UNION MEMBER RIGHTS

Bill of Rights — Union members have:

activities

and assessments

discipline.

If your rights have been violated, you must generally first seek relief from you union. If you do not get a satisfactory result within four months, you have the right to sue in Federal court.

Copies of Collective Bargaining Agreements — Union members and nonunion employees have the right to receive or inspect copies of collective bargaining agreements. The Department of Labor is authorized to enforce this right.

Reports - Unions are required to file an initial information report (Form LM-1), copies of constitutions and bylaws, and an annual financial report (Form LM-2/314) with the Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards. Unions must make the reports available to members, who may also obtain them from OLMS. Members are also entitled for just cause to examine the union’s supporting records. That right may be enforced in state or federal court.

Officer Elections — Unions members

have the right to:

protest must initially be made to the union. If the union does not resolve the complaint satisfactorily within three months, the member may file a complaint with the DOL, which will investigate and has the power to sue.

Officer Removal — Local union members have the right to an adequate procedure for the removal of an elected officer guilty of serious misconduct.

Trusteeships — Unions may only be pOlaced in trusteeship by a parent body for the reasons specified in the LMRDA. Members may complain about an improper trusteeship to the DOL or may challenge it directly in Federal court.

Prohibition Against Certain Discipline — A union or any of its officers may not fine, expel, or otherwise discipline a member for exercising an LMRDA right.

Prohibition Against Violence and Intimidation — No one may use or threaten to use force or violence to interfere with a union member in the exercise of LMIRDA rights.