Message from the International Secretary-Treasurer

March 20, 2012

TO: ALL AFSCME LOCAL UNION, COUNCIL AND RETIREE CHAPTER PRESIDENTS

The enclosed material is of EXCEPTIONAL IMPORTANCE.

The material contained in this booklet constitutes the official CONVENTION CALL to the 40th International Convention of our International Union. Please bring the enclosed materials to the attention of the members at your next union meeting.

The Convention will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, California, beginning at 10 a.m., Monday, June 18, 2012. It will continue through Friday, June 22, 2012, unless the business of the Convention is completed earlier.

REPRESENTATION: Local Unions are entitled to by delegates and votes based on membership, as provided in Article IV, Section 6 of our International Constitution. Local Union representation shall be determined from the average per capita tax actually paid to the Federation by each Local Union for the twelve-month period from March 2011 through February 2012. In accordance with Article IV, Section 8, any Local Union chartered after February 2012 shall be entitled to send one fraternal delegate to serve as an official observer without voice or vote. Councils are entitled to one delegate and one vote. Retiree Chapters are entitled to delegates on the basis of membership as provided in Article IV, Section 8. The number of Retiree Chapter delegates will be determined from the average per capita tax actually paid to the Federation by each Retiree Chapter for the twelve-month period from March 2011 through February 2012. Each delegate representing a Retiree Chapter shall be entitled to one vote.

CREDENTIALS: Enclosed are credentials for Local Unions and Retiree Chapters based on average per capita membership paid from March 2011 through the last report received. The number of credentials enclosed is printed on the upper right-hand corner of the mailing label that was used to mail the Call. Upon receipt of per capita tax payments for the entire twelve-month period that forms the basis for representation at this Convention, we will notify you should your Local Union/Retiree Chapter be entitled to more or fewer delegates. Additional credentials will be forwarded to you should your delegate entitlement increase. Since each Council is entitled to only one delegate and one alternate, only one Council credential is enclosed for each Council.

ELECTION OF DELEGATES: When electing your delegates, please carefully follow the provisions in Article IV of the International Constitution and the AFSCME Elections Code. The principal requirements pertaining to the election of delegates are highlighted in the Convention Call and attached material. The earliest date for electing delegates to this Convention was February 19, 2012, unless your affiliate meets less frequently than quarterly. If you have not already held your delegate elections, we ask that you nominate and elect your delegates as soon as possible, complete the credentials, and return the original (white copy) to the International Union. In accordance with the provisions of Article IV, Section 9, credentials must be postmarked no later than May 29, 2012; otherwise they will be deemed irregular and your delegates will not be seated until after the first report of the Credentials Committee.

ALTERNATES: All affiliates are entitled to elect one alternate delegate for each delegate. We have enclosed an Alternate Credential form for Local Unions to report the names of members elected as alternate delegates. At the Convention, we officially register those alternates who attend as alternates (i.e., those attending as alternates, not replacing a delegate). Please review the Alternate Credential Instructions carefully to ensure the proper completion of your Alternate Credential(s). If the need arises for an alternate to permanently replace one of your delegates, this must be done prior to the official close of registration (Tuesday, June 19, 2012, 1 p.m.). Advance notice of this intent will expedite the replacement process at registration. No alternate may replace a registered delegate after registration officially closes on Tuesday, June 19, at 1 p.m.

VOTING: Article IV, Section 7 of the International Constitution permits Local Unions entitled to more than one delegate to send fewer than their quota of delegates and the delegates present may cast the entire vote of the Local Union. The number of votes is divided equally among the delegates actually registered at the Convention, — as of Tuesday at 1 p.m. — with any remaining votes to be cast by the chairperson of the delegation as designated by the
Local Union. No fractional votes shall be permitted.

In view of this constitutional provision, those Local Unions sending two or more delegates are required to complete the Local Union Chairperson and Delegate Certification, identifying the chairperson of the delegation and listing the names of all delegates and alternates. This form can be found on page 47 in this booklet. This Local Union Chairperson and Delegate Certification should be forwarded together with the white copies of the credentials in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. To ensure proper completion of your credentials, please review the enclosed Credentials Checklist on page 51 of the Convention Call booklet.

We look forward to seeing your delegates at the International Convention on June 18 and to their active participation in the work of the Convention.

In solidarity,

Lee A. Saunders,
International Secretary-Treasurer

Enclosures
cc: Local/Council/Retiree Chapter Secretary-Treasurers — without Enclosures