The DC 37 Delegates Council voted Sept. 24 to expand the union's Executive Board. In a voice vote, the delegates overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the DC 37 Constitution to increase the number of vice presidents on the board from 20 to 25.

In other business, Robert Schirmer, chair of DC 37's Laws and Rules Committee and president of Metropolitan Museum of Art Local 1503, will present a new proposed amendment on local union elections at the October delegates meeting.

The proposal calls for local unions to submit their electoral procedures to the DC 37's ethical practices officer two months before they hold officer elections.

The amendment would require these plans to comply with the constitutions of local unions and the parent union of DC 37, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, as well as the AFSCME Local Union Election Manual and applicable law.

The ethical practices compliance officer would issue election rules—subject to the delegates' approval - that should be included in election plans.

The plans should include dates for nominations and elections, election sites and hours of voting, notice of candidates' right to observers, the method for identifying eligible voters, and the procedure for tabulating the vote.

The ethical practices officer would review plans and make suggestions but could not demand changes or mediate disputes. Under AFSCME electoral guidelines, the national union's Judicial Panel has jurisdiction over election protests.

"Even though the amendment is not all-encompassing, it is a significant move forward for DC 37," Mr. Schirmer said. "This proposal is important because it would ensure that local union election processes are public," Mr. Schirmer said. "Consistent with the international union's election manual, enforcement is left up to AFSCME's judicial panel."

Besides expanding the number of DC 37 vice presidents, the amendment approved Sept. 24 allows for the president of the DC 37 Retirees Association to be a non-voting member of the board. The Council Delegates, the highest-ranking decision-making body in DC 37, must approve amendments by a two-thirds vote.

The Laws and Rules Committee introduced the original proposal to expand the Executive Board in the Delegates Council in March; the Board approved it in June.

AFSCME must approve the amendment before it can take effect. After AFSCME acts, DC 37 can set a schedule for nominations and election of the new officers.