Amalgamated Transit Union

The Amalgamated Transit Union, together with its Constitution and Laws, was established in order to secure and defend our rights, advance our interests as workers, create an authority whose seal shall constitute a certificate of character, intelligence and skill; build up an organization where all working members of our industry can participate in the discussion of those practical problems upon the solution of which depends our welfare and prosperity; to establish order, ensure harmony, promote the general cause of humanity and brotherly love, and secure the blessings of friendship, equality and truth.

The following “Revised By-Laws and Rules of Order” approved by the members of Local Union 1181-1061 in accordance with the “Constitution and General Laws” of the Amalgamated Transit Union shall supersede all “By-Laws and Rules of Order” previously enacted by Local Union 1181-1061 and shall become effective upon approval of the International President. Approval received on the 10^th day of March, 2009.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the President-Business Agent or by a majority vote of the Executive Board. The nature of the business to be acted upon shall be set forth in the Notice of the Special Meeting. No business shall be transacted except that for which the meeting has been called. At least 36 hours’ notice of a Special Meeting shall be given, either by posting notices on the Bulletin Board at the garages, or by mail.

Section 1. Qualifications for membership shall be as specified in the Constitution and General Laws of the Amalgamated Transit Union AFL-CIO.

Section 2. Applications for membership shall be made on the regular application blank of the Union and may be accompanied by a signed authorization to the employing company for the check-off of dues and other monies due the Local Union.

Executive Board members shall be Convention delegates and the positions shall be nominated and elected as Executive Board Member and Convention Delegate. Additional Convention delegates may be elected at the same time and in the same manner as officers of the Local Union, or at such other time, as is in accordance with Constitution and General Laws of the International Union.

Section 2. All candidates for office must be eligible under the Constitution and General Laws of our Union. Members to be eligible to run for office in this Local Union, must have complied with the provisions of the General Constitution and By-Laws of the Local Union. Members of this Local Union in the service of this Local Union of the International Union, are deemed to be in service and are eligible for office provided they have complied with the provisions of the General Constitution and the By-Laws of the Local Union. Members to be eligible for office shall have had at least two (2) years continuous membership in good standing. Members who have voluntarily left the service in which the membership of the Local Union is engaged, or who have retired on pension or who have been discharged for cause found by the Local Union to be proper are not eligible to run for any office in the Local Union. No member who is disqualified from holding office under the provisions of Section 504 of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, shall be eligible for holding office in this Union.

Section 6. Regular elections shall be held in the month of June following the month of May in which nominations are held. Elections of officers shall be conducted by use of a mail ballot. The preparation, mailing, collection and counting of the ballots shall be conducted by representatives of an independent elections service under the supervision of the Financial Secretary-Treasurer. Any candidate shall have the right to have an observer at the location of the counting of the ballots. Each member in good standing shall be entitled to one (1) vote, which shall be by secret ballot. A ballot and instructions on the casting of a mail ballot shall be mailed to each Local Union member at the member’s last known home address. The Executive Board shall designate the date the ballots will be mailed and the date and location of the counting of the ballots. Ballots must be mailed at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date and time the ballots are to be returned.

Section 7. Immediately upon the closing of the polls, the Financial Secretary-Treasurer and the tellers shall proceed to count the ballots in the presence of interested members; and the report of such count shall be made known to the members immediately upon the completion of such count. In the event an agency has been designated to conduct the election under the provisions of this Article V, then the Financial Secretary-Treasurer and the tellers should supervise the count of the ballots in the presence of interested members and the report of such count shall be made known to the members immediately upon the completion of such count.

In the event of a vacancy in the President-Business Agent’s position, that position shall be filled by a special election which must be held within ninety (90) days of the occurrence of the vacancy. Such special election shall be in accordance with the election procedures set forth herein. Pending the special election for President-Business Agent, the duties of the President-Business Agent shall be performed by the Vice President until such time as the newly elected President-Business Agent is installed into office.

Section 10. An officer or other Executive Board member who fails to attend three (3) consecutive General Membership meetings or three (3) consecutive Executive Board meetings without reasonable excuse, shall relinquish his office after a hearing; and his office shall be filled pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.

The Executive Board shall at all times, be the governing body of the Local Union and shall consist of thirteen (13) members who shall be the President-Business Agent who shall act as Chairman of the Executive Board and shall vote only in the case of a tie; the Vice President; the Recording Secretary; the Financial Secretary-Treasurer and nine (9) Board Members.

It shall be the duty of the Executive Board to supervise and direct the management of the Local Union. The President-Business Agent shall act as Chairman of the Board and shall call special meetings of the Board when he deems them necessary. Seven (7) Board Members shall constitute a quorum. The Board may transact such business as may properly come before them.

In the event this Local Union participates in a Welfare Fund or a Pension Fund, the President-Business Agent and the Financial Secretary-Treasurer shall act as the Union-designated Trustees of such funds. If a third Trustee is deemed advisable, such Trustee shall be the Recording Secretary of the Local Union.

Shop Stewards Where the President-Business Agent deems a shop steward necessary, he/she shall order an election for shop steward by the members working at a particular location or property and shop steward positions may not be combined with any other office of the Local. Shop stewards shall report to the President-Business Agent. Vacancies in shop stewards positions shall be filled by appointment by the President-Business Agent until such time as an election may be held to fill the vacancy.

The Local Union may own and operate real estate for the use and purposes of the Local Union and its membership. The Local Union may form a corporation for such purpose of holding title to any real property purchased by the Local Union; and, at the expiration of their terms of office, shall be required to execute such documents as shall be necessary to vest title to such property in their successors as Trustees for the Local Union. The President-Business Agent and the Financial Secretary-Treasurer shall execute such documents as are necessary to transact any business in connection with such property.

The President -Business Agent shall preside over all meetings of the Local Union and conduct same under Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised; preserve order therein and enforce the laws, rules and regulations of the Local Union and those of the Constitution and General Laws of the Union. Should any occasion arise not covered by the regulations, he shall act according to the dictates of common sense guided by an earnest desire for the best interest of the Union.

He shall see that all officers perform their respective duties; preside at all meetings of the Executive Board; and in the event of a tie vote on any issue before either the Board or the general membership, shall cast the deciding vote. He shall appoint all committees; announce the result of all votes and enforce all fines and penalties.

He shall deposit all monies in the Bank selected by the Executive Board in the name of the Local Union, only to be drawn therefrom by drafts signed by himself and the President-Business Agent jointly.

He shall be a member of the Executive Board. He shall perform such other duties pertaining to his office as are enjoined by the laws, rules and regulations of the Association.

He shall supervise the preparation of the election ballots and the action of any organization designated by the Executive Board to prepare and handle the election of officers. He shall preserve for one (1) year all ballots and any other materials pertaining to elections.

He shall be Secretary-Treasurer of any realty corporation formed for the purpose of holding title to any property owned by the Local Union.

The positions of President-Business Agent, Vice President, Financial Secretary-Treasurer, Recording Secretary and Executive Board members shall be full-time salaried positions. They shall receive such salaries as are in effect at the time of election to office. Salaries shall be increased by the same percentage increase in wages, and at the same effective dates, as increases in wages in the Labor Agreement covering those members employed by Various Contractors performing work under contract for the New York City Department of Education. Salaries shall be subject to change by action of the membership by amendment of these by-laws.

The expense allowances and all benefits of all officers, and the expense allowance of shop stewards, shall be the same as is in effect at the time of the approval of these by-laws, subject to change by action of the membership by amendment of these by-laws.

All other positions shall be without salary except where appointed by the President-Business Agent with the approval of the Executive Board to perform duties on behalf of the Local Union. The salary and expense allowance of members so appointed and the expense allowance of shop stewards, shall be determined by the President-Business Agent with the approval of the Executive Board.

An appropriate symbol of condolence may be given in the event of death of a member or spouse.

Shall include all bus operators and shop employees employed within the five (5) boroughs of the City of New York, transit, and department of education employees wherever employed and shop employees working in Nassau-Suffolk Counties.

Section 3. The minimum dues of this Local Union for all categories of members including those who may have been terminated and having their case litigated by the Local Union, those who are on disability, workmen’s compensation, or unemployed due to lack of summer work, shall be the International monthly per capita tax as set forth in the Amalgamated Transit Union’s Constitution and General Laws. Each member shall be required to pay to the Financial Secretary-Treasurer during the first week of each month, such sums as are necessary to make the minimum dues payment under the provision of this Article.

Section 5. In addition to all other dues provided for, the sum of five (5) cents per hour for each hour worked (not to exceed eight (8) hours in any one (1) day, five (5) days per week, for a maximum of forty (40) weeks in any one (1) year, as additional dues shall be deducted from the wages of each employee and go into a Special Organizational and Defense Fund which will be used for organizational and job security purposes and expenses in connection therewith. This additional dues deduction shall continue indefinitely; and all interest shall be accumulated in such Fund and be part of the balance in such Fund.

Section 7. Dues are payable on the first (1^st) day of each month and if not paid by the fifteenth (15^th) day of the month following the month in which dues are due, the member shall not be in good standing until fully paid up. Continued delinquency shall be treated in accordance with the Constitution and General Laws of the Amalgamated Transit Union.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these By-Laws, assessments may be levied by a majority vote by secret ballot of the members in good standing voting at a general or special membership meeting called for said purpose on five (5) days’ notice to the membership.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these By-Laws, the dues or initiation fee of this Local Union may be changed by a majority vote by secret ballot of the members in good standing, voting at a general or special membership meeting called for said purpose on fifteen (15) days’ notice to the membership.

“I, __________________, in the presence of God and the members of this Union, do solemnly promise and pledge (without any reservation or evasion), to support the Constitution and laws of this Amalgamated Transit Union. I will keep myself in good standing by paying all dues, fines and assessments required. I will work to promote the best interests of this Union and encourage my fellow workers to become members of the same. I will not take the place of any member of this organization, or any other Union worker who may be on strike or locked out. I will not reveal any of the private business to any one not entitled to know the same. I will not slander or abuse the Officers or members, and will report to the authorized officers, or to the meetings of this Union, any false or slanderous stories that may be circulated to injure a member, and will not knowingly wrong a member or see one wronged if in my power to prevent it. I will not appeal to any legal authority in matters pertaining to this Union until I have exhausted all means of redress provided by its laws. I will be respectful in word and action to every woman, and be considerate to the widow and orphans, the weak and defenseless, and never discriminate against a fellow worker on account of creed, color or nationality. I also promise to promote the cause of trade union principles, and defend freedom of thought whether expressed by tongue or pen, with all the power at my command.

I understand there is nothing in this obligation that will in any way interfere with my political and religious rights or that will be in any way inconsistent with my duties arising from any of the relations of life.

This obligation I take upon my honor, and solemnly promise to keep the same as long as I remain a member of this Union”.

Section 1. This Local Union will not be responsible for any personal injury or property damage suffered by a brother member before, during or after a meeting of this Local Union or at any other time.

Section 2. This Local Union will not be required to assist any member involved in any felony or other criminal action.

Section 3. The grievances and complaints of all members shall be processed by and through the Local Union by its properly accredited officers.

Section 4. The Executive Board shall constitute the “Arbitration Review Board” and by a majority vote may decide whether or not a grievance shall be taken to the arbitration step of the Grievance procedure. No member may appeal to the International Union for any reason until the question on appeal has been acted upon by the Executive Board.

Section 5. Members are required to notify the Financial Secretary-Treasurer of their correct addresses at all times.

Nothing contained in these By-Laws shall be construed or intended to circumvent any applicable Federal or State statute.

In order to amend, rescind, or alter these By-Laws or to substitute new By-Laws, the proposed changes must be submitted in writing and be read at two (2) consecutive meetings after which they shall be voted upon by the membership. A two-third (2/3) vote of the members present, shall be required to adopt. No change in By-Laws may take effect until approved by the International President.