Landrum Griffin Act also is known as labor management reporting & disclosure act of 1959 is labor law that sets regulations for internal affairs of labor unions. 4 min read updated on January 01, 2024
The Landrum Griffin Act, also known as the labor management reporting and disclosure act of 1959, is a labor law that sets regulations for the internal affairs of labor unions, and their official's relationships with employers. The main intention of this act is to ensure that union practices are just and fair, and do not exploit members or use the union as a tool for criminal activity.
The main events in the timeline of the act are outlined in order below:
Following the 1959 introduction of the Landrum-Griffin Act, several changes were introduced. The number of amendments was extensive, but perhaps some of the most notable involved the U.S. state labor boards and courts being given jurisdiction over cases that were rejected by the board and any unethical, unlawful processes that involved one business manipulating another into acting a certain way (hot cargo agreements and secondary boycotting for instance) were outlawed.
The new laws aimed to protect the rights of employees from unfair practices by either their union or their employer. To this end, the Landrum-Griffin Act protects the union membership rights of employees from unions, and the National Labor Relations Act protects the rights of employees from unfair practices by unions or employers.
This topic is quite extensive and not all points are relevant to all businesses. For further reading on the changes introduced by the act, and the industries affected, refer to the National Labor Relations board breakdown.
The Act covers matters relating to the relationship between a union and the members within it. It protects the rights of union members against potentially corrupt or exploitative unions and employers.
The Landrum-Griffin Bill of Rights
Under a separate area of this new legislature, a code of conduct was established which guaranteed union members certain rights within their union and set reporting requirements for the involved parties (union officers, unions, consultants, and employers). The administration of these provisions was assigned to the Department of Labor.
The Landrum-Griffin Act established a Bill of Rights for union members. This bill outlines:
Actions Against Unethical Behaviors
Following offenses of corruption, and the uncovering of ties between labor and organized crime, President Eisenhower and Senator John. L. McClellan were insistent that the new law was needed to help ensure that unions were more honest and democratic in their operation. New actions to promote honesty included issuing penalties against:
A strict ban on secondary boycotts was also introduced.
Title I of the Landrum Griffin Act mainly discusses the fair treatment that the Act expects, and enforces, for employees and union members. This treatment includes:
The second title of the Landrum Griffin Act deals with the union's management of finances, and mainly exists to prevent any incorrect use of monies or criminal behavior. It states that unions must have constitutions and bylaws and should file copies of each of these with the U.S. Secretary of Labor. Any potential conflicts of interest between a union officer or employee's personal situation and the union duties must be disclosed.
The title specifies several reports that unions must file:
Other reports must be filed that lay out the financial position of the union. These should include:
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