10 June, 2024
OFFICIAL CIRCULAR NO. 896 ISSUED: February 16, 2024
To the Membership of All Local Lodges of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
GREETINGS
In compliance with the provisions of Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, the Executive Council has selected New York City as the convention site, and a call is hereby issued for the 41st Convention of the Grand Lodge of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, to be held at the New York Hilton Midtown, commencing on September 1, 2024.
REPRESENTATION
Article II, Section 2, specifies that each local lodge in good standing and free from delinquency is entitled to be represented in all conventions of the Grand Lodge by one delegate and, in addition thereto, each local lodge having a membership of more than 200 is entitled to an additional delegate for each additional 200 members or majority fraction thereof. Each local lodge represented in the convention is entitled to one vote, and all local lodges having a membership of more than 100 are entitled to one additional vote for each additional 100 members or majority fraction thereof.
The number of votes to which a local lodge is entitled will be computed upon the number of members in good standing at the close of July 2024.
Local lodges having less than 100 members and located within a radius of 150 miles of each other, if they so desire, may combine to send one delegate to represent them at the convention; however, such combination shall be limited to three (3) local lodges. Such delegate must be elected by a majority vote in each of the lodges so combining. The voting power of the combined lodges will be based upon their combined membership exactly as if they were one lodge.
Pursuant to Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, Local Lodges, to be entitled to representation in the convention, must be in good standing, free from delinquency of any nature to the Grand Lodge, within 60 days prior to the convening of the G.L. Convention.
Pursuant to Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution, The statements “good standing” of a local lodge and “free from delinquency of any nature to the Grand Lodge” mean that in addition to a local lodge having paid the per capita tax due the Grand Lodge on its monthly reports up to and including the month of July, debts of any nature to the Grand Lodge must be paid by the end of July. Monthly review statements furnished to the Secretary-Treasurer by the General Secretary- Treasurer should be consulted regarding the amount of such indebtedness.
Further, any local lodge under suspension or otherwise not in compliance with all requirements of the Constitution shall not be considered in good standing.
Local lodges organized during the month of May 2024, may nominate and elect delegates and alternates in June. Local lodges chartered and affiliated on or after June 1, 2024, will not be entitled to representation in the convention.
NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF DELEGATES
AT A REGULAR OR SUMMONED MEETING HELD IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, NOMINATION(S) FOR DELEGATE(S) AND ALTERNATE DELEGATE(S) SHALL BE CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE II, SECTION 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION. AT A REGULAR OR SUMMONED MEETING HELD IN THE MONTH OF MAY, AN ELECTION OF DELEGATE(S) AND ALTERNATE DELEGATE(S) SHALL BE CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE II, SECTION 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION.
The Recording Secretary is required to immediately notify the General Secretary-Treasurer of the result of the election, giving the names, card numbers, email addresses and residence addresses of all delegates and alternate delegates, using the forms furnished by the General Secretary-Treasurer for that purpose. A report thereof must be received at headquarters not later than June 28, 2024. All meetings should be held in accordance with the bylaws unless dispensation has been granted by the International President’s office.
Delegate credentials will be furnished to all local lodges reporting the election of delegates in conformity with constitutional requirements.
QUALIFICATIONS OF DELEGATES
Article II, Section 4, provides that delegates to the convention of the Grand Lodge must be members in good standing of the local lodge from which they hold credentials for at least one (1) year prior to their nomination, except in the case
of a local lodge chartered less than one year prior to the convention, or a member working at the trade transferred to a local lodge with the approval of the International President or Executive Council; or, in the case of a district lodge having multiple local lodges within a single employer, in which case membership in such district lodge shall apply. Article II also provides that every delegate to the convention of the Grand Lodge shall be free from delinquencies of any nature to the Grand Lodge or to any district or local lodge, and at the time of nomination and for six months prior thereto working at the trade. The qualification “working at the trade” shall not apply to members who are salaried full-time employees of the union, the AFL-CIO, or the CLC, nor shall it apply to members who experienced a layoff during the six-month period prior to the nominations, or to members subject to a contested unresolved discharge, or in any case where a member has been unable to obtain employment at the trade because of a strike, lockout, discrimination or temporary disability, or members who are retired and paying full dues, whether or not they hold a retirement card or an exemption card.
MEMBERS ON GRAND LODGE PAYROLL NOT ELIGIBLE
Article II, Section 5, provides that no member shall serve as a delegate to a Grand Lodge Convention who is, during the time of the convention, on the payroll of the Grand Lodge.
DELEGATES’ TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES
Article II, Section 6, provides that the transportation of one delegate, from each local lodge in continuous good standing with the Grand Lodge for one (1) year prior to the convening of the convention, and who is accepted and seated in the convention as a delegate, shall be paid by the Grand Lodge, so long as such transportation is arranged for and provided by the travel agency designated by the Grand Lodge. Local lodges whose delegates travel on passes shall be entitled to round-trip transportation for one delegate from the place where the lodge is located to the place where the convention is held, upon presentation of the bill of the local lodge therefore.
Local lodges whose delegates travel by automobile will be allowed mileage up to the equivalent of one coach-class airline fare for the first delegate. In no instance will the cost of insurance purchased by the delegate be borne by the Grand Lodge.
Each local lodge will be sent the required form to be used in billing the Grand Lodge for the transportation costs for the first delegate.
For the purpose of travel reimbursement, the first delegate is defined as the delegate who has received the most votes and listed first on the delegate supplement.
Particulars regarding Convention Headquarters, hotel accommodations, and other general instructions will be furnished at a later date.
Fraternally yours,
Dora Cervantes
GENERAL SECRETARY-TREASURER