CONSTITUTION
AND BYLAWS of the International Alliance of
Theatrical
Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators
of the United States and Canada AFL-CIO
Revised January, 1995. October, 2002. November, 2002
Article
I - Name, Affiliation and Jurisdiction
Section
1 - Qualifications for Membership
Section
2 - Application for Membership
Section
3 - Examination of Applicants
Section
4 - Balloting on Applicants
Section
5 - Registered Apprentices
Section
2 - Membership meetings
Section
3 - Executive Board meetings
Article
VI - Nominations and Election of Officers
Section
1 - Elected Officers and Eligibility
Article
VII - Duties of Officers
Section
3 - Recording Secretary
Section
4 - Secretary-Treasurer
Section
5 - Business Representative
Section
9 - Delegates to International Convention
Section
11 - Compensation of Officers
Article
VIII - Transfer and Reinstatement
Section
2 - Reinstatement of Members
Section
1 - Dues and Initiation Fees
Section
2 - Special Assessments
Section
5 - Out-of-Town Members
Section
6 - Authority to Expend Funds
Article
XI - Impeachment of Officers
Section
3 - Penalty for Preferring False Charges
Section
4 - Charges Filed in Duplicate
Section
5 - By Whom and to Whom Preferred
Section
6 - Cognizance of Charges
Section
7 - Withdrawal of Charges
Section
10 - Appearance for Trial
Article
XII - Discipline of Members
Section
4 - Penalty for Preferring False Charges
Section
5 - Charges Filed in Duplicate
Section
6 - To Whom Preferred and When
Section
7 - Withdrawal of Charge
Section
8 - Publication of Charges
Section
12 - Appearance for Trial
Section
14 - Challenges
Section
15 - Trial in Open Meeting
Section
21 - Report of Findings
Section
22 - Action by Membership of Local Union
Section
23 - Acquittal or Conviction
Section
24 - Imposition of Penalties
Section
25 - Where Trial was before Local
Section
26 - Sentence reported to International President
Section
2 - Time Allowed for Filing
Section
3 - Must be in Writing
Section
5 - Decisions Conclusive
Section
6 - Exhausting Internal Remedies
Article
XV - Altering or Amending the Constitution
Rules of Order - Order of Business
Section
1 - Dishonesty or Drunkenness
Section
2 - Members of Committees
Section
4 - Address of Members
Section
5 - Donation of Services
Section
6 - Member Doubling Up
Section
7 - Refusing to Cover Positions
Section
8 - Conduct Unbecoming a Member
Section
10 - Alteration of Bylaws
Work
Ethics, April, 2005
DRESS
CODE
Penalties
and Fine Structure
I,
the undersigned, as a condition of my membership in Local No. 24
and
in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
and
Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and
Canada,
do solemnly pledge myself to accept and abide by the
provisions
of the Constitution and Bylaws of this Local and of
the
Alliance, as now in force and as hereafter legally amended,
and
hereby express my consent to be governed thereby in the
conduct
of my trade and in my relationship with this Local and
the
Alliance. I solemnly pledge myself not to resort to legal
proceedings
against this Local and the Alliance for any grievance,
but
first to seek by remedies within this Local and the Alliance,
before
resorting to any other tribunals.
_________________________
Signature
of Member
Local
No. 24
Toledo, Ohio
CONSTITUTION
Name,
Affiliation, and Jurisdiction
Section
1. The name of this organization shall be Local Union No. 24 International
Alliance
Of
Theatrical Stage Employees
Section
2. This Local has been established and exists by virtue of a charter issued by
the
International
Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators
Of
the United States and Canada (hereinafter called the “Alliance” or
“International”) and
pursuant to the Constitution and Bylaws of the International.
Objects
Section
1. This Local is dedicated to the principles of the trade unionism. Its objects
are
to
unite all workers within its jurisdiction of the following purposes:
a)
To improve their wages and hours of work, to increase their job security and to
better
their working conditions.
b)
To advance their economic, social, and cultural interests.
c)
To establish peace and harmonious relations between its members.
d)
To assure full employment
e)
To promote and support democracy and free trade unionism.
f)
To engage in such other activities as may be necessary or proper to strengthen
the
labor movement and to extend the process of collective bargaining
throughout all trades and industries.
Membership
Section
1. Qualifications for Membership
No
person shall be eligible either to membership or to retain membership in this
Local
who shall be a member of any organization having for its aim or purpose the
overthrow,
by force, of the Constitution and Government of the United States or Canada.
Any
member who shall, upon trial, be found to lack any of the qualifications for
membership
in this Local, shall forthwith be expelled and shall surrender all rights and
privileges
as such member, including death benefits and other property rights, if any, in
the
assets
of this Union and no member so expelled shall ever be eligible to reinstatement
thereafter.
Any
person applying for membership in this Local must be of good moral character
and
reputation, and unless waived by the International for proper cause upon
application by
the
Local, must have been a resident for at least eighteen months preceding his/her
application
within its jurisdiction.
Such
applicant shall be of legal age to engage in gainful employment within the
jurisdiction
of this Local.
There
shall be no discrimination against any person in respect to membership in this
Local by reason of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, or age.
Section
2. Application for Membership
Every
application for membership must be made upon the official printed form
supplied
by the International to the Local.
The
endorsement of the application by the General Secretary-Treasurer of the
International
must be obtained before any action is taken by the Local upon the admission
of
the applicant, and if endorsement is refused the applicant shall be rejected.
Each
application blank must be accompanied by one-half the initiation fee (to be
returned
if application is rejected), and such processing fee as may be determined by the
General
Office. This processing fee is not returnable.
Any
applicant who is guilty of making false statements on the application blank
shall,
if admitted to membership, be expelled upon conviction and shall be thereafter
denied
admission to membership in the Local. Any initiation fee paid by such member
shall
be forfeited upon expulsion.
Section
3. Examination of Applicants
Such
examination shall be before a Board of Examiners, consisting of or appointed by
the
Executive Board, and the Examination shall be uniform for all applicants. The
approval
of the Board of Examiners is essential before any action is taken.
Section
4. Balloting on Applicants
An
applicant who has complied with the preceding sections of this Article and who
is,
there under, eligible for membership shall be proposed for admission at a
regular meeting
of
the Local.
Such
applicant shall not be present when his/her name is proposed for membership.
Open
discussion shall be permitted, and the application shall be balloted upon, and a
vote
of
a majority of the members present shall be required for the acceptance of said
applicant.
After 90 days rejected applicants may reapply (one time only) as a new
applicant.
Section
5. Registered Apprentices
This
Local may register the number of Apprentices permitted by the International
Constitution
and Bylaws. They shall make application as Apprentices to the Local on
regular
application forms. They shall have the same financial obligations as the regular
members.
They shall at all times be under the supervision of the Executive Board. After
serving
three years Apprenticeship they shall, if not previously voted in, be balloted
upon
by
the membership and shall become full regular members or their connection with
the
Local
shall cease entirely, dependent upon the vote of the membership. In the event
the
Apprentice
is not elected to membership his initiation fee shall be returned.
Headquarters
The
Headquarters or Main Office of this Local shall be within the jurisdiction of
Local
24 at such place as may be designated by the Local.
Government
The
International Constitution and Bylaws, as well as this Constitution and Bylaws,
shall
be the supreme law of this Local.
Section
2. Membership meetings
Regular
meetings shall be held each month on the first Tuesday, @ 7:00pm.
Special
meetings shall be called by the President or a petition signed by 25% of the
current
membership and no business, other than that for which such meeting is called,
shall
be conducted thereat.
A
majority of the Executive Board as well as the President shall also have the
power
to call special meetings.
A
quorum of twelve (12) members in good standing is required to open a meeting for
the
transaction of lawful business.
Section
3. Executive Board Meetings
The
Executive Board shall meet at least once a month and at such other times as
called
by the President. A majority of the members of the Board shall have the power to
call
an Executive Board meeting. All members of the Board shall be notified in
advance of
such
meeting. A majority of the members of the Executive Board shall constitute a
quorum.
Nominations
and Election of Officers
Section
1. Elected Officers and Eligibility
There
shall be elected to office the following officers, viz.
President
Vice-President
Business
Representative
Recording
Secretary
Secretary-Treasurer
Executive
Board: To consist of President, Vice-President, Business Representative,
Secretary-Treasurer,
and the Recording Secretary.
Board
of Trustees: To consist of three (3) members. One member shall be elected each
year
to serve three (3) years. The most senior shall be the Chairman.
Sergeant-at-Arms
Delegate
to the International Convention
To
be eligible for nomination and/or election for office, other than a Delegate, a
person
must have been a member in good standing in this Local for a period of two years
and
who is not disqualified from holding office under any applicable Governmental
law.
Any
member in good standing of this Local shall be eligible to serve a Delegate.
All
elected positions shall be for (3) three year terms.
The
President, Recording Secretary, and Sergeant-at-Arms, and one (1) Trustee to be
elected
in the same year. The Vice-President and one (1) Trustee to be elected in the
same
year. The Secretary-Treasurer, Business Representative, and one (1) Trustee to
be
Members
shall be notified by mail of the date, time, and place of the meeting at
which
nominations are to be taken at least fifteen (15) days in advance of such
meeting.
Such
notice shall also state the officers to be filled by election and the manner in
which
nominations
are to be received. A quorum at the nomination meeting is not required to
All
nominations must be made at the regularly scheduled meeting in the month of
August.
No member shall be nominated if absent when his/her name is presented, unless
his/her
written consent to be a candidate has been presented and filed with the
Secretary
at
or before the nominating meeting.
After
nominations have closed, the President shall appoint a Judge to have charge of
the
proper conduct of the election and two (2) tellers, none of whom shall be
candidates,
A
Primary election shall be held once every year in the month of September to
narrow
the field to two candidates for each office. A general election shall be held
once
every
year in the month of October on the designated election day with all new
officers
taking
office at the October meeting. At such elections, there shall be elected the
Officers
provided for in Article 6, Section 1, of this Constitution and Bylaws. Notices
of
the
Election shall be mailed to all member at least fifteen (15) days prior to the
elections,
specifying
the date, time, and place of the election and the offices to be filled. Such
notices shall be mailed to the members’ last known address.
The
Judge of Elections, in conjunction with at least one (1) Teller, shall prepare
the
ballots,
tally sheets, and the ballot box, or if voting machines are used, shall arrange
for
same.
It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Local to preserve the ballots and
all
other
records pertaining to the election for a period of one year.
The
eligibility of members to vote must be verified. Every member must have a paid
up
dues card to receive an official ballot which he/she shall mark alone inside one
of the
booths.
Before leaving the booth, he/she shall fold the ballot so as to conceal his/her
vote
and deposit it in the ballot box. Any member, who through misfortune, is unable
to
cast
his/her own vote may call upon the Judge of Elections only to assist him/her.
Upon
the polls being declared closed, the Judge shall open the ballot box and have
the
ballots counted. If the total agrees with the tally, the Judge and Tellers shall
then
proceed
to the official count of the votes for the different candidates. The total of
each
candidate’s
vote shall be recorded on a recapitulation sheet, which must be signed by the
Judge
and Tellers, and delivered to the President at the meeting. The President shall
then
read
the results to the meeting and those candidates who receive the highest number
of
votes
shall be declared elected.
Any
candidate shall have the right to have an observer (who must, however, be a
member
in good standing in the Local) present at the polls and the counting of the
ballots.
All
reasonable requests of any candidate to distribute campaign literature by mail
or
otherwise,
at the candidate’s own expense, to the members in good standing shall be
honored.
Every
candidate shall have the right once within 30 days prior to the election to
inspect
(but not to copy) a list containing the names and last known addresses of all
members
of this Local who are subject to a collective bargaining agreement requiring
membership
in this Local as a condition of employment.
Elections
shall be conducted by secret ballot. Proxy voting shall not be
permissible.
Absentee ballots for nominations and elections must be made available, on
written
request to members who are unable to attend the meeting. Anyone in good
standing
has the right to obtain an absentee ballot for the election of officers. Only
those
members duly nominated shall be candidates for office (write-in votes for those
no
duly nominated shall not be counted).
The
officers elected shall be installed at the first regular meeting in the month of
October
and shall subscribe and assent to the required pledge before entering upon the
duties of their office.
Any
vacancies occurring on the Board or among the offices during their term shall
be
filled by a majority vote or all the then members of the Board, except that a
vacancy
in
the office of the President shall be filled temporarily by the Vice-President.
An
election
process shall be started at the next regular meeting for the vacant position of
the
President.
Article
VII Duties of Officers
The
President shall preside at all meetings of the membership and of the Executive
Board
and shall at all times conduct same in accordance with this Constitution and
Bylaws
and
the standing rules attached hereto. For misconduct during the course of a
meeting, a
member
may be summarily fined in an amount not to exceed twenty-five ($25) dollars for
each
separate offense, or at the discretion of the President, may be summarily
ejected
from
the meeting if his/her conduct persists in disrupting the meeting.
In
absence of a specific law to govern a given condition the President shall decide
the
matter in a spirit of fairness and equity, and such ruling shall be enforced
unless
changed
by the Executive Board or the membership.
He/she
shall see that all officers perform their duties as prescribed by the
Constitution
and Bylaws and shall be a member Ex-officio of all committees.
He/she
shall consent of the Executive Board, use all moral and financial aid in
enforcing
the rules, wage scale, and conditions of this Local.
He/she
shall appoint the members of all committees.
The
President shall also be empowered to appoint Delegates to such conventions or
trade
assemblies (other than those named in Article VI, Section 1 hereof) as shall be
of
interest and importance to this Local.
In
the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall assume all duties of the
President.
In the absence of the President and Vice-President at a meeting, the body shall
select a presiding officer.
Section
3. Recording Secretary
It
shall be the duty of the Recording Secretary to attend all meetings of the
membership
and of the Executive Board and to keep minutes, but not necessarily verbatim,
of
the proceedings of such meetings in a book provided for such purposes. He/she
shall
create
and keep a duplicate copy of correspondence between the Executive Board,
clients,
and the membership, and maintain the files for the archives of the Local.
Section
4. Secretary-Treasurer
It
shall be the duty of the Secretary-Treasurer to attend all meetings of the
membership
and of the Executive Board and shall keep the seal in his/her possession.
It
shall be the duty of the Secretary-Treasurer to keep a true and accurate record
of
all income and disbursements and all assets and liabilities of this Union.
He/she
shall deposit all money in a bank account approved by the Executive Board,
same
to be in the name of the Local, subject to withdrawal by checks.
He/she
shall collect all dues, fines, and assessments from the members and shall
report
quarterly to the meeting the standing of all members.
He/she
shall deliver to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for auditing purposes
all books and papers in his/her possession and shall attend such auditing meetings.
Section
5. Business Representative
The
Business Representative shall supply employers with manpower when called upon
to
do so. He/she shall keep a correct list of all work given out, as well as a list
of the
unemployed.
He/she
shall report to the Executive Board all alleged violations by members of the
laws
of the Local.
He/she
shall represent the Local in all dealings with employers, but shall at all
times be under the supervision of the Executive Board.
The
books of this Union must be audited every six (6) months by the Board of
Trustees,
who will make a detailed report of their finding a the next regular meeting. The
Board
of Trustees is charged with responsibility of seeing to it that any officers and
employees
of the Union who handle its funds and property are bonded to the extent and in
the
amount and form required by law. The expense of such bonds shall be borne by the
Local.
The Board of Trustees shall also be responsible for seeing to it that all books
and
records
of the Local, used as the basis for preparing reports required by law to be
filed
with
the Government, are preserved for at lease five (5) years from the dates such
reports
were filed.
The
Executive Board shall investigate all complaints of members and decide, if
possible,
upon all questions in dispute between employer and employee, accepting any
honorable
means toward an amicable settlement that may be deemed essential to the best
interest of this organization.
The
Executive Board shall decide upon all matters referred to them by the
membership
and their decision shall be binding unless reversed by a majority vote of the
members
present at a regular or special meeting of the Local. The Executive Board shall
act
as a trial board of the Local unless the member elects to be tried at an open
meeting
as
provided in Article 12, Section 15 hereof. They shall have the power to summon
as a
witness
any members and those failing to answer may be adjudged in contempt and
penalized for same by fine or suspension.
It
shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms to be present at all membership
meetings,
see that all members present sign in, and see that none but members enter the
meeting
hall and carry out such instructions as are given to him/her by the presiding
officer.
Section
9. Delegates to the International Convention
The
Delegates shall perform their duties as prescribed by the Constitution and
Bylaws of the International Alliance and report thereon at the next regular meeting following the Convention.
Other Delegates shall attend meetings of the Bodies or Conventions to which they are accredited and shall report
thereon to the membership at the next regular meetings.
Section
11. Compensation of Officers
The
designation of those officers to be compensated for their services and the
amount
of compensation they are to be paid shall be determined by majority vote of the
membership
at the regular meeting immediately proceeding the meeting at which
nominations
for office is held and once fixed shall not be reduced during the term office.
Any
proposed increase during the term of office of the compensation so fixed shall
require
a two-thirds favorable vote by secret ballot of the members present at a special meeting.
Section
12. Attendance of Officers
Elected
officers of the Local cannot miss more than three consecutive meetings.
Should
an elected official miss three consecutive meetings, it will be brought to the
attention
of the membership at a regular monthly meeting for a vote of dismissal. The
vote
to dismiss must receive at least two-thirds in favor of the members present.
Transfer
and Reinstatement
Any
member of another Local of this Alliance wishing to transfer his/her
membership
to this Local shall present his/her application as a new member together with
a transfer card from the Union of which he/she was a member.
Any
member who has been suspended from membership shall be required to pay a
reinstatement
fee of One-Hundred ($100) dollars, together with all financial obligations
that
may have accrued against him/her during the period of his/her suspension. Any
member
who has been expelled shall be required to make application as a new member,
and shall be governed by all conditions pertaining to same.
Revenues
Section
1. Dues and Initiation Fees
The
dues payable by each member shall be sixty ($60) dollars per quarter, payable
in
advance. The initiation fee shall be One-Thousand ($1000) dollars, but may be
reduced
or
waived by vote of the membership for organizational purposes.
Members
at least 65 years of age with 25 years of membership in the Alliance may
at
their option be declared Retired Members provided they fully cease employment
under
the
Local’s jurisdiction or under the jurisdiction of any other affiliated IATSE
Local or the
International.
Retired members shall have voice, but no vote at Union meetings and shall
not
be eligible to hold office. Retired members shall pay for the retired membership
stamps at cost to remain in good standing.
Section
2. Special Assessments
If
at anytime the Executive Board deems in necessary to acquire additional revenue,
for the best interest of the Union, it shall recommend to the membership a special assessment.
The
amount of dues provided for herein shall not be increased nor shall any special
assessment
be levied or increased unless approved upon secret ballot by a majority vote of
the
members in good standing present at a regular or special meeting, written notice
of
which
has been mailed to the members at least fifteen (15) days in advance.
The
Executive Board, subject to approval of the membership, shall be permitted to
invest the surplus money of this Local in the United States or Canadian Governments bonds or other Government securities.
Section
5. Out-of-town Members
Member
of other Locals of the Alliance working in the jurisdiction of this Local
shall
pay the same percentage of weekly earnings as the regular members of the Local
my
be required to pay but they shall not be required to pay quarterly dues to this Local.
Section
6. Authority to Expend Funds
The
funds of this Local shall be used to defray the proper operating expenses
provided for herein and for other legitimate purposes to accomplish the object of this Union.
Members
in good standing shall enjoy all rights, privileges, and benefits of this
Constitution
and Bylaws.
Failure
on the part of any member to pay any financial obligation to this Local
within
sixty (60) days after same became payable shall result in such members being
automatically
declared not in good standing. A member not in good standing shall be
deprived
of the right to hold office, attend meetings, and to vote. If such default
continues
for a period of more than 4 months from the date that the financial obligation
first
became payable and should the member fail to pay up in full indebtedness within
10
days
after written notice by certified mail or his/her default has been sent to
him/her
(such
written notice to specify the amount due and how such amount was arrived at),
the
member
shall be deemed automatically expelled unless prior thereto, he/she has been
granted
an extension of time to pay by vote of the membership.
The
term “in good standing” as used in this Constitution and Bylaws shall be
construed
to bean that the member has fully complied with all his/her obligations to the
Local
not only financially but in all other regards.
Payment
of any financial obligation due by a member to the Local shall be
enforceable
by fine, suspension, or expulsion and in addition thereto, by resort to court
action.
If court action is required, the delinquent member shall also be liable to the
Local
for
reasonable legal fees and other expenses incurred by it in connection with the
suit.
Any
officers of this Local may be impeached for a violation of his/her official
duties
or for any infringement of the Constitution and Bylaws.
All
charges against an officer of this Local must be in writing, in the form of a
sworn
affidavit, reciting clearly the offense charge, the name of the accused, the
time,
place,
and nature of the violation, the Section or Sections of the Constitution and
Bylaws
or
of the Constitution and Bylaws of the International alleged to have been
violated, over
the
signature of the accuser, together with a statement of the names of all
witnesses to
the
offense who are known to the accuser and must be filed within thirty (30) days
after
the offense becomes known to the accused or reasonably should have been discovered.
Section
3. Penalty for Preferring False Charges
If
false charges shall be maliciously preferred against any officer, the person or
persons
preferring such charges shall be fined $500, the fine to be imposed upon the
acquittal of the accused officer, plus the expenses of the proceeding.
Section
4. Charges Filed in Duplicate
Charges shall be filed in duplicate but only the original need bear the seal of the Notary Public before who the affidavit was sworn.
Section
5. By Whom and to Whom Preferred
Charges
against officers may be preferred by any member or officer of the Alliance.
Charges
shall be filed with the Executive Board of this Local. The Executive Board, with
the
exception of such members thereof as may be charged in said complaint, shall act
as
the
trial body; provided, however that those so empowered to act constitute at least
a
majority of the