DISCLAIMER: These are plain-language summaries of the full bylaws, and are intended to provide a brief simplified version of the bylaws, not for any formal or legal use. 

1. Name 

The Caltech Grad and Postdoc Union (referred to previously as Caltech Graduate Student Workers and Postdocs United, C/GPU)  is UAW Local No. 2478.

2. Constitution and Bylaws

The Caltech Local Union 2478 follows the International UAW Constitution, and these bylaws are subordinate to that constitution.

3. Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Caltech Union begins on January 1 and ends on December 31.

4. Membership & Membership Meetings

In Short: This section defines who can be members, sets member dues at 1.44% of gross pay, establishes a $10 initiation fee, outlines membership rights and responsibilities, and provides rules for monthly meetings.

5. Administrative Structure

In short: Members are the highest authority, followed by the Executive Board between meetings, with the President having administrative authority between board meetings.

6. Local Union Officers

In short: There are nine executive officers with three-year terms, and set procedures for filling vacancies.

7. Executive Board

In short: The Executive Board consists of executive officers plus two Head Stewards, meets bi-weekly, oversees decision-making including grievance arbitration, and allows member observation except during confidential matters.

8. Bargaining Team

In short: Establishes an 11-member team with diversity requirements, keeps bargaining sessions open to members, requires regular reporting, and membership ratification of demands and contracts.

9. Stewards

In short: Defines stewards’ roles in organizing and representation, establishes Head Stewards, creates a Steward Council, and outlines the steward area system with election procedures.

10. Standing Committees

In short: There are 15 standing committees with chairs elected by committee members and meetings open to all members except during confidential matters.

11. Attendance Requirements  

In short: Executive Board members, Bargaining Committee members, or Stewards missing two of three consecutive meetings without excuse will be removed from office.

12. Election Committees 

In short: A three-member elected committee supervises all elections and votes, serving one-year terms with rules to ensure fairness.

13. Local Union Elections

In short: Details officer election procedures including nominations, campaign rules, secret ballots, and requirements for reporting results.

14. Eligibility for Elected Office

In short: Sets membership requirements for candidates, limits Executive Board service to six years, and requires steward candidates to be from their area.

15. Recall

In short: Outlines process for removing stewards or officers through petition (30% signatures) and two-thirds majority vote.

16. Referendum

In short: Allows members to vote on Executive Board actions through petition (20% signatures) and vote (30% participation and two-thirds majority).

17. Appeals

In short: Establishes processes for members to appeal decisions, starting locally and potentially reaching the International Executive Board.

18. Budgets & Finances

In short: Requires annual budget, regular financial reports, and approval processes for expenses including travel reimbursement.

19. Personnel Committee & Staff Hiring

In short: Creates a committee to manage union staff, with policies on neutrality toward staff organizing and compensation limits.

20. Bylaws Amendments Procedure

In short: Establishes a three-member committee and details the process for proposing, reviewing, and approving amendments (two-thirds vote required).

21. General

All officers, committees, and members must return union property when their duties end.

22. Strikes

Strikes may only be called in accordance with Article 50 of the International UAW Constitution.

Appendix 1: Steward Areas

Steward areas correspond to academic divisions on campus.