Convention Call 2024

We are honored to call the 88th convention of the AFT. The AFT convention is the highest authority of our union and demonstrates union democracy at work. The convention is hereby called to convene at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, on Monday, July 22, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. and will remain in session until such time as it has given full consideration to such matters as legally may be brought before it.

HOST COMMITTEE CHAIR
Zeph Capo, AFT Vice President; President, Texas AFT

REGISTRATION SCHEDULE
George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall B3

Sunday, July 21
1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday, July 22
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, July 23
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.*

Wednesday, July 24
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

*VOTING

To be eligible to vote in the election of officers on Wednesday, July 24, delegates must be registered by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23.

HOUSING AND MEETING SPACE

Housing information is available here to download. Requests for convention center or hotel space should be sent no later than Friday, June 21, to Kitty Owens at 202-879-4514 or kowens@aft.org.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

The AFT will make every effort to assist in ensuring that accommodations in the Houston hotels and in the facilities at the George R. Brown Convention Center are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If a delegate anticipates a special need ensuing from a disability, that should be noted in the Special Accommodations area of the delegate’s online registration. An AFT staff member will contact the delegate to discuss their specific needs. Delegates may also contact Kitty Owens in the AFT Convention, Meetings and Travel Department at 202-879-4514 or kowens@aft.org by Monday, June 24. The AFT will attempt to accommodate any special needs to ensure that delegates can participate fully in convention activities. Early notice is necessary because some accommodations may require significant advance preparation.

REPRESENTATION

The biennial AFT convention is the most important policymaking body of the federation. The vitality and democracy of the union depend upon participation in the convention by delegates from all affiliates in good standing. Important resolutions, constitution and bylaws amendments, and the election of the AFT president, secretary-treasurer, executive vice president, 43 vice presidents and delegates to the AFL-CIO convention will be in the hands of the delegates. Each affiliate should take part in the election and in all other important convention business. Plan now to ensure representation from your affiliate.

Please study the following information carefully. The constitutional provisions for AFT conventions have been adopted to ensure that AFT members are represented in their governing body. Delegates must be nominated and elected according to the AFT constitution and the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (commonly referred to as the Landrum-Griffin Act). The credentialing process must be followed so that the convention officers can be sure that the will of the membership prevails. If affiliate officers and delegates comply with these requirements, they will save themselves and the convention officers time and avoid disappointment.

Please note that throughout this Convention Call, the term “member” refers to a qualified member who is in good standing, and the terms “AFT constitution” and “AFT bylaws” refer to the 2022 AFT Constitution and Bylaws, which may be found at aft.org/about.

HOW TO DETERMINE NUMBER OF DELEGATES

Article VIII, Section 2, of the AFT constitution provides that “One delegate to the convention may be elected by each affiliated local having a membership of 25 or fewer. (For each 100 members or major fraction thereof, one additional delegate may be elected.)” (This formula also applies to members at large of state federations.) Therefore, each local should have representation as follows:

Average Membership
June 2022 through May 2024

A local with more than 550 members can follow the pattern above to determine its delegate strength. Six delegates is not the maximum.

RETIREE LOCALS

Each chartered organization of retired members may elect one delegate to the AFT convention in the manner prescribed by the AFT constitution, Article VIII, Sections 1(a) and 1(d), and shall be entitled to one vote at the convention. Such delegate shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of a delegate except that such delegate shall not be entitled to nominate any candidate for federation office, or cast a vote in the election of federation officers, unless such delegate has been elected to that position by secret-ballot vote.

YOUR DELEGATION CANNOT BE SEATED UNLESS:

1. The credential list of all elected delegates and alternates has been reported to the national office no later than Monday, June 24, 2024, as spelled out in the section herein titled “CREDENTIALS.”
2. Per capita is paid through May 2024 and sent to the national office by Monday, July 1. Affiliates chartered after May up to the start of the convention may secure representation by paying per capita for two months.
3. All other good-standing requirements are met no later than Monday, June 24, 2024, as spelled out in the section herein titled “GOOD STANDING.”

Any challenge or appeals will be referred to Daniel McNeil, AFT general counsel, who will make recommendations with strict constitutional interpretation to the AFT executive council.

GOOD STANDING

Only affiliates in good standing in accordance with the AFT bylaws, Article X, Sections 1 and 2(a), shall be eligible for representation at the AFT convention. To view your affiliate’s good-standing status, log in at aft.org/convention.

Section 1. To be in good standing in the AFT, affiliates must meet the following requirements:
(a) payment of per capita to the AFT on all members, with arrears not to exceed two months, and to the applicable state federation, consistent with its constitution;
(b) current in submission of the affiliate’s annual audit, independent financial review, internal review, or financial statement compilation, along with the required certification letter, in keeping with Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Article IX of the AFT bylaws;
(c) current in submission to the AFT of names and addresses for the principal executive and financial officers;
(d) current in submission to the AFT of the names and addresses of current members of the affiliate’s executive board;
(e) current in submission of a membership roster; and
(f) current in submission of a copy of the affiliate’s up-to-date constitution.

Section 2(a). Only affiliates in good standing shall be eligible for representation at the AFT convention. In order to satisfy such good-standing requirements, and in addition to the deadlines otherwise set forth in the AFT constitution and bylaws, each affiliate must provide the AFT with the information required in paragraphs 1(b)-(f) above no later than 30 days prior to the opening date of the convention.

CREDENTIALS

All affiliates will be sent a credential packet in mid-March containing detailed instructions for reporting elected delegates and alternates to the convention. Affiliates are strongly encouraged to use the AFT’s online registration system, which is convenient, secure and environmentally responsible. Paper credential forms will also be available.

Online system: Presidents of affiliates using the online reporting method may access the system at aft.org/convention. The credential packet will include detailed login instructions. Online reporting must be completed no later than Monday, June 24, 2024.

Paper forms: Presidents of affiliates using the paper reporting method should pay particular attention to the signature requirements. The blue delegate list and the yellow alternate list must bear the signatures of (1) the president and (2) either the secretary or treasurer of the affiliate. All delegate and alternate lists must be returned to the national office no later than Monday, June 24, 2024, by registered or certified mail or any other reliable means, including electronic transmission, that provides proof of receipt.

Delegate and alternate credentials: Approximately three weeks prior to the convention, the AFT will email personalized credential information with a unique QR code to each reported delegate and alternate. Delegates and alternates must present this QR code and photo identification to the credentials committee at registration in order to be seated at the convention.

DELEGATE ELECTION PROCEDURE

As a national union, the AFT is subject to the provisions of the Landrum-Griffin Act. This federal law, as well as the AFT constitution, requires that:

1. Each member shall have a reasonable opportunity to be nominated as a delegate.
2. Each member shall be given notice of the right to make nominations, either individually or through a notice placed in the local publication or on work bulletin boards.
3. Notice of election of delegates shall be mailed to each member at least 15 days in advance of the election.
4. Election shall be by secret ballot.
5. Results shall be published and records (including ballots) kept for one year.

It is not necessary to nominate and elect the full number of delegates allotted, provided that the local passes a rule prior to the nominations setting the number to be elected.

Although many affiliates divide expense allocations equally by common practice, the Labor Department has ruled that expenses need not be distributed equally among the delegates, provided that the rule for allocating the expenses is passed before the nomination of candidates, and provided further that the rule is reasonable and can be uniformly enforced. Using the example previously cited, the rule could provide that the five delegates receiving the highest votes would receive expenses; the remaining five would not. It cannot be left to the discretion of an affiliate officer to decide which five of the 10 would receive the expenses.

The president or other elected union officer may serve as a delegate without a special election provided that:

1. They were elected to office by secret ballot according to provisions of the Landrum-Griffin Act; and
2. The affiliate constitution or bylaws state that one of the duties of office is to be a delegate to the national AFT convention.

COUNCIL OF LOCALS

Locals with fewer than 100 members each may form a council for the purpose of sending one delegate to the AFT convention representing all locals within the council. The total number of members in the council must be fewer than 300. Locals in the jurisdiction of one employer may form a council without size limitation.

Locals that choose to form councils must provide a nomination and election procedure that conforms to the AFT constitution and to the Landrum-Griffin Act as stated above. In addition, they must:

1. Adopt a common resolution no later than Friday, March 22, 2024. The resolution may be worded as follows:
   (Name and number of local), at a regular meeting on (date), 2024, has voted to join the (name of council) for the purpose of sending a delegate to the AFT convention in Houston on July 24, 2024.
2. Hold the election of the council delegate no later than Monday, April 22, 2024.
3. Send to the national office no later than Wednesday, May 22, 2024: copies of the above resolution, a list of locals within the council, the AFT credentials from each local in the council naming the elected delegate, and certification of these credentials, which may be worded as follows:
   (Name and number of local) elects the following member for the office of delegate from the (name of council). In submitting this form, we certify that we have followed the applicable provisions of the AFT constitution and the Landrum-Griffin Act, and that we are the officers duly authorized to submit this form.
   Name of the elected delegate: ________________________________________________
   Address: _________________________________________________________________
   City: ________________________________State: ________________ ZIP: ___________
   _________________________________________________________________________
   Signature of president of local
   _________________________________________________________________________
   Signature of secretary or treasurer of local

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS AMENDMENTS

AFT state federations or locals may submit proposed amendments to the AFT constitution and bylaws to the convention as provided in Article X of the AFT constitution and Article XI of the AFT bylaws. All proposed amendments should include both the current wording and the proposed change. The proposed amendment must be signed by at least two elected officers of the affiliate, certifying that it has been approved for submission to the convention by the executive board or membership of the local, or by the executive board or convention of the state federation, or by the executive council of the AFT. Properly signed proposed amendments may be mailed, emailed in PDF format or faxed to the president, and must reach the national office by Friday, March 15, 2024. Send proposed amendments:

• by email (preferred), to presoffice@aft.org;
• by fax, to 202-869-1933; or
• by mail, to AFT, 555 New Jersey Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20001, Attn: President’s Office–constitution and bylaws amendments.

To be adopted at the convention, constitutional amendments require a two-thirds vote, and bylaws amendments require a majority vote.

RESOLUTIONS

For 2024, all proposed resolutions:

•  Shall be submitted postmarked no later than Monday, June 10, 2024, so that all resolutions can be sent to delegates and affiliates prior to the convention.
• Shall be introduced by locals, state federations or the executive council of the AFT.
• Shall be approved for submission by the executive board or the membership of the local, or by the executive board or convention of the state federation.
• Shall bear the signatures of at least two elected officers of the affiliate introducing the resolution, certifying that the procedure has been followed.
•  Shall bear a title.
•  If properly signed, may be mailed, emailed in PDF format or faxed to the AFT president no later than Monday, June 10, 2024. Send proposed resolutions:
  • by email (preferred), to presoffice@aft.org;
  • by fax, to 202-869-1933; or
  • by mail, to AFT, 555 New Jersey Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20001, Attn: President’s Office–convention resolutions.

Review the AFT’s existing policy resolutions at aft.org/about/resolutions. Direct all questions to the president’s office at 202-879-4400 or presoffice@aft.org.

CONVENTION COMMITTEES

Affiliates will receive committee choice cards for indicating their delegates’ committee choices. Presidents who submit their delegates’ committee choices online do not need to return the committee cards to the AFT. Whether you are using the online system or the committee cards, first, second and third choices of committees should be indicated. Affiliate presidents may submit their delegates’ committee choices online, or may mail or have delegates mail their committee choice cards to the national office, no later than Monday, June 24, 2024. The executive council will be guided by these selections in its assignment of delegates to the committees.

Each delegate who wishes to serve will be assigned to one convention committee and should attend the meeting of that committee. A delegate may request to testify on resolutions, especially those submitted by a delegate’s local, that have been assigned to other convention committees. In order to ensure completion of work, however, only assigned members of a committee may debate and vote on resolutions before that committee.

IMPORTANT 2024 DEADLINES

Friday, March 15            Deadline for submission of proposed constitution and bylaws amendments.
Mid-March                      Credential packets mailed to affiliates.
Monday, June 10           Deadline for submission of proposed resolutions.
Thursday, June 13         Housing deadline.
Friday, June 21              Deadline for convention center or hotel space requests.
Monday, June 24           Credential lists of all elected delegates and alternates must be submitted.
                                        Committee choices of all elected delegates must be submitted.
                                         All good-standing requirements, with the exception of per capita, must be met.
Monday, July 1              Per capita must be paid through May 2024.

GETTING TO HOUSTON

SPECIAL TRAVEL DISCOUNTS

The AFT is pleased to offer discounts from Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines for the 2024 AFT convention in Houston. The two major Houston airports are William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), approximately 10 miles from the convention center, and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), approximately 20 miles from the convention center. If you have questions, please contact the AFT Convention, Meetings and Travel Department at meetingsandtravel@aft.org.

Delta Air Lines will provide a 2 to 5 percent discount on applicable coach fares (excludes basic economy) for flights to and from Houston (IAH or HOU). These discounts are valid for travel July 16-30, 2024. To purchase tickets, visit delta.com. On the booking screen, click on “Advanced Search,” enter meeting event code NM3ED in the field provided and continue with the booking process.

Southwest Airlines is offering discounted fares to and from Houston (IAH or HOU) for AFT convention attendees. This discount is valid for travel July 18-28, 2024. To purchase tickets, visit SWABIZ.com, enter Company ID 99406300 and continue with the booking process.

United Airlines will provide a 2 to 8 percent discount on published fares (excludes basic economy) for flights to and from Houston (IAH only). These discounts are valid for travel July 18-28, 2024. To purchase tickets, visit united.com/meetingtravel, enter offer code ZP6S697299 and continue with the booking process.

TENTATIVE PROGRAM

Subject to change. Visit aft.org/convention for current schedule information. Activities will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center unless otherwise noted.

Saturday, July 20            PRE-CONVENTION ACTIVITIES
4 p.m. – 6 p.m.                  AFT executive council meeting

Sunday, July 21               ARRIVAL DAY AND PRE-CONVENTION ACTIVITIES
TBD                                   Community service event—details to follow
10 a.m. – noon                  Credentials and elections committee meeting
1 p.m. – 7 p.m.                  Convention registration open
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.                  Sergeants-at-arms meeting
4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.       Orientation for new delegates

Monday, July 22              CONVENTION DAY 1
9:30 a.m.                           Opening session
Noon                                 Constitutional amendments committee
1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.             Divisional meetings
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.                  Convention committee meetings
Evening                             Reception for AFT delegates and guests (tentative)

Tuesday, July 23             CONVENTION DAY 2
7:30 a.m.                           AFT Higher Education breakfast
7:30 a.m.                           AFT Public Employees breakfast
8 a.m.                                AFT Nurses and Health Professionals breakfast
8 a.m.                                AFT PSRP breakfast
9:30 a.m.                           General session
12:30 p.m.                         Human rights lunch
2:30 p.m.                           General session

Wednesday, July 24       CONVENTION DAY 3
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.          Nominating session: Candidates for AFT president, secretary-treasurer, executive vice president, vice presidents and delegates to the AFL-CIO convention
10 a.m.                              General session
2 p.m.                                General session
4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.       Election voting

Thursday, July 25           CONVENTION DAY 4
7:30 a.m.                           Women’s rights breakfast
9 a.m.                                General session
2 p.m.                                General session to adjournment