ARTICLE VIII
Duties of the Executive Board
Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Executive Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, and four (4) Vice Presidents. The Executive Board shall meet at least once every month, and more often when conditions warrant. Executive Board meetings shall be held at such time and place as the President may direct, and notice shall be given to the Executive Board Members through the Secretary-Treasurer, at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the meeting, except in emergencies. Special Board Meetings may be called by the President or by petition of four (4) Officers upon forty-eight (48) hours notice and must state the reason for the Special Meeting at which no other business may come up. Four (4) members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall constitute the highest authority of the Council between meetings, and shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Council. The Executive Board shall see that the decisions of the Council Meetings are carried out, that the President, Executive Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer are properly bonded, and between regular meetings shall make decisions on affairs and business of the Council not inconsistent with this Constitution. The Executive Board shall be the body of the highest authority for the affiliated Local Unions in negotiating agreements and settling grievances with the companies it has signed agreements with, for recommending organizational campaigns and for recommending activities in the Council.
(a) The Secretary-Treasurer of the Council shall notify the applicable company at least sixty (60) days in advance notice of the expiration of the contract to enter into negotiations, along with notifying the Federal Mediation Conciliation Service (FMCS), and the State Mediation Agency. The Council shall submit a copy of the proposed contract changes to be negotiated with the applicable company, to each Local Union at the time negotiations open.
(b) The Executive Board shall set a retroactive date on all contract negotiations it conducts.
(c) The Executive Board shall sign all supplements and agreements, with the applicable companies, subject to ratification of the affected Local Union(s) Membership.
(d) Ratification elections shall be conducted in the following manner, and shall be subject to the following conditions.
(1) When an agreement with the applicable company is signed by the Executive Board, the Local Union Presidents shall be notified within twenty-four (24) hours, and a copy of the negotiated changes shall be mailed to each Local Union within fourteen (14) days.
(2) Each Local Union affected shall then call a meeting, or meetings, for the purpose of explaining the negotiated changes to its members and an Executive Board Member shall attend at least one (1) such meeting in each affected Local Union, if requested. The affected membership, if already out on strike, will remain out until such time as they have had an opportunity to vote on returning to work.
(3) After members have been given an opportunity to learn of the negotiated changes in their Working Agreement, an honest and democratic ratification election, by secret ballot, shall be conducted by the affected Local Union(s), in which each member in good standing shall be entitled to one (1) vote. Such election shall be completed as soon as possible after receipt of the Agreement, not to exceed thirty (30) days. The Local Union President shall, within twenty-four (24) hours after the ratification election, certify to the Council Executive Board the official results, giving the actual number of votes cast for ratification and the actual number of votes cast against ratification and the President shall at the same time certify that the election was conducted in the manner stated above. The President shall also retain the ballots for thirty (30) days, and in the event any election is disputed, shall present them to a committee appointed by the President of the Council for a recount and an investigation.
(4) The result of each ratification election, as certified by each Local Union President, shall be tabulated in the Council office and the outcome of a ratification election shall be determined by a majority of the actual votes cast by the members of the affected Local(s). The official tabulation shall be made known to the affected Local Union(s) as soon as possible. Any Local Union failing to make notification to the Council Executive Board within the specified time will be considered as not voting on the ratification, and no votes will be recorded from that Local Union. The President of the Council shall notify the President of each affected Local Union(s), as soon as possible, of the final outcome of the ratification election.
(5) The President of the Council shall immediately thereafter notify the applicable company as to whether the agreement has been ratified, and if not, shall request further negotiations.
Section 3. Any proposed change in the Job Manual or the evaluation of jobs, or any agreement or interpretation of any part of the Contract which becomes binding on any of the members of the Union, must be approved by the Executive Board assembled in meeting before official acceptance may be given to the company by the President of the Council.
Section 4. The Executive Board shall be represented at all National Conventions of the Utility Workers Union of America, all Michigan State AFL-CIO Conventions, and the various Region and National Conferences of the Utility Workers Union of America, as delegates or representatives or visitors from their respective locals. The number of Board Members attending and their allowable expenses and wages will be determined by the Executive Board. The President, or the President's representative shall be considered an automatic delegate to such functions.
Section 5. The Executive Board shall be responsible for the administration of the Council office, including, but not limited to, the authorization of necessary repairs, maintenance of all equipment and properties, new purchases when conditions warrant, which may include entering into leases, contracts, and assorted agreements, and for the working conditions and hours of employment and staffing of Council employees.
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