Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Information about Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) and its instructions is at| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 4 | HIGHLIGHTS OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS Preface, Article 1, Sec.4: Recognizes office and social service workers as being within WU's Jurisdiction. Article 2, Sec.2, Sec.11(f), Sec.19(d): WU Conventions to occur every four years, rather than every five years. Because Workers United is part of a larger union, the SEIU, we must conform to federal law requiring such affiliated organizations to elect officers every four years. Article 2, Sec.5(a)(ii); Article 10, Sec.5: Presently, each local is permitted to send at least one delegate to the WU convention. Joint boards, however, are generally responsible for paying delegates' expenses, and have difficulties sending all delegates elected by their locals, so that not all members have delegates representing them at the convention. These amendments permit joint boards to hold delegate elections so that each delegate is elected by the entire joint board membership, or by members within geographic areas (like states or districts) or within industries, to assure that all members are represented at the Convention. Throughout Article 2, "affiliate" is substituted for "local," anticipating that some joint boards will adopt procedures to replace election of convention delegates by local. Article 2, Sec.8(b): Provides procedures for affiliate nominations for WU Convention delegates. Article 2, Sec.8(b), Article 11, Sec.2(a): Gives affiliates more autonomy by permitting them to hold other than in-person elections - for example, mail ballot elections - without approval of WU's president. Article 2, Sec.13: Permits affiliate leaders to determine the number of delegates that the affiliate sends to the convention, without needing membership vote or GEB approval. Recognizes that joint board officers must make the difficult decisions about the use of the joint board's scarce resources in determining the number of delegates the joint board's members send to the convention. Article 2, Sec.17(a): Permits affiliates to submit late-filed resolutions to the WU Convention with the permission of one half, rather than of two thirds, or the delegates. Article 3, Sec.1(a): Limits the number of executive vice presidents to three and of vice presidents to twelve, and removes GEB's discretion to increase number of VPs and EVPs between conventions, except in the event of another union merging with WU. Article 3, Sec.6(n): Specifically affirms GEB's authority to "to approve affiliations or mergers among Workers United affiliates, or between Workers United affiliates and SEIU affiliates...." Article 8, Sec.1: Eliminates harsh penalties of charter forfeiture or trusteeship for affiliates that fail to hold membership meetings in accordance with their by-laws. Article 9, Sec.4: Provides affiliates with flexibility in permitting slates in affiliate elections by permitting affiliates to set their own slate approval procedures, and by eliminating certain slate requirements for elections involving five or fewer officer positions. Article 10, Sec.3(b): Anticipating that some WU convention delegates will be elected in joint-board-wide, district-wide or industry-wide elections, eliminates the requirement that nominations for candidates for WU office be seconded by delegates representing 20 locals. Article 11, Sec.2(b): Guarantees one observer at each polling place to each candidate for local office. [The number of observers accorded each slate at each polling place will still be left to the election committee's discretion.] Article 14, Sec.6: Eliminates passive membership, a category from the HERE that permitted owners of small bars and restaurants to be union members. Article 15, Sec.2: Eliminates an affiliate's authority to place seasonal employee members on withdrawal status, a right that was important in HERE's system of collecting per capita taxes from affiliates based on the affiliate's membership. Article 16, Sec.6(a): Provides Retirees Association with greater flexibility to adopt procedures to select retiree delegates to WU Convention. Article 17, Sec.16: When a member appeals from union discipline, the appeals committee may require full compliance with the trial board's penalty. Article 18, Sec.1(b): Eliminates automatic dues increases for all WU members. Dues may be increased only by affiliates. Article 18, Sec.2(b), Sec.3, Sec.6(c), 7(b), 8(c); Article 20, Sec.2: Eliminates references to affiliate payment of per capita and initiation fees to WU, and otherwise recognizes that WU affiliates pay per capita to SEIU, not to WU. Article 18, Sec.4: Provides GEB with flexibility to provide for strike fund. Article 18, Sec.5: Provides GEB with flexibility to provide for political fund. Article 18, Sec.6(d): Accords greater independence to affiliates by permitting the use of temporary, seasonal service or permit fee workers without WU approval. Article 22, Sec.5: Accords greater independence to affiliates by permitting affiliates to conduct real estate transactions without WU Secretary Treasurer's approval. Article 22, Sec.6: Authorizes GEB, rather than WU Secretary Treasurer, to invest WU funds. Article 25: Eliminates Public Review Board authority over WU. The PRB was created by HERE to supervise its adherence to the Ethical Practices Code. The PRB has declined to supervise WU. WU continues to adhere to the EPC, see the Constitution's Article 24. Article 26 (renumbered to be Article 25), Sec.1: Provides for voluntary, rather than mandatory, membership of WU Canadian affiliates in WU Canadian Conference. Article 26 (renumbered to be Article 25), Sec.3(d): Provides that Quebec Council (UTIS) may authorize strikes without Canadian director's authorization. Article 26 (renumbered to be Article 25), Sec.3(e): Provides that Canadian Conference Executive Board or Special Conference, rather than GEB shall fill Canadian Director vacancies. Article 30 (renumbered to be Article 29), Sec.2: Makes WU affiliate membership - in regional labor federations, or, for Canadian affiliates, in the CLC - voluntary rather than mandatory. Article 31: Eliminates provision encouraging merger of benefit funds. This was meant to encourage consolidation of HERE funds with UNITE funds. This purpose is not longer relevant. Further consolidation of WU funds is appropriately left to the funds themselves. Model Local Union By-Laws Article 1, Sec.2: Provides for local meetings at least every four months, a more realistic frequency than every two months as currently required. Article 2, Sec.1, Sec.2, Sec.16; Article 3; Article 4: Provides for fewer local officers, and for those officers to serve as joint board delegates by virtue of office. Article 2, Sec.12: Eliminates restrictive requirements for candidates desiring to run as a slate. Article 4, Sec.4: Provides for executive board meetings at least every four months, a more realistic frequency than every sixty days as currently required. Article 5, Sec.1: Simplifies election of auditing committee members by omitting requirement that members serve staggered terms. Currently, each member's three-year term begins in a different year. Article 3, Sec.3: Provides that members have more notice - 15 days rather than 10 days - of proposed bylaw amendments, and that the local may send the notices by mail. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 6 | ANY WORKER WHO IS EMPLOYED IN A TRADE OR INDUSTRY WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE JOINT BOARD OR IS EMPLOYED FULL TIME BY IT OR BY ONE OF ITS AFFILIATES, OR BY AN ORGANIZATION WITH WHICH IT IS AFFILIATED, SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP IN ONE OF ITS AFFILIATED LOCAL UNIONS AND EXCEPT AS HEREINAFTER PROVIDED, TO RETAIN MEMBERSHIP SO LONG AS HE/SHE IS EMPLOYED. NO PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF ANY EMPLOYER AND HAVING THE POWER TO HIRE AND TO FIRE EMPLOYEES OR ACTING AS A FOREMAN OR FOREWOMAN SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP EXCEPT AS HEREINAFTER PROVIDED. ALL MEMBERS OF AFFILIATED LOCAL UNIONS IN GOOD STANDING SHALL HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS, INCLUDING JOINT BOARD DELEGATES, TO ATTEND MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DELIBERATIONS AND VOTING UPON THE BUSINESS OF SUCH MEETINGS, TO EXPRESS ANY VIEWS, ARGUMENTS OR OPINIONS ON ANY BUSINESS PROPERLY BEFORE SUCH MEETINGS, SUBJECT TO THE RULES HEREIN CONTAINED. THE OBLIGATIONS AND PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP SHALL BE AS HEREIN CONTAINED AND AS SET FORTH IN THE CONSTITUTION AND/OR BY-LAWS OF THE AFFILIATED LOCAL UNION OF WHICH SUCH WORKER IS A MEMBER, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE CONSTITUTION AND/OR BY-LAWS OF THE AFFILIATED LOCAL UNION SHALL NOT BE INCONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE WORKERS UNITED CONSTITUTION. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 7a | THE JOINT BOARD SHALL BE COMPOSED OF DELEGATES REPRESENTING EACH AFFILIATED LOCAL UNION. THE AFFILIATED LOCAL UNIONS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO BE REPRESENTED BY ONE (1) JOINT BOARD DELEGATE FOR ITS FIRST TWO HUNDRED (200) MEMBERS OR LESS, AND ONE (1) ADDITIONAL DELEGATE FOR EACH ADDITIONAL THREE HUNDRED (300) MEMBERS OR A MAJORITY FRACTION THEREOF. EACH AFFILIATED LOCAL UNION MAY ELECT AN ALTERNATE DELEGATE TO THE JOINT BOARD WHO SHALL, IN THE CASE OF DEATH, RESIGNATION OR INABILITY TO ACT OF ANY JOINT BOARD DELEGATE REPRESENTING SUCH AFFILIATED LOCAL UNION, BE DESIGNATED A JOINT BOARD DELEGATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION. THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE AFFILIATED LOCAL UNIONS SHALL BE DETERMINED AS OF THE MONTH PRECEDING THE MONTH IN WHICH THE ELECTION OF JOINT BOARD DELEGATES IS HELD. EACH AFFILIATED LOCAL UNION SHALL PROVIDE ITS MEMBERSHIP WITH A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO NOMINATE CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL UNION OFFICE AND DELEGATES. EACH AFFILIATED LOCAL UNION SHALL ELECT THE NUMBER OF JOINT BOARD DELEGATES TO WHICH IT IS ENTITLED UNDER SECTION 1 OF THIS ARTICLE BY SECRET BALLOT TRIENNIALLY IN THE MANNER PROVIDED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND/OR BY-LAWS OF SUCH LOCAL UNION. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 7b | THE SUPREME GOVERNING BODY OF THE JOINT BOARD SHALL BE A MEETING OF THE JOINT BOARD DELEGATES. ALL DECISIONS MADE AT A MEETING OF THE JOINT BOARD DELEGATES SHALL BE FINAL AND BINDING UPON THE JOINT BOARD, ITS AFFILIATED LOCAL UNIONS AND THEIR MEMBERS, UNLESS DISAPPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARDS OF AFFILIATED LOCAL UNIONS WHOSE MEMBERSHIP IS SUBJECT TO SUCH A DECISION. IF A DECISION IS SO DISAPPROVED, THEN, IN SUCH EVENT ONLY, SAID DECISION OF THE JOINT BOARD MEETING SHALL BE RECONSIDERED AND FINALLY DISPOSED OF BY A MAJORITY OF ALL JOINT BOARD DELEGATES AT ANOTHER MEETING OF THE JOINT BOARD DELEGATES. THE JOINT BOARD MEETING SHALL CONSIDER AND DECIDE ALL QUESTIONS OF GENERAL INDUSTRIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL POLICY AFFECTING AFFILIATED LOCAL UNIONS. THEIR MEMBERS SHALL ADHERE TO AND BE BOUND BY SUCH DECISIONS, WHICH DECISIONS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN THE GENERAL MANAGER UNDER SECTIONS 3, 4, AND 5 OF THIS ARTICLE. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL BE THE HIGHEST GOVERNING AUTHORITY WITHIN THE JOINT BOARD. BETWEEN JOINT BOARD MEETINGS IT SHALL EXERCISE GENERAL SUPERVISION OVER THE JOINT BOARD'S PROPERTY AND AFFAIRS. IT SHALL HEAR APPEALS FROM DECISION AND FAILURE TO ACT OF LOCALS AFFILIATED WITH THE JOINT BOARD, IN DISCIPLINARY CASES IT SHALL CREATE AND APPOINT ALL COMMITTEES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR HEREIN, SUBJECT TO THE DISAPPROVAL OF THE JOINT BOARD. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11 | THE SECRETARY TREASURER WILL WORK WITH ACCOUNTANTS TO PREPARE AND REVIEW THE FORM 990. FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF THE FORM 990, THE FORM WILL BE PRESENTED AT A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL BE THE HIGHEST GOVERNING AUTHORITY WITHIN THE JOINT BOARD. BETWEEN JOINT BOARD MEETINGS IT SHALL EXERCISE GENERAL SUPERVISION OVER THE JOINT BOARD'S PROPERTY AND AFFAIRS. A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL CONSTITUTE A QUORUM FOR THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS, AND THE DECISIONS OF THE BOARD SHALL BE BY A CONCURRING VOTE OF A MAJORITY OF ALL THOSE VOTING. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL SIT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION UPON THE REQUEST OF THE GENERAL MANAGER OR SECRETARY-TREASURER. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c | THE POLICY IS GIVEN TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 18 | THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS PUBLIC DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE ON OTHER WEBSITES AND UPON REQUEST. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 | THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS PUBLIC DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. |
| Form 990, Part XII, Line 2c: | THE EXECUTIVE BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SELECTION OF THE INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT AND APPROVAL OF THE FINANICAL STATEMENTS THIS IS UNCHANGED SINCE LAST YEAR. |
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