Overview

To create rules and procedures for proper nomination and election of Station Chairs. These rules were approved by the Board unanimously and adopted on April 3, 2021. 

Rules

1. Only members in good standing may nominate themselves and run for station chair. Any self-nominated candidate must be seconded by another member in good standing.

2. To be considered "in good standing," a member must be actively paying dues or have submitted a voluntary authorization form to deduct dues to the Secretary Treasurer at the time of the nomination.

3. Prior to the announcement of Station Chair elections, the Secretary Treasurer shall provide the most current eligibility rosters to all current/ acting chairs in each system. If this role is currently vacant, either the presiding Regional Representative or most Senior Shop Steward of that system will be provided with same.

4. Once an election is announced, the nomination period shall last one week (seven days) and end at 11:59PM EST on the final day.

5. Following the nomination period, the voting period shall last one week (seven days) and end at 8:00PM EST on the final day.

6. Online voting will be the preferred method of voting, and the platform used shall be determined by the Board.

7. Review and certification of the results should happen as soon as feasible by the Board, and results announced no later than 8:00PM EST the day after the close of voting.

8. If there are no nominees by the end of the nomination period, the TWU Local 320 Board may appoint someone to that position. If only one person is nominated, there will be no election and that person will win by acclamation.

9. Any and all other election related rules not specifically cited or mentioned herein have been determined by the Board as already established by the L320 By-Laws or TWU Constitution:

   • Station Chairperson elections shall be conducted by a secret ballot; either by electronic balloting or at a Local Membership meeting as determined by majority vote of the Executive Board (see Rule #6 above).

   • The candidates receiving a plurality of the secret ballot votes cast for each office shall be deemed elected to the office. The winner of each position shall be notified via phone or e-mail. If the winner cannot be reached, a message will be left on their home or mobile phone. Results will also be released to the Membership via the Local 320 website.

   • In the event of a tie for the most votes cast in an election, there will be a runoff election for the candidates involved in the tie.

   • Each candidate will be notified of the date and time when the ballots are to be counted or results are to be retrieved and will be allowed one (1) representative at their own expense to monitor the process.

   • Any member in good standing who believes that he/she/they has been improperly denied the opportunity to be a candidate for elective office or position or that an election in which he/she/they was a candidate was improperly conducted, may file a complaint with the Local Executive Board no later than fourteen (14) calendar days after the results of the election have been made known.

The Station Chairperson position shall be created, subject to the approval of the Local’s Executive Board, to oversee matters of general Union concern for any prospective worksite property. The Station Chairperson shall be elected by the prospective worksite’s Membership. The full term for a Station Chairperson shall be for three years, to coincide with other union officer terms. An initial term of office for a prospective worksite may be shorter than three (3) years, depending upon when the Local 320 Executive Board approves the creation of the Station Chairperson position. It shall be the duty of the Station Chairperson to assist the Regional Executive Board Member in the administration of the Regional Executive Board Member’s duties, including grievance administration, interstation negotiations pertaining to local worksite guidelines and any other duties assigned by the Executive Board or Local President. The Regional Executive Board Member or Station Chair shall be the Chairperson of Membership meetings; except when the Local President or Vice President attends the meetings. 

Shop Stewards shall be appointed by the location's Station Chairperson, subject to Executive Board approval, and represent the Members at a particular work location/shop and assist the Station Chairperson with station duties.

Grievances should initially be filed and administered on behalf of the Membership by Shop Stewards or Station Chairpersons. The Shop Steward or Station Chairperson should attempt to solve the grievance at its source, enter the grievance into an approved database, and forward any unresolved grievances to the Regional Executive Board Member who will continue to seek resolution. Unresolved grievances by the Regional Executive Board Member shall be presented to the Local’s Executive Board for arbitration consideration.

Station Chairpersons shall be provided a monthly cell phone allowance of $25.00.