Article I: Purpose
The purpose of Labor United Educational League (LUEL) is to develop trade unions from their present antiquated & stagnate conditions into modern powerful labor organizations capable of waging successful warfare against capital.
LUEL is flatly opposed to our present pitiful policy of yellow unionism through the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) & advocates affiliation with the militant international trade union movement known as the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).
Article II: Membership
Membership will consist of all wage workers and their labor organizations regardless of race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, or craft who accept our program of class-oriented trade unionism.
Members of LUEL shall consist of those wage workers who are interested in supporting the mission and objectives of the LUEL. These members shall consist of wage workers who fulfill any one of the following criteria:
- Are active members in good standing of nationally recognized trade unions (NLRB Certified).
- Actively working to organize their workplaces.
- Not yet involved in a union, but wish to get involved in class-oriented trade unionism.
Membership Dues: Membership dues shall be set at $25 annually and are subject to change no more than once yearly by LUEL National Executive.
Article III: National Congresses
LUEL shall hold National Congresses yearly or at such times and places as may be determined on by the preceding conferences. The National Leadership of LUEL shall be elected by attending delegates at such National Congresses.
Delegates shall be elected by LUEL chapters at a proportion of 1 delegate per 3 active chapter members.
Article IV: Organizational Structure
All governing bodies shall attempt to operate using Robert’s Rules of Order. A simple majority is all that is required for a motion to pass.
Section 1: National
The governing body of LUEL is the National Congress.
When the National Congress is not in session, the National Committee* shall execute the general policies of LUEL. The National Committee shall meet three times in a given year. The National Committee shall consist of the National Secretary, Assistant National Secretary, Financial Secretary, and Recording Secretary and a National Committee composed of the 5 Secretaries* of the National Industrial Sectors specified below, and the Regional Officers.
When the National Committee is not in session, the National Executive* shall execute the general policies of LUEL. The National Executive shall consist of the National Secretary, Assistant National Secretary, Financial Secretary, and Recording Secretary. It shall meet as often as necessary.
The National Secretary shall be the chair of the National Committee, and National Executive. The National Leadership (National Committee and National Executive) shall be elected by the National Congress, serving until the next National Congress. The Industrial Secretaries shall be elected by their respective sections during the National Congress. All good-standing members of recognized trade unions and labor organizations shall be eligible for the offices of the National Committee. Good-standing is to be interpreted as “has not violated provisions of this constitution or of their respective unions”.
Trade Sectors: Nationally LUEL shall consist of the following five industrial sections: Mass Production, Transportation, Service, Industrial & Retirees. These sectors shall consist of, but is not limited to, the following trades:
Mass Production: Food Processing, Textile, Manufacturing, Warehouse, Printing.
Transportation: Shipping (USPS, UPS, Fed Ex, Longshoreman, etc.), General Transport, Railroad, Transit.
Service: Retail, Food Service, Public Service, Healthcare, Education.
Industrial: Building Trades, Mining, Mechanical, Utility, Communications.
Retirees.
Each of these national industrial educational sections shall consist of militant workers from all the recognized trade unions in their respective spheres. Each of them shall have a secretary on the National Committee. Locally—when membership level allows—LUEL shall follow the same general scheme of organization, the four different regions choosing secretaries and specializing themselves according to the above-named industrial sections.
Sub Section 1: Removal for Cause
Each member of the National Committee can be removed for cause, up to and including, excessive absence without explanation, refusal to carry out organizational responsibilities, theft of LUEL resources, money, or property, ideological differences with policies agreed upon by the majority of the organization, working to the benefit of the bosses, working as an agent of the police, or strikebreaking. It is understood that officers of LUEL are held to a higher standard of discipline than the membership because of the trust that has been vested in them by LUEL.
Sub Section 2: Order of Succession
In case of the Removal of the National Secretary from office, or of their Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of said Office, they shall be replaced by the Assistant National Secretary. The Assistant National Secretary shall be replaced by the Financial Secretary, and in the case of an absence of the Recording Secretary the National Secretary or Assistant National Secretary shall fulfil their duties until a replacement has been elected.
Section 2: Regional
LUEL shall consist of four regions: East, Midwest, Pacific, South. Once a region has at least three individual chapters a Regional Officer* will be appointed by the National Executive.
Section 3: Chapters
Chapters are expected to hold monthly meetings to be attended by their Executive Committee*, (Chair, Vice-Chair, Recording Secretary, Press Secretary and Membership Secretary), and general body. Additionally, the executive committee will meet separately monthly to establish the Agenda for the following general meeting. The Chapter meeting Agenda shall follow the template approved by the National Executive. In both meetings a simple majority shall constitute a quorum. In addition to monthly meetings, each chapter shall be required to organize at least one in person action every three months. All National Executive officers shall be invited to chapter meetings.
* All LUEL Officers shall have their roles defined in the Position Manual approved by the National Committee.
Article V: Activities and Funds
The National Executive will vote to approve expenditures. The National Executive as a whole must approve any expenses over $200. The financial records of the organization are public information and shall be made available to the membership, National Committee members and the public. All fundraisers under the LUEL banner must be approved by the National Executive.
Article VI: Political Activities
LUEL shall support all political policies supporting class-oriented trade unionism.
Article VII: Dissolution of LUEL
Labor United Educational League shall use its funds only to accomplish the purposes specified by these bylaws and no part of the funds shall be distributed to members of LUEL. On dissolution of the organization, any funds remaining shall be distributed to one or more regularly organized and qualified organizations selected by the National Executive.
Article VIII: Amendments to the By-Laws
These by-laws may be amended only by a two-thirds majority at the National Conference.