BLE Constitution provides:
Issue:
I. The rights of the members to direct the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers.
- Section 4(a) of the BLE Constitution provides that between
conventions of the I.D. the supreme governing body of the BLE shall
be vested in the active membership.
II. Initiative, Referendum, Recall
- Initiative: Empowers the
membership, through a petition
process, to require the President to
submit a ballot to the active
membership to change the Rules,
Constitution or any policy of the
BLE. Majority of votes cast shall
determine the outcome.
- Referendum: Empowers the
membership, through a petition
process, to require the President to
hold up any enactment of the
convention. The petition shall be
placed before the active membership
for referendum ballot and the
decision of the active membership
will be final for a two (2) year
period.
- Recall: Empowers the membership, through a petition process to
place the question of recalling an officer to a vote. When the
result of the vote is obtained the International President will
remove the recalled officer from his position, if the ballot so
orders.
III. Contract Procedures
- BLE Constitution requires referendum vote of all affected members
on all wage/rules settlements (concerted movements in the U. S. and
system agreements which may be tied to such movements) including
proffers of arbitration.
- Each active member has a vote and a say in how the BLE shall
proceed in ratifying the proposed agreement, or not ratifying and
going to arbitration or to self-help.
- Local and system agreements not part of a concerted movement shall
be ratified by a vote of the affected division. The division local
chairman is instructed by the vote of the membership attending the
first regular or special meeting after receipt of the proposal from
the general chairman. The general chairman is governed by the
instructions of the majority of the local chairman affected.
IV. Instructing Delegates
- The BLE Constitution, provides that a Delegate may be instructed
by referendum ballot of the members of the Local Division, on how to
vote on an issue which will be before the Convention. The Delegate
is governed by those instructions and may face expulsion if the
instructions are not followed.
V. Voting on mergers of Unions
- The BLE requires a vote of the active membership before any merger
or affiliation may proceed.
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UTU Constitution provides:
Issue:
I. The rights of the member to direct the United Transportation
Union.
- There is no provision for UTU locals or membership to initiate
changes in the UTU Constitution between UTU Conventions.
- The UTU Constitution provides in Article 13 that any change in the
UTU Constitution between conventions must be approved by the Board
of Trustees (International officers) and voted on by the Delegates,
who may discuss the issue with the members.
II. Initiative, Referendum, Recall
- There is no provision for an Initiative, referendum or recall in
the UTU Constitution.
- UTU members have no system of redress should they be dissatisfied
with the direction, decisions or handling of their International
Officers. They can only hope that their delegate will do the right
thing at the next convention.
III. Contract Procedures
- No Apparent requirement for referendum of national or system
concerted movements.
- Local working conditions of a craft may not be revised or changed
unless authorized by a majority of the votes cast by the members in
the craft.
- General Committees of Adjustment, by majority vote, may authorize
the revision of general or system schedule rules, amend existing
rules, or establish new rules. Vote is of representatives of the
crafts involved. Multiple craft general committees may revise or
amend general committees may revise or amend general or system
schedule rules of any craft when authorized by a majority vote of
the representatives of that craft on the general committee.
- There is no provision for submitting a proffer for arbitration to
a membership vote.
IV. Instructing Delegates
- There is no provision in the UTU Constitution giving the members
of a local right to instruct or direct the delegate.
V. Voting on mergers of Unions
- There is no provision for membership referendum voting on mergers
with other unions.
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