Article III

Membership

SECTION 1 - This Area Local shall abide by all rules of membership as outlined in Article 3, Section 1 through Section 7 of the National Constitution and Bylaws.

SECTION 2 - Candidates for membership shall be proposed in writing on applications furnished for this purpose. Each application shall be signed by the applicant.

SECTION 3 - Application shall be turned over to the Secretary. All applications will be read by the secretary at the next regular meeting and entered into the minutes.

SECTION 4 - Candidates shall be regarded as members upon the Secretary's receipt of the signed application (PS Form 1187).

SECTION 5 - Any member of this Local who has been promoted within the United States Postal Service to a supervisory position may retain their membership in this Local for the purpose of keeping their hospitalization plan but shall not be eligible to hold any office or to vote or to attend any of the meetings of this local. Also, to retain their membership, they shall pay the National associate dues of $35.00 a year of any dues assessed by the National APWU office.
 

SECTION 6 - The good standing status of a member:

(a) On the dues check-off (DCO) procedure shall not be affected by reason of the fact that his / her paycheck for the payroll period in his / her deductions are made is insufficient to permit such dues deductions, by reason of illness, injury, pregnancy leave, lay-off, or disciplinary suspension.
 

(b) On the cash payee procedure must not be more than three (3) month in arrears for dues and / or assessments. Any member who becomes more than three (3) months in arrears, will be notified by certified letter, signed by the Secretary. Any member who is not paid up to date within thirty (30) days after receiving the certified letter will be dropped from the rolls, except cash payee members who are in a non-pay status.
 

(c) A cash pay member who was dropped from this local for non-payment of dues and/or assessments, to be reinstated, must pay three (3) months dues in advance.

SECTION 7 - Only members in good standing shall have the right to voice and/or vote at meetings or elections, and only members in good standing will have the right to hold office or serve as a delegate for any occasion.

SECTION 8 - New members, upon being accepted, shall receive a copy of the Local's Constitution and Bylaws and a membership card and will be informed by the Secretary who their dues collector will be (if not on dues-check off).

SECTION 9 - Members of this Union who retire from the Postal Service may maintain full membership with all rights of such membership by continuing to pay full per capita taxes to the APWU plus whatever local dues may be required by their local union. They shall receive a ballot from the craft last served while on active duty.