You understand correctly sir. At the industrial unions the upper leadership at the International levels can not be removed, and yes, the membership has absolutely NO control over the International at all.
True; With AMFA they will have a say so at he National level of officers, by electing who the membership wants in real elections, as well as they can also get/be recalled by the membership. No one is ever appointed except in Emergencies for temp filled positions until elections have time to take place.
With AMFA, the membership even votes on the amount of pay National Officers get. At the industrials, the membership has no say so what so ever, hence, why industrial union leadership is always appointed by the buddy buddy system and they are WAY over paid by hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. Some are paid over 3-500K per year when including all perks, bonuses real estate, pay, awards etc...
Glad you brought these points up as the membership should weigh these internal workings differences of the industrials and AMFA's Class and Craft Union to represent the Mechanics group.