Greetings

Brothers and Sisters:

You are hereby notified that, pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, the 31st Constitutional Convention of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO will convene at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., and will remain in session until the conclusion of business on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

At each quadrennial Convention, we have the opportunity to reflect on our accomplishments over the past four years and follow the compass of our shared values to strengthen our union movement and improve the lives of working families through organizing, political action, coalition building, and increasing state and local power.

At this Convention, let us rededicate ourselves to our mission:

To improve the lives of working families,
To bring economic justice to the workplace
and social justice to the community, and
To unite all New Jersey local unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO
to work together to accomplish this mission.

Thank you for your leadership, support, and the courage to continue fighting for economic and social justice in this, the most diverse state in the United States. We need to move forward, especially in this election year, as champions of inclusion and progressive values. We need to respect each other and we need to work together. In our unity and in our solidarity is our strength.

For more than six decades, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO and its affiliates have worked to achieve a strong unified labor movement. We are extremely proud, as you should be, of our place in New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s history. As we continue to write history together, we look forward to expanding our reach and success as “One State, One Voice, One Labor Movement: Standing Strong and Growing.”

In Solidarity,

Charles Wowkanech
President

Laurel Brennan
Secretary-Treasurer

Representation

In Accordance with the New Jersey State AFL-CIO Constitution:

Article IV, Section 4. – Each affiliated local union shall be entitled to representation according to the following schedule:

Membership of 100 or less – 1 delegate
Example: 100 members – 1 delegate
and

For each additional 100 members or major fraction thereof up to a total 1,000 members – 1 additional delegate
Example: 451 members – 5 delegates
and

For each 1,000 members or major fraction thereof – 1 additional delegate –
Example: 1,501 members – 11 delegates
and

Article IV, Section 4. (a) – The average membership of each affiliated local union in good standing for purposes of representation and roll call voting shall be determined by dividing by 24 the total per capita tax paid for the 24 months of the immediately preceding fiscal years ending December 31, except that a local union affiliated for less than said 24 month period, or which has affiliated subsequent thereto, shall have its average determined by dividing the per capita tax for all months affiliated prior to the Convention by 24 or by the number of months affiliated, whichever is the greatest divisor.

Article IV, Section 4. (b) – Affiliated organizations other than local unions as defined in Section 4 of Article III shall be entitled to two delegates and one vote for each delegate.

Article IV, Section 6. – No organization shall be entitled to representation unless it has applied for and obtained a certificate of affiliation at least one month prior to the Convention.  No delegate shall be seated as a representative of more than one organization.  No delegate from any affiliated organization shall be seated unless the local union of which he/she is a member in good standing shall be affiliated with the New Jersey State AFL-CIO and shall have its per capita tax paid as required by Article IV, Section 4 of this Constitution.

Article IV, Section 18. – No delegate shall be seated who has failed to appear and register before 12:00 noon of the second day, unless permission be granted by a unanimous vote of the Convention. Alternates of such delegates who have registered within time shall, however, be seated in the place of such delegates.

Resolutions/Proposals

Article IV, Section 8. – All resolutions, petitions, memorials and appeals to be considered at the Convention must be received by the Secretary-Treasurer thirty (30) days prior to the opening of the Convention. It shall not be acted upon if submitted thereafter, unless unanimously consented to by the Convention. If properly received for consideration by the Convention, and as soon as practical after receipt thereof, the Secretary-Treasurer shall transmit the same to the President, who shall classify the same as to nature, contents and subject matter, and shall refer the same to the appropriate committee, which committee shall report thereon to the Convention prior to consideration of any such matter by the Convention.

Article X, Section 1. – This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Convention of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. Such amendments shall not be in conflict with the laws, rules and regulations of this body or of the AFL-CIO.

Election of Officers

Article V, Section 7. – Nominations for office shall be made at the morning session of the first day of the Convention at which the election of the officers is to be held, and the election shall take place on the second day of said Convention.