CLARIFICATION

TO: STATE OFFICERS

FROM: NATIONAL BOARD

There still seems to be some confusion in the field as to the interpretation of the language in Article III Section 3 and Article VI Section 3 paragraph A.3. of the Constitution

The following is the National Board’s interpretation of the meaning of these two articles:

Article III Section 3

Article III Section 3 pertains to positions within the Union.

The language in Article III Section 3 defines when members are prohibited from participation in the Association while serving in managerial or supervisory positions. The Board understands this article to say that any member who is serving or has, within one year, served in a management or supervisory position may not hold an elected or appointed position in the Union. The board interprets this as not serving as President, Vice President or as any other officer/steward in the Union, whether elected or appointed. Further, those individuals that have served in those management or supervisory positions shall be prohibited from holding any elected or appointed union position for a period of one year.

To further clarify, the Board explained in the January 2009 issue of The National Rural Letter Carrier, to ensure the policy would be fair to everyone, and because the Board was asked to define what additional assignments constitute a management or supervisory position, the one year restriction would not take effect until March 1, 2009 for those newly defined positions. Positions previously defined by the Constitution were not affected by the March 1, 2009, date. For example, if you were in one of the newly defined positions that were deemed to be a management or supervisory position prior to March 1, 2009, the clock would not start on the one year restriction until March 1, 2009. Therefore, that individual would become eligible to hold a Union position on March 1, 2010, provided they have not held any of the newly defined management or supervisory positions during the period of March 1, 2009 and March 1, 2010. For the management and supervisory positions already defined by our Constitution [i.e. Acting Supervisor (204B), Officer in Charge (OIC), Postmaster Relief (PMR)] the one year restriction would apply from the last day served in that capacity.  Again this one year restriction provision of the Constitution pertains to Union positions.

Article VI Section 3 Paragraph A.3.

Article VI Section 3 Paragraph A.3 pertains to a member serving as a delegate.

The language in Article VI Section 3 Paragraph A.3 defines the period when anyone seeking to be a delegate to the National Convention cannot serve in a management or supervisory position. So long as the person does not serve in a management or supervisory position from the day they are nominated through the end of the national convention, they are eligible to be elected as a delegate. The year restriction for holding a Union position is only for positions within the Union, not for serving as a delegate.