Changsha Civil Workers Union Charter

(September 5, 1922)

Article 1: This union is organized by the civil workers of Changsha and is named the Changsha Civil Workers Union.

Article 2: This union takes as its purpose the improvement of workers' livelihoods and the defense of workers' rights.

Article 3: All civil workers in Changsha who are introduced by one or more members of this union and approved by the committee may become members of this union.

Article 4: When joining the union, members must pay an initiation fee of two jiao, and thereafter pay a regular monthly fee of sixty wen.

Article 5: This union plans to undertake the following matters:

(1) Supplementary schools. (2) Consumer cooperatives. (3) Health insurance. (4) Mutual aid for unemployment. (5) Other necessary matters.

Article 6: The basic organization of this union is the ten-person group. Every ten members shall form a group and elect one ten-person representative, with a term of one year. Within a given locality, for the convenience of unity, several ten-person representatives may elect one or two persons to assume responsibility for communication and liaison.

Article 7: The ten-person representatives' assembly shall elect thirty-seven members to form the committee, with a term of one year.

Article 8: The committee shall be divided into the following five sections: (1) General Affairs Section, with one chief and four deputy chiefs, managing all affairs of the union. (2) Secretariat Section, with one section chief and four secretaries, handling documentary matters. (3) Accounting Section, with one section chief and four accountants, managing financial matters. (4) General Services Section, with one section chief and four general service officers, managing general service matters. (5) Liaison Section, with one section chief and sixteen liaison officers, managing liaison matters. Important union affairs must be decided upon through discussion by all committee members; ordinary affairs may be decided upon through discussion by the respective section chiefs. The duties of the executive committee shall be mutually determined by the committee members.

Article 9: This union may engage a secretary to handle all union affairs, as decided by the general assembly or the committee.

Article 10: The ten-person representatives' assembly is the highest organ of this union. During the recess of the ten-person representatives' assembly, the committee is the highest organ.

Article 11: The ten-person representatives' assembly shall convene once a year. When necessary, it may be convened temporarily by the committee.

Article 12: General membership assemblies have no fixed schedule. When necessary, they may be convened temporarily by the committee.

Article 13: When more than one-tenth of the ten-person representatives express no confidence in a committee member, they may request the committee to convene a plenary meeting of the ten-person representatives. Upon approval by a majority, the committee member may be recalled, and a successor shall be separately elected.

Article 14: The committee has the authority to recall a ten-person representative, but must obtain the consent of the majority of the members of that representative's group.

Article 15: Members who commit any of the following acts may be expelled by the committee: (1) Violating this union's charter or resolutions of the general assembly or committee; (2) Obstructing the progress of this union; (3) Failing to pay the regular monthly fee for more than three months, except in cases of unemployment or illness.

Article 16: Expelled members shall not receive a refund of any fees paid.

Article 17: Only the ten-person representatives' assembly has the authority to amend this charter.

Article 18: This charter shall take effect from the date of its approval by the ten-person representatives' assembly.

Names of the committee members are as follows: Huang Zhixin, Zhu Hansheng, Bao Haiyun, Ren Shude, Dong Xianbo, Shu Yulin, Ou Yuexuan, Ren Shujie, Li Guisheng, Chen Zilin, Luo Zipei, Mo Zilin, Luo Yougui, Peng Yingqi, Wang Degui, Sheng Shaoyuan, Zhu Shusheng, Chen Chunhe, Chen Shusheng, Liang Xingcun, Qiu □sheng, Liu Jiheng, Liu Chunsheng, Yuan Dongsheng, Zhang Yousheng, Cai Guoqing, Yuan Fuqing, Huang Qing□, Yang Futao, Guo Bingsheng, Wu Jujie, Luo Xianzheng, Huang Shaomei, Zhu Youfu, Wang Zifu, Liao Chunting, Huang Songquan, Huang Meixian, Ren Shumin, Dai Lancheng.