17.05 Appeals before the National Appeals Committee

17.05.01 The accused and the person laying the charge may appeal the decision putting an end to the case rendered by the President of the National Union before the National Appeals Committee; they may not appeal the decision on the basis of the severity of the penalty imposed on the accused;

17.05.02 Provisions of 17.03.17 and 17.03.18 of this Article and the provisions of 17.04.02, 17.04.03 and 17.04.06 of this Article shall apply with the necessary changes being made;

17.05.03 The notice of appeal shall be submitted to the office of the Secretary-Treasurer of the National Union;

17.05.04 Within five (5) days following receipt of the notice of appeal, the Secretary-Treasurer of the National Union shall forward to the accused, the person laying the charge and the Local Union a notice stating the date of receipt of the notice of appeal to which shall be appended a true copy of the notice of appeal;

17.05.05 The Local Union shall then, within five (5) days following receipt of the notice served under 17.05.04, forward to the Secretary-Treasurer of the National Union the full record of the charge;

17.05.06 The Secretary-Treasurer of the National Union shall then forward to the accused, the person laying the charge and the members of the National Appeals Committee the full record of the charge within ten (10) days following its receipt;

17.05.07 The National Appeals Committee shall be composed of nine (9) elected rank-and-file members of the National Executive Board; such members shall designate among their number a person to act as Committee Chairperson;

17.05.08 The National Appeals Committee shall meet in conjunction with meetings of the National Executive Board to proceed with the examination of appeals submitted to it;

17.05.09 The President of the National Union shall set the time and place of sessions;

17.05.10 The National Appeals Committee shall review the decision rendered by the President of the National Union on the basis of the record submitted to the latter. The Appeals Committee may accept or reject the charge but may not modify it; it may not modify the penalty imposed by the President of the National Union; the Committee shall also determine any other issue related to the admissibility of the appeal or the statement of charges;

When the National Appeals Committee deems the charge admissible, it shall refer the case back to the President of the National Union if the latter has not determined the merit of the case;

17.05.11 There shall be no hearing before the National Appeals Committee and its decision shall be final and without appeal.