Convention Call Sixty-First Convention
Fellow ATU Members:
In compliance with the Constitution and General Laws of our Union, I am notifying you that the Sixty-First Convention of our Union will convene at the New York Hilton Midtown, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, on Monday, August 18, 2025.
Basis of Representation
The basis of representation regulating the election of delegates to the Convention is found in the following sections of the Constitution and General Laws:
Section 6.4 Representation; LU. The basis of representation to the Convention shall be one (1) delegate for each LU [Local Union] having three hundred (300) or fewer members. An LU having three hundred and one (301) up to six hundred and fifty (650) members shall be entitled to two (2) delegates. An LU having six hundred and fifty-one (651) up to nine hundred and fifty (950) members shall be entitled to three (3) delegates. An LU having from nine hundred and fifty-one (951) up to twelve hundred and fifty (1,250) members shall be entitled to four (4) delegates and for each additional four hundred (400) members or fraction thereof, shall be entitled to one (1) additional delegate. In totaling membership, only those in good standing for the month of May preceding the Convention are to be counted. In case special Conventions are called, the basis for representation shall be the membership in good standing for the month in which the call for the Convention is issued.
NOTE: In accordance with Section 6.4, representation of local unions will be based on the membership of the local in good standing for the month of May preceding the Convention. Accordingly, credentials cannot be forwarded to locals until the May 2025 monthly membership report has been received at the International office.
Section 6.5 Representation; JBC. The basis for representation to the Convention by a JBC [Joint Bargaining Council], formed for collective bargaining purposes pursuant to Section 24 of [the] Constitution, shall be one (1) delegate, except that a JBC representing more than five thousand (5,000) members shall be entitled to two (2) delegates. A JBC representing more than twelve thousand (12,000) members shall be entitled to three (3) delegates. No member represented by the JBC who is, by virtue of office in the LU or otherwise, a delegate from the member’s LU shall be eligible to serve as delegate from the JBC. Delegates from a JBC shall not have the right to vote in the election of international officers unless elected by secret ballot vote among the membership represented by the JBC. The provisions of [the] Constitution relating to delegates from LUs shall also govern delegates from a JBC unless clearly inapplicable.
Section 6.6 Representation; CC (ATU Canada). The CC [ATU Canada] shall be entitled to one (1) delegate. No member of a Canadian LU participating in CC [ATU Canada] who is, by virtue of office in the LU or otherwise, a delegate from the member’s LU, shall be eligible to serve as delegate from CC [ATU Canada]. The delegate from CC [ATU Canada] shall not have the right to vote in the election of international officers. The provisions of [the] Constitution relating to delegates from the LUs shall also govern the delegate from CC [ATU Canada] unless clearly inapplicable.
Delegates
Section 6.7 Delegates. The election of delegates must be held at least six (6) weeks previous to the Convention. A member, to be eligible to run for delegate, must have been a member in continuous good standing of the member’s LU the two (2) years next preceding the day of the nomination meeting. When an LU has not been in existence for the two-year period, the LU shall elect its other delegates from among its members.
Except where, pursuant to Section 14.2 of [the] Constitution, a meeting attendance requirement is imposed as a condition of eligibility for such an office, the president-business agent, FS/BA, or RS/BA where applicable, shall, by virtue of office, be the first (1st) LU convention delegate and the FS (president in LUs where the president is not BA) shall, by virtue of office, be the second (2nd) LU convention delegate and the election ballot shall in each instance so state.
Except where, pursuant to Section 14.2 of [the] Constitution, a meeting attendance requirement is imposed as a condition of eligibility for any such office, an LU may provide in local bylaws that local officers and executive board members may be delegates to Conventions of the ATU by virtue of their office. In such case, where the number of executive board members exceeds the number of convention delegate positions allocated to the LU under Section 6.4, the LU shall designate by position and limit the number of delegates elected by virtue of their offices to the total number of delegate positions. The remaining executive board members shall be elected to numbered positions as alternate delegates for purposes of filling vacancies and any additional delegate positions to which the LU may finally be entitled under Section 6.4. The local officers and executive board members elected as delegates and alternate delegates by virtue of their office under the LU bylaws shall represent the LU as convention delegates to the extent of the available positions. Where LU bylaws provide that local officers and executive board members may be delegates to Conventions of the ATU by virtue of their office, the ballot must state “and Convention Delegate” or “and Alternate Delegate,” as appropriate, after each such office.
Section 6.8 Alternates. LUs shall provide in their bylaws for the election of alternate delegates to the Convention by secret ballot, provided that nothing herein shall prohibit LUs from providing in their bylaws that LU officers may serve as alternate delegates by virtue of their office unless and except where, pursuant to Section 14.2 of [the] Constitution, a meeting attendance requirement is imposed as a condition of eligibility for such an office.
Section 6.9 Disqualifications. Members who have voluntarily left the service in which the LU, JBC, or the IU is engaged shall not be eligible as delegates to a Convention of this Union, and no member elected as a delegate who has left the active service for reasons other than retirement upon pension shall be seated or serve as a delegate to a Convention of this Union.
Section 6.15 Excused Absences. The policies, laws, and plans for the direction of this Union shall be adopted and put into force from time to time by direction of the regular Conventions of this Union, and it shall be the duty of each and every local of this Union to be represented at these Conventions by one (1) or more delegates. No LU shall be excused from being represented except from distressed conditions, owing to lockouts, strikes, or causes of that kind. In such cases, the LU affected shall apply to the IP no later than the tenth (10th) of May in the year in which the Convention is held for permission to be excused from sending delegates to the Convention. The IP shall investigate and rule upon such applications. Unless excused by the IP, all LUs shall be represented as this Constitution provides.
Credentials
Section 6.10 Credentials. Each delegate shall establish their claim to a seat by credential signed by the president and RS [recording secretary] of the LU the delegate represents, with the seal of said LU attached. LUs shall send names of the respective delegates and alternates elected to the international office of the ATU at least four (4) weeks prior to the date of the Convention. Credentials shall be given to each delegate elected, signed by the president and RS, and the seal of the LU attached thereto.
Section 6.14 Financial Requirements. Delegates shall not be entitled to a seat in the Convention unless all taxes and assessments of their LU have been paid in full.
Resolutions
Section 6.16 Resolutions. Resolutions contemplative of amendments to the Constitution and General Laws of the IU shall first be approved by the LU and bear its official seal and then shall be forwarded to the international office in time to be in the hands of the IP not later than the first (1st) of August in the year in which the Convention is held. Such resolutions so received by the IP shall be printed and placed in the hands of convention delegates at the opening of the particular Convention at which said resolutions are proposed to be presented. All resolution(s) received by the first (1st) of April in the year in which the Convention is held will be published in the April/May/June issue of In Transit in the year in which the Convention is held. No resolution contemplative of amending the Constitution and General Laws, except as herein provided, shall be considered by Conventions, except on permission or direction by a vote of two-thirds of the delegates present.
Voting
Section 6.11 Voting. Each delegate shall be entitled to one (1) vote, no proxy votes being allowed.
Expenses
Section 6.13 Delegate Expenses. The IU shall pay one thousand and five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) to each LU, JBC, and CC [ATU Canada] towards the mileage and legitimate expenses of an LU, JBC and CC’s [ATU Canada’s] first delegate and an additional one thousand and five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) to an LU, JBC and CC [ATU Canada] sending two (2) or more delegates. The IU shall pay an additional one thousand and five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) to each LU with three hundred (300) or fewer members towards delegate expenses. All other mileage and legitimate expenses for delegates shall be borne by the LU, JBC and CC [ATU Canada] they represent.
NOTE: Pursuant to Section 6.2, the General Executive Board has enacted to require payment of a registration fee of $195 for each delegate and guest ($50 for guests under 12 years of age).
Headquarters
The headquarters for the Convention will be the New York Hilton Midtown, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. Information about hotel reservations, registration, and other important details will be mailed at a later date.
Hotel Rates
The Convention hotel is the New York Hilton Midtown. The daily guest room rate is $269. The daily rate includes all mandatory fees. Information about hotel reservations, registration, and other important details will be mailed at a later date.
Transportation
Delegates must make their own arrangements for transportation individually or in groups.
Attendance
I call to the attention of each local union Section 6.15 of the Constitution, which provides that it shall be the duty of every Local Union to be represented at the Convention by one or more delegates.
Value of Attending
The laws and policies of this Union are amended and adopted by the Conventions of our Union. It is essential that all of our local unions recognize the importance of the coming Convention and arrange to send delegates. I, therefore, look forward to seeing all Local Unions and Joint Bargaining Councils represented by full delegations.
In solidarity,
John A. Costa
International President