IP Jones speaks in support of an amendment raising strike benefits above the level recommended by the Law Committee.

When the Law Committee reached Article 16.2 of the Constitution, covering strike benefits, delegates saw two rare events — the International president supporting an amendment to the Law Committee report, and that same person giving the Convention Chairman a lesson in Robert's Rules.

The committee report raised strike benefits from $125 per week to $130 per week. Paul Pendergast (Local 647) rose to amend the Law Committee's report to $150 per week, with annual increases based on average hourly earnings for the previous year. Shortly afterward, Mark Heimbecher (Local 449, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) amended the amendment, making strike benefits payable on the first day members are out of work rather than the 15th day, as Article 16.2 required.

After some debate, IP Newton B. Jones spoke as a delegate, saying that he supported both the amendment and the amendment to the amendment. Shortly afterward, the question was called, and the amendment to the amendment passed on a voice vote.

However, Convention Chairman Fairley told the delegates that the Law Committee's amended report had been adopted. IP Jones rose on a point of order, and Chairman Fairley referred the matter to Parliamentarian Joe Moreland, who said IP Jones was correct. Fairley asked the delegates to vote on the amendment itself, and then, with a little more coaching from IP Jones, on the report as amended on the floor. Both passed by voice votes.