OBJECTS

Section 2. The objects of the United Brotherhood are: to orga­nize workers, to encourage an apprenticeship system and a higher standard of skill, to develop, improve and enforce the program and standards of Occupational Safety and Health, to cultivate friend­ship, to develop good public relations in the community, to assist each other to secure employment, to reduce the hours of daily labor, to secure adequate pay for our work, to establish a weekly pay day,

to promote the establishment of fringe benefit plans for our mem­bers through the collective bargaining process, to coordinate bar­gaining toward the goal of taking wages out of competition, and by legal and proper means to elevate the moral, intellectual and social conditions of all our members and to improve the trade in every way possible.

OUR PRINCIPLES

Section 3. We, as a body, pledge ourselves to give full support to the objects of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations and the Canadian Labour Congress consis­tent with the Objects and Principles of the United Brotherhood and its Constitution and Laws.

UNION MADE GOODS

Members of this organization should make it a rule to purchase goods and services which bear the trade-mark of organized labor or are made or provided by union members, and to support businesses and individuals that respect and honor the goals and principles of the labor movement.

LABOR LEGISLATION

It is of the greatest importance that members should vote intelli­gently, hence the members of this Brotherhood shall strive to secure legislation in favor of those who produce the wealth of the country, and all discussions and resolutions in that direction shall be in order at any regular meeting.

LABOR DAY

The working men and women of the United States and Canada are honored each year on Labor Day. Labor Day is of special signifi­cance to the members of the United Brotherhood because its founder (Peter 1. McGuire), the father of Labor Day, was a General Officer of the United Brotherhood. We, therefore, urge each member and

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each subordinate body of the United Brotherhood to observe Labor Day in a manner appropriate to its purpose and urge each member to participate as fully as may be possible in Labor Day programs in which his or her Local Union takes part.

FAITHFUL WORK

We hold it as a sacred principle that Trade Unionists, above all others, should set a good example as good and faithful workers, performing their duties to their employers with honor to themselves and their organization. We do not recognize the practice of grading skilled workers.

SHORTER HOURS OF LABOR

We hold a reduction of hours for a day's work increases the intel­ligence and happiness of the laborer, and also increases the demand for labor and the price of a day's work. We advocate the adoption of the Five-Day, Thirty-Hour Work Week and urge all Local Unions to put this into effect as soon as possible.

OTHER INTERESTS

We recognize that the interests of all labor are identical regard­less of occupation, sex, nationality, religion, or color, for a wrong done to one is a wrong done to all. We object to prison contract labor because it puts the criminal in competition with honorable labor for the purpose of cutting down wages, and also because it helps over­stock the labor market.

GENERAL OFFICE HEADQUARTERS

Section 4. The General Office Headquarters of the United Brotherhood shall be located in Washington, D.C.

AFFILIATIONS

Section 5. If the International Body is affiliated with the AFL-CIO and the Canadian Labour Congress, Local Unions, with the

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consent of their affiliated Council, and Councils may affiliate with the appropriate Central, State and Provincial Bodies of the AFL-CIO and the Canadian Labour Congress. Tax to the AFL-CIO and Cana­dian Labour Congress is to be paid directly from the General Office. If the International Body is affiliated with the AFL-CIO and the Canadian Labour Congress, Local Unions, with the consent of their affiliated Council, and Councils may affiliate with all Provincial, State and Local Building and Construction Trades Councils where such bodies exist. The General Executive Board may affiliate the United Brotherhood with or disaffiliate the United Brotherhood from any coalition, federation or other group of labor organizations if the Board determines that such affiliation or disaffiliation is in the best interest of the United Brotherhood and its members.

JURISDICTION

A Section 6. The jurisdiction of the United Brotherhood of Car­penters and Joiners of America shall include all branches of the Car­penter and Joiner trade, the industrial sector, and any kind of work being performed by any members of the United Brotherhood. In it shall be vested the power through the International Body to estab­lish and charter subordinate Local and Auxiliary Unions, District, Regional, Industrial, State and Provincial Councils in all branches of the trade, and its mandates must be observed and obeyed at all times.

In view of technological developments and industrial diversifi­cation, no type of employment category shall be excluded from the jurisdiction of the United Brotherhood, whether or not spelled out in Section 7.

The United Brotherhood is empowered, upon agreement of the Local Unions and Councils directly affected, or in the discretion of the General President subject to appeal to the General Executive Board, where the General President finds that it is in the best inter­ests of the United Brotherhood and its members, locally or at large, to establish or dissolve any Local Union or Council, to merge or

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consolidate Local Unions or Councils, to establish or alter the trade or geographical jurisdiction of any Local Union or Council, to form Councils and to permit, prohibit or require the affiliation with or dis­affiliation from any Council by any Local Union, including the right to establish statewide, province wide and regional Local Unions or Councils having jurisdiction over specified branches or subdivisions of the trade. The vested rights of the members shall be preserved and where action as herein described is taken, the General President and General Executive Board shall preserve the membership rights of the members of affected Local Unions, including their right to attend and participate in meetings, to vote, to nominate candidates and to be nominated and run for office. In connection with the foregoing, the General President may, upon finding it appropriate, appoint a com­mittee to hold hearings upon due notice to directly affected Local Unions or Councils, and make findings and recommendations.

B The right is reserved to the United Brotherhood through the International Body to regulate and determine all matters pertaining to the various branches and subdivisions of the trade. The General President may designate subdivisions of the trade and may provide such support as he deems appropriate to further the interests of the United Brotherhood and its membership in such trade subdivisions.

C To subordinate Local or Auxiliary Unions, District, Regional, Industrial, State and Provincial Councils the right is conceded to make necessary laws for Locals and District, Regional, Industrial, State and Provincial Councils which do not conflict with the laws of the International Body.

D The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America shall have the right to establish supervision over and to conduct the affairs of any subordinate body (including the removal of any or all officers of such subordinate body) to correct financial irregularities or to assure the performance of collective bargaining agreements and the responsibility of the subordinate body as a bargaining agent or to protect the interests and rights of the members or whenever the affairs of the subordinate body are conducted in such a manner as to

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be detrimental to the welfare of the members and to the best inter­ests of the United Brotherhood, subject, however, to the provisions of Paragraph H of Section 10. The authority granted to the United Brotherhood herein includes the authority to establish supervision to prevent secession or disaffiliation by any subordinate body or bodies.

E The United Brotherhood shall enact and enforce laws for its government and that of subordinate Locals and Auxiliary Unions and District, Regional, Industrial, State and Provincial Councils and members thereof.

TRADE AUTONOMY

A Section 7. The broad, evolving trade autonomy of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America includes at its core, but is not limited to, the milling, fashioning, joining, assem­bling, erection, fastening or dismantling of all material of wood, plastic, metal, fiber, cork and composition, and all other substitute materials, as well as the handling, cleaning, erecting, installing, repair, renovation, maintenance, and dismantling of all machinery, equipment and all materials used by members of the United Brother­hood.

B Our claim of jurisdiction, therefore, covers all kinds of work being performed by members of the United Brotherhood and includes but is not limited to the following classifications: Car­penters and Joiners; Millwrights; Pile Drivers, Bridge, Dock and Wharf Carpenters, Divers, Underpinners, Timber Workers and Core Drillers; Shipwrights, Boat Builders, Ship Carpenters, Joiners and Caulkers; Cabinet Makers, Bench Hands, Stair Builders, Mill and Factory Workers; Wood and Resilient Floor Layers, and Finishers; Carpet Layers; Shinglers, Siders; Insulators; Acoustic and Dry Wall Applicators; Shorers and House Movers; Loggers, Lumber and Saw­mill Workers; Furniture Workers; Reed and Rattan Workers; Shingle Weavers; Casket and Coffin Makers; Box Makers, Railroad Carpen­ters and Car Builders; Show, Display and Exhibition Workers; and

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Lathers, regardless of material used; also Public Sector Workers, Health Care Workers, Tile, Marble and Terrazzo Industry Workers and Aerospace Workers; and all those engaged in the operation of woodworking or other machinery required in the fashioning, milling or manufacturing of products used in the trade, or engaged as help­ers to any of the above divisions or subdivisions, and the handling, erecting and installing material on any of the above divisions or subdivisions; burning, welding, rigging and the use of any instru­ment or tool for layout work, incidental to the trade; the erection and placement of all materials used in lathing procedures; and all work with and on robotics, included but not limited to, rigging, handling, installing, maintaining, programming, and use of all stationary and! or portable robots, this includes the use of all robots used in any industry, including the nuclear field. When the terms "carpenter(s)" or "carpenter(s) and joiner(s)" are used, it shall mean all the divi­sions and subdivisions of the trade.

LAWS

A Section 8. The Constitution of this organization shall include general laws of the United Brotherhood and rules for subordinate bodies under its jurisdiction. The terms "Constitution" and "Consti­tution and Laws" shall have the same meaning. All references in the Constitution to the masculine gender shall automatically include the feminine gender.

B The Constitution and Laws can be amended or altered in con­formity with the provisions of Section 57 except as provided for in Section l4A.

GENERAL OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS

A Section 9. General Officers of the United Brotherhood shall consist of a General President, General Vice President, a General Secretary-Treasurer, and one District Vice President from each dis­trict of the United Brotherhood, who shall be exempt from all duties in their respective Local Unions.

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B The General Officers shall be elected at the General Conven­tion by a plurality vote of the delegates present and voting by secret ballot. The nominations shall be made on the third day of the first week of the Convention, and the election shall be held on the fourth day of the first week of the Convention.

C The election shall be conducted by an Election Committee, the members of which shall be appointed by the General President. No nominee for General Office shall be eligible to serve on said Com­mittee. Upon completion of the tabulation of the votes, the Election Committee shall report to the General President the names of the General Officers elected and same shall be reported to the Conven­tion, and those elected shall hold office for a term of five (5) years or until their successors are duly chosen and qualified, whichever is later. Each newly elected officer shall be administered the oath of office at the General Convention and shall officially assume his office 45 days after the election or, in the event of an earlier vacancy, at the time such vacancy occurs.

D A member to be eligible for nomination and election as a General Officer must be present at the time of nomination, or in the anteroom on authorized business, or out on official business, or prevented by accident or sickness or other substantial reason from being present in which case the candidate shall submit a let­ter of acceptance if nominated, nor shall the member be eligible unless working for a livelihood in a classification within the trade autonomy of the United Brotherhood as defined in Section 7 or in employment which qualifies him or her for membership, or is depending on the trade for a livelihood, or is employed by the orga­nization as a full-time officer or representative; provided, further, that members who are life members, apprentices, trainees or proba­tionary employees shall not be eligible. A member must have been twelve (12) consecutive months a member in good standing in his or her Local Union and a member of the United Brotherhood of Car­penters and Joiners of America for five (5) years immediately prior

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to nomination. The member shall be required to establish eligibility to the Election Committee to qualify under these provisions of the Constitution and Laws at the time of nomination. To be eligible for nomination or election as a General Officer, a member must meet the requirements of Section 31D.

E No General Officer or Representative of the United Brother­hood shall be subject to charges or trial in any Local Union or Dis­trict Council.

F Where charges are filed against a General Officer or represen­tative of the General Office of the United Brotherhood, the Execu­tive Committee of the District Council or the Local Union may dismiss the charges, or the charges shall be referred by the District Councilor Local Union to the General Executive Board. The Gen­eral Executive Board may conduct an investigation and hearing and dismiss the charges or, in the case of a General Officer, if it finds upon the entire record that the accused has violated the Constitution and Laws, may issue a reprimand or may, by a two-thirds vote, rec­ommend suspension from office. No General Officer shall be fined or expelled and no General Officer shall be suspended from office except by a majority vote of the members voting in a general vote of the United Brotherhood taken in accordance with the Constitution and Laws; provided, however, that the General Executive Board may suspend the accused pending determination of the charges by a two-thirds vote of the General Executive Board. Prior to any gen­eral vote taken under this Section, all Local Unions shall receive a copy of the charges, a summary of the evidence and position of the parties, and a report of the findings and recommendations of the General Executive Board, if any, and the same shall be fully published to the membership. If the General Executive Board finds a Representative guilty of charges, the Board may fine, suspend or expel the Representative and/or terminate his or her employ­ment. The authority so granted to the Board does not supersede the authority of the General President to terminate a Representative.

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GENERAL PRESIDENT

A Section 10. The General President shall issue and sign all charters, may grant dispensations in extraordinary cases and may fill any vacancies among the General Officers by consent of a majority of the General Executive Board. The General President shall have the authority to appoint any member as a Representative to assist in carrying on the affairs of the United Brotherhood. Such representa­tive shall have the same qualifications as those required by General Officers. When directed by the General President, the Representa­tive shall assist and advise the officers and Business Representatives of Local Unions and Councils. They shall also perform such other duties as directed by the General President. The compensation for Representatives shall be fixed by the General President.

B The General President may personally, or by deputy, take pos­session for examinations of all books, papers and other records, including all financial records, of any Local Union, Council, or other subordinate body, summarily when necessary, and the same shall remain in possession of the General President within the jurisdic­tion of the Local Union, Council, or other subordinate body until a complete report has been made and filed. During said examination a representative of the Local Union, Council, or other subordinate body may be present.

C The General President may issue charters to Auxiliary Unions. D The General President may authorize the formation of Retiree Clubs composed of retired members of the United Brotherhood no longer working at the trade.

E The General President shall appoint a permanent Financial Oversight Committee comprised of Local Union and Council repre­sentatives, and all other committees unless otherwise provided. All members of the Financial Oversight Committee shall be appointed for a three-year term and shall not serve consecutive terms. The General President shall designate a member of the Financial Over­sight Committee as chair for a one-year period, and no member

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shall serve consecutive periods as chair. The compensation of all members of committees shall be regulated by the General Execu­tive Board.

F The General President shall have the authority to decide all points of law, grievances and election appeals, under Section 53G, except funeral donations. All other appeals shall be decided by the Appeals Committee established in Section 53, except as otherwise provided. The General President shall have the power to suspend any Local Union or Council for violation of the Constitution and Laws of the United Brotherhood, or for willfully or directly violat­ing the Constitution and Laws or principles of this United Broth­erhood, or acting in such a manner as to undermine its welfare, after due notice and hearing and subject to an appeal to the General Executive Board by the subordinate body involved.

G The General President shall supervise the entire interest of the United Brotherhood, and perform such other duties as the Constitu­tion and Laws of the United Brotherhood may require, and may by virtue of the office be a delegate to the Conventions of the AFL-CIO and the Building and Construction Trades Department, and such other Departments with which the United Brotherhood is affiliated, and shall submit a quarterly report to the General Executive Board and shall also submit monthly to the General Secretary-Treasurer an itemized account of all moneys expended by the General Presi­dent on behalf of the United Brotherhood.

H Whenever it appears to the satisfaction of the General Presi­dent that any Local Union or member thereof, or any Council is act­ing contrary to the welfare of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, or that supervision should be established over the conduct of the affairs of any subordinate body as set forth in Section 6D, the General President may appoint a committee to hold a hearing, after due notice to such subordinate body or mem­ber. Upon completion of the hearing, the committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the General Executive Board and to the member or subordinate body involved. The General Executive 

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 Board is empowered to take such action as is necessary and proper for the welfare of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, subject, however, to the right of appeal to the next General Convention, to the extent permitted by Section 53G. If the General President determines that an emergency situ­ation exists, the General President may appoint a representative to assume supervision over any Local Union or Council pending the holding of a hearing and the completion of the proceedings as pro­vided for in this Section.

I Where an Auxiliary, Local Union, or Council has asked the assistance of the General Office, the General President may, with the consent of the General Executive Board, make settlement with employers, and the said Auxiliary, Local Union, or Council must accept the same.

J Whenever, in the judgment of the General President, subor­dinate bodies or the members thereof are working against the best interests of the United Brotherhood, or are not in harmony with the Constitution and Laws of the United Brotherhood, the General President shall have the power to order said body to disband under penalty of suspension.

K The General President shall have the power to grant dispensa­tion on all matters which will be beneficial to the United Brother­hood.

L No two subordinate bodies of the Brotherhood shall negotiate for the same contract with the same employer but if two subordinate bodies do open negotiations, the General President shall designate the proper bargaining unit of the Brotherhood which shall complete negotiations for said contract.

M The General President shall have authority to appoint interim officers and delegates of newly established, consolidated or merged Local Unions or Councils.

N The General President shall have the authority to develop poli­cies regarding the UBC membership processing system and other

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computer and technological matters pertaining to the United Broth­erhood which shall be binding on all Local Unions and Councils affiliated with the United Brotherhood.

o The General President shall have the authority to repudiate any jurisdictional agreement entered into by any subordinate body.

GENERAL VICE PRESIDENT

A Section II. The General Vice President, under the supervi­sion of the General President, shall render such assistance to the General President as may be required and by virtue of the office may be a delegate to the Convention of the Union Label and Service Trades Department, AFL-CIO. In case of a vacancy in the office of the General President, the General Vice President shall become the General President and perform the duties of that office.

R The General Vice President shall maintain headquarters at the General Office. The duties of the office shall be to examine and approve or disapprove of all Local Union and Council Laws. The General Vice President shall have charge of and issue the Label and keep a record of same in accordance with the Constitution and Laws of the United Brotherhood, also keep a record of all union and nonunion shops, mills and factories, their wages, hours and conditions for the General Office. This information shall be made available to Local Unions, Councils, Representatives, and Business Representatives. The General Vice President shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the General President. In the event of a vacancy in the office of General Vice President, the Gen­eral President may appoint a member to fill the vacancy by consent of a majority of the General Executive Board.

GENERAL SECRETARY- TREASURER

A Section 12. The General Secretary-Treasurer shall have the following responsibilities: preserve all important records, correspon­dence and documents relating to the business of the United Brother­hood; conduct all official correspondence pertaining to the office; sign

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all charters, if in proper order; have charge of the seal of the United Brotherhood, and affix it to all important official documents; keep a record of membership status of the United Brotherhood's members; receive all moneys due from Local Unions and other sources, giving credit for same; deposit all funds in the name of the United Brother­hood of Carpenters and Joiners of America in such banks or other financial institutions as may be designated by the General Executive Board; invest the funds of the United Brotherhood in accordance with the Investment Policies approved by the General Executive Board; make disbursements for general operating expenses, claims and bills legally due and those authorized by the General Execu­tive Board, in accordance with the Disbursements Policies approved by the General Executive Board and using checks or similar instru­ments that are signed by the General Secretary-Treasurer and coun­ter-signed by the General President or General Vice-President, or by those fiduciaries designated by the General President and approved by the General Executive Board; examine and pay donation claims in accordance with the Laws of the United Brotherhood, order Local Unions to furnish such evidence and information as may be required to render decisions in donation claims, and may retain such evidence and papers on file as the case may warrant, furnishing copies upon the request of the Local Union; keep a correct financial account between Local Unions and the United Brotherhood, notifying the Local Unions when two months in arrears, before the fifteenth day of the third month; submit an itemized statement of revenues and expenses of the United Brotherhood to the General Executive Board at the quarterly meetings, submit to them all books and vouchers per­taining to the office of the General Secretary-Treasurer for inspec­tion and deliver to the General Executive Board all such books and vouchers when called on to do so; and perform such other duties as the General Executive Board may require. The General Secretary­-Treasurer shall employ clerical assistance in the office of the General Secretary- Treasurer at reasonable salaries payable from the General Fund. The General Secretary-Treasurer shall assist the General Pres­ident in the discharge of the duties of that office and shall perform

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such other duties as may be assigned by the General President. In the absence of the General President and the General Vice President from the General Office, the General Secretary-Treasurer shall per­form the duties of the General President under the direction of the General President and when not engaged at the General Office shall devote full time to the interest of the United Brotherhood under the direction of the General President. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the General Secretary-Treasurer, the General President may appoint a member to fill the vacancy by consent of a majority of the General Executive Board.

B The General Secretary-Treasurer shall publish "The Carpenter" magazine pursuant to the schedule decided by the General Executive Board, and mail a copy of same to the home address of each mem­ber; issue the General Password quarterly, and a General Password to the Auxiliary Unions semi-annually; publish and forward to the Secretary of each Local Union a quarterly Financial Statement of revenues and expenses; compile, and make available to each Local and Council, directory information including the addresses and meetings of Local Unions and Councils.

C The General Secretary-Treasurer shall print the Constitution and Laws of the United Brotherhood in English and any other appropri­ate language as approved by the General Executive Board, and the interpretation of the Constitution and Laws in the English language shall be the only one by which the United Brotherhood shall be gov­erned.

D The General Secretary-Treasurer shall make an annual report, and shall perform such other duties as are required by the Constitu­tion and Laws of the United Brotherhood. The General Secretary Treasurer may by virtue of the office be a delegate to the Conventions of the AFL-CIO and Building and Construction Trades Department.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

A Section 13. The General President, General Vice President, General Secretary-Treasurer, and the six (6) District Vice Presidents

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shall by virtue of their office constitute a Board of Trustees for the management and control of the Headquarters and real estate of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America in the City of Washington, D.C. and elsewhere.

B By virtue of their office, the General President shall be Chair­person and the General Secretary-Treasurer shall be Secretary of the Board of Trustees and it shall be their duty to keep a record of the meetings of the Board of Trustees.

C The said Board of Trustees shall make a report to the General Convention of all business transacted in connection with the Head­quarters and the real estate of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.

D The said Board of Trustees shall authorize the General Presi­dent and General Secretary-Treasurer to pay all legitimate expenses in connection with said Headquarters and real estate, subject to examination and approval of the Board when in session.

E The title of the Headquarters and real estate now held by this United Brotherhood, or which may be hereafter acquired, shall be vested by proper conveyance in said Board of Trustees and their suc­cessors in office, to be held by said Board of Trustees in trust for the sole use, benefit and behalf of this United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.

F Said Board of Trustees shall have the management and control of all property, to sell, rent, lease and improve the same in such manner as the majority of said Trustees shall direct. However, the Headquar­ters or real estate on which it is located shall not be sold, conveyed or encumbered except in accordance with the following steps: (1) a Headquarters Oversight Committee shall be appointed, including the members of the permanent Fin