Report on Day 4 of the Constitutional Convention
On the final day of the convention, delegates debated the resolutions and amendments pulled out of the book by delegates earlier in the week. In their report, the Constitution Committee also raised an amendment to fund the Civil and Human Rights Department and a number of “house-keeping” amendments.
Direct Deposit Gets Support, Despite Legal Advice
First up was discussion on Resolution #0160, allowing local unions to make payments using direct deposit. The Resolutions Committee recommended against the proposal because it was found to be unconstitutional by UAW General Legal Counsel Bill Karges. Karges reported a conflict with Article 40, which requires the Local Financial Secretary and Local President to sign and countersign all checks. There is no language in Article 40 specifying that all disbursements must be made by check.
Several delegates emphasized the dysfunction the outdated system causes for local unions, arguing to pass the resolution against Karges’s advice and the Resolutions Committee’s recommendation. When it came to a vote of the delegates, the resolution passed.
Opposition to ICE, Disagreement on What to Do About It
The Constitution Committee then took the stage to raise an amendment that would bar political endorsements from politicians who do not support abolishing ICE. This amendment would also require that, if an ICE attack occurs nearby, UAW locals hold a membership meeting that, by simple majority of those in attendance, may call for strike authorization vote over this issue — regardless of contract language such as a no strike clause. It was proposed by a group of members that still refers to itself as UAWD after the caucus’s dissolution.
Delegates expressed broad frustration and opposition to ICE’s attacks on our immigrant neighbors. However, it was clear from debate that the impracticality of the amendment’s actionable steps outweighed the motivation for most. The amendment failed.
Protect our Vote Amendment
Next the Constitution Committee raised the Protect Our Vote Amendment, supported by Member Action that would prevent delegates from overturning One Member, One Vote elections for our top UAW leadership. The Committee did not make a recommendation, instead leaving it to delegates to debate and decide.
However, before the Protect Our Vote amendment was even debated, it was ruled out of order. UAW General Counsel Karges advised that the amendment was unconstitutional, as Article 3 gives delegates the sole authority to amend the constitution. However, unlike with the direct deposit resolution that was allowed to be debated, Karges suggested the chair should rule the amendment out of order. The ruling appeared to be a planned stunt by old-guard forces on staff to defeat our efforts to better secure One Member, One Vote.
One Member, One Vote elections remain in our Constitution for now. However, a future vote of delegates could overturn that right. To ensure direct elections take place in 2030 and beyond, Member Action will continue organizing for measures that protect One Member, One Vote.
Divestment from Israel Bonds
Delegates passed a resolution to divest from Israel Bonds (debt securities issued by the State of Israel to raise capital for the government). The International Executive Board will now be responsible for implementing the resolution by selling off the approximated $400,000 indirectly held by the UAW in Israel Bonds. Delegates debated whether it was worth the fees that may be incurred to break terms on the packaged investments we own that include these bonds. Ultimately, a majority of delegates believed the moral cause of taking a stand against genocide outweighed the cost of these fees.
Remaining Business
In the remaining proceedings, delegates voted against the following proposals:
Amendment #0280: Deem political retaliation “conduct unbecoming” of a UAW member, therefore enabling Article 31 trials of member for such behavior
Amendment #0306: Establish a required LGBTQIA+ local union standing committee
Resolution #0815: Support legislation prohibiting the use of strike-replacement workers
Delegates also passed the following proposals:
Amendment #0103: Fund the International Women’s Department with $0.03 from General Fund dues
Amendment submitted by Constitution Committee: Publish a Spanish-language version of the Constitution
Amendment submitted by Constitution Committee: Conduct audits annually, rather than semi-annually
Amendment submitted by Constitution Committee: Issue the Secretary Treasurer a bond
Amendment submitted by Constitution Committee: Increase Civil and Human Rights Department Funding from $0.01 to $0.02 from General Fund dues
Convention Concludes
The 39th Constitutional Convention showed that organized members can still shape the direction of our union. Member Action successfully achieved several of our priorities at the convention: expanding the retiree definition to include members who don’t receive a pension; making a sizable increase to strike pay; and setting our union on stronger footing to fight for retirement security in all our contracts.
While the amendment that would have protected One Member, One Vote from being overturned at future conventions was not passed this week, we succeeded in establishing an independent supervision system to ensure our elections will be administered fairly and effectively after the monitorship.
The efforts to oppose the Protect Our Vote amendment underscore exactly why we must continue to defend this cornerstone right of members in a democratic UAW. As long as delegates maintain the power to overturn One Member, One Vote, our fight to protect it must continue.
