Committee and the Convention. On roll call votes, a delegate shall cast one vote for each member in good standing as assigned to the delegate by the delegate’s Local and approved by the Credentials Committee and the Convention.
Rule IV—Alternate Delegates and
Visitors to the Convention
All persons, other than delegates and alternate
delegates certified by the Credentials Committee and approved by the Convention, shall be permitted to attend the Convention upon the following conditions:
(a) They present themselves to the Credentials Committee and secure approval of the Committee;
(b) They not be permitted in the section of the Convention reserved for voting delegates and shall be allowed to speak on questions before the Convention when recognized by the Chair.
Rule V—Conduct During the Convention
The Chair shall be responsible for maintaining order in the Convention. The Chair may request the Convention to act on the question of expelling a person for misconduct. A delegate may request the Chair to have the Convention act on expelling a person for misconduct. A majority of delegates voting shall decide the question of expulsion for misconduct.
The hours of the Convention, recesses and other arrangements relating to the Convention shall
be established by resolution or motion by each Convention.
Section 1—Microphones
There shall be one of each of the following microphones on the floor of the Convention which shall be placed in the most convenient locations possible.
(a) Privileged Microphone
(b) Questions Microphone
(c) Motions Microphone
(d) “For” Microphone
(e) “Against” Microphone
Section 2—Use of Privileged Microphone
The following motions are the only motions that can be made at the Privileged Microphone and are listed in the order of their rank:
(a) ADJOURN (Undebatable—Majority vote
required).
This motion loses its privileged character and is a main motion if in any way qualified, or if its effect, if adopted, is to dissolve the Biennial Convention.
(b) TAKE A RECESS (Undebatable—Majority vote
required).
This motion is privileged only when other business is pending before the Convention.
(c) RAISE A QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE—The
question can only be raised when a delegate
wishes to:
1. Rise to a point of personal privilege.
2. Request the Chair to explain the parliamentary
situation at the time.
3. Appeal a decision of the Chair.
(d) CALL FOR THE ORDERS OF THE DAY
(Undebatable).
It is a demand that the Convention conform to its program or order of business. It requires no second, and is in order when another delegate has the floor, even though it interrupts a speech, as a single member has a right to demand that the order of business be conformed to. A call for the orders of the day cannot be debated or amended or have any subsidiary motion applied to it.
(e) RAISE A POINT OF ORDER (Undebatable).
Section 3—Recognition at Privileged
Microphone
A delegate requesting recognition at the privileged microphone shall use the telephone to advise the platform of the delegate’s name and Local number.
A parliamentarian shall be connected directly by telephone with the privileged microphone and shall make a parliamentary ruling on whether or not the person at the microphone has a privileged motion
or question. In the event the parliamentarian determines the person has a privileged motion or question, the parliamentarian shall notify the Chair and the person shall be recognized. If the parliamentarian determines the person does not have a privileged question or motion, the delegate shall relinquish the microphone unless the delegate notifies the parliamentarian that the delegate desires to appeal from the parliamentarian’s ruling. In the event of a notice of a desire to appeal, the parliamentarian shall notify the Chair and the delegate shall be recognized to present the delegate’s appeal.
Section 4—Use of Motions Microphone
The motions microphone shall be used in the following manner:
(a) A delegate desiring to make a motion shall, by the use of the telephone, notify the platform of the delegate’s name and Local number, and if it is a motion which is in order, or, is a motion of higher rank than the one before the Convention, the delegate shall be recognized to make a motion and after it is seconded, the delegate shall be permitted to speak from that microphone in favor of the delegate’s motion. After the maker of the motion, if the delegate chooses, has spoken, the Chair shall recognize the “Against,” microphone and shall proceed to rotate as provided in Section 7, Paragraph (h) of the Rules.
(b) If there is not a delegate waiting to use any of the microphones in the Convention, motions can be made from any microphone on the floor of the Convention.
(c) A parliamentarian shall be connected directly by telephone with the motions microphone when needed for the purpose of making a parliamentary
ruling on the rank or priority of the motion. If the parliamentarian determines the person has a priority motion, the parliamentarian shall notify the Chair and the person shall be recognized. If the parliamentarian determines the person does not have a motion that would have priority over other motions waiting at the microphone, the delegate shall relinquish the microphone unless the delegate
notifies the parliamentarian that the delegate
desires to appeal from the parliamentarian’s ruling.
In the event of a notice of a desire to appeal, the parliamentarian shall notify the Chair and the
delegate shall be recognized to present the
delegate’s appeal at the motions microphone.
Section 5—Use of “For” and “Against” Microphones
These microphones shall be known as the debating
microphones and shall be used in the following manner:
(a) A delegate wishing to speak for or against a motion or subject on the Convention floor, shall approach the appropriate microphone and shall use the telephone to inform the platform of the delegate’s name and Local number.
Section 6—Use of Questions Microphone
The questions microphone shall be used only for the purpose of asking questions of clarification of a report, motion, resolution or other matter before the Convention. The questions microphone shall be placed in rotation with the “for” and “against” microphones and shall be used in the following manner:
(a) A delegate having questions of clarification shall use a telephone at this microphone, which is connected directly with the platform, to advise the platform of the delegate’s name and Local number.
(b) No person shall be permitted to ask more than two (2) questions before relinquishing the person’s place at the microphone and the Chair shall rotate to the next microphone in order.
(c) In the event a person at the “questions”
microphone only asks one question, the Chair shall rotate to the next microphone in order.
Section 7—General Provisions
General provisions relating to the use of the microphones and recognition of delegates are as follows:
(a) When a delegate is in line to use a particular microphone the delegate shall use the telephone to advise the platform of the delegate’s name and Local number. This procedure will materially assist in having delegates recognized without loss of time.
(b) Each day the Chair shall appoint two observers
from the delegates to witness the tabulation of telephone calls from the floor of the Convention to the platform.
(c) No person shall be permitted to speak a second time on any question as long as any delegate who has not spoken on the subject desires to do so. No person shall be recognized a second time at the “questions” microphone as long as any delegate who has not asked questions desires to do so.
(d) No person shall speak more than five (5) minutes at one time on a question before the Convention. The Chair shall give each person one minute notice of the expiration of the person’s five (5) minute time limit. This provision shall not apply to the parties
involved in an appeal made in compliance with
Article XX, Section 4, of the Constitution.
(e) A person wishing to address the Convention on any matter, having been recognized by the Chair, shall provide identification as a member of the Executive Board, delegate, alternate delegate or visitor and shall give their Local number and the state in which their Local is located.
(f) When a motion is made to table, and there are amendments appended to the original motion, the motion to table then shall apply only to the amendment or amendments, and it shall require a new motion to table the original motion.
(g) When a delegate intends to make a motion to table, warning of the maker’s intent must be given, and the motion to table shall not be made until the introducer of the motion is given five (5) minutes to speak on the question, if the delegate so desires.
(h) The Chair shall rotate between the “for” microphone, the “against” microphone and “questions” microphone in that order. The Chair shall not pass up the rotation of microphones in those cases where a person is out of order.
(i) Any delegate wishing to raise a point of order may use the privileged microphone or rise and upon saying “point of order” in a loud voice, approach any microphone on the Convention floor where the delegate shall be recognized for the purpose of stating the delegate’s point.
(j) That a vote will not be taken on any issue before the Convention until at least two (2) delegates have had the opportunity to speak for a question and two (2) delegates have had the opportunity to speak against a question.
Rule VIII—General Information and Committee Booth
There shall be a booth established in a convenient place within the Convention building to be known as “General Information and Committee Booth” which shall be utilized by all delegates to seek information or ask questions with regard to any matter before the Convention. Each Committee of the Convention shall have a representative in the Booth, or available to come to the Booth immediately upon request. The Booth shall be open during the Convention hours and also one hour before and
after regular established Convention sessions where feasible.
Regular committees of the Union, the Rules Committee and any other committee established to serve the Convention, shall be required to make themselves available between the hours of 2:00 p.m.
and 6:00 p.m. on the two days preceding the Convention with the purpose of establishing a uniform schedule for those delegates wishing to appear before such committee.
All committees of the Convention shall notify delegates who appear before them as to the results of the committees’ action upon any suggestion or request the delegate made of the committee. This shall be done as expeditiously as possible by the committee.
Any one or all of these rules may be temporarily suspended for any subject before the Convention by a majority of the delegates voting on the question.
These rules, upon adoption, may be amended in the following manner:
(a) Proposed amendments submitted to the Rules Committee prior to or during the Convention shall require action of a majority of the delegates voting on the proposition.
(b) Proposed amendments, not submitted to the Rules Committee, shall require a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the delegates voting on the proposition.
(c) Amendments shall be effective immediately upon their adoption.
The purpose of these appeal procedures is to provide reasonable regulations for the consideration and review of complaints of members regarding actions of the Union or Local, or Union or Local Officers or governing bodies, which are alleged to be in violation of the Union Constitution, Local Bylaws, rights and privileges of members. These procedures are not available to challenge a Local’s decision on membership eligibility.
The appeal procedures set forth herein are in
addition to those provided in the Union Constitution which govern (1) appeals from decisions of the Executive Board—Article VII, Section 1, Paragraph (b); (2) appeals from revocations of Local charters
—Article XIII, Section 6; and (3) appeals from decisions of trial courts—Article XX, Section 4; and are also in addition to any other appeal procedures provided in Local Bylaws or rules.
The authority for these appeal procedures is set forth in the Union Constitution, Article IX, Section 7:
“The Executive Board of the Union shall establish reasonable appeal procedures within the structure of the Union to review complaints of members which allege violation of the Constitution, Local Bylaws or the rights and privileges of members.”
Appeals from the decision of a Local with reference
to the conduct and challenge of Local elections under Article XV, Section 4 of the Union Constitution shall be governed by Section 1(c) of these appeal procedures.
A Local, with Executive Board approval, that
negotiates contracts, handles all grievances, arbitration cases, legal expenses and dues collection in those bargaining units that do not exceed 150 potential members may be rebated 70% of the dues collected for that bargaining unit. These Locals are known as ‘70/30 split Locals.’ Where a “70/30” split Local makes a decision not to arbitrate a grievance, the grievant shall have no internal appeal rights under these procedures and the Local shall so advise the grievant.
I. Complaints against the Local, its officers or governing body
A. The Complaint
1. All complaints shall be:
(a) In writing;
(b) Signed by the complainant;
(c) Filed with the Secretary or Secretary-Treasurer of the Local of which the complainant is a member; however, if the complaint is about the action of such officer, then it shall be filed with the Local President; and
(d) Submitted within sixty (60) days of the time the complainant became aware of the alleged violation.
2. The complaint shall also:
(a) Contain an allegation of the facts on which the complaint is based, including applicable dates;
(b) Specify the nature of relief sought; and
(c) Shall state that it is filed in good faith.
B. Consideration of the complaint
1. The complaint shall be placed on the agenda of the next regular Local general membership meeting after the date the complaint is filed, provided, however, that where such a meeting is not scheduled, or otherwise will not be held, within thirty (30) days after the filing date, or where Local membership meetings are held by areas, sections or units, the complaint shall be placed on the agenda of the next regular meeting of the governing body of the Local. In the event the complaint is not considered
by either the Local membership or the Local governing body within ninety (90) days, the complaint may be filed directly with the President of the Union within one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of original filing.
In the event the complainant demonstrates that there is a willful refusal by the Local officers, the Local membership or the Local governing body to consider the complaint, a copy of the complaint may be filed with the President of the Union by the complainant. Complaints filed directly with the President may be referred by the President to the appropriate geographical Vice President for handling
under the provisions of Section I (C)(2) of these Appeals Procedures or in the discretion of the President retained for handling under Section II(B)(1) and II(C)(1) of these Appeals Procedures.
2. Upon consideration of the complaint, either at a general membership meeting or meeting of the governing body, it shall be determined what action, if any, is to be taken with reference to the complaint, and the complainant shall be so notified in writing within five (5) days of the date of decision.
3. Regardless of which body considers the complaint,
the decision reached shall be recognized as being the decision of the Local.
C. Appeal
1. The decision of the Local may be appealed in writing to the appropriate geographical Vice President within thirty (30) days following the date of the notice of the Local’s decision.
2. The Vice President shall take whatever steps are deemed necessary to secure the facts of the matter complained about, which may include investigation and the obtaining of all records of the matter in possession of the Local, its officers or governing body.
3. The Vice President shall review the complaint and within thirty (30) days affirm, reverse or modify the decision of the Local, or return the complaint to the Local with such direction or order as may be determined to be appropriate. He or she shall notify interested parties of his or her action.
4. The decision of the Vice President may be
appealed in writing by the complainant or the Local to the President of the Union within thirty (30)
days following the date of the notice of the Vice President’s action.
5. The President shall take whatever steps are deemed necessary to secure the facts of the matter complained about, which may include an investigation and the obtaining of all records of the matter in the possession of the Vice President, the Local, its officers or governing body.
6. The President shall review the complaint and within thirty (30) days affirm, reverse or modify the decision of the Vice President, or return the complaint to the Vice President with such direction or order as may be determined to be appropriate. He or she shall notify interested parties of his or her action.
7. The decision of the President may be appealed in writing by the complainant, the Vice President or the Local to the Executive Board of the Union within thirty (30) days following the date of the notice of the President’s decision. The appeal shall be filed with the Secretary-Treasurer of the Union.
8. The Executive Board shall review the complaint and affirm, reverse or modify the decision of the President.
9. The Executive Board shall base its decision upon the record of the matter, including such statements as may be filed by the complainant, the Local, the Vice President or the President, and any other facts that may be developed.
10. There shall be no right to appear personally before the Union Executive Board, except at the invitation of the Executive Board.
11. Interested parties shall be notified in writing of the decision and action of the Executive Board.
12. The decision of the Executive Board may be appealed to the next Convention in accordance with the provisions of Article VII, Section 1, Paragraph (b) of the Constitution. As provided more fully in Article IX, Section 7, commencing immediately after the 2011 CWA Convention, all appeals pending in non-Convention years may be heard and resolved by delegates to a Local President’s meeting to be called by CWA Secretary-Treasurer.
II. Complaints against the Union, its officers or Executive Board
A. The Complaint
1. All complaints shall be:
(a) In writing;
(b) Signed by the complainant;
(c) Filed with the President of the Union; however, if the complaint is about the action of such officer, then it shall be filed with the Union Secretary-Treasurer and considered by the Executive Committee subject to appeal to the Executive Board and to the CWA Convention and/or, in non-Convention years, subject to appeal to the delegates to a Local President’s meeting called by the CWA Secretary-Treasurer, as provided more fully in Article IX, Section 7; and
(d) Submitted within sixty (60) days of the time the complainant became aware of the alleged violation.
2. The complaint shall also:
(a) Contain an allegation of the facts on which the complaint is based, including applicable dates;
(b) Specify the nature of relief sought; and
(c) Shall state that it is filed in good faith.
B. Consideration of the complaint
1. The President shall determine what action, if any, is to be taken within thirty (30) days and notify interested parties.
2. In the event such complaint is against the President, the Executive Committee shall determine what action, if any, is to be taken within thirty (30) days and cause interested parties to be notified.
C. Appeal
1. The decision of the President may be appealed to the Executive Committee of the Union in writing within thirty (30) days of the notice of the President’s decision, and shall be filed with the Union
Secretary-Treasurer.
2. The complaint shall be placed on the agenda of the next Executive Committee meeting after the date the appeal is filed.
3. The Executive Committee shall review the appeal and affirm, reverse or modify the decision of the President within thirty (30) days and cause
interested parties to be notified.
4. The decision of the Executive Committee may be appealed in writing to the Executive Board within thirty (30) days of notice of the Executive Committee decision, and shall be filed with the Union Secretary-Treasurer.
5. The complaint shall be placed on the agenda of the next Executive Board meeting after the date the appeal is filed.
6. Upon consideration of the appeal, the Executive Board shall determine what action, if any, is to be taken with reference to the complaint, and interested parties shall be so notified in writing.
7. There shall be no right to appear personally before the Union Executive Board, except at the invitation of the Executive Board.
8. The decision of the Executive Board may be appealed to the next Convention in accordance with the provisions of Article VII, Section 1, Paragraph (b) of the Constitution. As provided more fully in Article IX, Section 7, commencing immediately after the 2011 CWA Convention, all appeals pending in non-Convention years may be heard and resolved by delegates to a Local President’s meeting to be called by the CWA Secretary-Treasurer.
In the event a Vice President determines not to arbitrate a grievance, either the Local or the grievant(s) may file a complaint.
In the event the Local does not file the initial arbitration complaint of a Vice President’s decision not to arbitrate a grievance, the Local’s right to file a complaint or to appeal at any level of the Internal Appeals Procedures shall be extinguished.
In cases where either the Local or the National Union settles a grievance, the grievant will have no further right to appeal pursuant to these appeals procedures.
A. The Complaint
1. A complaint of a Vice President’s decision not to arbitrate a grievance shall be:
(a) In writing;
(b) Signed by the complainant;
(c) Filed with the President of the Union; and
(d) Submitted within thirty (30) days of the notice of the Vice President’s decision.
B. Consideration by the President of the
complaint
(1) The President shall take whatever steps are deemed necessary to secure the facts of the matter complained about which may include an investigation and the obtaining of all records of the matter in the possession of the Vice President, the Local, its officers or governing body.
(2) The President shall review the complaint and within thirty (30) days affirm, reverse or modify the decision of the Vice President, or return the case to the Vice President with such direction or order as may be determined to be appropriate. He or she shall notify interested parties of his or her action.
C. Appeal of President’s decision
1. The decision of the President may be appealed in writing by the grievant(s), the Vice President or the Local, if otherwise appropriate, to the Executive Board of the Union within thirty (30) days following the date of the notice of the President’s decision. The appeal shall be filed with the Secretary-Treasurer of the Union.
2. The Executive Board shall review the appeal and affirm, reverse or modify the decision of the President.
3. The Executive Board shall base its decision upon the record of the matter, including such statements as may be filed by the grievant(s), the Local, the Vice President or the President, and any other facts that may be developed.
4. There shall be no right to appear personally before the Union Executive Board, except at the invitation of the Executive Board.
5. Interested parties shall be notified in writing of the decision and action of the Executive Board.
6. The decision of the Executive Board on an appeal by a grievant shall be final and the grievant shall have no further right of appeal.
7. The decision of the Executive Board may be appealed by a Local or the Vice President, if otherwise appropriate, to the next Convention in accordance with the provisions of Article VII, Section 1, Paragraph (b) of the Constitution. As provided more fully in Article IX, Section 7, commencing immediately after the 2011 CWA Convention, all appeals pending in non-Convention years may be heard and resolved by delegates to a Local President’s meeting to be called by CWA Secretary-Treasurer.
Motion: Move that the appeals procedures as amended be adopted. Adopted: By the CWA
Executive Board, October 4, 2011.
Notice Regarding Union Security Agreements and Agency Fee Objections
As a general matter, employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement containing a union security clause are required, as a condition of employment, to pay an agency fee equal to normal union dues (and, where applicable, initiation fees). While the wording of these clauses is not perfectly uniform, none requires more than the payment of this agency fee to retain employment.
The Communications Workers of America policy on agency fee objections is the Union’s means of meeting its legal obligations to employees covered
by union security clauses and of effectuating those employees’ legal rights as stated in the applicable decisions of the United States Supreme Court (including Beck v. CWA) and the companion lower court and labor agency decisions. Under the CWA policy, employees who are not members of the Union, but who pay agency fees pursuant to a union security clause, may request a reduction in that fee based on their objection to certain kinds of union expenditures.
The policy provides an objection period each year during May, followed by a reduction in the objector’s
fee for the 12 months beginning with July and running through June of the following year.
Briefly stated, CWA’s objection policy works
as follows:
1. The agency fee payable by objectors will be based on the Union’s expenditures for those activities
or projects “germane to collective bargaining, contract administration, and grievance adjustment” within the meaning of applicable United States Supreme Court decisions.
Among these “chargeable” expenditures are those going for negotiations with employers, enforcing collective bargaining agreements, informal meetings with employer representatives, discussion of work-related issues with employees, handling employees’ work-related problems through the grievance procedure, administrative agencies, or informal meetings, and union administration. In the past, approximately 70-75 percent of the International Union’s expenditures have gone for such activities. The percentages of Local Union expenditures on “chargeable” activities have generally been higher.
Among the expenditures treated as “nonchargeable,” which objectors will not be required to support, are those going for community service (including
participating in charitable events), legislative
activity, cost of affiliation with non-CWA organizations, support of political candidates, participating
in political events, recruitment of members to the Union, and members-only benefits (including members-only social events). In the past, approximately 25-30 percent of the International Union’s expenditures have gone for such “nonchargeable” expenditures. The percentages of Local Union expenditures on “nonchargeable” activities have generally been lower.
2. Objectors will be given a full explanation of the basis for the reduced fee charged to them. That explanation will include a more detailed list of the categories of expenditures deemed to be “chargeable”
and those deemed to be “nonchargeable,” and the independent certified public accountants’ report showing the union’s expenditures on which the fee is based. In addition to any other avenue of relief available under the law, objectors will have the option of challenging the Union’s calculation of the reduced fee before an impartial arbitrator appointed by the American Arbitration Association, and a portion
of the objector’s fee shall be held in escrow while he or she pursues that challenge. Details on the method of making such a challenge and the rights accorded to those who do so will be provided to objectors along with the explanation of the fee calculation.
3. Objections for the period of July through June must be sent during May. Objections will be honored
for one year unless the objection specifically states that it is continuing in nature. Continuing
objections will be honored for as long as the agency fee payer remains in the bargaining unit. Agency fee payers who are new to the bargaining
unit, or who are returning to the bargaining unit, may object within thirty days of receiving this notice. In addition, employees who resign Union membership may object within thirty days of becoming an agency fee payer. Employees filing these objections in either circumstance should so
state that circumstance in their letter of objection.
New bargaining unit members are to receive this notice prior to any demand being made upon them for the payment of agency fees. If, however, for any reason a new unit member begins paying agency fees prior to the receipt of this notice, he or she may object retroactively to the commencement of such payments and for the duration of the
current annual objection period.
The letter of objection should include their name, address, social security number, CWA Local number, and employer.
Objections must be sent to the Agency Fee Administrator, CWA, 501 Third Street, NW., Washington, DC 20001-2797.
The CWA Policy on Discrimination is as follows:
1. The Communications Workers of America
reaffirms its commitment as a matter of principle and policy that all forms of discrimination, for whatever reason, be vigorously opposed until all vestiges of discrimination are eliminated from society.
2. Freedom from discrimination within our Union is a right and privilege of all CWA members. Any abridgement of this right and privilege shall be subject to a complaint under the CWA Internal Appeals Procedures and should be investigated immediately without fear of reprisal and retaliation.
3. In restating our policy for conduct within our Union, it is equally important that our employers reflect this policy so that neither the Company nor the Union shall unlawfully discriminate against a person on account of race, color, gender, religion, age, marital/parental status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or because a person is handicapped, a disabled veteran, or a veteran of the military service. This means what it says: “No form of Discrimination will be tolerated at any level of CWA.”
4. Any matter which relates to the field of
discrimination should be immediately and
appropriately handled by the appropriate level of the Union that comes across the allegation of discrimination. It should be handled thoroughly in an honest and positive manner.
5. It is a matter of principle that no one member is more equal than another. The handling of the representation of our members at all levels of CWA should be done in an evenhanded way with no fear; no preference; no favorites.
6. Local Equity and Women’s Committees can play a positive role by providing continuous education training assistance and by reporting to the members of the Local on the ways and means of eliminating discrimination in its entirety.
7. CWA Constitutional Committees should be
representative of the Union. Local CWA Constitutional Committees should be representative of all the Local membership and should be active committees, not paper committees.
8. The Union policy to have a job steward for each fifteen members should be fully implemented and should be reflective and representative of the entire membership of each Local.
(Adopted by the CWA Executive Board June 11, 2002; revised December 17, 2009)
