Labor Working Group Charter

Rechartered: 2022-03-27

Article I: Name

The name of this group shall be the Madison-Area Democratic Socialists of America Labor Working Group, hereafter Labor Working Group (LWG).

Article II: Scope

The purpose of the LWG shall be to fulfill the following objectives:

  1. Serve as a meeting place for labor activists in our area, to discuss and workshop issues and create connections between and among workers and unionists
  2. Support and promote workplace activism in whatever form it takes; coordinate solidarity efforts with workers’ struggles
  3. Reconnect the Labor and Socialist movements. Train and develop labor activists, helping to guide socialists into labor work and develop worker activists into socialists.
  4. Promote a militant, democratic, socialist perspective on unions, workers’ struggles and labor issues.
  5. Educate the MADSA membership about the labor movement, collective action and unions
  6. Publish outward-facing perspectives in the local community
  7. The LWG shall report to MADSA and its Executive Committee.

Article III: Membership and Voting

  1. LWG meetings shall be open to all DSA members in good standing; LWG may not prevent a DSA member from attending LWG meetings. Any membership-related issues are to be brought to the MADSA Executive Committee. As a body of MADSA, LWG is subject to the Harassment-Grievance process.
  2. Only DSA members who have attended at least two (2) LWG meetings in the past six months or are members of a labor organization (union, workers’ center, organizing drive, etc.) are to be considered voting members of LWG. 
  3. A list shall be kept by the LWG Steering Committee (SC) of voting-eligible members of the working group. Non-DSA members are invited to participate in meetings, but are not voting members of LWG.
  4. LWG will make decisions in a democratic manner, voting on what actions they take. Any member may call for a vote on any decision. A simple majority will suffice for any decision. In the event of a tie, the co-chairs will make the final decision. If they cannot reach consensus the measure shall fail, or continue discussion and revote.
  5. LWG will strive to have one Steering and one member meeting per month.

Article IV: Leadership

  1. LWG shall elect a Steering Committee (SC) from its membership consisting of two co-chairs and up to three (3) at large members. The co-chairs shall be responsible for coordinating the work of the group, including ensuring regular meetings of the steering committee and of the working group, and communicating with the MADSA Executive Committee.
    1. Co-chairs are limited to two (2) consecutive one-year terms, but may run for as many terms total as they like
    2. At least one co-chair should be a non-cis male
  2. Elections shall be held annually, ideally after the adoption or extension of LWG charter.
  3. Voting in leadership elections shall be open to all LWG members, as established in Article III.
  4. Vacancies on the SC shall be filled by the steering committee or a process they determine.
  5. Recall of steering committee members shall be conducted through the Executive Committee of MADSA

Article V: Finances

  1. A budget for LWG shall be submitted at the time of charter and upon successive rechartering.
  2. LWG finances are to be handled through MADSA’s Treasurer and should not be independently managed. Any funds raised by LWG shall be submitted to MADSA’s Treasurer; funds submitted are not for MADSA general purposes and are to be added to LWG’s ledger. MADSA’s Treasurer must disperse allocated funds as directed by LWG.
  3. LWG’s SC may spend up to $100 at a time on working group activities as they deem fit. Larger expenditures must be voted on by LWG membership.

Article VI: Amendments

Amendments to these bylaws are to be considered at a meeting preceding a rechartering application to the MADSA membership. A two-thirds vote of 25% of the LWG voting membership will be needed to amend these bylaws. Amendments shall not take effect until after LWG has been rechartered by the MADSA membership.

Article VII: Terms of Charter

  1. To last for six months after the adoption of this charter, or until the 2020 MADSA Convention Meeting, whichever is longer.
  2. LWG will be governed by the bylaws of DSA Madison, which describe in detail the operation and leadership selection of Working Groups.
  3. For the duration of this charter, LWG shall be empowered to represent itself as MADSA in creating events and materials. Written statements shall be brought to the MADSA Executive Committee for approval.