GSLC By Laws - Updated 03-2021
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GREATER SYRACUSE LABOR COUNCIL, AFL-CIO
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preamble
Article I ......... Jurisdiction and Affiliation.................................................... Page 2
Article II ....... Non-Discrimination & Diversity........................................... Page 2
Article III ...... Objectives.............................................................................. Page 2
Article IV ...... Meetings................................................................................ Page 2
Article V ....... Composition and Delegates................................................... Page 3
Article VI ...... Voting ................................................................................... Page 3
Article VII .... Officers and Elections........................................................... Page 4
Article VIII ... Duties of Officers.................................................................. Page 5
Article IX...... Executive Council.................................................................. Page 6
Article X........ Charges and Hearings............................................................ Page 7
Article XI...... Per Capita Taxes and Fees..................................................... Page 8
Article XII..... Financial Practices and Audits.............................................. Page 9
Article XIII... Committees............................................................................ Page 9
Article XIV... Legislative and Political Action............................................ Page 10
Article XV..... Rules and Parliamentary Authority & Amendments............. Page 11
Last Amended – March 17, 2021
PREAMBLEThe purpose of the Greater Syracuse Labor Council, AFL-CIO is to organize in the community to promote social justice for all working men and women.
Article I
Jurisdiction and Affiliation
The jurisdiction of the Greater Syracuse Labor Council, AFL-CIO (to be hereby referred to as “the Council”) is Onondaga and Madison Counties. The Council is affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). The Council is chartered by the AFL-CIO and shall conform its activities with it and the New York State Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.
Article II
Non-Discrimination and Diversity
Section 1 - The Council will not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, disability or sexual orientation.
Section 2 - The Council and its affiliated local unions will actively work to insure that its delegates, the officers, and Executive Committee reflect the diverse community of union members in the Syracuse area.
Article III
Functions and Responsibilities
(1) To assist in furthering the appropriate objects and policies of the AFL- CIO, or of organizations affiliated with the AFL-CIO (provided such objects or policies are not inconsistent with the objects or policies of the AFL-CIO).
(2) To serve as a means of exchanging information among affiliated bodies on matters of common interest.
(3) To provide aid, cooperation, and assistance to affiliated local unions and other affiliated bodies in their common and individual endeavors.
(4) To propose, support and promote legislation favorable to and to oppose legislation detrimental to the interest of workers and organized labor.
(5) To encourage workers to register and vote, to exercise their full rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and to perform their rightful part in the political life of the local, state and national communities.
(6) To serve as the voice of working people in the Greater Syracuse area.
(7) To engage in such other activities as are consistent with the objects and principles set forth in the Constitution of the AFL-CIO and the policies of the AFL-CIO.
Article IV
Meetings
Section 1 – The Council shall hold monthly delegate meetings. These meetings will take place on the third Wednesday of each month unless otherwise decided by the delegates. Reasonable notice of the meetings with a draft agenda will be provided to the delegates prior to the day of the meeting.
Section 2 – Special meetings of the Council may be held when authorized by the delegate body or Executive Committee. Reasonable notice of such special meetings setting forth the matter(s) to be discussed will be provided to the delegate body and the affiliated local unions. Only business related to the matter(s) set forth in the notice shall be conducted.
Section 3 ‑ The quorum for delegate meetings shall be no less than fifty percent plus one delegate of the size of its executive board and, in addition, delegates representing a sufficient number of different affiliates to insure a broad representation of the central bodies’ affiliates but normally no less than five affiliates.
Article V
Composition and Delegates
Section 1 ‑ The Council is composed exclusively of affiliated local unions within Onondaga and Madison Counties. Such local unions must be affiliated with the AFL-CIO.
Section 2 ‑ A delegate from an affiliated local union must be a member of or international/national representative regularly assigned to work with that local union.
Section 3 ‑ In order to participate in the business of the Council including, but not limited to voting, a delegate must be credentialed by his or her local union. A delegate is credentialed upon presentation of a letter. This letter must be signed by the principle officer of his or her union stating his or her appointment as a delegate.
Section 4 ‑ The presiding officer of the Council shall administer the following pledge to all credentialed delegates:
“I (name of delegate) pledge to uphold the Constitution and By-Laws of the Greater Syracuse Labor Council, AFL-CIO, AFL-CIO. I further pledge to participate in the mission of the Council to promote social justice in our community for all working men and women. I pledge to abide by the ethical practices code of the AFL-CIO and the anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy and code of conduct of this council.”
Section 5 ‑ When the Executive Committee deems appropriate it shall notify an affiliated local union of poor attendance of said local’s delegate(s).
Article VI
Voting
Section 1 – Except as provided in Article VI, Section 2, each delegate in attendance at a meeting of the Council shall be entitled to one vote by voice or division of the house.
Section 2 ‑ A roll call vote shall be held on any pending question including election of officers and the Executive Committee upon demand of at least thirty percent (30%) of the delegates in attendance at the meeting of the Council.
Section 3 – In the event of a roll call vote, an affiliated local union is entitled to the number of votes equal to its average membership. The number of members on which per capita tax was paid in the six months immediately proceeding the month in which the roll call vote occurs determines the average membership.
The roll call votes of a local union are divided equally among the credentialed delegates present at the meeting. Each delegate is entitled to vote those roll call votes assigned to him or her. However, the local union shall assign a single delegate to cast the votes of the entire delegation in order to facilitate an efficient roll call.
Section 4 – A delegate may challenge the accuracy of the delegation roll call vote by advising the Recording Secretary of such challenge. In such event, the delegation will be polled individually by the Recording Secretary. The results of the poll of individuals will stand as the official tabulation for the delegation.
Section 5 - The Recording Secretary will maintain the current average membership of each local union for roll call voting purposes and list of the delegates.
Article VII
Officers and Elections
Section 1 – The governing body of the Council is the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee consists of twenty members including five Officers and three Trustees. The officers are President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Sargent-at-Arms. Additionally, in areas with one or more viable AFL-CIO constituency groups, the combined constituency groups affiliated with the labor council shall be entitled to one voting seat (or more, if the labor council’s constitution so provides) on the labor council’s governing board.
Section 2 – (a) Each member of the Executive Committee must be a credentialed delegate from his or her affiliated local union at all times. The office of an incumbent Executive Committee member shall be vacant in the event the Executive Committee member ceases to be a credentialed delegate of his or her local union. An office vacated in this manner will be filled in accordance with Article 8 of this Constitution and by-laws.
(b) No individual shall be eligible to serve as an officer, member of the executive board or committee or other governing body of, or any other committee of, or as a delegate from, or as a representative, agent or employee of this Council who consistently pursues policies and activities directed toward the achievement of the program or purposes of authoritarianism, totalitarianism, terrorism and other forces that suppress individual liberties and freedom of association. No person shall be eligible to serve in any of the aforementioned capacities who holds a salaried position or any other position of administrative or executive authority in a union, or any subordinate branch of a union, that is suspended from, unaffiliated with, or disaffiliated from the AFL-CIO.
(c) In accordance with the AFL-CIO Ethical Practices Code, no person who is convicted of any felony involving the infliction of grievous bodily injury, any crime of dishonesty or any crime involving abuse or misuse of such person’s position or employment in a labor organization or an employee benefit fund shall serve as an officer or managerial employee of the Central Labor Council.
Section 3 ‑ The term of office for all Executive Committee members is three years except as provided in Article VII Section 8.
Section 4 ‑ In the event an election results in a violation of Article VII, Section 4, the office of the delegate from the same national/international union who received the lowest vote total shall be declared vacant.
Section 5 ‑ Nominations for office shall take place every three years at the regular February meeting of the Council. Any credentialed delegate is eligible for nomination. A delegate must accept nomination at the February meeting or by certified mail within one week thereafter to be eligible for election.
Elections to office will be held every three years in the month of March at the regular meeting.
Section 6 ‑ No later than ten (10) days following nominations the Treasurer shall prepare a poll list which shall contain the names, and addresses of record of all the credentialed delegates provided in accordance with Article V, Section 6, the addresses of record of all the affiliates, and the per capita vote of each affiliate. Upon request the poll list shall be provided to each duly nominated delegate or official slate of nominated delegates who sign an agreement that such list shall not be used for any other purpose than the delegate’s or slate’s election campaign. It is understood that the poll list remains, under all circumstances, the sole and exclusive property of the Greater Syracuse Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
Section 7 ‑ Nominations and elections may be postponed in the absence of a quorum or for other good cause as determined by the Executive Committee and approved by the delegate body. In the event of a postponement, the postponed procedure will take place at the regular meeting in the following month. All provisions of this Constitution and By-laws will apply in the event of a postponement. However, the next election will take place in March as normally scheduled and the term of office shortened accordingly.
Section 8 ‑ The delegates will elect five tellers and two alternates during the meeting in which nominations are held. The five tellers available will count the ballots and rule on all challenged ballots by a majority vote. The tellers, in their sole discretion, may allow candidates for contested offices to have observers present during the vote count.
The Tellers shall be responsible for making election decisions in accordance with, and within the confines of, the AFL-CIO Constitution, the Rules Governing Area and Central Labor Councils, and the council’s constitution. The Tellers:
- Will work with the Treasurer to verify all affiliates’ eligibility participate in the election and cast ballots under the provisions of this constitution;
- Will confirm that each nominated candidate is a member in good-standing of an affiliated Local Union in good standing with the council, and that the candidate is an official credentialed delegate to the council;
- Will serve as the first level of deciding authority on procedural issues;
- Will confirm that each candidate accepts the nomination for office, either in person or in writing to the Tellers;
- Will confirm with the Credentials Committee and/or Secretary that each Delegate is duly credentialed and eligible to cast ballots;
- Cannot be over-ruled by the Executive Committee during the election process, but their decisions and actions may be appealed to the Executive Committee after the election, in accordance with this Constitution.
- Will cooperate with the National AFL-CIO in any review, investigation, or appeal of the election;
(b) Immediately after the completion of the election, the Tellers shall prepare a written, signed report showing the number of votes cast for each candidate. This report and all ballots and election materials shall be retained by the Tellers until any appeal period and any appeals have been exhausted, and then presented to the Secretary, who shall preserve the materials for no less than six (6) months from the date of the election or the conclusion of all appeals, whichever is later. The Tellers shall review election appeals.
Section 9‑ No less than 45 nor more than 120 days prior to an election of labor council officers, the Council Recording Secretary shall compile and notify each affiliate organization of the availability of a list containing the following information:
(i) the name and address of each of the elected council’s officers (including Executive Committee members);
(ii) the name and mailing address of each of the organizations affiliated with the council;
(iii) the name of each of the affiliated organization’s principal officers;
(iv) each organization’s projected per capita voting strength and delegate entitlement at the election; and,
(v) to the extent available, the names and mailing addresses of the delegates. Officers of organizations affiliated with the local central body shall also be entitled to inspect, at the place where the records are kept, and make their own notes concerning the most current underlying records relating to the information included in the list provided above.
The Recording Secretary will also submit a sample ballot for approval of the officers of the Council within ten days following nominations.
Section 10 ‑ In the event of a vacancy in any office, except the office of President of the Council, the President shall appoint a successor to fill the vacancy for the remainder of he unexpired term. If a vacancy occurs in the office of the President of the Council for an unexpired term of one year or less, the Vice-President of the Council shall automatically succeed the President until the next regularly scheduled election. If such a vacancy occurs in the office of President is for an unexpired term of more than one year, a special election will be held at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Council after the vacancy occurs. The election shall take place in accordance with the procedures contained in Article VII at the regularly scheduled meeting after nominations take place.
Section 11 ‑ The Executive Committee shall normally take office in April except as provided in Article VII, Section.8. Election for uncontested office is by acclamation.
Section 12 - Executive Committee members shall take the following oath of office at their installation:
“I (name) promise to faithfully perform the duties of my office, to uphold the Constitutions of the Greater Syracuse Labor Council, AFL-CIO and the AFL-CIO. I further promise to deliver all property of the Council in my possession to my successor in office or surrender such property to the President of the AFL-CIO upon demand. As a member of the Executive Committee of the Greater Syracuse Labor Council, AFL-CIO, I agree to engage in activities that promote social justice for all working women and men in our community. I pledge to abide by the ethical practices code of the AFL-CIO and the anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy and code of conduct of this council.”
Section 13. A candidate for office and/or any delegate or Principal Officer of an affiliated organization may make a protest of the election of any elected position of the council.
(a) Such protest must:
- Be filed with the Tellers;
- Be in writing and signed by the protesting party;
- Be filed within 30 days of the election, or the election certification, whichever is later;
- Contain any information that the filing party wishes the Tellers to consider regarding the conduct of the election and any procedural requirements that are alleged to have been violated.
(b) The Tellers shall familiarize themselves with the issues raised in the protest, take into consideration any pertinent facts and procedural requirements, solicit information from interested parties, and review the conduct of the election for compliance with this Constitution, the AFL-CIO Constitution, and other applicable AFL-CIO rules and policies. Within 30 days of their receipt of the protest, the Committee will deliver their report to the Executive Committee at its next meeting and the Executive Committee shall determine by majority vote whether or not the protest merits a hearing.
(c) If a hearing is warranted, all parties to the dispute shall be given adequate notification of not less than thirty days of the hearing date, along with a copy of the protest and a record of action taken by the Tellers to date. Both the accused and the charging party shall be accorded full opportunity to be heard and to present evidence.
(d) Following a hearing, the Executive Committee, by a two-thirds vote, may order appropriate remedies up to and including the rerun of the election.
(e) The Executive Committee shall notify all parties of its decision within thirty days after the hearing. Said notification shall be sent by certified mail.
(f) The decision of the Executive Board shall be reported to the next Delegate Body meeting and shall be final and binding unless appealed as hereinafter provided.
(g) The decision of the Executive Committee may be appealed to the Delegate Body by any delegate or Principal Officer of an affiliated organization. Notice of such appeal shall be filed in writing with the President (or acting President) or Secretary (or acting Secretary) within ten (10) days of the Executive Committee’s report to the Delegate Body. The appeal shall be heard expeditiously at a regular meeting of the Delegate Body, at which time the party appealing to the Delegate Body, each candidate in the challenged race(s), and the Executive Committee, through its selected spokesperson, in that order, shall be allowed fifteen (15) minutes each to present statements of the case, following which the delegates shall have up to ten (10) minutes to ask questions of each of the parties. The delegates shall then vote on the question of sustaining the decision of the Executive Committee. It shall require a majority vote to sustain the decision.
(h) The decision of the delegate body may be appealed to the President of the AFL-CIO within thirty days of receipt of notification. The decision of the delegate body shall remain in effect during the appeal unless reversed, modified or temporarily stayed by the President of the AFL-CIO.
(i) No organization or individual subject to this Constitution shall resort to any court until redress to the AFL-CIO has been exhausted.
ARTICLE VIII
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1 ‑ The President is the presiding officer at Executive Committee and delegate meetings of the Council. He or she carries out the directives of the Executive Committee and delegate body unless such directives violate this Constitution and By-laws. The President will countersign all checks and other documents pertaining to the expenditures of Council funds. The President consults with other officers and is an ex-officio member of all committees. He or she supervises the Council staff and performs all other customary functions of a principle executive officer except as otherwise provided herein.
The President has the power to interpret this Constitution subject to the final ratification of the delegate body.
Section 2 ‑
(a) The Recording Secretary shall be the custodian of the records of the Council and shall keep a correct record of the proceedings of all meetings of the Central Body and of the Executive Committee.
(b) The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds of this Council upon proper authorization, and shall maintain adequate financial records showing the standing of all affiliated organizations and the source and disposition of all funds. The Treasurer shall handle the funds and keep the financial records in a manner which will meet applicable requirements of the Code of Ethical Practices concerning accounting and financial controls as approved by the Executive Committee of the AFL‑CIO and as may be required by the Secretary‑Treasurer of the AFL‑CIO under the rules governing local Central Bodies.
(c) The Treasurer shall submit to the Council a monthly financial statement of all funds showing the accounts in such detail as the Executive Committee or Council may require, and shall submit the books for audit on request of the Executive Committee, but at least annually.
Section 3 ‑ The Vice‑President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence or incapacity of the President and shall assist the President when requested to do so.
Section 4 ‑ The Trustees shall be the custodians of the physical properties of the Council and shall prepare and maintain an inventory of all such properties showing the date of purchase, the cost and estimated current value. They shall examine the records of the Treasurer quarterly and shall report to the Council on the conditions of these records.
Section 5 ‑ It shall be the duty of the Sergeant‑at‑Arms to attend the door before sessions open, and during the meetings. No person shall be admitted to meetings of the Council who is not a delegate or alternate or an official or representative of the AFL‑CIO, or other appropriate official, unless authorized by the President or by vote of the Council. The Sergeant‑at‑Arms shall be responsible for the attendance record ledger and shall sign the ledger at the close of each meeting and turn it over to the Recording Secretary.
Section 6 ‑ The three Trustees will review the financial records of the Council once each calendar quarter. They will normally carry out this review a meeting with the Treasurer. They will report their findings to the Executive Committee.
Section 7. All officers and managerial employees of this Council must certify that they have read the AFL-CIO’s Ethical Practices Code, that they are in compliance with it, and, if not, state the steps that will be taken to comply with it. All officers and staff must pledge to abide by the anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy and code of conduct of this council.
Article IX
Executive Council
Section 1 ‑ The Executive Committee consists of twenty-five members including Committee members, Officers, and Trustees of the Council. Four seats will be designation for African American, Latinx, Asian American, LGBTQ, and younger (under 35) union members. These members must be existing delegates to the Council, as described in Article V Section 2.
Section 2 ‑ The Executive Committee shall be the governing body of the Council between meetings and it is authorized and empowered to take such action and render such decisions as may be necessary to carry out fully the decisions and instructions of the Council and as may be necessary and appropriate to safeguard and promote the best interests of the Council and its affiliated unions.
Section 3 ‑ The Executive Committee shall meet regularly at least once each month at such time and place as it may determine and it shall meet on call of the President when a special meeting is necessary.
Section 4 ‑ The Executive Committee has the power to make temporary appointments to any office, unless otherwise provided herein, for a period of temporary disability or absence. Executive Committee ratification is required of any appointment made by the President to fill a vacant office.
Section 5 ‑ The minimum quorum for an executive board meeting shall be fifty percent plus one of the board’s member affiliates.
Section 6 ‑ Notification shall be sent by the Recording Secretary to an Executive Board member who is absent without explanation for two (2) consecutive meetings of either the Executive Committee or the Council. A copy of this notification shall be sent to the local union of the Executive Committee member in question. Upon a third consecutive unexplained absence, the President shall declare that the office is vacant and appoint a successor in accordance with Article VII, Section 2.
Article X
Charges and Hearings
Section 1 ‑ Any affiliated organization by vote of its membership, or any officer of or delegate to the Council shall have the right to file charges (a) against any delegate to the Council for having engaged in conduct or a course of activity hostile or contrary to the best interests of this Council or contrary to its Constitution or (b) against any officer of the Council for violating the Constitution or rules of the AFL‑CIO or the Constitution of this Council, or for conduct unbecoming an officer, misappropriation of funds, malfeasance in office or neglect of duty, or (c) against any organization affiliated with the Council for having engaged in conduct or a course of activity hostile or contrary to the best interests of the Council or contrary to this Constitution.
Section 2 ‑ All charges shall be in writing, specifying the particular act or acts charged; shall be signed by the charging party or by its officers if an affiliated organization is bringing the charge, and shall be filed with both the President and the Recording Secretary of the Council.
Section 3 ‑ Upon receipt of the charges properly filed the officer receiving the charges shall present them to the Executive Committee at its next meeting and the Executive Committee shall determine by majority vote whether or not the charges merit a hearing.
Section 4‑ The Executive Committee may take appropriate disciplinary action, including the suspension or expulsion of any delegates or affiliated organization, and the suspension or removal of any officer found guilty of the charges by a two‑thirds vote, following a hearing of which the accused shall have been notified and furnished with a copy of the charges not less than thirty (30) days in advance of the hearing. Both the accused and the charging party shall be accorded full opportunity to be heard and to present evidence.
Section 5 ‑ The decision of the Executive Committee under Section 3 or Section 4 shall be reported to the next meeting of the Council. Such decision shall be final and binding unless appealed as hereinafter provided.
Section 6 ‑ The decision of the Executive Committee may be appealed to the Council by either party. Notice of such appeal shall be filed in writing with the President or the Recording Secretary within ten days of the Executive Committee's report to the Council. The appeal shall be heard expeditiously and at a regular meeting of the Council, at which time the charging party, the defendant, and the Executive Committee, through its elected spokesperson, in that order, shall be allowed ten minutes each to present statements of the case, following which the delegates shall vote on the question of sustaining the decision of the Executive Committee. It shall require a majority vote to sustain the decision.
Section 7 ‑ The final decision of the Council may be appealed to the AFL‑CIO as provided in the rules of the AFL‑CIO governing Local Central Bodies. The decision of the Council shall remain in effect during appeal unless reversed, modified or temporarily stayed by the AFL‑CIO.
Article XI
Per Capita Taxes and Fees
Section l ‑ All per capita taxes and fees shall be collected by the Central NY Area Labor Federation. The Area Labor Federation will provide a list to the Central Labor Council should a per capita vote be called.
Section 2 ‑ A local union or other organization, which becomes two months in arrears in per capita tax. or assessments shall be so notified in writing by the Treasurer and if it becomes three months in arrears shall not be considered in good standing and shall not be entitled to voice or vote in meetings of this Council. It shall be so notified in writing by the Treasurer.
Section 3 ‑ A local union or other organization, which becomes four (4) months in arrears in per capita tax or assessments shall stand suspended from membership and shall be so notified in writing by the Treasurer.
Section 4 ‑ A local union or other organization which has been suspended, or which has withdrawn from membership, may be reinstated by payment of all amounts due at the time of suspension or withdrawal and the current per capita tax or annual fee. However, the average membership of a reinstated local union for purposes of roll call voting shall be computed from the date of reinstated as if it were a newly affiliated local union. unless the local union shall pay the back per capita tax for the full base period used to determine the average membership as heretofore defined.
Section 6 ‑ A local union paying per capita tax on less than its full dues paying membership shall be subject to suspension by the Executive Council under the procedures of Article X of this Constitution. The Executive Council may require a local union to produce proof of membership where reason exists to believe such local union is violating this provision. If the local union shall fail or refuse to produce such proof on request, the Executive Council may base its determination on such evidence as may be available.
Section 7 ‑ The Executive Council may exonerate any local union, upon request, from payment of per capita tax for any month or assessment that in the opinion of the Executive Council good cause therefore exists, subject to ratification by the Central Body. Exonerated members shall be regarded, for purposes of this Constitution, as paid up members for the period of exoneration, but the delegates representing such local shall not vote on the question of exoneration.
Article XII
Financial Practices and Audits
Section 1 ‑ The Executive Committee has the fiduciary responsibility for management of the financial resources of the Council and will exercise such responsibility within the customary limits of prudence. All members of the Executive Committee have access to any financial record of the Council upon reasonable notice.
Section 2 ‑ The Executive Committee shall propose an annual budget to the delegate body in November of each year for discussion and final approval in the December meeting. Copies of the final proposed budget will be provided to the delegates and affiliated local unions prior to the December meeting. The Committee is authorized to spend Council funds consistent with the guidelines established by the budget. However, the delegate body must approve capital expenditures, charitable or political donations, and major departures from the established budget.
Section 3 ‑ The Council will follow standard bookkeeping practices with respect to the maintenance of financial records. The President and the Treasurer will counter sign all checks.
Section 4 ‑ If the council brings in over $200,000 in annual revenue, the AFL-CIO’s Agreed-Upon Procedures shall be performed by a Certified Public Accountant selected by the Executive Board and that the Treasurer promptly report the CPA’s findings to the Executive Board and Council. A copy of the any completed audit will be provided to the Executive Committee, the delegate body and the AFL-CIO as required.
Section 5 ‑ All officers and agents of the Council with financial responsibility will be bonded in accordance with the requirements of the AFL-CIO and customary practice.
Section 6. - The Council shall prepare an annual budget and adopt a written expense policy that includes, at a minimum, expense reimbursement through a voucher system, the submission of original receipts and approval of expenditures, the prohibition of the use of the council’s credit card for personal expenditures, and the barring of use of debit cards.
Article XIII
Committees
Section 1 ‑ The President of the Labor Council may, as necessary, establish committees and appoint members thereto with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee.
Section 2 ‑ The political activities of the Council shall be under the direction of the Council’s Committee on Political Education, aka., Political Action and Accountability Committee.
Section 3 ‑ Special Committees may be established from time to time by the Council as needed and shall be appointed by the President unless otherwise directed by the Council.
Section 4 ‑ All committees shall report regularly to the Committee and any committee that fails to function shall be dismissed and .a new Committee appointed.
Article XIV
Legislative and Political Action
Section 1 ‑ The Legislative activities of the Council shall be under the direction of the Executive Committee. These activities shall conform to the policies of the State AFL‑CIO on state matters and to the policies of the National AFL‑CIO on National affairs, and to the policies adopted by the Council and the decision of the Executive Committee on local matters.
Section 2 ‑ The political activities of the Council shall be under the direction of the Council’s Committee on Political Education, which is hereby constituted as the political arm of this Council. The Council’s Committee on Political Education shall operate in conformity with the policies of the AFL‑CIO and of the National and State COPE.
Section 3 ‑ The Executive Committee shall constitute the Council’s Committee on Political Education. Additional members may be added to the Committee by properly approved By‑Laws. The Central Body's Committee on Political Education shall have power to formulate By‑Laws to govern COPE, which shall be consistent with the policies of National COPE. Such By‑Laws shall be subject to ratification by the Council.
Article XV
Rules, Parliamentary Authority and Amendments
Section 1 ‑ The procedures to be followed by this Council with respect to Boycotts, Unfair Lists, Strikes, Collective Bargaining and Publications issued or endorsed by this Council, and in all other matters, shall been accord with the AFL‑CIO Rules Governing Local Central Labor Councils.
Section 2 ‑ In case of conflict between the provisions of this Constitution or other laws or actions of this Council and the Constitution of the AFL‑CIO or the Rules Governing Local Central Labor Councils issued by the Executive Committee of the AFL‑CIO, the latter shall prevail and appropriate steps shall be taken by the Executive Committee to initiate such amendment to this Constitution or to change or modify the laws or actions of this Council as necessary to bring them into conformity with the Constitution and Rules of the AFL‑CIO.
Section 3 ‑ The parliamentary rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern this Council in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution, or such special rules of order as may be adopted by the Council.
Section 4 - This constitution may be amended by any Regular meeting of this Council by two‑thirds of the votes cast, provided the proposed amendment shall have been submitted in writing to the Recording. Secretary and read at the preceding regular meeting. In order for any amendment to be considered it must be certified by the Chief Executive Officer of the affiliated organization from which the Delegate who submits the amendment represents. Amendments may also be proposed by a majority vote of a quorum on the Executive Committee. Proposed amendments shall be read at the first meeting (IE: meeting preceding the vote), and also at the following Regular meeting the proposed amendment is voted on. Prior to the Regular meeting, which the proposed amendment is voted upon copies of the proposed amendment, will be mailed to all Delegates. Amendments to this Constitution shall become effective when approved by the President of the AFL‑CIO.
Article XVIAmendments
Section 1 - This Constitution may only be amended by a two-thirds vote of the delegate body at a regular monthly meeting of the Council. However, such amendment(s) must presented in writing and read to the delegates at the preceding monthly meeting.
Section 2 - Amendments may only be proposed by a credentialed delegate or by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. An amendment proposed by a delegate must have a second by a delegate representing a different affiliated local union from a different international/national union.
DESIGNATED ALTERNATE DELEGATES TO
THE GREATER SYRACUSE LABOR COUNCIL, AFL-CIO
An affiliate will select for each elected delegates an alternate delegate in the event the elected delegate is unable to attend the Greater Syracuse Labor Council, AFL-CIO, (GSLC) Regular and/or Special Meetings. The number of alternates selected shall reflect the same number of Delegates the affiliated is entitled under the Constitution of the GSLC. The affiliate must submit in writing the name of the alternate delegate in order for their designated delegates to exercise a proxy vote on issues that may come before the Greater Syracuse Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
AFL-CIO CONSTITUENCY GROUPS
Local Chapters of AFL-CIO constituency groups as defined in the Rules Governing AFL-CIO Central Labor Councils, that are chartered by a national AFL-CIO Constituency group may affiliate with the Greater Syracuse Labor Council, AFL-CIO. Such organiziations may be charged an annual fee not to exceed $25. All AFL-CIO constituency groups will be entitled to one delegate and one alternate delegate. No AFL-CIO constituency group, or its delegate, may be present for or have voice or vote in any meeting or proceeding concerning the endorsement of a political candidate or other partisan political activity.