Preparing for the AFL-CIO Convention

September 14-17, 2009 in Pittsburgh, PA

NOTE: The language of the AFL-CIO Constitution: is legalistic, repetitive and sometimes hard to understand,, so we have  selected significant information and presented it in simple English. However, if you want the precise legal language,

you can order the AFL-Constitution booklet by sending an e-mail to choward@aflcio.org. or calling Cindy Howard at Publications: (202) 637-5010(.

Number of Delegates and the Convention Voting System
Each international union shall be entitled to  a number of delegates, based on the size of their membership, under a graded scale established by the Constitution. Each international  shall have as many  convention votes as  the number of its members.
Each state federation and central labor council shall be entitled to one delegate apiece, who can cast one convention vote on questions before the convention.

Each state and local body shall be entitled to an alternate delegate. The alternate delegates shall meet the same eligibility requirements as apply to delegates. The alternates shall submit their names to the secretary-treasurer by the same date as for the delegates, and in no event,  not later than 20 days prior to the convention.

An alternate delegate shall have “no voice, vote or other standing at any convention, unless and until he or she replaces a delegate.”

Resolutions to the Convention

All resolutions, constitutional amendments, petitions or reports must be received by the secretary-treasurer 30 days prior to the convention. There are special exceptions.)

 Resolutions submitted by a state affiliate must be approved at its previous convention or at a meeting of its executive board..

Resolutions submitted by a central labor body must be approved at its regularly constituted delegate meeting.

Credentials

Not less than 60 days, prior to the convention, the secretary-treasurer shall furnish each affiliate with credential blanks in duplicate, which must be attested  as required on the blanks. The duplicate will be retained by the delegate, and the original sent to the secretary-treasurer. No credentials shall be accepted later than 20 days prior to the convention, except for good cause.                  

Quorum

One-fourth of the delegates seated at the convention shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Voting Procedures

Questions may be decided by voice vote, show of hands, or division, or upon the request of 30 percent of the delegates present, by a roll call vote.

Officers

The officers shall consist of a President, a Secretary-Treasurer and  an Executive ?Vice President, who shall be the Executive Officers, and 43 Vice Presidents, who shall form the Executive Council.

Elections

The officers shall be elected at every regular quadrennial convention [2009 is a convention year.] The election for any office in which there are more nominees than positions to be elected  shall be conducted by written ballot, with each affiliate having the number of votes to which it is entitled on a roll call vote, as provided in Article IV.

Nominations shall take place on the  third day of the convention and election on the fourth day of the convention.

In the event that more than two candidates are nominated for President, Secretary-Treasurer and Executive Vice President, and no one candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, all except the two candidates receiving  the highest votes shall be eliminated from the list of candidates and a second vote taken.

The Vice Presidents shall be elected by plurality vote  and the 43 candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected.  The candidates for Vice President shall be listed on the ballot in the order in which they are nominated.

Any slate for vice presidential  candidates presented to the convention during the nominating process shall contain 15 positions that will be filled by women members, and members of color

“Each ballot must, to be valid, be voted for 43  candidates for Vice President and must cast the full voting strength of the delegate or affiliate voting.”

“The ballot  shall be signed by the delegate voting and shall show the affiliate and the voting strength of the delegate. If an affiliate votes by bloc, the ballot shall be signed by the chair of the delegation and shall show the  affiliate and its voting strength.”

Each candidate may designate an observer who may be present during the tabulation of the signed ballots

Vacancies

In the event of the death or retirement of the President, Secretary-Treasurer, Executive Vice President or  one or more Vice-Presidents, the vacancies will be filled by a vote of the Executive Council for their unexpired terms.

The Executive Council may create up to three additional Vice Presidents and fill these positions with individuals who will increase the racial and gender diversity of the Council.  Such additional vice presidencies shall expire at the next regular convention.

NOTE: The AFL-CIO Constitution contains information on a number of other items, but we have focused on basic information about the convention and the election of officers.

If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to our website: www.laborsvoiceforchange.org