What I Do
IBEW keeps San Francisco's cable cars running.
IBEW keeps San Francisco's cable cars running.
Section 1
The Federation shall be composed of: (1) national and international unions that are affiliated with, but are not subordinate to, or subject to the general direction and control of, the Federation; and (2) the following categories of organizations that are subordinate bodies of the AFL-CIO subject to the kind and degree of Federation direction and control provided for in this Constitution: (a) organizing committees; (b) directly affiliated local unions and national councils thereof; (c) state, area and local central bodies; and (d) trade and industrial departments.
Section 2
Every affiliate that operated at the time of the merger between the AFL and the CIO with a charter or certificate of affiliation issued by either federation has, by virtue of the merger, retained and enjoyed the same organizing jurisdiction in this Federation that it had and enjoyed prior to the merger. In cases of conflicting and duplicating jurisdictions the President and the Executive Council shall seek to eliminate such conflicts through the process of voluntary agreement or voluntary merger between the affiliates involved.
Section 3
Every affiliate that operated at the time of the merger between the AFL and the CIO with a charter or certificate of affiliation issued by either federation has, by virtue of the merger, been conferred with a charter or certificate of affiliation from the AFL-CIO and become subject to this Constitution and the AFL-CIO’s rules and regulations.
Section 4
(a)
The Executive Council may issue additional charters or certificates of affiliation to other organizations desiring to affiliate with this Federation. This power may be delegated to the President. Charters or certificates of affiliation shall not be issued to national or international unions, organizing committees, or directly affiliated local unions in conflict with the jurisdiction of affiliated national or international unions, except with the written consent of such unions, and shall be based upon a strict recognition that both craft and industrial unions are equal and necessary as methods of trade union organization, and that each affiliated national and international union is entitled to have its autonomy, integrity and jurisdiction protected and preserved.
(b) Where the Executive Council determines that it would be necessary or appropriate to subject the approval of a charter to one or more future conditions, the Executive Council may issue a provisional charter. In such cases, the provisional status of the charter shall be removed following a specified period of time not to exceed three years, and the affiliation shall thereupon be deemed permanent, absent a vote of the Executive Council to revoke the charter.
Section 5
(a)
Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, no national or international union chartered by or affiliated with this Federation may be suspended from the Federation except by a majority roll call vote at the convention. A suspension imposed by a convention may be terminated in accordance with Article X, Section 14.
(b) Except as provided in Section 4(b) of this Article, no national or international union shall have its charter or certificate of affiliation with the Federation revoked except by a two-thirds roll call vote at the convention. A revoked charter or certificate of affiliation may be restored by either a two-thirds roll call vote of the convention or a two-thirds vote of the Executive Council if it is determined that the organization is conducting its affairs in a manner consistent with the obligations of an AFL-CIO affiliate.
Section 6
No organization that is unaffiliated with, or is suspended from, this Federation, and no affiliate or subordinate body of such an organization, shall, while unaffiliated or suspended, be allowed representation or recognition in the AFL-CIO, in any subordinate body of the AFL-CIO, or in any national or international union or organizing committee affiliated with the AFL-CIO. Any affiliate violating this section shall be subject to suspension from the AFL-CIO.
Section 7
No organization officered, controlled or dominated by persons whose policies and activities are consistently directed toward the achievement of the program or purposes of authoritarianism, totalitarianism, terrorism and other forces that suppress individual liberties and freedom of association shall be permitted as an affiliate of the Federation or any of its state or local central bodies.
Section 8
Affiliates of the Federation shall be encouraged to eliminate conflicts and duplications in organization and jurisdictions through the process of voluntary agreement or voluntary merger in consultation with the appropriate officials of the Federation. Accordingly the AFL-CIO shall implement a proactive, industry-based strategic merger policy as adopted by the AFL-CIO Convention delegates and is hereby authorized to take all necessary steps to effectuate its terms.
