5.03 Transfers and Withdrawals

5.03.01 The National Executive Board shall establish rules and procedures for the transfer of the membership of a member of the Union who changes employment from the jurisdiction of one local to another.

5.03.02 The transferred members shall not be required to pay an initiation fee if the transfer is initiated not later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of their change in employment.

5.03.03 The member shall be granted such transfer if the member is in good standing.

5.03.04 A withdrawal card shall be issued by the Local upon application of a member in good standing leaving the jurisdiction of the Union. Should the holder of a withdrawal card later return to the jurisdiction of the Union, the initiation fee shall be waived if such card is presented to the Secretary of the Local having jurisdiction of the members within thirty (30) days of the return to the Union's jurisdiction. Failure to present the card within the time limit specified herein shall void the rights and privileges granted by such withdrawal card.

5.03.05 The National Union shall supply transfer and withdrawal cards to local unions at uniform costs for issuing to local members in good standing upon proper application.

5.03.06 Members of the Union who are or may be retired for any reason or who are, or may be on leaves of absence from their employment, may choose to be associate members. An associate member will not have voting rights and will not be required to pay dues, except in cases provided for under Article 5.03.07.

Retired members may join retirees organizations formed under terms established by the National Executive Board but may not continue as active members, except in cases provided for under Article 5.03.07

5.03.07 Locals, for historical reasons, or for reasons specific to their workplace, have the option of including in their By-laws special membership categories for retired members, unemployed members, freelance members and proprietor members. The Local may outline rights and responsibilities for such membership categories, which may include some or all of the following:

- the right to attend Local meetings;
- the right to vote at Local meetings;
- the obligation to pay dues at a special category rate;
- the right to vote on the allocation of money collected from their own category.

5.03.08 No member in one of the above special categories, other than freelance, will participate in any vote connected with a specific collective agreement, e.g. ratification vote, strike vote.

5.03.09 Special category members may be exempted from paying per capita to the National Union. But, special category members must be paying per capita dues to the National Union to be eligible to:

- vote in Local elections;
- hold Local office;
- be selected as a voting delegate to the CEP convention
- be selected to represent CEP at CLC conventions;
- vote on any matter concerning the allocation of the Local’s general funds.