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SUBJECT: Restoring AFA-CWA Democracy

STATEMENT OF QUESTION:

Should Article III E.3.d. be amended to ensure the democratic principles in decision making of AFA-CWA are practiced at Local Executive Council meetings?

SOURCE AND DATE SUBMITTED: USA 41, NWA 91, NWA 92, NWA 93 - May 9, 2008

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The concept of reaching decisions by consensus building and majority vote has been the proud democratic tradition and practice at Local Executive Council meetings at AFA-CWA. The AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws reinforces that practice and tradition with references regarding the duty and jurisdiction of each Local Executive Council officer. Local Executive Council meetings are meetings that occur between elected officers at a Local Executive Council. Each Local Executive Council officer should have a vote and a voice in these meetings, that is why they are elected independently by our members. We took pride that our union was about including the voices of all elected officers in the decision making process. We highlight our democratic principles during internal and external organizing campaigns as well.

Unfortunately, Article III.E.3.d. of our AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws was amended during the 2007 Board of Directors Meeting to read as follows:

“At all meetings of a Local Executive Council where a consensus cannot be reached, the Local Council President or, per 3.a.(3) above, the Designated Acting President, shall make the final decision.”

This dramatically changed the institutional dynamic and history of democratic principles at AFA-CWA and is in contradiction with how we conduct Local Council meetings with our members. Article III, D. 6. ensures that each member, in good standing, has one vote at each Local Council meeting and that decisions are made by majority vote at council meetings. This is identical language to what was in Article III, E. 3. d. prior to the 2007 Board of Directors. Democracy is alive and well and practiced by our members in Local Council meetings, however, we changed the application of democracy during Local Executive Council meetings among officers.

PROPOSED RESOLUTION:

WHEREAS the AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws along with the tradition and practice of conducting business and decision making at Local Executive Council meetings has been conducted in an atmosphere of democratic principles, consensus building and majority vote, and

WHEREAS each Local Executive Council officer is elected independently by the members in that council to represent their interests in all matters within the council, and

WHEREAS Article III,C.3.a.(1) establishes that the President of the Local Council presides at all meetings of the Local Executive Council and therefore defines the scope of their authority at such meetings, and

WHEREAS Article III,C.3.a.(4). describes the duty of the Local Council President as responsible for implementing, administering and explaining the policies of the Local Executive Council and Master Executive Council, the Board of Directors, and Executive Board as they pertain to that Local Council, and

WHEREAS Article III,D.6. provides that during all meetings of a Local Council, all questions coming before such Council shall be decided by a majority vote of the Local Council members in attendance and each active Local Council member in good standing shall have one (1) vote, and

WHEREAS the change in the language contained in Article III,E.3.d. by the 2007 Board of Directors contradicts the democratic process followed by our members when they attend Local Council meetings, and

WHEREAS the Jurisdiction and Duties of the Local Executive Council, as outlined in Article III,E.1. provides that the Local Executive Council is charged with and responsible for the proper management of the affairs and business of the Local Council of which it is part, and,

WHEREAS Article III,E.1. provides that Said Council may adopt such rules of procedure for the management of its affairs as it may deem proper and which are consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 2008 AFA-CWA Board of Directors reaffirms its commitment to the democratic tradition, practice and Constitution and Bylaws references as to the conduct and duties of Local Executive Council officers during Local Executive Council meetings, and

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that Article III, E.3.d. is modified to read as follows:

d. Voting