ARTICLE XIX.

Collective Bargaining Agreements 

Section 1.

Proposals

Before making specific proposals to employers, or representatives of employers concerning the minimum wages, hours and terms and conditions of employment to be incorporated in a collective bargaining agreement, the person authorized to negotiate for the membership shall obtain from the members who will be affected by the agreement information concerning the minimum standards those members are willing to accept.  Thereafter, and unless later changed by the members affected, said persons shall negotiate within the scope of the minimum standards specified.

Section 2.

Committee

There shall be elected a committee from among the members as provided for herein who will be directly affected by a collective bargaining agreement to assist in negotiations.

Section 3.

Ratification

Before the persons authorized to so negotiate for the membership agree to the terms of any collective bargaining agreement, and before any such agreement is executed, the members who will be directly affected thereby, but only those, shall, by majority vote of those voting, authorize the acceptance and execution of the agreement, or a majority of such members may direct further negotiations before a final vote on the employer's offer is taken, as directed by the Executive Board.

Section 4.

If a settlement cannot be reached, the Executive Board shall order a secret ballot to be taken and it shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those members of the Local Union involved in such negotiations and voting to adopt a motion to strike.  The ballot must be "Yes" or "No" written on paper ballots or by approved mechanical device which assures secrecy.  In the alternative, the Local Union Executive Board may conduct such strike vote by referendum mail ballot of the membership involved in such negotiations, in which event it shall also require a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those responding to the referendum mail ballot to authorize a strike.  Strike votes shall not be required where a collective bargaining agreement then in existence authorizes such strike for the purpose of enforcing the terms of such agreement.  Nor shall a strike vote be required for a strike in support of demands that an employer agree to the terms and conditions of an agreement already negotiated on a state, multi-state, multi-area or national, company-wide or area basis.  In such case the Local Union Executive Board, subject to the approval of the General President, may call the strike in support of its position, and may also, with the approval of the General President, terminate such strike.  A strike may be terminated by a majority vote of the involved members voting either by secret ballot or by mail referendum as directed by the Executive Board.

Section 5.

The Executive Board is authorized and empowered to direct that this organization negotiate, execute and administer collective bargaining agreements jointly with our International Union, its subordinate bodies, its affiliated locals, or other labor organizations, and further to obligate this organization to national, area, craft or trade division agreements negotiated and executed by them.  Upon such direction being made, the preceding sections of this Article shall be inapplicable, and provisions in our International Constitution with respect thereto in such matters as negotiations, ratification and strike votes shall apply.

Section 6.

If a settlement cannot be reached in connection with the negotiation or modification of a collective bargaining agreement between the members of this Local Union and an employer after the officers have used reasonable means of achieving a settlement through the process of collective bargaining, the matter shall be subject to the strike procedure, conditions and qualifications set forth in the Constitution.  The Local Union Executive Board may, in its discretion, provide that the strike vote be limited to the members employed in a particular division, craft or place of employment.  In such cases where area-wide, conference-wide or national agreements are involved, it is understood that the specified majorities of the members covered by such agreements must vote to strike as set forth in Article XII, Sections 1 or 2 of the Constitution, and in such event, such strike vote shall apply to this Local Union, irrespective of the individual vote of this Local Union that question.

Section 7.

Every person, whether a member or not, who is directly affected by a collective bargaining agreement negotiated and executed by this organization shall, upon request, be forwarded a copy thereof without charge.  But a reasonable charge shall be made for additional copies.  In the case of agreements to which our Local Union is obligated but does not negotiate and execute, copies shall be available at the principal office for the inspection of any person whose rights are affected thereby.