The election process will begin in March of this year for officers and Advisory Council, with balloting in June for new three-year terms.
Complete information on nominations, elections, duties, and qualifications of officers are found in the Local Union Bylaws and the International Union Constitution. If you do not have copies of these documents, they may be obtained by writing to IBEW Local Union No. 1245, P.O. Box 2547, Vacaville, CA 95687.
Offices
The following officers shall be elected in accordance with Article XVI of the IBEW Constitution and Article III of the Local 1245 Bylaws: President; Vice President; Recording Secretary; Treasurer; Business Manager-Financial Secretary; Southern Area Executive Board Member, Central Area Executive Board Member, Northern Area Executive Board Member, and At-Large Executive Board Member. The composition of the areas and at-large group represented on the Board are specified in Article III, Section 6 of the Local Union Bylaws. Please note that Local 1245 members approved a Bylaws change that adds two more positions to the Executive Board: One position to represent members from the Northeastern Area and one position to represent members from the Outside Construction and Tree Trimming Companies. This change is pending approval by the International Office of the IBEW and will be announced at March unit meetings. Assuming these changes are approved by the IO, nominations will also be accepted for these newly created positions.
The designated Advisory Council seats are listed in Article XIII of the Local Union Bylaws. Please note that Local 1245 members approved a Bylaws change that adds five new positions to the Advisory Council while removing or changing the description for several other Advisory Council positions. These changes are pending approval by the International Office of the IBEW and will be announced at March unit meetings. Assuming these changes are approved by the IO, nominations will also be accepted for these newly created positions.
Qualifications
Business Manager-Financial Secretary: The offices are combined per Article III, Section 5 of the Local Union Bylaws and must be filled by a member holding an “A” membership (EWBA) as required by the IBEW Constitution.
Members elected to office in the Local Union must be able and available to attend all regular and special meetings and to conduct the affairs of their office without compensation or other expenses other than provided for in Article X of the Local Union Bylaws (L.U. Bylaws Article III, Section 7).
Assistant Business Manager(s) and/or Business Representatives shall not be eligible to hold any elective Unit or Local Union office. They shall, however, be eligible to run as delegates to the International Convention (L.U. Bylaws Article III, Section 7).
To qualify as a candidate for Local Union office or Advisory Council Member, a member must have at least two years’ continuous good standing in the Local Union immediately prior to March 1, 2013. (L.U. Bylaws Article III, Section 9).
Nominations
Nomination of officers and Advisory Council members shall be made under “New Business” at the first meeting of the Units in March 2013 (L.U. Bylaws Article III, Section 8).
In order to be a candidate for any Local Union office, including Advisory Council Member, a member must be present at the Unit meeting where he or she is nominated, or notify the Local Union Recording Secretary, Chris Habecker, in writing on or before March 2, 2013, that he or she will run for a specific Local Union office if nominated (IBEW Constitution Article XVI, Section 10).
A member shall not accept nomination for more than one office of the Local Union (unless combined under the Bylaws). If a member is nominated for more than one office, he or she must immediately declare for which office he or she will be a candidate and decline all other nominations for Local Union office (L.U. Bylaws Article III, Section 9).
Voting
As provided in Local Union Bylaws Article III, Section 11, there shall be published in the May 2013 issue of The Utility Reporter and on Local 1245’s website, a list of all candidates for Local Union office, together with a factual record of their activities within the Local Union, committee assignments performed, offices held, and experience gained for and in behalf of the Local Union.
Ballots will be mailed by May 29, 2013, and must be returned by June 24, 2013, at which time they will be counted. To be eligible to vote, you must have paid your dues for March 2013 on or before May 31, 2013, per L.U. Bylaws Article III, Section 10.
Further Information
In addition to the Local 1245 Bylaws and the IBEW Constitution, the conduct of labor union elections is also covered by Title IV of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA).
The U.S. Department of Labor publishes two relevant booklets: Rights and Responsibilities Under the LMRDA and CSRA and Electing Union Officers.
These booklets are available by writing the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Elections, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room No. North 5619, Washington, DC 20210.