“Protect Our Vote” Added to the Docket on Day 2 of the Constitutional Convention

Delegates voted today to add the Protect Our Vote amendment to the agenda for tomorrow, Day 3. This amendment would prevent future conventions from deciding to return to the delegate election system that bred corruption and concessions in our union. Currently, it does not require a vote of the membership for delegates to eliminate direct elections. The amendment would change that.

Gary Chynoweth of Local 160 moved to raise a version of the amendment submitted by an International Officer, but the motion was denied on advice of the parliamentarian. According to the Convention Rules, only amendments passed by locals can be brought out of the book. Chris Pavey of Local 685 quickly moved to raise a similar version, submitted by his own local. The amendment would add the following language to the UAW Constitution, Article 10, Section 1:

“(a) Any amendment to the mail vote secret ballot election method, which was selected by referendum vote of the entire UAW membership, shall be made only via secret ballot referendum vote of the entire UAW membership. This subsection may only be amended by referendum vote of the entire UAW membership.”

301 delegates voted in favor of the motion. It will be added to the Constitution Committee’s report tomorrow, along with several other amendments brought out of the book by delegates today.

In a recent op-ed for the Detroit Free Press, Chynoweth writes, “I urge my fellow delegates to address the future of direct elections. Our members’ hard-won right could be overturned at future conventions once the federal monitorship ends—as soon as January of next year.”

Learn more about this amendment and what you can do to support it before delegates vote tomorrow.