AMFA's Constitutional Bill of Rights
Jim Seitz - Technician UAL INDAF
AMFA is a skilled craft union representing the Class and Craft
of Mechanics and related. The Constitution of AMFA is the framework
for democracy in the union. The Constitution of AMFA is unique
in many ways, such as the election and recall of officers, local
autonomy of the members and the constitutions 'system of checks
and balances. One major difference of the AMFA Constitution
compared to other constitutions is the "Bill of Rights" of the
membership; Article I section 9. There are eight items in this
section that ensure that AMFA will always be controlled by the
membership. The authors of the Constitution wanted to ensure
this union would remain true to its' design, and to properly
represent the membership.
Article I, Section 9 (Amendments)
No amendment to this Constitution or to any Local by-laws shall
be proposed or adopted that would:
Article I, Section 9 (Amendments)
- Infringe upon the rights and powers of the
members.
- Take away the right of the members to hold
office.
- Take away the right of local members to select
and elect all officers, both National and Local.
- Take away the right of the members to select
and elect all convention delegates.
- Take away the right t of the members to recall
any officers.
- Take away the right of the members to approve
and ratify all contracts and letters of agreement.
- Take away the right of the members to approve
all AMFA strikes and other AMFA recognized unions' legal
picket lines.
- Take away the right of the members to propose
and submit changes to this Constitution or any Local By-laws.
We are truly in debt to the founders of AMFA and its Constitution.
The AMFA Constitutions bill of rights protects members' rights
and democratic process in the union. The United States Constitution
also insures our rights and democratic process. Article I
section 9 ensures that no matter how large AMFA becomes the
membership shall continue to have authority and control over
their union.
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