SEIU Members for Democracy
Your Rights
Union members have certain Federal and local rights based on the nature of their professions and their employment with governmental or private entities.
While we would never attempt to interpret the law, we can offer you links to sites which can help explain your unique rights as a union member and worker.
The Association for Union Democracy
AUD: Your Legal Rights: http://www.uniondemocracy.org/Legal/legalhome.htm
AUD: Union Compliance with Section 105 of the LMRDA: http://www.uniondemocracy.org/Legal/section105.htm
AUD: Union Members Bill of Rights: http://www.uniondemocracy.org/Legal/lmrda.htm
AUD's Legal Resources and Government Agencies page: http://www.uniondemocracy.org/AUDLinks/legalandgov.htm
The Department of Labor
The Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, as Amended: http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/statutes/olms/lmrda.htm
LMRDA Compliance Assistance (union elections, officers, financial reporting, etc.): http://www.dol.gov/compliance/laws/comp-lmrda.htm
Office of Labor Management Standards - LMRDA Union Member Rights: http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/olms/members.htm
Summary of Major Laws at the Department of Labor: http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/lawsprog.htm
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/lawsprog.htm#fmla
The Fair Labor Standards Act: http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/flsa/
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA): http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/compliance_assistance/index.html
Freedom of Information Act: http://www.dol.gov/dol/foia/
Online Public Disclosure Room (union financial reports and collective bargaining agreements): http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/olms/rrlo/lmrda.htm
OLMS Enforcement - Criminal and Civil Actions: http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/olms/enforcement_1.htm
Agencies of the Department of Labor: http://www.dol.gov/dol/organization.htm
DOL Employment Law Guide: http://www.dol.gov/compliance/guide/index.htm
FindLaw
Employee Rights Center: http://employment.findlaw.com/
Discrimination and Harassment: http://employment.findlaw.com/employment/employment-employee-discrimination-harassment/
Wages and Benefits: http://employment.findlaw.com/employment/employment-employee-wages-benefits/
Library of Congress
State and Local Government pages: http://www.loc.gov/rr/news/stategov/stategov.html
(Look here for city and county charters, Merit System Rules)
The National Labor Relations Board (Private Sector Workers)
The National Labor Relations Act: http://www.nlrb.gov/About_Us/Overview/
NLRB Fact Sheet: http://www.nlrb.gov/about_us/overview/fact_sheet.aspx
SEIU
SEIU International Bylaws and Constitution (large PDF file): http://www.seiu.org/docUploads/ConBylaws.pdf
The Labor Managment Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, as Amended (also called the Landrum-Griffin Act), has a detailed and specific Bill of Rights for union members.
These rights include: criticizing the union publicly, picketing, free speech (even with union issues), to vote in fair elections, to hold separate meetings without the union present, to attend all union meetings, to nominate and elect rank and file candidates, to hold secret ballots, to have a fair hearing if accused, to receive a copy of your contract and collective bargaining agreement, and to be informed by your union about the LMRDA.
Unfortunately, the Office of Labor Management Standards only enforces the collective bargaining aspect of the LMRDA.
As stated in the act, union members must sue in district courts to protect and retain all other rights listed in the LMRDA.
Confused? For a good summary of the LMRDA and how it defines your rights, see The Association for Union Democracy LMRDA Bill of Rights page, or the DOL/Office of Labor Management Standards LMRDA Union Member Rights Page.
We support the work of Herman Benson and The Association for Union Democracy.
Please consider signing up as a member of AUD, or making a donation. AUD relies on the individual contributions of union members to carry out their mission to promote a strong, democratic, and honest labor movement. Join or contribute online at www.uniondemocracy.org/Home/joinaud.htm or call 718-564-1114.
Thank a Librarian Today!
Degreed librarians are bound by their professional ethics to protect your First Amedment rights to privacy, free speech, and uncensored, open access to information.
"Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us."—Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, "The One Un-American Act." Nieman Reports, vol. 7, no. 1 (Jan. 1953): p. 20.
