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 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.

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. If you have more questions on these topics, visit your local library.

"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.

"Intellectual Freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause or movement may be explored. Intellectual freedom encompasses the freedom to hold, receive and disseminate ideas."— ALA Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Q & A.

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/

Unions: http://employment.findlaw.com/employment/employment-employee-more-topics/employment-employee-unions-top/

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)