The DC 37 Delegates Council voted
Sept. 24 to expand the union's Executive Board. In a voice vote,
the delegates overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the DC 37
Constitution to increase the number of vice presidents on the board
from 20 to 25.
In other business, Robert Schirmer, chair of DC 37's Laws and Rules
Committee and president of Metropolitan Museum of Art Local 1503,
will present a new proposed amendment on local union elections at
the October delegates meeting.
The proposal calls for local unions to submit their electoral procedures
to the DC 37's ethical practices officer two months before they
hold officer elections.
The amendment would require these plans to comply with the constitutions
of local unions and the parent union of DC 37, the American Federation
of State, County and Municipal Employees, as well as the AFSCME
Local Union Election Manual and applicable law.
The ethical practices compliance officer would issue election rules—subject
to the delegates' approval - that should be included in election
plans.
The plans should include dates for nominations and elections, election
sites and hours of voting, notice of candidates' right to observers,
the method for identifying eligible voters, and the procedure for
tabulating the vote.
The ethical practices officer would review plans and make suggestions
but could not demand changes or mediate disputes. Under AFSCME electoral
guidelines, the national union's Judicial Panel has jurisdiction
over election protests.
"Even though the amendment is not all-encompassing, it is a
significant move forward for DC 37," Mr. Schirmer said. "This
proposal is important because it would ensure that local union election
processes are public," Mr. Schirmer said. "Consistent
with the international union's election manual, enforcement is left
up to AFSCME's judicial panel."
Besides expanding the number of DC 37 vice presidents, the amendment
approved Sept. 24 allows for the president of the DC 37 Retirees
Association to be a non-voting member of the board. The Council
Delegates, the highest-ranking decision-making body in DC 37, must
approve amendments by a two-thirds vote.
The Laws and Rules Committee introduced the original proposal to
expand the Executive Board in the Delegates Council in March; the
Board approved it in June.
AFSCME must approve the amendment before it can take effect. After
AFSCME acts, DC 37 can set a schedule for nominations and election
of the new officers.