The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations is an expression of the hopes and aspirations of the working people of America. We resolve to fulfill the yearning of the human spirit for liberty, justice and community; to advance individual and associational freedom; to vanquish oppression, privation and cruelty in all their forms; and to join with all persons, of whatever nationality or faith, who cherish the cause of democracy and the call of solidarity, to grace the planet with these achievements. We dedicate ourselves to improving the lives of working families, bringing fairness and dignity to the workplace and securing social equity in the Nation. We will prevail by building a strong, free and democratic labor movement. We will organize workers into unions allied by common purposes and mutual reliance. We will recruit generations of organizers, amass resources to sustain their efforts and inspire workers to achieve dignity and security through organization and collective bargaining. We will generate broad understanding of the necessity of organizing among our members, our leaders and all unorganized workers. We will give political voice to workers in the Nation. We will fight for an agenda for working families at all levels of government. We will assemble a broad progressive coalition for social and economic justice. We will create a political force within the labor movement that will speak forcefully and persuasively on the public issues that affect our lives. We will enable workers to shape a changing global economy. We will speak for working people in the international marketplace, in the industries in which we are employed, and in the firms where we work. We will expand the role of unions to securing worker influence in all the decisions that affect our working lives, from capital investment to the quality of products and services to how work itself is organized. We will establish unions as active forces in our communities. We will make the voices of working families heard in our neighborhoods. We will create vibrant state, local and community labor councils. We will strengthen the ties of labor with our allies. We will speak out effectively and creatively on behalf of all working Americans. With confidence and trust in the inherent power and goodness of our people and in the virtue and promise of unionism, we proclaim this Constitution. Article I: Name This Federation shall be known as the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. It is established pursuant to and as a result of a merger agreement between the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations. It shall consist of such affiliates as shall conform to its constitution and the rules and regulations adopted thereunder. Article II: Objects and Principles The objects and principles of this Federation are: 1. To aid workers in securing improved wages, hours and working conditions with due regard for the autonomy, integrity and jurisdiction of affiliated unions. 2. To aid and assist affiliated unions in extending the benefits of mutual assistance and collective bargaining to workers and to promote the organization of the unorganized into unions of their own choosing for their mutual aid, protection and advancement, giving recognition to the principle that both craft and industrial unions are appropriate, equal and necessary as methods of union organization. 3. To affiliate national and international unions with this Federation and to establish such unions; to form organizing committees and directly affiliated local unions and to secure their affiliation to appropriate national and international unions affiliated with or chartered by the Federation; to establish, assist and promote state, area and local central bodies composed of local unions of all affiliated organizations and directly affiliated local unions; and to establish and assist trade departments composed of affiliated national and international unions and organizing committees. 4. To encourage all workers without regard to race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to share equally in the full benefits of union organization. 5. To secure legislation that will safeguard and promote the principle of free collective bargaining, the rights of workers, farmers and consumers, and the security and welfare of all the people and to oppose legislation inimical to these objectives. 6. To protect and strengthen our democratic institutions, to secure full recognition and enjoyment of the rights and liberties to which we are justly entitled, and to preserve and perpetuate the cherished traditions of our democracy. 7. To give constructive aid in promoting the cause of peace and freedom in the world and to aid, assist and cooperate with free and democratic labor movements throughout the world. 8. To preserve and maintain the integrity of each affiliated union by fostering respect for the established bargaining and work relationships of every other affiliate and providing that each affiliate shall refrain from raiding the established bargaining relationship of any other affiliate. 9. To encourage the elimination of conflicting and duplicating organizations and jurisdictions through the process of voluntary agreement or voluntary merger in consultation with the appropriate officials of the Federation, to preserve, subject to the foregoing, the organizing jurisdiction of each affiliate. 10. To aid and encourage the sale and use of union-made products and union-supplied services through the union label and other symbols and by other means. 11. To promote labor’s print and broadcast media and other means of communications in order to foster worker education and public awareness and support of the labor movement. 12. To protect the labor movement from any and all corrupt influences and from the undermining efforts of authoritarianism, totalitarianism, terrorism and all other forces that suppress individual liberties and freedom of association and oppose the basic principles of our democracy and of free and democratic unionism. 13. To safeguard the democratic character of the labor movement and to protect the autonomy of each affiliated national and international union. 14. While preserving the independence of the labor movement from political control, to encourage workers to register and vote, to exercise their full rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and to perform their rightful part in the political life of the local, state and national communities. Article III: Affiliates Section 1 The Federation shall be composed of: (1) national and international unions that are affiliated with, but are not subordinate to, or subject to the general direction and control of, the Federation; and (2) the following categories of organizations that are subordinate bodies of the AFL-CIO subject to the kind and degree of Federation direction and control provided for in this Constitution: (a) organizing committees; (b) directly affiliated local unions and national councils thereof; (c) state, area and local central bodies; and (d) trade and industrial departments. Section 2 Every affiliate that operated at the time of the merger between the AFL and the CIO with a charter or certificate of affiliation issued by either federation has, by virtue of the merger, retained and enjoyed the same organizing jurisdiction in this Federation that it had and enjoyed prior to the merger. In cases of conflicting and duplicating jurisdictions the President and the Executive Council shall seek to eliminate such conflicts through the process of voluntary agreement or voluntary merger between the affiliates involved. Section 3 Every affiliate that operated at the time of the merger between the AFL and the CIO with a charter or certificate of affiliation issued by either federation has, by virtue of the merger, been conferred with a charter or certificate of affiliation from the AFL-CIO and become subject to this Constitution and the AFL-CIO’s rules and regulations. Section 4 (a) The Executive Council may issue additional charters or certificates of affiliation to other organizations desiring to affiliate with this Federation. This power may be delegated to the President. Charters or certificates of affiliation shall not be issued to national or international unions, organizing committees, or directly affiliated local unions in conflict with the jurisdiction of affiliated national or international unions, except with the written consent of such unions, and shall be based upon a strict recognition that both craft and industrial unions are equal and necessary as methods of trade union organization, and that each affiliated national and international union is entitled to have its autonomy, integrity and jurisdiction protected and preserved. (b) Where the Executive Council determines that it would be necessary or appropriate to subject the approval of a charter to one or more future conditions, the Executive Council may issue a provisional charter. In such cases, the provisional status of the charter shall be removed following a specified period of time not to exceed three years, and the affiliation shall thereupon be deemed permanent, absent a vote of the Executive Council to revoke the charter. Section 5 (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, no national or international union chartered by or affiliated with this Federation may be suspended from the Federation except by a majority roll call vote at the convention. A suspension imposed by a convention may be terminated in accordance with Article X, Section 14. (b) Except as provided in Section 4(b) of this Article, no national or international union shall have its charter or certificate of affiliation with the Federation revoked except by a two-thirds roll call vote at the convention. A revoked charter or certificate of affiliation may be restored by either a two-thirds roll call vote of the convention or a two-thirds vote of the Executive Council if it is determined that the organization is conducting its affairs in a manner consistent with the obligations of an AFL-CIO affiliate. Section 6 No organization that is unaffiliated with, or is suspended from, this Federation, and no affiliate or subordinate body of such an organization, shall, while unaffiliated or suspended, be allowed representation or recognition in the AFL-CIO, in any subordinate body of the AFL-CIO, or in any national or international union or organizing committee affiliated with the AFL-CIO. Any affiliate violating this section shall be subject to suspension from the AFL-CIO. Section 7 No organization officered, controlled or dominated by persons whose policies and activities are consistently directed toward the achievement of the program or purposes of authoritarianism, totalitarianism, terrorism and other forces that suppress individual liberties and freedom of association shall be permitted as an affiliate of the Federation or any of its state or local central bodies. Section 8 Affiliates of the Federation shall be encouraged to eliminate conflicts and duplications in organization and jurisdictions through the process of voluntary agreement or voluntary merger in consultation with the appropriate officials of the Federation. Accordingly the AFL-CIO shall implement a proactive, industry-based strategic merger policy as adopted by the AFL-CIO Convention delegates and is hereby authorized to take all necessary steps to effectuate its terms. Article IV: Convention Section 1 The convention shall be the supreme governing body of the Federation and, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, its decisions shall be by a majority vote. Section 2 The regular conventions of the Federation shall be held every four years at a time during the last six months of the year. The time and the place for holding the regular conventions shall be designated by the Executive Council, which shall give at least 90 days’ notice of the time and place designated. Section 3 (a) Special conventions may be called by direction of a regular convention, by order of the Executive Council, or on request of national and international unions representing a majority of the total membership of the Federation, as calculated for purposes of representation at the previous convention. (b) In the event a special convention has been called all affiliated organizations shall be given at least 30 days’ notice, together with a statement of the particular subjects to be considered at such convention. (c) Representation at special conventions shall be on the same basis and subject to like qualifications and procedure governing regular conventions. (d) A special convention shall be clothed with like authority and power conferred upon regular conventions, its decisions shall be equally binding and it shall be governed by the same procedure applicable to regular conventions; however, such special conventions shall be limited solely to the subjects specifically and definitely indicated in the call for such special convention. Section 4 (a) Each national or international union and organizing committee shall be entitled to the number of delegates indicated in the following scale: Zero to 4,000 members 1 delegate Over 4,000 members 2 delegates Over 8,000 members 3 delegates Over 12,000 members 4 delegates Over 25,000 members 5 delegates Over 50,000 members 6 delegates Over 75,000 members 7 delegates Over 125,000 members 8 delegates Over 175,000 members 9 delegates plus one additional delegate for each 75,000 members over 175,000. Each national or international union and organizing committee delegation shall generally reflect the racial and gender diversity of its membership. (b) Each directly affiliated local union and each trade and industrial department shall be entitled to one delegate. Each state, area or local central body shall be entitled to one delegate. Directly affiliated local unions, with the approval of the President, may combine with other such unions within a reasonable distance to elect a single delegate to represent such unions. Section 5 Each national or international union, organizing committee, directly affiliated local union, state, area or local central body and trade and industrial department shall be entitled to alternate delegates. Such alternate delegates shall meet the same eligibility requirements as apply to delegates, and they shall be elected or otherwise designated, and their names submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer, by the same dates as for delegates. An alternate delegate shall have no voice, vote or other standing at any convention unless and until he or she replaces a delegate. Section 6 Delegates to a regular convention shall be elected or otherwise designated by the affiliate at least 30 days prior to the convention, except in cases in which the convention of the affiliate meets within this 30-day period. The names of the delegates shall be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer immediately after their selection, and in no event later than 20 days prior to the convention. Section 7 No affiliate that, at the opening date of the convention, is in arrears to the Federation for per capita tax or assessments for two months or more shall be entitled to recognition or representation in the convention. Section 8 No organization shall be entitled to representation unless such organization has applied for and obtained a certificate of affiliation at least 30 days prior to the convention, and no person shall be recognized as a delegate who is not a member in good standing of the organization he or she is selected to represent. Section 9 (a) The number of members of each national and international union and organizing committee for the purpose of selecting delegates and for roll call votes, and the number of members of each directly affiliated local union for roll call votes, at the convention shall be the average monthly number on which per capita tax is paid for the 24-month period ending with the last calendar month occurring before the 90th day preceding the opening date of the convention. (b) Where, during that 24-month period, two affiliates have merged, the per capita payments made by the two affiliates prior to the merger shall be used in making the calculation called for by the prior sentence. (c) Except as otherwise provided herein, where affiliation has occurred during the 24-month period, the average shall be computed from the month of affiliation, and the number of members shall be deemed to be one twenty-fourth of such average multiplied by the number of months for which per capita tax has been paid. (d) Where affiliation has occurred during the 24-month period, where, prior to affiliation, the newly chartered affiliate was a component part of another affiliate, and unless the affected affiliates agree to a different division, for the period prior to the division of the pre-existing affiliate each of the affiliates in question shall be credited with the average monthly number of members on which the preexisting affiliate paid per capita tax multiplied by a fraction whose numerator is the number of members on which the affiliate paid per capita tax during the first month after the pre-existing affiliate divided, and whose denominator is the total number of members on which both affiliates pay per capita tax during the first month after the division. (e) The Secretary-Treasurer shall prepare for the use of the convention and submit to it a printed list showing the number of votes and the number of delegates to which each affiliate is entitled. Section 10 The President shall appoint, in consultation with the Executive Council, prior to the convention, such committees as are necessary to conduct the affairs of the convention. Such committees may meet before the convention and shall proceed to consider all resolutions, constitutional amendments, appeals, petitions, reports and memorials submitted to the convention, and shall report on them to the convention. Section 11 (a) All resolutions, constitutional amendments, appeals, petitions, reports and memorials must be received by the Secretary-Treasurer 30 days prior to the convention; except in instances where proposals have been approved at a regular convention of a national or international union, state central body or national trade and industrial department held during this 30-day period, or where the matters appealed from have occurred during this 30-day period, in which event such proposals or appeals shall be received up to the day before the convention. (b) All resolutions, constitutional amendments, appeals, petitions, reports and memorials received after the times stipulated in subsection (a) above or during the convention shall be referred to the convention, which shall consider them only upon unanimous consent. (c) All resolutions, constitutional amendments, appeals, petitions, reports and memorials submitted by directly affiliated local unions shall be referred to the Executive Council. The Executive Council shall advise the convention of its disposition of such proposals. (d) All resolutions, constitutional amendments, appeals, petitions, reports and memorials submitted by a state central body must first be approved at its previous convention or at a meeting of its executive board. (e) All resolutions, constitutional amendments, appeals, petitions, reports and memorials submitted by an area or local central body must first be approved at its regularly constituted delegate meeting. (f) The President shall classify each timely received resolution, constitutional amendment, appeal, petition, report and memorial as to its nature, contents and subject matter, and he or she shall refer it to an appropriate committee. The committee shall report on the proposal to the convention prior to the convention’s consideration of it. (g) The President shall distribute copies of all timely received resolutions, constitutional amendments, appeals, petitions, reports and memorials to the delegates at the opening session of the convention or as soon afterward as is practical, but before the convention considers them. (h) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), the Executive Council may present resolutions, constitutional amendments, appeals, petitions, reports and memorials to the convention at any time without requiring unanimous consent. Section 12 Not less than 60 days prior to each regular convention, the Secretary-Treasurer shall notify each affiliate of its delegate allotment. Each affiliate shall designate and certify its delegates as required by the Secretary-Treasurer. Subject to Section 6 of this Article, no designation or certification of delegates shall be accepted later than 20 days prior to the convention except for good cause. Section 13 Prior to the convention, the Executive Council shall meet and constitute itself or a subcommittee as the Credentials Committee for the convention. Appeals from its decisions may be made to the floor of the convention. The convention shall not be constituted for business until after the Credentials Committee shall have examined and reported on credentials of all delegates present at the scheduled time at the opening session of the convention. Section 14 All members of the Executive Council who are not elected as delegates shall be ex-officio delegates to the convention with all the rights and privileges of elected delegates, but without vote. Section 15 Fraternal delegates shall be entitled to all the rights of delegates but shall not be entitled to vote. Section 16 At the opening of the convention the President shall take the chair and call the convention to order, and preside during its sessions. Section 17 One-fourth of the delegates seated at the convention shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Section 18 Questions may be decided by voice vote, rising vote, counted rising vote, or, upon the request of 30 percent of the delegates present, by a roll call vote. Upon such roll call each delegate representing affiliated national or international unions, organizing committees and directly affiliated local unions shall be entitled to cast one vote for every member whom the delegate represents. Each state, area and local central body and trade and industrial department shall be entitled to one vote. Section 19 The rules and order of business governing the preceding convention shall be enforced from the opening of the convention until new rules have been adopted by action of the convention. Section 20 Unless otherwise specified, any action taken by the convention shall take effect immediately upon adoption.