SECTION 1. The International Executive Council shall meet not less than four times a year at the call of the International President. The International President shall call a meeting of the International Executive Council within thirty (30) days of the receipt by him/her of a written request for such meeting signed by a majority of the members of the International Executive Council.

SECTION 2. When in session, except during an International Convention, the International Executive Council shall be the supreme authority in the International Union.

SECTION 3. The International Executive Council shall have the power to remove any of the officers enumerated in SECTION 1 of ARTICLE IV who, after due trial upon written charges, of which a copy shall be given to the accused at least fifteen (15) days before trial, is found guilty of dishonesty, malfeasance or maladministration, and removal is approved in a referendum by a majority of the members of the International Union. Any officer so removed shall be ineligible to hold any office or appointive position in the International Union or in any Local for a period of three years.

SECTION 4. The International Executive Council shall have the power to fill a vacancy in the office of International Executive Vice-President by appointing one (1) of the International Vice Presidents to be the International Executive Vice President to serve until the next regular Convention. The International Executive Council shall have the power to fill a vacancy in any International office or position on the International Executive Council, other than the office of International Executive Vice-President, by appointing from among its members, an acting holder of the vacant office to hold such office until the next regular Convention. An appointment made pursuant to this section shall carry with it all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of the office and such salary and expenses as pertain thereto.

SECTION 5. A quorum of the International Executive Council shall be a majority of the members. Questions coming before the Executive Council Shall be decided by a majority vote of its members present at a quorum, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution. Any member may demand a roll-call vote on any question.

SECTION 6. The International Executive Council shall maintain in effect an actuarially sound pension plan, paid for in full by the International Union, covering the officers and such full-time representatives of the International Union and such other full-time employees of the International Union as the International Executive Council shall decide to cover as a group. Any member holding an elective position who retires on pension pursuant to such plan, or who elects to take severance benefits under such plan, shall be deemed to have vacated his/her position.

SECTION 7. The International Executive Council shall consider the adoption of an actuarially sound benefit system as a right of membership and may institute same subject to such changes as any Convention may make therein.

SECTION 8. (a) Should the number of good standing members in any Local Union become reduced to the point that, in the opinion of the International Executive Council, the Local can no longer properly perform its functions, the International Executive Council may revoke the charter of such Local, or require it to merge with another Local, or take such other action as it deems advisable.

(b) Where, in the judgment of the International Administrative Committee, merger with another Local is impractical, it may with the approval in writing of a majority of the individual members of the International Executive Council suspend the charter of the Local and constitute its members as a section of the International Union with a status similar to a section of a Local Union. The section may be known, solely for purposes of identification, as an administrative Local with the former Local number. Its members’ dues and initiation fees shall be paid into and commingled with the funds of the International Union. The cost and expense of maintaining an administrative Local shall be borne by the International Union. An International representative shall be assigned to be responsible for the business of an administrative Local, including collective bargaining and grievance handling, assisted by a chairman and a recording secretary elected by its members. The International Executive Council may, at any time, either reinstate an administrative Local to its previous status as a Local Union or transfer its members into another Local, or take such other action as it deems advisable. A newly organized group may, under similar circumstances be constituted as an administrative Local.

SECTION 9. Any Local Union which is dishonest, or culpably negligent or wasteful in its supervision, collection, expenditure, or control of any assets or funds shall be subject to the revocation of its charter or to such other action by the International Executive Council as the Council deems adequate and appropriate under the circumstances. Such conduct on the part of a Local Union is also subject to proceedings instituted by the International President pursuant to SECTION 4 of ARTICLE V.