Resolutions & Amendments Passed During IUPAT General Convention

1. One Union Working Group

• Establish a “One Union” Working Group to unify IUPAT’s messaging, style, and branding across all councils and departments to promote cohesion and reflect shared values.

2. Apprenticeship Ratios Enforcement

• Enforce the 3:1 apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio to maintain a robust pipeline of skilled workers, reduce training costs, and improve job opportunities for apprentices.

3. Combating Worker Misclassification

• Increase efforts to combat worker misclassification and organize within the residential sector, enhancing market share and ensuring fair treatment of all workers.

4. Local-Level Worker Rights Advocacy

• Advocate for stronger local labor laws to protect against wage theft and unsafe working conditions. Each District Council will push for at least one labor law improvement per year.

5. Ranked Pool System for Apprenticeship Enrollment

• Implement a Ranked Pool system for a fairer, more diverse selection process for apprentices. Dual enrollment will allow both intent-to-hire and Ranked Pool systems during a transitional period.

6. Voting Rights and Democracy Support

• Reaffirm commitment to protecting voting rights and advocating for comprehensive voting rights legislation, ensuring union members have a voice in elections affecting labor rights.

7. Grassroots Worker Organizing Through NLRB Elections

• Promote grassroots organizing, especially in sectors like glass and glazing, with a goal to achieve 10% annual growth in organized workers and increase NLRB election filings.

8. Data Integrity and Membership Accuracy

• Improve membership data accuracy through monthly updates and jobsite visits, ensuring equitable allocation of benefits and effective member engagement.

9. Internal Organizing and Training Enhancement

• Increase training for service representatives, boost member engagement through jobsite visits, and improve union democracy by targeting a 20% annual increase in union meeting attendance.

10. Long-Term Strategic Organizing

• Reaffirm commitment to strategic organizing, with the goal of a net gain of 10,000 new members by the next convention, using shared learning and research resources.

11. Pre-Apprenticeship Program Expansion

• Expand pre-apprenticeship programs to prepare high school and career tech students for careers in the trades, partnering with local organizations to increase recruitment.

12. Passage of the PRO Act

• Support for the PRO Act and other federal labor law updates to strengthen workers’ rights, eliminate anti-union activities, and protect collective bargaining.

13. Unified Code of Conduct and Ethics

• Develop a Code of Conduct to ensure a respectful and inclusive environment across IUPAT, with a designated committee for monitoring compliance and addressing violations.

14. Reducing Barriers to Apprenticeship Entry

• Remove unnecessary barriers like language proficiency, high school diplomas, and driver’s licenses from apprenticeship requirements, promoting broader accessibility.

15. Supporting the Harris-Walz Ticket for the 2024 Elections

• Endorse Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for the 2024 U.S. presidential election, highlighting their pro-labor policies and commitment to workers’ rights.

16. Socially Responsible Financial Investment

• Advocate for divestment from state bonds and companies involved in violations of human rights, promoting investments that align with IUPAT’s values.

17. Enhancing Opportunities for Black Workers

• Commit to increasing Black membership to 14% by 2029, with annual benchmarks and support programs like mentorship and leadership development.

18. Implementation Scorecards for CORE Initiatives

• Introduce CORE scorecards to monitor and report progress on diversity and inclusion efforts, holding the organization accountable at all levels.

19. Capital Strategies and Fund Asset Protection

• Develop a Capital Stewardship Program to ensure responsible management of IUPAT pension funds, focusing on creating union jobs and sustainable investments.

20. Enhancing Opportunities for Latino Workers

• Establish Latino Committees to foster inclusivity, aiming for 30% Latino participation in IUPAT conferences and bilingual representation in leadership by 2029.

21. LGBTQ+ CORE Investment and Spending

• Promote socially responsible investments and spending aligned with LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights values, avoiding partnerships in states with discriminatory laws.

22. Maternity Leave Program Expansion

• Expand the maternity leave program to include up to two weeks of paid leave for miscarriage or pregnancy termination, providing support for members in challenging times.

23. Enhancing Opportunities for Women in the IUPAT

• Set a target for women to comprise 20% of the workforce by 2029, with focused recruitment, training, and collaboration with contractors to eliminate barriers and support retention.

24. Infrastructure and Workforce Development

• Establish a committee on public infrastructure and workforce development to capture opportunities in public markets, advancing IUPAT interests and expanding market share.

25. Supporting the IUPAT Helping Hand Program

• Expand the Helping Hand Program’s reach by training staff and offering behavioral health services to members, addressing mental health and addiction issues.

26. Immigrant Organizing and Political Advocacy

• Advocate for immigrant worker rights and organize immigrant workers on job sites, supporting programs like TPS and DACA, and defending immigrant rights at all levels.

27. Improving Working Conditions in the Trades

• Develop and implement training for safety, skills, and education in the trades, and create a unified approach to completing temporary peak events on budget and time.

28. Establishment of Pre-Apprenticeship Programs

• Develop partnerships with local organizations to create a recruitment pipeline into finishing trades, ensuring support for disadvantaged communities.

29. Support for the PRO Act & Federal Labor Law Enforcement

• Advocate for the passage of labor laws like the PRO Act to strengthen workers’ rights and enhance enforcement by increasing funding for federal labor agencies.

Article I: Bylaws Subordination to the International Constitution

• District Council bylaws must be subordinate to the International Constitution, ensuring uniformity across councils.

Article II: Name

• Establishes that the name of the District Council aligns with its status as a subordinate body of the International Union.

Article III: Objects

• Defines the council’s goals: improving labor conditions, advancing relations between employers and members, and enhancing collective bargaining efforts.

Article IV: Jurisdiction

• Confirms the General Executive Board’s authority to modify District Council jurisdictions and outlines work jurisdiction for collective bargaining agreements.

Article V: Officers

• Outlines officer roles, particularly expanding the Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer’s authority over staff, trustees, and financial operations.

Article VI: Executive Board

• Defines the composition and emergency powers of the Executive Board, which can act for the council between meetings.

Article VII: Business Representatives

• Details the duties and salaries of Business Representatives, granting flexibility to adjust their numbers based on financial conditions.

Article VIII: Duties and Authority

• Specifies that all duties must comply with the International Constitution and policies from the General Executive Board.

Article IX: Nominations and Elections for Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer

• Sets forth nomination requirements, election procedures, and terms for the Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer, ensuring broad member participation.

Article X: Nominations and Elections for Business Representatives and Delegates

• Defines rules for nominating Business Representatives, including eligibility criteria and guidelines for local unions with fewer than 150 members.

Article XI: Election Board Procedures

• Establishes the Election Committee’s responsibilities for overseeing elections, ensuring fairness and transparency.

Article XII: Vacancies

• Defines how vacancies in council offices should be filled in accordance with the International Constitution.

Article XIII: Local Union Officer and Delegate Elections

• Sets procedures for electing local union officers and delegates to the District Council, emphasizing eligibility requirements.

Article XIV: Nominations and Elections for Council Officers

• Outlines the nomination and election process for the president, vice president, trustees, and other officers.

Article XV: Finances

• Establishes the revenue sources for the District Council, including administrative dues and per capita taxes, and calls for annual audits of council finances.

Article XVI: Dues Collection and Reporting

• Details procedures for dues collection, membership reporting, and responsibilities for transmitting funds to the International Union.

Article XVII: Membership

• Specifies membership obligations, including adhering to the bylaws, participation in organizing activities, and maintaining good standing.

Article XVIII: Working Cards and Work Referrals

• Members are required to carry working cards and provide referrals when requested by council representatives.

Article XIX: Meetings

• Sets guidelines for council meetings, including frequency, quorum requirements, and the ability to hold virtual meetings.

Article XX: Work Rules

• Establishes work conduct expectations for members, including penalties for repeated terminations due to poor performance or misconduct.

Article XXI: Stewards

• Confirms the appointment process and responsibilities of Shop and Job Stewards, including monitoring compliance with the bylaws and collective agreements.

Article XXII: Trials and Appeals

• Defines trial board procedures for handling member disputes and disciplinary matters.

Article XXIII: Bonds

• Requires District Council officers to be bonded in accordance with the International Constitution.

Article XXIV: Strikes and Lockouts

• Details procedures for handling strikes and lockouts, including assessments for members required to work during a strike.

Article XXV: Property

• Governs the handling of council property and funds, following the International Constitution.

Article XXVI: Agency

• States that neither the District Council nor its officers are agents of the International Union without written consent from the General President.

Article XXVII: Amendments

• Specifies that amendments to the bylaws can only be made according to the International Constitution.

Article XXVIII: Standing Committees

• The Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer is responsible for appointing standing committees, including for bylaws, retirees, and community organizing.

Article XXIX: Savings Clause

• Specifies that if any part of the bylaws is found invalid by a court or government authority, the remaining bylaws will continue to be in effect. It also empowers the Executive Board to replace invalid provisions with alternatives that maintain the original intent.