CLEVELAND, September 3 — Even though Triennial elections for BLET Divisions won’t be held again until 2015, members are reminded of the 24-month continuous good standing requirement and how it can impact their ability to serve the Brotherhood in an elected office.
Nominations will be held at each Division’s first regular meeting in September of 2015. To be nominated for a division office you must have paid your dues for 24 consecutive months prior to the election. This “24-month rule” includes all dues the member is required to pay.
In other words, only members who have 24 consecutive months of good standing may be nominated to run for office. This means a member must have paid all required dues to any BLET division from August 2013 through August 2015.
However, there is an exception. Those in active duty in a reserve component of the military or the National Guard for a period lasting more than 30 days but not more than 24 consecutive months are not required to pay dues during such period to maintain their continuous good standing.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Constitution provides that members are eligible to run for election only if they are “in continuous good standing . . . and actively employed in the craft . . . for a period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months prior to the month of nomination” (IBT Constitution, Article II, Section 4(a)(1), as codified in the Note to Section 1 – National Division Rules of the BLET Bylaws).
In general, “continuous good standing” means the timely payment of dues for each of the 24 months during the applicable period together with no interruptions in active service during that period.
Should you have any questions about this calculation, please contact the BLET National Division, Office of the National Secretary-Treasurer. Questions involving an interpretation of the BLET Bylaws must be referred to National President Dennis R. Pierce.