New Bylaws

As an Amalgamated Local Union, we have three units of members that are described in Article 3 of the bylaws: 

• Rank-and-File Unit (Unit 1) includes rank-and-file members who are employees in a State Civil Service classification within Bargaining Unit 10 and a collective bargaining designation of rank-and-file (R 10 or U 10).
• Supervisor Unit (Unit 2) includes supervisor members who are employees in a State Civil Service classification related to Bargaining Unit 10 and designated as supervisory (S 10).
• Manager Unit (Unit 3) includes manager members who are employees in a classification related to Bargaining Unit 10 and designated as management (M 10), exempt (E 10) or otherwise excluded from coverage of the Ralph C. Dills Act, or who promotes into or is appointed to such classification.

Districts are part of our larger, unified statewide local. The members of each Unit are organized into geographic areas called Districts which are based on the zip code of their worksite. The Rank-and-File Unit members are within Districts 1-5, the Supervisor Unit members are in Districts 6-7, and the Manager Unit members are in District 8.  

Each District will have monthly membership meetings and votes on District-specific items such as a Stewards, Head Stewards (including District Chair and District Recording Secretary), and an Elections Committee member. Districts decentralize decision-making, allowing everyday workplace issues to be handled locally, and prevent bureaucratic bottlenecks. Members within each District can also participate in statewide union decision-making processes, which ensures democratic decision-making at every level. This District structure allows locally informed decisions to feed into broader statewide union goals, and empowers members at every level, to have a voice in workplace-specific issues, local District-wide issues, and larger union-wide decisions. This model connects workplace issues to District-level coordination, and union-wide strategy…strengthening our solidarity at every level!

Meeting minutes must be reviewed and approved by the relevant committee or governing body before being released. This prevents the spread of any misinterpretations or incomplete information, it also ensures that the entire committee or governing body has a voice and agrees on how the events of the meeting, discussions, and the decision-making process were captured and memorialized.

Approval of meeting minutes usually occurs at the next scheduled meeting. If a member has questions or needs information before meeting minutes are officially approved, they are encouraged to reach out to committee representatives or other members that were in attendance. Relevant and timely updates from meetings recently held that describe key decisions made will continue to be the practice. 

In CAPS-UAW, both committees and working groups are critical to advancing our goals and power! 

A committee is typically a formal, standing body, established by the union’s bylaws to oversee ongoing responsibilities. Committees usually have defined roles, authority, and structure. 

A working group is usually an informal, temporary group of workers that is created to focus on a specific task, issue, or project. Working groups do not have the same formal authority as committees. Working groups are not included in the bylaws because they are meant to be flexible and adaptable. Unlike committees, which have long-term standing responsibilities, working groups are as-needed and may dissolve once their purpose is complete. Keeping working groups separate from the bylaws allows us to be nimble and responsive to the ever emerging needs of State Scientists.

All elections for the Executive Board and Joint Council (including the Bargaining Committee), as well as Manager District positions, will happen in October 2025, and subsequent elections will take place in May 2028 and every three years thereafter. Elections for the Elections Committee will need to happen prior to the next Joint Council election, and then every three years thereafter. Elections for the Constitution and Bylaws Committee will happen each year. Steward elections will happen in each District as soon as the new bylaws are approved.

There are 11 standing committees that every local union is required to have under the UAW Constitution: Constitution and Bylaws, Organizing, Union Label, Education, Conservation and Recreation, Community Services, Civil and Human Rights, Citizenship and Legislative, Consumer Affairs, Veterans, and Women’s Committee. In addition to the required standing committees, the new bylaws establish one additional committee: the Personnel Committee. The personnel committee will hire and manage paid staff (this was previously the sole responsibility of the President). The Joint Council can establish additional committees to meet the local’s needs.