APWU of Iowa   

Revised April 2006

Section 1: Order of Business

Section 2: Rules of Order

Section 3: Amendments

Section 4: Convention Rules (as adopted April 2006)

The IPWU affirms its belief in a single union of all Postal Workers in non-supervisory levels and will work to achieve this goal

1. To educate our membership through the use of seminars and special classes.
2. To educate our membership and the general public on the history of the Labor Movement.

To vote and work for the election of candidates who favor the passage of improved legislation in the interest of all labor. To work for the repeal of laws which are unjust to labor and Postal workers, such as the denial of the right to strike and denial of the right to support political candidates of their choice.

To represent, as authorized by the National Business Agents, issues dealing with, but not limited to, grievances.

To continue to organize the unorganized.

Any duly certified local of the American Postal Workers Union within the jurisdiction claimed by the IPWU is eligible for active membership. Any person employed by the United States Postal Service in the jurisdiction claimed by the IPWU is eligible for active membership under the following two (2) conditions:

1. The person is employed in a non-supervisory position, and
2. The person is not employed within the jurisdiction of a properly certified local of the American Postal Workers Union.

Locals wishing to affiliate with the IPWU may do so by submitting the appropriate dues, as set by the IPWU, to the Financial Secretary-Treasurer. Any eligible person may apply for membership in writing by submission of the appropriate dues withholding form to the Financial Secretary-Treasurer.

There shall be three (3) categories of members in this local: 1) Active; 2) Retired, 3) Honorary

1. Active membership (voting member) shall be any person employed in a non-supervisor position under this union’s jurisdiction
2. Retired membership shall consist of retired members who continue to pay full per capita tax to the APWU plus whatever dues are required by their local. Said members may exercise full membership rights and privileges.
3. Honorary members shall be any person nominated and accepted by majority vote of those present and voting at either the state (even numbered years) or the mini-state (odd numbered years) conventions. Said members shall not be eligible to vote, hold office, or represent the union as a delegate.

Any member leaving the Postal Service because of Union activity with organizations to whom the IPWU pays per capita tax shall be considered an active member and shall continue to pay local and national per capita dues.

Any local member will be suspended upon arrearage of ninety (90) days. A local member will be reinstated upon payment of all arrearage up to ninety (90) days. However, payment of arrearage may be waived by the IPWU executive board for cause.

1. The state convention of the IPWU shall convene biennially in even numbered years in April or May as determined by the Executive Board. The convention shall be in session Friday and Saturday and can be extended until 1 pm Sunday, if necessary, according to the established By- Laws of the IPWU.
2. The IPWU shall hold a "Mini" convention the first Saturday in May in odd numbered years. Any committees necessary shall be determined by the chairperson. This convention shall address itself primarily to educational issues and constitutional changes. Any constitutional change must be submitted to the Recording Secretary not later than ten (10) days prior to the mini-convention in order to be acted upon.
3. Credentials must be issued by the Secretary-Treasurer in each year where voting will be taken for elections or constitutional changes. These credentials shall be mailed out to each dues paying local no later than 60 days prior to the convention. That notification be sent by Secretary-Treasurer to those locals who are in arrears and therefore ineligible for voice and vote. Each local shall return credentials to the Secretary-Treasurer no later than 14 days prior to the convention. Exceptions will only be allowed by majority vote of the delegates present at the convention.

The Recording Secretary shall issue the convention call at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of the convention in the official paper of the IPWU. The convention call in the even numbered years shall give notice of the nomination and election of officers.

The host local in even numbered years shall receive up to Twelve Hundred ($1,200.00) Dollars and in odd numbered years Six Hundred ($600.00) Dollars to offset receipted expenses. The host local for the fall seminar shall receive up to Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars to offset receipted expenses. The host local for the Tri-State conference in Iowa shall receive up to Two Thousand ($2,000.00) Dollars to offset receipted expenses. These monies to be paid by the Financial Secretary Treasurer sixty (60) days in advance of each event, any overage of said monies to be returned to the IPWU treasury.

Provisions shall be made for a visitors section at the convention proceedings.

The President shall appoint the Sergeant-at-Arms (one or more as necessary) with the approval of the majority members of the executive board.

The representation or voting strength of members-at-large and individuals shall be one person, one vote.

1. The voting strength of a local shall be the average number of members on which per capita tax has been paid to the IPWU over the one (1) year period immediately preceding the issue of the convention call.
2. The average membership of a local union which has affiliated within the past year shall be computed from the month of affiliation and shall be determined by dividing the total per capita tax for all months affiliated by twelve (12).
3. The votes of a local union shall be divided among all of its registered delegates. Each delegate present shall be entitled to cast only his assigned number of votes. However, to facilitate the voting procedure, one delegate may be designated to cast all the votes of the delegates representing his local. If any delegate from that local union challenges the correctness of the votes cast by the designee, the individual delegates of the local shall be polled.

Alternate delegates may be seated in the absence of regular delegates upon presentation of proper credentials.

No Postal worker holding an office in any Postal union other than the American Postal Workers Union, whose ostensible aims are similar to those of the APWU can be seated as a delegate to an IPWU convention or elected as an officer of the IPWU.

Officers of this Union shall consist of a President, Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary-Treasurer, Editor, one (1) Craft Director from each craft represented by the APWU, Legislative Director, and three (3) Trustees. The duties of all officers shall be described in full in separate sections of Article VII.

1. Candidates for offices in the IPWU shall be nominated in accordance with the By Laws of the IPWU. The Craft Directors shall be nominated and elected by the members of their respective crafts only. The candidates receiving the greatest number of votes by secret ballot shall be declared elected. New officers shall be installed prior to the adjournment of the convention.
2. No local union shall be represented by proxy. A delegate must be a member in good standing of the local he/she represents.

Delegates to the National Convention shall be nominated in accordance with the By Laws of the IPWU. Then number of delegates elected shall be determined by majority vote of the delegates and members present. Funds for the delegates will be voted on at this time and said amount will be contingent on the finances of the IPWU.

IPWU executive board members and Area Representatives shall be delegates to the IPWU State Convention by virtue of their office.

The President shall represent the IPWU at all IPWU state functions and the Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas Tri-State Conventions by virtue of office. In addition, at all APWU district, state, regional, national conventions, conferences and meetings when a representative is authorized by a majority vote of the Executive Board at the next official meeting, or by electronic/telephone polling, to be read into the next official minutes of the IPWU Executive Board. If unable to attend, an alternate shall take his/her place according to Article VI, section 5.

The Financial Secretary-Treasurer shall be the first (1^st) alternate, the Recording Secretary the second (2^nd) and the Editor the third (3^rd) alternate.

No member of the IPWU may hold office (shall resign his/her office immediately) or serve this organization in any capacity while serving for management in any EAS (management) position. No member shall be eligible to run for office one (1) year from the date he/she last acted in a management capacity nor shall he/she be eligible as a delegate.

The Executive Board shall have the authority to grant members of this union their regular hourly rate of pay including applicable premiums while on LWOP from the Postal Service. This condition shall apply only while on official union business and such salary shall be paid from the treasury o f this union. All such payments shall be made part of the Financial Secretary-Treasurer’s monthly report. All payments shall be made within 14 days unless it is financially unreasonable for the IPWU to do so.

IPWU representatives who have lost sick and/or annual leave due to the use of approved LWOP for IPWU business shall be reimbursed for the lost leave at their applicable rate of pay in accordance with national APWU policy.

It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all IPWU conventions, meetings, conferences and special meetings. He/she shall appoint all necessary committees. He/she shall fill all vacancies until filled by regular elections. He/she shall by virtue of the office, attend the Biennial National Convention of the APWU and the President’s Conference and report to all locals and members at large who cannot attend. He/she shall submit a report of his/her activities in each issue of the official paper of the IPWU. He/she shall appoint a Budget Committee of seven (7) made up of three (3) elected Trustees, the Financial Secretary-Treasurer and three (3) appointed members. This committee will present a tentative budget for considerations of the delegates at the regular (even numbered years) convention. He/she shall countersign all checks issued by the Financial Secretary-Treasurer and forward for payment as appropriate. He/she shall be responsible for setting up all seminars and shall invite National Officers of each APWU craft. He/she shall be Educational Director for this union. As compensation for this service, a salary of five hundred ($500.00) dollars per quarter shall be paid from the IPWU treasury. The President may appoint sectional center facility representatives to assist in sectional center facility area representation. The appointed sectional center facility representatives shall work under the direction of the President and be reimbursed for necessary original receipted expenses. He/she will be reimbursed necessary original receipted expenses, accommodations plus current postal mileage rate or airfare (whichever is less) for necessary travel for services rendered when authorized by the Executive Board.

The Financial Secretary-Treasurer shall receive and deposit all monies for the IPWU. He/she shall keep a systematic account of all receipts and disbursements. He/she shall draft checks for timely payment of all normal operating expenses (including but not limited to: The IPWU paper, official forms, telephone service, office supplies, postage and regularly recurring assessments and obligations). He/she shall sign and forward these checks to the President or Recording Secretary as appropriate for counter signature and disbursement. He/she shall make a complete report of his/her official acts monthly and shall send a copy of his/her report to all members of the Executive Board and in addition any member in good standing that requests. He/she shall submit the books of the union to the Budget Committee and Trustees at each annual IPWU convention for an audit review. He/she shall make available the financial statement of the IPWU to all delegates in attendance at all IPWU conventions. He/she shall be the custodian of all financial records of this union. As compensation for this service, a salary of three hundred twenty five ($325.00) dollars per quarter shall be paid from the IPWU treasury. This officer shall assume the duties of the President in case of death or resignation of the latter and shall call an Executive Board meeting within fifteen (15) days to appoint a new President to serve until the next scheduled election. He/she shall inform the Recording Secretary and Editor of all new members, employees that are no longer members and name and address changes for members of the IPWU and shall inform the National APWU of these changes.

The Editor shall edit, publish and mail the official paper of this union. He/she shall assist the President with all seminars, meetings, etc, and shall mail flyers in those areas these events will be held. He/she shall be the official correspondent for the Postal Press Association (PPA) and national magazine (The American Postal Worker). In odd numbered years he/she shall be an automatic delegate to the PPA conference and in even numbered years an automatic delegate to the National APWU convention, if funds are available. He/she shall maintain a file and mailing list of addresses of all members of the IPWU. As compensation for this service, a salary of three hundred ($300.00) dollars per quarter shall be paid from the IPWU Treasury.

The Recording Secretary shall keep an accurate record of the minutes of all regular, special, craft and Executive Board meetings and conventions of the IPWU. He/she shall keep a complete record of the convention proceedings, including the reports of all committees. He/she shall be the custodian of and shall maintain a copy of all records of this union. Additionally he/she shall provide a copy of all Executive Board minutes to the Presidents of the affiliated locals of the IPWU, Executive Board members, and in addition, any member in good standing, upon request. It shall also be the responsibility of the Recording Secretary to ensure that records of the proceedings of the previous convention are provided upon registration at the current convention. In addition, he/she shall be the alternate to countersign checks in the event of the unavailability or incapacitation of the President of Financial Secretary-Treasurer. As compensation for this service, a salary of one hundred ($100.00) dollars per quarter shall be paid from the IPWU treasury. He/she shall maintain a copy of the address and mailing list of all the members of the IPWU as presented by the Financial Secretary-Treasurer

The Craft Directors shall represent the following crafts: Clerk, Motor Vehicle, Support Services, and Maintenance. These Craft Directors shall have charge of their respective craft and promote its interest under the direction of the President. They shall attend the national craft conference of their respective craft when authorized by the Executive Board. They shall perform other duties as the President may direct. They will be reimbursed necessary original receipted expenses, accommodations plus current Postal mileage rate or airfare (whichever is less) for necessary travel. For services rendered when authorized by the Executive Board they will be reimbursed necessary original receipted expenses. As compensation, Craft Directors will be paid as follows: Clerk: One hundred Fifty ($150.00) dollars per quarter; Maintenance: Seventy Five ($75.00) dollars per quarter; Motor Vehicle: Fifty ($50.00) dollars per quarter, Support Services Craft Director ($50.00) per quarter.

The Legislative Director shall establish and maintain a network that will disseminate information and mobilize resources for the purpose of promoting a positive political agenda for all labor and Postal workers. He/she shall perform other duties as the President may direct. As compensation for this service, a salary of one hundred ($100.00) dollars per quarter shall be paid from the IPWU treasury.

Up to six (6) Area Stewards may be appointed by and work under the direction of the President and will be responsible for communicating with and representing the MAL’s and small locals who may need assistance. They will be reimbursed for original receipted expenses and accommodations plus mileage at the current rate or airfare (whichever is less) for necessary travel, and LWOP. The Area Stewards will report to the President on a monthly basis. As compensation for this service, a salary of one hundred fifty ($150.00) dollars per quarter shall be paid from the IPWU Treasury.

The Board of Trustees shall present an audit report at each state convention. The audit shall be conducted by the Board of Trustees no later than one (1) day prior to each annual convention and fall seminar, or by a private auditor as directed by the membership. The Board of Trustees shall keep a current accurate record of all property of the IPWU and shall provide said record to the Recording Secretary. They will be responsible for the placement of property tags on all IPWU equipment for inventory accountability.

1. The President, Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary-Treasurer, Editor, Clerk Craft Director, Maintenance Craft Director, Motor Vehicle Craft Director, Support Services Director, Legislative Director and three (3) Trustees shall constitute the Executive Board.
2. The Executive Board shall supervise all activities not specifically provided for and shall administer the property of the IPWU with full power to administer the estate of the IPWU. All check and non check expenditures, other than normal operating expenses (as defined under article VII, section 2) shall have a note of explanation and will be subject to final approval by the Executive Board at the next official meeting, or by electronic/telephone polling to be read into the next official minutes. Each officer shall have not more than one (1) vote at conventions, meeting and Executive board meetings.
3. The Recording Secretary shall record the minutes of all official meeting of the IPWU Executive Board. Said minutes shall include the name and vote of members present and voting.

1. IPWU per capita tax shall be one dollar and five cents ($1.05) per member, per month. The IPWU per capita tax shall be increased when each negotiated salary increase takes effect by the following formula:

   Ten percent (10%) of the dues increase to the locals resulting from a

   negotiated salary increase (excluding COLA) as published by the APWU.

   IPWU per capita tax will be paid at least quarterly if not monthly. The Secretary Treasurer will send notices to any local who is more than 30 days in arrears. These notices will be sent to the local President, Secretary and Treasurer giving the local 30 days to pay their IPWU per capita tax.

2. Chartered local shall reimburse to the IPWU the IPWU per capita tax as established in Article VIII, section 1 (A).
3. Members-at-Large shall pay national per capita tax and IPWU per capita tax.
4. Retired members wishing to retain full membership rights shall pay full national and IPWU per capita tax.
5. Honorary members shall pay no dues

Special assessments may be levied by the Executive Board or by a state convention whenever it becomes absolutely necessary to carry on the work of the organization. A unanimous vote of the Executive Board or a two-thirds (2/3) vote of a state convention shall be required to approve the assessment before it shall be levied. Any assessment levied by the Executive Board shall be effective only until the next regular state convention.

The Budget Committee of seven (7) shall stand for two (2) years and shall consist of the three (3) elected Trustees, the Financial Secretary-Treasurer, and three (3) member sin good standing that are appointed by the President. They shall examine the books and accounts of the Financial Secretary-Treasurer and the officers, and shall certify as the correctness of the accounts. They shall make recommendations to the biennial and mini-state conventions of the financial status of the IPWU and shall present a budget to be used as a guideline for the following year.

The President shall appoint the standing convention and/or special Executive committees. The standing convention committees: Constitution committee, Resolutions committee, Convention City committee, Credential committee, Election committee, Organizing committee, Rules committee, Legislative committee, Human Relations committee, Union Label committee and One Union committee. The convention will be recessed to give all committees sufficient time to meet.

A Strike Assistance board consisting of a three (3) member panel shall be elected at each biennial convention of the IPWU. The panel shall oversee the dispersal of a strike assistance fund which will not exceed two thousand ($2,000.00) dollars funded at the rate of three cents ($0.03) per member, per month. The Executive Board shall appoint an action committee of one (1) person from each legislative district to assist the Strike Assistance board.

NOTE: The strike assistance fund shall be started with five hundred ($500.00) dollars taken from IPWU funds.

A public relations fund will be established not to exceed two thousand ($2,000.00) dollars funded at the rate of three cents ($0.03) per member, per month to be used to promote the union. This fund will be established with the next dues increase after adoption.

The IPWU shall establish funding in the amount of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per month for the state auxiliary to help defray the costs of attending IPWU, APWU and Auxiliary functions.

No criticism, reflection, argument or debate touching on any member’s handicap, age, religion, sexual preference, creed, color, nationality, sex or political affiliation shall be allowed at any meeting of the IPWU.

A petition for recall signed by at least five (5) local Presidents of IPWU affiliated locals who have sufficient proof at hand that any officer or officers have acted dishonestly or otherwise detrimental to the best interest of the rank and file members, may be filed with the Executive Board. A copy of the charge, which shall be made in duplicate, must be submitted with the petition for recall. The Executive Board shall send one (1) copy to the officer(s) against whom the charges have been preferred. The officer who has had recall proceedings filed against him/her shall be given an opportunity for defense. Fifteen (15) days shall be allowed him/her to respond to the charges. Said response must be in writing addressed to the IPWU President. If the officer fails to respond, the Executive Board will proceed with the recall election.

The following Sunday after the expiration of the fifteen (15) days, a special meeting of the IPWU affiliated Presidents shall be called, with a vote taken by secret ballot on the charges filed. Prior to such a vote, the officer against whom charges have been preferred shall have an opportunity to defend himself/herself either in person or through a representative of the officers choice selected from members in good standing of an IPWU affiliated local. If a majority of the Presidents present sustain the charges as filed, the Executive Board shall proceed with the recall election.

The recall ballot will include the name of the officer against whom recall has been initiated, the notice of charges and the officer’s reply to said charges (if any). The recall ballot shall be sent to all members of the IPWU and it shall require two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast to recall the officer.

This constitution shall stand as the supreme authority of the IPWU. Amendments, annulments or additions to the constitution may not take affect except by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of all delegates present an voting at any IPWU state convention or by two-thirds (2/3) majority of those members voting by referendum ballot of the entire membership.

The Executive Board shall have the authority to amend this constitution and By Laws only to the extent necessary to remove any conflict between its provisions and those of any applicable Federal or State law. The Board is also empowered to modify such provisions as necessary to conform to amendments adopted at National Conventions.

Article 1: Order of Business

1. Roll call and reports of officers
2. Reading of the minutes of the previous Executive Board meeting
3. Nominations for elections
4. Committee meetings
5. Reports of committees
6. New business
7. Elections (First order of business, second day)
8. Unfinished business
9. Installation of officers
10. Adjournment

Article 2: Rules of Order

In the absence of authority, the deliberations of this union shall be governed by

Robert’s Rules of Order.

Article 3: Amendments

These By Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the delegates present and

voting at the convention.

Article 4: Convention Rules (as Adopted May 1994)

1. In the absence of a special motion or action, the convention shall be called to order at 9:00 am and remain in session until business is completed.
2. All resolutions must bear the signature of the introducer or introducers and the title of the organization represented, and shall be in triplicate.
3. A delegate, upon being recognized, shall identify him/herself as to name, city and local being represented.
4. A delegate shall not speak more than twice on the same question unless given permission by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the delegates present.
5. No motion or resolution shall be voted upon until the mover or introducer has had a chance to speak on it.
6. It shall require at least fifteen (15) delegates to move a roll call vote.
7. When a roll call has been taken and all delegates present have had the opportunity to record their vote, the ballot shall be declared closed.
8. When a roll call has been ordered, no adjournment or recess shall take place until the results have been announced.
9. The report of the committee shall be subject to amendment and substitutes from the floor of the convention the same as other resolutions.
10. The motion shall not be open for discussion until it has been seconded and stated by the chair.
11. When a question is before the convention, no motion shall be in order except:

    1) To adjourn

    2) For the previous question

    3) To postpone to a given time

    4) To refer or commit

    5) To amend

    and these motions shall have precedence in the order herein arranged. The first two of these motions are not debatable.

12. A motion to lay on the table shall not be debated except between the maker of the original motion and the maker of the motion to lay on the table.
13. Debate on a question or appeal from the decision of the chair will be limited to the appellant and the chair.
14. A motion to reconsider shall not be entertained unless by a delegate who voted on the prevailing side. It shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority to reconsider.
15. If a delegate, while speaking, is called to order, he/she shall at the request of the chair, take his/her seat until the question or order is decided.
16. If two (2) or more delegates rise to speak at the same time, the chair will decide who is entitled to the floor.
17. No delegate may interrupt another in remarks except to call a point of order or to request information.
18. The report of the committee shall be considered as a motion to adopt.
19. Nominating speakers shall be allowed three (3) minutes and two (2) seconding speeches of two (2) minutes each shall be allowed.
20. In any election, if more than two (2) candidates are in contention for a position and no one receives a majority of the votes case, a run—off elections will be held between the two (2) top vote receivers to decide the one (1) elected. Any nominated candidate seeking office unopposed shall be declared elected.
21. Each local presenting an invitation to host the Iowa Postal Workers Union convention shall be allowed five (5) minutes to present an invitation.
22. All commercially printed material and posters displayed in the convention hall must bear the union label.
23. No resolution shall be received after 10:30 am on the second day of the convention unless otherwise ordered by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the convention.
24. In the absence of a special rule, Robert’s Rules of Order shall prevail.
25. In even numbered years, the convention dinner dance will be held on Friday night, unless authorized to be changed by the state Executive Board.