Constitution Article 13

Article 13 ‐ Local Unions and Other Subordinate Bodies

Section 1

This Union shall consist of Local Unions and other subordinate bodies. The National President, subject to the approval of the National Executive Board, shall have the authority to issue Local Union and subordinate body charters on such terms and conditions as s/he shall deem appropriate. No such charter shall be issued where there is in existence a Local Union having jurisdiction over the Postal Service facility where there are employees within this Union’s jurisdiction. The National President, subject to the approval of the National Executive Board and by majority vote of the members of each affected Local Union, shall have the authority to amalgamate or de‐amalgamate, affiliate, and otherwise alter existing Local Unions where s/he deems such action necessary or advisable, and such authority shall not be limited by any other provision of this Constitution or of the Uniform Local Union Constitution.

Section 2

Neither this Union nor any subordinate body thereof shall be established or maintained on any racial, religious, national, or other discriminatory or restrictive basis; nor shall membership in this Union or any subordinate body thereof ever be conditioned or limited upon the basis of such discriminatory considerations. Mail Handler officers, agents, and members shall not discriminate against any specified group on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental handicap, place of national origin, or political affiliation.

Section 3

All Local Unions and other subordinate bodies shall be responsible for timely payment of such per capita tax and assessments as are levied in accordance with this Constitution. Any Local Union or other subordinate body which becomes sixty (60) days in arrears in the payment of per capita tax or assessments may have its charter suspended. Before implementation, notice of such proposed suspension, including amounts allegedly owed and the method of computation, shall be served upon such bodies. This notice shall be appealable to the National Executive Board within thirty (30) days; the Board shall, in turn, render its decision within thirty (30) days of receiving the appeal during which period the charter shall remain in effect.

Section 4

No Local Union affiliated with this Union may dissolve, disaffiliate, or secede while five (5) or more regular members desire to continue the Local Union in existence; and all funds, assets, and property, real and personal, of a Local Union shall remain in the Local Union as long as it continues in existence. In the event of the complete dissolution of any Local Union or its disaffiliation or secession by unanimous vote or otherwise, all the funds, assets, and properties, real and personal, of the Local Union shall revert to this Union. No subordinate body other than a Local Union may dissolve, disaffiliate or secede except in accordance with its affiliation agreement and Constitution.

Section 5

Under no circumstances shall any Local Union or subordinate body of this Union distribute its funds, assets, or properties, or any part thereof, individually among its membership.