GENERAL OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

SEC. 34.

(a) The officers of the United Association shall consist of a General President, Assistant General President, General Secretary-Treasurer, six (6) Vice Presidents, and thirty-four (34) International Representatives. They shall be elected for five (5) years or until their successors are elected and installed, and all officers of the United Association shall devote eight (8) hours of their time each work day to the business of the United Association. All fulltime paid General Officers and International Representatives shall receive a two (2) week vacation annually with full wages.

(b) The General President, upon retirement, with the consent and approval of the General Executive Board, shall assume the title and position of General President Emeritus for life and shall perform such duties and undertake such assignments as the General President may from time to time request.

(a) The General President is authorized to employ Special Representatives as the occasion arises, their compensation to be determined by him. Special Representatives shall be paid a weekly allowance of $900.00 for hotel, meals and other incidental expenses and, in the event any portion of such allowance is not expended, it shall be considered as compensation. In addition, they shall be reimbursed for airplane, railroad and other transportation costs and such other extraordinary expenses as may be incurred in the discharge of their duties.

(b) They shall file an expense account for all reimbursable or extraordinary expenses upon forms furnished by the General Secretary-Treasurer. Such expense accounts shall be submitted to and approved by the General Executive Board. Special Representatives shall receive a two (2) week vacation annually with full wages.

(c) In employing Special Representatives pursuant to this section, the General President may establish titles for such personnel that are descriptive of the duties to which the personnel are assigned by the General President.

(a) Recognizing that the General Officers and Special Representatives of the United Association do not work regularly scheduled hours and receive no compensation for overtime or premium pay and also recognizing that the General Officers and Special Representatives are required to pay varying amounts for lodging and meals, depending upon the city to which they travel, and recognizing that they must participate in cultural, civic, political, educational, charitable, social and other activities in addition to their basic duties as provided by the Constitution and By-Laws of the United Association and that such activities benefit the United Association, the Local Unions and the members; and further, that the time spent in such activities is unpredictable and unascertainable, the General Officers and Special Representatives are granted a weekly allowance, both for in-town and out-of-town work, respectively, which, in the case of out-of-town work, shall cover hotel and meals and other incidental expenses. Such General Officers and Special Representatives shall not be required to make a daily, weekly or other accounting to the United Association for such allowance as provided in this Constitution.

(b) In addition to the allowances set forth with respect to each particular General Officer or Special Representative, all United Association General Officers or Special Representatives or special employees shall be reimbursed for all air travel, railroad and other transportation costs and such other extraordinary expenses incurred by them in connection

with their activities.

SEC. 37. 

Any member of the United Association, provided he has been a continuous good-standing member for not less than three (3) years prior to election and who has not reached his 65th birthday by the date of nomination, shall be eligible for any office in the United Association. Any General Officer or International Representative who reaches his 65th birthday while holding office shall be allowed to complete his current term of office.

(a) The election of General Officers of the United Association shall take place at the quinquennial convention, an absolute majority of all votes cast being necessary for election. Should no candidate receive a majority of all votes cast upon the first ballot, then there shall be a new ballot taken, and all candidates shall be dropped from the list except the one who received the highest number of votes and the one receiving the next highest number of votes. All officers so elected shall take office on January 1, following.

All candidates running for General Officer may have one or more observers (the number to be determined by election officials). All observers must be delegates or candidates for office at the convention in which the election is being held.

(b) The procedure for processing protests pertaining to the conduct of the election of General Officers of the United Association, that are raised or could have been raised during the election and prior to the certification of the vote, shall be as follows:

1. Any candidate, observer or delegate may raise a protest pertaining to eligibility to vote, the conduct of the election, the counting and certifying of the ballots or the fairness of the election by, either verbally or in writing, raising the protest with the election judge. The election judge shall be a member of the Election Committee selected by the Committee Chairman. If the election judge is unavailable, the protest may be brought to the attention of the Election Committee Chairman.

2. All such protests must be communicated immediately, at the time of the occurrence of the conduct that is the subject of the protest, or as soon thereafter as it is discovered, so as to provide the opportunity for immediate resolution. In no event may such a protest be raised after the voting results have been certified at the conclusion of the tallying of the votes unless the complainant can show that the matter was not known and could not have been reasonably known or discovered through the use of an observer during the election.

3. The complainant shall provide the basis of his protest, all information that is relevant to the subject matter of the protest and the remedy requested.

4. The election judge is authorized to resolve any protest presented. He may also refer matters to the Committee as a whole or a subcommittee thereof. The election judge’s, Election Committee’s, or its designee’s, decision shall be final and binding.

5. If the Election Committee determines that it is not able to resolve a protest prior to the certification of the election, it may refer the protest to the General Executive Board for resolution. The voting results may be certified notwithstanding the pendency of any protest. If a protest is referred to the General Executive Board, it shall be considered by the Board in accordance with the rules set forth below under the post-election protest procedure.

(c) The procedure for processing protests pertaining to the election of General Officers of the United Association, that are raised after the vote has been certified, shall be as follows:

1. Any candidate, delegate or member may raise a protest pertaining to the election by submitting the protest to the election judge. A protest must be received by the election judge no later than the end of the afternoon session of the fourth day of the current convention. The election judge shall forward all such protests to the General Executive Board for investigation and resolution. Protests can be submitted directly to the election judge or may be addressed to the judge and submitted to the UA Convention Office at the site of the current convention.

2. All protests shall be in writing and state the basis of the protest and shall include all information in support of and relevant to the subject matter of the protest and the remedy requested.

3. The General Executive Board has the authority to reject any protest that could have and should have been raised during the election with the Election Committee.

4. The General Executive Board may request additional information from the complainant, a candidate, a delegate or any other pertinent witness; may conduct a hearing; may assign a representative to investigate the protest; or may take any other action it deems necessary to investigate, consider and respond to the protest. The General Executive Board may delegate all or some of its responsibilities to a subcommittee or other designee.

5. The General Executive Board will issue a written decision within 90 days from the date the protest is received by the election judge. The General Executive Board’s decision will be final and binding.

Each General Officer, after being duly elected at a convention of the United Association, shall, in the presence of the delegates of the convention, take the following pledge and oath of obligation:

In the presence of the delegates of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada, here assembled in convention, I (STATE NAME)___________ do hereby certify that I am familiar with the provisions and requirements of the Constitution and Ritual of the United Association and I do hereby pledge and obligate myself to perform the duties and obligations of the office to which I have been elected during my official term and thereafter in the manner and to the extent specified and intended by the Constitution and Ritual of the United Association, and that in the performance of my official duties I will require all members to comply fully with their duties and obligations and will give due consideration to the rights of all members without prejudice and without exception, and I will deliver to my successor all books, papers, monies or other property of the United Association which may be in my possession at the close of my official term, all in accordance with this pledge and obligation taken. I further pledge that all of my official acts while holding this position shall be just and honorable and I will work for the success of the United Association and the triumph of its principles.

SEC. 40. The General Executive Board with the General President and General Secretary-Treasurer shall make a Convention Report for all the General Officers of the United Association. The International Representatives shall submit their recommendations to the General Office at least three (3) months prior to the convention.

(a) The pension and retirement plan covering all Officers and Special Representatives shall be continued under a trust agreement and plan approved by the General Executive Board.

(b) Local Union Officers and Employees—The General Officers shall establish and maintain a National Pension Plan for full-time, salaried officers and employees of Local Unions, State and Provincial Associations, and District Councils. For the period January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2011, the rates of contribution to the Plan will be set periodically by the Trustees of the Plan covering Local Union officers and employees after consulting with the Plan’s actuary. The amount of contribution to the Pension Plan shall be in addition to the salary presently being paid to the full-time officers and employees. The General Officers are authorized and empowered to make the necessary actuarial study as the basis for the establishment of a pension plan and to determine the level of pension benefits, rules of eligibility, and all other terms and conditions of the pension plan. The General Officers are further directed and authorized to establish and maintain a Trust Fund, adopt a pension plan, and institute all the administrative procedures necessary to implement and carry out the establishment of a national pension plan for full-time salaried officers and employees of Local Unions, State and Provincial Associations, and District Councils, as of January 1, 1967.

If any General Officer of the United Association is charged by ten percent (10%) or more of the UA Local Unions in good standing with having violated the Constitution of the United Association or his oath of obligation or with being negligent in his duties as an officer of the United Association, the charges shall be heard by the General Executive Board. The members of each Local comprising the 10% shall have approved the filing of the charges by a majority vote of those voting, by secret ballot, at a special meeting. The first Local Union filing the charges with the General Executive Board must do so within sixty (60) days of the discovery of the offense, stating with reasonable certainty the nature of the offense charged, the time and place of the occurrence, the date of discovery, the identities of the witnesses, and sections of the UA Constitution involved. Thereafter, additional Local Unions will have sixty (60) days from the date the initial charges are filed with the General Executive Board to adopt the charges in accordance with the same procedures used by the first Local Union and file the charges with the General Executive Board.

A copy of the charges must also be sent by each of the charging Locals to the General Secretary- Treasurer, who shall verify that the charges are supported by ten percent (10%) of the UA’s good-standing Local Unions. If the General Secretary-Treasurer is an officer charged, the charges should be sent to the General President (or most senior General Officer not charged), who shall do the same. The charges will then be forwarded to the General Executive Board. The Board will notify the charged party (parties) and the Business Manager of each of the charging Local Unions of the date, time and location of the hearing. All parties may be represented by counsel, who must be good-standing members of the United Association.

Within thirty (30) days of the close of the hearing or the filing of briefs, if permitted by the General Executive Board, the General Executive Board shall render its decision which must be supported by majority vote. If the General President or a member of the General Executive Board is a charged General Officer, he may not vote or participate in the hearing except in his capacity as a charged party. If the decision of the General Executive Board is not guilty, the charges shall be dismissed and there shall be no right of appeal.

If the charged officer is found guilty, he may be fined, reprimanded, removed from office, ordered to make restitution to the United Association, and/or expelled from the United Association. If the decision of the General Executive Board is guilty, the General Secretary-Treasurer (or the General President or next senior General Officer if the Secretary-Treasurer and/or the General President are the charged parties) shall immediately send the decision to all Local Unions in good standing. Each Local Union shall be directed to schedule a vote on the question of whether the guilty verdict of the General Executive Board should be sustained. The vote shall take place at a special meeting no later than sixty (60) days from the date of mailing of the General Executive Board decision. The verdict in each Local Union must be by majority vote of those voting by secret ballot. The President and Recording Secretary of each Local Union will notify the General Secretary-Treasurer of the results of the vote.

If two-thirds (2/3) of the UA Locals in good standing vote in favor of sustaining the decision of the General Executive Board, and if removal from office was one of the penalties imposed, the general officer involved will immediately vacate his office and any other penalties imposed on him shall become effective. The decision of the Local Unions shall then become final and binding with no further appeals available.

The General Executive Board, if it sustains the charges against the charged General Officer(s), may suspend the officer(s) involved pending the vote of the Local Unions. If the Locals do not sustain the vote of the General Executive Board, the charged officer(s) shall be entitled to back pay and benefits for the period of suspension.

No funeral expenses of General Officers shall be paid from the general funds without the consent of the Local Unions of the United Association, except where an officer or a representative of the United Association is taken sick and dies away from home in the interests of the United Association; then the General Executive Board is empowered and is hereby instructed to take charge of the arrangements and pay all necessary expenses to place said officer or said representative in his home.

(a) The General President shall be authorized to fill any vacancy in any of the General Offices for the unexpired term of said office with the approval of the General Executive Board.

(b) Upon the death, disability or resignation of the General President, the Assistant General President shall assume the duties of the General President. Within five (5) days after the assumption of the duties of the office of General President, the Assistant General President shall call and convene the General Executive Board to elect, by secret ballot, a successor to the office of General President for the balance of the unexpired term.

Notwithstanding other provisions contained in this Constitution, the General President and the General Secretary-Treasurer shall be authorized between conventions to increase or decrease salaries of the General Officers, International Representatives and Special Representatives whenever, in their judgment, salary inequities exist or economic facts and circumstances or the financial well-being of the United Association warrant such action, provided such increase or decrease of salary shall be approved by the General Executive Board.

(a) It shall be the duty of the General President of the United Association to preside at all conventions and meetings of the General Executive Board of the United Association and conduct the same according to the Constitution and rules of order, and should the meeting be equally divided by vote on any question he shall cast the deciding vote.

(b) He shall by virtue of his office serve as a credentialed delegate to the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations Convention and all its affiliated departments and shall appoint all of the necessary delegates to these conventions, as well as to the Canadian Federation of Labour and also to such other conventions as may be deemed necessary for the welfare of the United Association, and supervise the entire interests of the United Association, and endeavor to settle all disputes arising in the United Association, subject to appeal to the General Executive Board of the United Association.

(c) He or his authorized representative shall, after notice and hearing, have the power to suspend any Local Union of the United Association for violation of the laws and Constitution of the United Association or for any acts detrimental to the interest of the labor movement and the United Association.

(d) He shall sign all orders on the treasury for the payment of such monies as are legally authorized and shall issue the quarterly password. He shall sign all charters and submit to the General Secretary- Treasurer an itemized account of all monies expended by him in behalf of the United Association, which shall be paid by the General Secretary-Treasurer upon approval of the General Executive Board.

(e) In case of emergency he shall have authority to call a meeting of the General Executive Board.

(f) He is empowered to render decisions and to adjust disputes among affiliates of the United Association and/or others concerning the interpretation or application of this Constitution, and/or concerning any matter related to the United Association. He may delegate this authority pursuant to other provisions of this Constitution and he may, in his discretion, defer to decisions and adjustments of other officers rendered pursuant to their powers under this Constitution. All decisions of the General President shall be subject to appeal to the General Executive Board, except where specifically limited by this Constitution.

(g) The General President shall appoint from and among the International Representatives a Director of Organization and a Director of Trade Jurisdiction, who shall be under the direct supervision and control of the General President.

They shall be paid an annual salary in the sum of $169,416, to be paid in monthly installments, and they shall be paid an allowance of $900.00 per week for hotel, meals and other incidental expenses, and in the event any portion of such allowance is not expended, it shall be considered as compensation. In addition, they shall be reimbursed for air travel, railroad or other transportation costs and such other extraordinary expenses as may be incurred in the discharge of their duties. They shall file an expense account for all reimbursable and extraordinary expenses upon forms furnished by the General Secretary-Treasurer. Such expense account shall be submitted to and approved by the General Executive Board.

(h) In localities where a strike or lockout by a combination of employers is threatened, the General President shall be empowered to investigate and arbitrate with the employers for the removal of the cause that prevents an amicable adjustment.

(i) The General President may appoint from and among the International Representatives three (3) Administrative Assistants who shall be under the direct supervision and control of the General President, their salary to be determined by the General President subject to the approval of the General Executive Board. They shall be paid an allowance of $900.00 per week for hotel, meals and other incidental expenses and, in the event any portion of such allowance is not expended, it shall be considered as compensation. In addition, they shall be reimbursed for air travel, railroad or other transportation costs and such other extraordinary expenses as may be incurred in the discharge of their duties.

They shall file an expense account for all reimbursable and extraordinary expenses upon forms furnished by the General Secretary-Treasurer. Such expense accounts shall be submitted to and approved by the General Executive Board.

(j) The General President shall appoint from among the Canadian members a Director of Canadian Affairs who shall be under the direct supervision and control of the General President, his salary to be determined by the General President subject to the approval of the General Executive Board. He shall be paid an allowance of $900.00 per week for hotel, meals and other incidental expenses and, in the event any portion of such allowance is not expended, it shall be considered as compensation. In addition, he shall be reimbursed for air travel, railroad or other transportation costs and such other extraordinary expenses as may be incurred in the discharge of his duties. He shall file an expense account for all reimbursable and extraordinary expenses upon forms furnished by the General Secretary-Treasurer. Such expense accounts shall be submitted to and approved by the General Executive Board.

SEC. 47. The General President shall receive for his services the sum of $267,800 per year, to be paid in monthly installments. He shall be paid an allowance of $900.00 per week for hotel, meals and other incidental expenses and, in the event any portion of such allowance is not expended, it shall be considered as compensation. In addition, he shall be reimbursed for all air travel, railroad and other transportation costs and such other extraordinary expenses as may be incurred in the discharge of his duties. He shall file an expense account for all reimbursable and extraordinary expenses upon forms furnished by the General Secretary-Treasurer. Such expense accounts shall be submitted to and approved by the General Executive Board. Any expenditure above and beyond the weekly allowance of $900.00 that, in his judgment, is reasonably related to furthering the objectives and purposes of the United Association and its membership, and is supported by vouchers, shall be considered extraordinary.

(a) The duties of the Assistant General President shall be to assist the General President and perform the work assigned to him by the General President. He shall be under the supervision and direction of the General President.

(b) He shall receive for his services the sum of $210,028 per year, to be paid in monthly installments, and he shall be paid an allowance of $900.00 weekly for hotel, meals and other incidental expenses and, in the event any portion of such allowance is not expended, it shall be considered as compensation. In addition, he shall be reimbursed for air travel, railroad or other transportation costs and such other extraordinary expenses as may be incurred in the discharge of his duties.

(c) He shall file an expense account for all reimbursable and extraordinary expenses upon forms furnished by the General Secretary-Treasurer. Such expense accounts shall be submitted to and approved by the General Executive Board. Any expenditure above and beyond the weekly allowance of $900.00 that, in his judgment, is reasonably related to furthering the objectives and purposes of the United Association and its membership, and is supported by vouchers, shall be considered extraordinary.

(d) The General President may direct or delegate the Assistant General President to act for him in any manner wherever the General President deems it necessary or proper.

(a) The General Secretary-Treasurer shall keep a true record of the proceedings of the United Association and meetings of the General Executive Board. He shall keep a correct list of all Local Unions, the numbers of same and the addresses of all the Business Agents and Secretaries of said Local Unions. This book shall be known as the United Association Roll Call, same to be kept in the office of the General Secretary-Treasurer. He shall attend to all correspondence, etc., which may not require the consideration of the General President and the General Executive Board. He shall communicate with each Local Union when necessary. He shall collect and receipt for all monies due the United Association.

(b) He shall be furnished with a special seal which shall be affixed to all official documents except circular letters. He shall keep a copy of all documents and communications issued from his office and have same properly indexed.

He shall keep a correct and accurate list of the membership of each Local Union, including the number of journeymen and the number of apprentices and their financial standing. He shall record any disciplinary action taken against a member approved by the General Executive Board, and keep a record thereof.

He shall keep a history of each member of the United Association.

The General Secretary-Treasurer shall provide a semi-annual financial statement to each Local Union. The semi-annual financial statement shall be prepared by the General Secretary-Treasurer with the assistance of the Comptroller and audited by an independent certified public accountant. The independent certified public accountant shall render an opinion on the statement which shall be included in the semi-annual financial statement provided to Local Unions. The semi-annual financial statement will cover the financial operations of the United Association and all United Association subsidiary organizations. The General Secretary-Treasurer shall, in due time, notify all Financial Secretaries of Local Unions to elect delegates to the convention. The General Secretary-Treasurer shall deposit all money, except for the petty cash fund, in such banks as may be designated by the General Executive Board. He shall procure a surety bond for every officer, agent, representative or employee of the United Association who handles funds or other property thereof, as required by law.

(a) The General President and General Secretary-Treasurer shall have the power, when expressly authorized by the General Executive Board, to purchase, acquire, encumber, sell, lease, trade or exchange, improve or repair any real or personal property, including the United Association’s headquarters building, and to execute contracts, guarantees, assignments, deeds, conveyances, mortgages, liens, loans and other instruments of writing, concerning any or all of such property for and on behalf of this United Association, wherever the same may be situated.

(b) In advance of each fiscal year, the General President shall submit to the General Executive Board for approval a proposed operating and capital budget for the coming year. The General Secretary-Treasurer shall, in conjunction with the General President, assist in preparing the annual operating and capital budget. The operating budget shall set forth the anticipated income and the source thereof and anticipated expenditures and their purposes. The capital budget shall set forth, among other things, any anticipated major equipment purchases and significant renovations to real property. The General President and General Secretary-Treasurer shall promptly report any major deviation from the approved budgets. For purposes of this section, the term “major deviation” refers to any expenditure(s) that will result in budget overruns in excess of 10% of the total operating or capital budgets.

(c) All contracts shall be included in the operating and capital budgets. Any contract that cannot be terminated without additional costs within 90 days, or any contract that binds the United Association to costs in excess of $50,000 must be reviewed by the United Association’s attorney. Any contract that binds the United Association to costs in excess of $500,000 must be reviewed by the United Association’s attorney and approved by the General Executive Board.

(d) The General Secretary-Treasurer shall prepare a quarterly financial report, which shall contain a statement of assets, liabilities, and fund balance for each United Association Fund and subsidiary entity, and a statement of revenue and expenses for each United Association Fund and subsidiary entity. Consistent with the budget requirements in Section 53(b), the quarterly financial report will provide detailed budget information. The financial report will show year to date actual expenses, year to date budgeted expenses, and year to date expenses for the prior year. The General Executive Board will receive a copy of the quarterly financial report once it is finalized, and will review the report at its subsequent meeting with the General President and the General Secretary- Treasurer.

(e) The United Association shall employ a Comptroller to assist the General Secretary-Treasurer in managing the day-to-day financial operation of the United Association. The Comptroller shall be a qualified certified public accountant. The Comptroller, as part of his duties, shall assist the General Secretary- Treasurer in preparing the quarterly financial report. The Comptroller shall also, at all times, answer inquiries from the members of the General Executive Board about financial operations of the United Association. The United Association will also retain a certified public accounting firm to audit the books and records of the United Association and prepare a financial statement on a semi-annual basis. The outside accounting firm will review the work product, systems, and reports prepared by the General Secretary- Treasurer so as to ensure the accuracy of financial information provided to the General Executive Board. The accounting firm shall also prepare and file appropriate Department of Labor management reports and review internal financial controls and make recommendations in writing to the General Secretary- Treasurer for changes or modifications to the system of internal controls. A representative of the accounting firm shall meet with the General Executive Board at least on a semi-annual schedule. The accounting firm shall answer all inquiries from the General President, the General Secretary-Treasurer, and the members of the General Executive Board about the United Association’s financial operations. The engagement letter for the certified public accounting firm shall be approved by the General Executive Board, and the certified public accounting firm cannot be terminated without the approval of the General Executive Board.

(f) In sanctioning or approving expenditures of the funds of the United Association, the General Executive Board shall have the authority to sanction any and all expenditures that are in their judgment reasonably related to furthering the objectives and purposes of the United Association and its membership, including but not limited to, such expenditures as are in accordance with standard practices, customs and procedures of the United Association.

He shall be empowered to employ such help as is absolutely necessary and he shall submit to the General Executive Board for their approval a monthly statement of this expense together with the names of the employees and the salaries they receive. He shall render decisions and adjust matters in dispute which arise out of the duties of the office of General Secretary-Treasurer as set forth in the Constitution. The decisions of the General Secretary-Treasurer shall be subject to appeal to the General Executive Board.

(a) He shall receive the sum of $229,814 per year to be paid in monthly installments and he shall be paid an allowance of $900.00 per week for hotel, meals and other incidental expenses, and in the event any portion of such allowance is not expended, it shall be considered as compensation. In addition, he shall be reimbursed for all air travel, railroad and other transportation costs and such other extraordinary expenses as may be incurred in the discharge of his duties.

(b) He shall file an expense account for all reimbursable and extraordinary expenses upon forms furnished by the General Secretary-Treasurer. Such expense accounts shall be submitted to and approved by the General Executive Board. Any expenditure above and beyond the weekly allowance of $900.00 that, in his judgment, is reasonably related to furthering the objectives and purposes of the United Association and its membership, and is supported by vouchers, shall be considered extraordinary.

(c) He shall be given the privilege of a vacation of two (2) weeks each year, the same to be of one (1) duration or at intervals.

(a) The General Executive Board shall consist of six (6) Vice Presidents allotted to the following districts:

One from District No. 1-Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

One from District No. 2-District of Columbia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

One from District No. 3-Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Republic of Panama, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

One from District No. 4-Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

One from District No. 5-Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

One from District No. 6-Canada.

(b) The General President and General Secretary- Treasurer shall have the discretionary authority to realign and reallocate the states that comprise the districts of the six (6) Vice Presidents with the approval of the General Executive Board.

(a) The General Executive Board shall have full discretionary power over all things connected with the Association between conventions (except decisions made at conventions), and they shall furnish each convention with a detailed report of all proceedings of said Board.

(b) The General Executive Board shall have authority to approve the merger of any Union into the United Association and to take any action necessary to effectuate such mergers notwithstanding any provisions of the United Association Constitution to the contrary.

(c) The General Executive Board, upon recommendation from the General President, shall have the authority to effectuate the United Association’s affiliation with, or disaffiliation from, any national, international or intermediate body, including organizations of international or national unions and councils or departments, whenever they determine it is in the best interest of the United Association and its members to do so.

In all matters that go before the General Executive Board for its action, the involved Local Union or Local Unions shall be notified of the General Executive Board’s disposition of the matter.

(a) The General Executive Board shall meet at the close of each convention to organize and take up all propositions referred to them by the convention and they shall, at this time, allot the expense accounts of the delegates to the various conventions, departments and conferences of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations and such other committees as are necessary for conducting the business of the United Association.

(b) They shall be empowered to meet at any time during the interval between conventions that the majority of the Board deems necessary for the welfare of the United Association. They shall meet at the General Office or in such other convenient place or city, as decided by the General President and the General Secretary-Treasurer, and all necessary expenses for such meetings shall be paid by the General Secretary-Treasurer.

(c) The General Executive Board shall carefully examine and pass upon all appeals for financial aid. The General Executive Board shall regulate all seals or protective designs to be distributed to the members of the United Association in such form as will be of service in protecting the labor of the members of the United Association, and shall prescribe such rules and regulations as they may deem necessary for the use of same.

(d) They shall receive for their services a salary of $61,777 per annum. The General Executive Board, while in session, shall be paid the standard rate of wages paid in his home town or his daily wages received from his employment, whichever is higher; an allowance of $225.00 per day for hotel, meal and other incidental expenses, while in session, and, in the event any portion of such allowances is not expended, it shall be considered as compensation. In addition, they shall be reimbursed for all air travel, railroad and other transportation costs.

(e) They shall file an expense account for all reimbursable expenses upon forms furnished by the General Secretary-Treasurer.

In all matters requiring action by the General Executive Board, when the General Executive Board is not in formal session, the General Executive Board may act by telegram, by letter, by conference telephone call, or by facsimile transmission or other electronic means. Whenever the General President or General Secretary-Treasurer require action by the General Executive Board, they may obtain the same by letter, by telegram, by conference telephone call, or by facsimile transmission or other electronic means among the members of the General Executive Board, and such members may take action on the matters brought to their attention in this manner. Such action so taken by the members of the General Executive Board shall constitute action by the General Executive Board as though the General Executive Board was in formal session.

When a member of the General Executive Board does not act on matters referred to him in one (1) week’s time after notification, the General President and the General Secretary-Treasurer shall take such action as they see fit for the best interest of the United Association with a view to removing said member of the Board, provided, however, that the neglect has not been caused by sickness or other just causes.

The majority of four (4) members shall constitute a quorum and any action by said quorum shall be valid for all intents and purposes as though taken by the full membership.

The Vice Presidents in their respective districts shall act as the legal representatives of the General President of the United Association.

The General President shall compose districts and to each district one (or more) International Representatives shall be assigned by the General President, to assume duties therein until assigned to another district by the General President. A minimum of three (3) International Representatives, who shall be citizens of Canada, shall be assigned to the Canadian district.

The International Representatives of this Association shall be under the supervision of the General President and when directed by the General President they shall have full power and authority to settle all disputes and grievances of any kind in or between Local Unions, District Councils, or State or Provincial Associations, or between members and Local Unions; and they shall have full power and authority to suspend and revoke the charters of Local Unions, District Councils, or State or Provincial Associations in accordance with the provisions of Sections 91 and 94 of this Constitution, when directed by and with the consent of the General President. They shall, when not otherwise engaged, prepare an itinerary for Local Unions situated in their district, so as to avoid any unnecessary travel, including therein such unorganized towns whose importance would warrant a Local Union of the United Association.

When traveling to a Local Union’s jurisdiction, the International Representative shall so notify the Business Manager. The International Representatives shall carry out such responsibilities as are assigned to them by the General President. During meetings of the General Executive Board, the International Representatives will continue in their districts unless requested to be at such meetings by the General President.

Each International Representative shall have a commission signed by the General President and General Secretary-Treasurer, and no member except an officer of the United Association may act as an International Representative without such commission. All commissions shall expire on December 31st, or sooner, if so desired by the General President and General Secretary-Treasurer. The following is the form of commission:

United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada composed of journeymen and apprentices, who have jurisdiction over every branch of the plumbing and pipe fitting industry, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, Building and Construction Trades Department, Metal Trades Department, Union Label and Service Trades Department, Maritime Trades Department, and Canadian Federation of Labour.

To Whom It May Concern:

This is to certify that ________________is hereby authorized and legally commissioned to act as_____________ in any district in the United States and Canada to which he might be assigned, with full power and authority to found and install Local Unions, District Councils, and State and Provincial Associations, under the jurisdiction of the United Association; and with full power to settle all disputes or grievances of any kind in or between Local Unions, District Councils or State or Provincial Associations, or between members and Local Unions, when directed by the General President, and to suspend or revoke the charters of any such Local Unions, District Councils, or State or Provincial Associations, for violation of the Constitution, rules and established customs of the United Association, in accordance with Sections 90 and 93 of this Constitution; and to obligate and initiate members and install officers in accordance with the laws of the trade or calling of which the Union is composed. Each International Representative shall have during the life of his commission all of the power and duties therein recited. This commission to remain in full force and operation from ________ to_______ unless revoked previous to the expiration of said term.

Given under our hand and seal by approval and direction of the General Executive Board of the United Association, this 

_______ day of______, 20____.

____________________________________

General President

____________________________________

General Secretary-Treasurer

The General President shall prescribe such rules, subject to the approval of the General Executive Board, for the guidance and instruction of International Representatives as from time to time shall be deemed necessary. The General Secretary-Treasurer shall forward all supplies for new Local Unions to the official International Representative for that district, who shall deliver the same to the Local Union when organized.

International Representatives shall furnish monthly to the General President a detailed report of the business transacted, and shall make such recommendations as in their judgment may be required for the welfare of the United Association and its Local Unions.

Should an emergency arise, by direction of the General President, the International Representatives shall cancel dates previously made and proceed as directed. They shall receive for their services the sum of $145,002 per annum, to be paid in monthly installments. They shall furnish a pre-convention report to the General Officers, with recommendations, and said report must be received at the General Office at least three (3) months prior to the convention.

(a) All regular International Representatives shall be paid an allowance of $900.00 per week for hotel, meals and other incidental expenses and, in the event any portion of such allowance is not expended, it shall be considered as compensation. In addition, they shall also be reimbursed for all air travel, railroad and other transportation costs and such other extraordinary expenses as may be incurred by them in the discharge of their duties.

(b) They shall file an expense account for all reimbursable and extraordinary expenses upon forms furnished by the General Secretary-Treasurer. Such expense accounts shall be submitted to and approved by the General Executive Board.

For any neglect of duty the commission of an International Representative may be suspended by the General President and such International Representative shall stand suspended pending his appeal if he so desires to the General Executive Board, who shall ascertain all the facts in the case, and whose findings shall be final. Said International Representative may appeal to the next United Association Convention, but in the interim his commission stands revoked, and the General Executive Board shall in the event of the suspension, select a member of the United Association to fill his unexpired term.