About the UWUA

WHO WE ARE LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OFFICERS HISTORY DIRECTORY CONSTITUTION

OFFICERS OF THE UWUA: NATIONAL PRESIDENT
D. Michael Langford

Mike Langford was elected National President of the Utility Workers Union of America effective December 1, 2006. He had previously held the position of National Executive Vice President, and had been a member of the National Executive Board since March 1998.

Mike is a graduate of the Wayne State University Labor School, and completed labor relations classes at University of Michigan and Michigan State University.

Mike has held a variety of Union offices throughout his career, which began with the Detroit Edison Company in 1978 at the Monroe Power Plant. In addition to his position as UWUA National President, Mike also serves as follows:

  • On the Board of Trustees of CAEL (Council for Adult Experiential Learning), which is a national non-profit organization dedicated to expanding learning opportunities for working adults by developing and managing effective learning strategies and implementing them through partnerships with employers, higher education, government and labor.

  • On the Labor Advisory Board of American Income Life.

  • As Co-Chair of the Steering Committee for the Council on Competitiveness, which is embarking on a path-breaking new Energy, Innovation & Sustainability Initiative. The Council’s vision is to accelerate the U.S. transition to a sustainable energy system.

  • On the Executive Committee for the Center for Energy Workforce Development.

  • As a member of the U. S. Department of Labor Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship.

  • As Chair of the Trustee Board for the National Power for America Training Trust Fund. This multi-employer fund, in partnership with educational institutions throughout the country, is committed to promoting and creating educational opportunities and continuous learning, and will provide state of the art industry-specific training programs that will ensure a highly skilled workforce prepared for current and future technologies.

Duties of the National President:

Section 1-B. The National President shall attend and preside at all National Conventions and at all sessions of the National Executive Board. He/she shall convene regular meetings and special meetings of the National Executive Board whenever necessary, or when requested in writing by a majority of the members of the National Executive Board.

Section 2-B. The National President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of this National Union and shall carry out to the best of his/her ability the decisions of the National Convention. He/she shall interpret the meaning of this National Constitution and his/her interpretation shall be subject to review by the National Executive Board. He/she shall devote full time to his/her office, and he/she or his/her designee shall attend to disputes between employers and employees; adjust differences between local organizations; perform necessary organizing and other works usual to the office of the National President. He/she shall sign all official documents when satisfied they are correct. He/she shall coordinate the activities of the National Executive Vice President, the National Vice President, Regional Directors, National Representatives, and Organizers for the maintenance and improvement of conditions of employment within the jurisdiction of the National Union.

Section 3-B. He/she shall appoint to take effect at the time of his/her appointment, subject to subsequent ratification by the National Executive Board, Regional Directors, National Representatives, Organizers, and other persons necessary to conduct the affairs of the National Union.

Section 4-B. Between National Conventions and sessions of the National Executive Board, he/she shall report his/her acts to the Executive Committee of the Board.

Section 5-B. The National President shall have the authority to direct, suspend, or remove any Regional Director, National Representative, or Organizer or other employee of the National Unionas he/she may deem necessary, subject to the subsequent review and ratification by the National Executive Board. He/she shall fix their compensation subject to subsequent ratification by the National Executive Board.

Section 6-B (1). Whenever the National President has reason to believe that trusteeship action is required and after consultation with the National Union's Executive Committee, the National President may appoint a trustee to take charge and control the affairs of a local union or of an affiliated body in accordance with the provisions of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). The appointment of this trustee is for the purpose of correcting corruption or financial malpractice, assuring the performance of collective bargaining agreements or other duties of a bargaining representative, restoring democratic procedures, or otherwise carrying out the legitimate objectives of the National Union.

Section 6-B (2). The trustee shall be authorized to take full charge of the affairs of the local union or affiliated body. He/she may remove any or all officers and may appoint temporary officers and agents during his/her trusteeship. He/she can take such other action as is in his/her judgment necessary for the preservation of the local union or affiliated body and its interest. The trustee shall report on the affairs and transactions of the local union or affiliated body to the National President. The trustee shall be under the direct supervision and control of the National President.

Section 6-B (3). Upon the institution of the trusteeship, all moneys, books, and property of the local union or affiliated body shall be turned over to the trustee, who shall issue a receipt for them.

Section 6-B (4). The trustee shall be bonded for the faithful discharge of his/her duties relating to the handling of funds or other property of the local union or affiliated body.

Section 6-B (5). The trustee shall take possession of all the funds, books, papers, and other property of the local union or affiliated body for which he/she shall issue a receipt. The trustee shall pay all outstanding claims properly proved, if funds are sufficient. When self-government is restored, the trustee shall return all funds, books, papers and other property to the local union or affiliated body. If, however, the local union or affiliated body is dissolved by the revocation of its charter, then any balance remaining to the credit of the local union or affiliated body shall be forwarded to the National Secretary-Treasurer and shall become the property of the National Union.

Section 6-B (6). Any local union or affiliated body in trusteeship may within ten (10) days from the institution of such trusteeship, appeal to the National Union Executive Committee by written communication addressed to the National Secretary-Treasurer. If an appeal is so filed, the National Executive Committee shall provide for a hearing within thirty (30) days of the filing of such appeal before the National Executive Committee, or a Subcommittee of the National Union's Executive Board selected by the Executive Committee. The decision by the Executive Committee or Executive Board Subcommittee shall be final and binding. The trusteeship shall remain in full force and effect pending the decision of the Executive Committee or the Subcommittee of the Executive Board. However, an appeal of this decision may be made to the National Executive Board or at the National Convention.