Just like other unions, the United Food & Commercial Workers has a set of rules that grants the International union a great deal of power over its locals and the members. In addition, as with most unions, if a member violates the UFCW's rules, the union has the right to place the member on trial and, if found guilty, either fine, suspend, or even expel its members.
You can download the entire 2008 UFCW Constitution in PDF (highlighted for your convenience) here.
In addition, below are sections of the UFCW's International Constitution that you should be aware of, whether you are an existing member, or you have been targeted by the UFCW.
ARTICLE 23 Collective Bargaining Contracts
(A) The terms of proposed collective bargaining contracts or proposals for renewal or any modifications of existing contracts, whether proposed by the employer or the Local Union, shall be submitted to the International President, upon his or her request, for review prior to any membership action thereon. Such review shall be for the purposes of determining whether the aforementioned terms conform to the applicable established policies, practices, and objectives of the International Union. including any strategic bargaining plans adopted by the International Union. relating to wages, hours, and other working conditions, either in the locality involved or nationally, and enabling the International Union to discharge its obligations in the event such proposed terms are found to be injurious to the best interests of the membership of other Local Unions or the International Union. If the International President exercises his or her authority under this paragraph, terms of proposed collective bargaining contracts or proposals for renewal or any modifications of existing contracts shall not be submitted to the membership for its action pending completion of review or following any disapproval by the International President. Any membership action on the aforementioned terms or proposals pending completion of review or following any disapproval by the International President shall be void and without effect.
SOME FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE UFCW BOSSES' POWER:
THE UFCW INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT HAS VETO POWER OVER THE MEMBERS WHEN IT COMES TO CONTRACTS
5. No member shall cross or work behind a legal picket line established by a United Food and Commercial Workers Local Union and sanctioned by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. No member shall cross or work behind a legal picket line established by a union other than the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, provided such picket line has the sanction of the Executive Board of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local Union in whose jurisdiction it is established and, provided further, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local Union has notified its membership of such sanction. [Source: UFCW Constitution Article 25, Section E, subsection 5]
CLEARLY, THE UFCW DOES NOT WANT ITS MEMBERS CROSSING ITS PICKET LINES...
HOWEVER, THE UFCW CAN ALSO ORDER YOU TO STOP WORKING IF ANOTHER UNION IS PICKETING.
ARTICLE 25 Duties and Obligations
(A) Every member of this International Union agrees, in consideration of the rights and benefits conferred pursuant to the terms of this Constitution, to comply with the duties and obligations stated in this Article and that termination of membership shall not terminate liability for violations of such duties and obligations occurring during the period of his or her membership.
(B) No member may be disciplined, except for violating his or her duties and obligations by committing anyone or more of the following offenses:
1. Violating any provIsions of the Constitution or laws of the International Union or the approved bylaws or established rules of the member's Local Union;
2. Advocating or attempting to bring about the withdrawal from the International Union of any Local Union or any member or group of members, and/or working in the interest of or accepting membership in any organization dual to the International Union;
3. Deliberately and improperly interfering with any officer or representative of the International Union or any Local Union in the discharge of his or her duties, or with the performance of the legal or contractual rights or obligations of the International Union or any of its Local Unions;
4. Deliberately engaging in conduct in violation of the responsibility of members toward the Union as an institution;
5. In the case of any officer or representative of the International Union or of any Local Union, failing to faithfully perform the duties of his or her office or position, accepting dual compensation or expenses for the performance of duties related to his or her office or position, or embezzling, misappropriating, fraudulently receiving, wrongfully handling, or failing to account for the funds of the International Union, a Local Union, or any employee benefit fund.
(C) Any member may be charged, tried, and disciplined for violation of any of the above offenses, or for offenses set forth in the Local Union bylaws, in accordance with the procedures provided for in this Constitution.
AS A MEMBER OF THE UFCW YOU AGREE THAT YOU MUST ABIDE BY THE UFCW'S CONSTITUTION AND THAT QUITTING THE UFCW DOES NOT END YOUR LIABILITY FOR OFFENSES YOU MAY COMMIT AS A MEMBER.
YOU CAN BE PLACED ON TRIAL FOR:
VIOLATING ANYTHING IN THE UFCW'S CONSTITUTION LOCAL BYLAWS OR OTHER UNION RULES.
TRYING TO DECERTIFY THE UNION OR ENGAGING IN "DUAL UNIONISM."
"INTEREFERING WITH" THE UFCW OR ITS REPS (This often can include going around a union to deal directly with your employer.)
DELIBERATELY ENGAGING IN CONDUCT THAT WOULD VIOLATE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD THE UNION AS AN INSTITUTION
ARTICLE 26 Disciplinary Proceedings and Appeals
(A) 1. A member shall be charged and tried in the Local Union through which he or she is a member at the time the charges are filed, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution. Any person no longer a member may be charged and tried in the Local Union through which he or she last held membership for actions committed while he or she was a member.
2. Charges may be filed by an active member of the Local Union through which the accused is a member, or, where the accused is no longer a member, by an active member of the Local Union through which the accused was a member at the time of the alleged violation, or by a representative of the International Union.
AS A UFCW MEMBER, THE UNION'S CONSTITUTION STATES THAT YOU CAN BE PLACED ON TRIAL EVEN AFTER YOU LEAVE THE UNION.
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