Landrum-Griffin Act of 1959
The Landrum-Griffin Act of 1959, officially known as the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, was a significant piece of legislation aimed at addressing corruption within labor unions during the 1950s. The act emerged in response to Senate hearings that revealed various improprieties in unions, such as collusion between union officials and employers, violence by labor leaders, and mismanagement of union funds. Key reforms included enhanced oversight of union finances, mandatory financial disclosures, and restrictions on certain labor practices like secondary boycotting and "hot cargo" agreements.
The act also established a Bill of Rights for union members, ensuring their rights to free speech, participation in elections, and fair hearings in disciplinary matters. Additionally, it prohibited individuals with ties to the Communist Party and certain felons from holding union office for a specified period. While it aimed to democratize unions and mitigate the influence of organized crime, the act faced opposition from labor organizations that viewed it as a reinforcement of anti-labor sentiments. Over the years, the Department of Labor has been responsible for enforcing its provisions, reflecting its ongoing impact on labor relations in the United States.
Landrum-Griffin Act of 1959
Identification Federal labor legislation that amended the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) of 1947
Date Passed on September 14, 1959
The Landrum-Griffin Act of 1959 extended the NLRA to encompass the internal affairs of labor unions and to make the unions more democratic by requiring them to increase members’ rights.
The official name of the Landrum-Griffin Act was the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. During the 1950’s, corruption was found in labor unions, and members’ rights were not protected. Senate hearings uncovered instances of numerous improper activities in labor unions, including collusion between employers and union officials, the use of violence by labor leaders, and the personal use of union funds by union leaders. The Landrum-Griffin Act resulted in several reforms, including better control over union funds and a requirement that financial records be retained and that periodic reports be made to the federal government.
The act’s reforms were numerous. Secondary boycotting and picketing of companies that recognized other unions were restricted by the act. The law also outlawed “hot cargo” provisions in collective bargaining (when a neutral employer and a union voluntarily agree that the neutral employer will refuse to deliver union-designated “hot cargo” to another employer with whom the union has a conflict). Regarding arbitration, the act authorized states to process cases that fall outside the domain of the National Labor Relations Board. The influence of the Cold War was also evident in the act: Former members of the Communist Party and former convicts were prevented from holding a union office for a period of five years after resigning their Communist Party membership or being released from prison.
Bill of Rights
The Landrum-Griffin Act also allowed union members to be protected against abuses by a bill of rights, which included guarantees of freedom of speech and elections. Unions must inform their members about provisions of the act. Union members have equal rights to nominate candidates for union office, vote in union elections, and participate in meetings. They may also meet with other union members and express opinions on labor matters. Unions may impose assessments against members and raise dues only if the action is approved by democratic procedures. Also, unions must give members a full and fair hearing of any charges against them.
Impact
The Landrum-Griffin Act helped democratize labor unions and led to better control over the finances of unions in an era when organized crime played a troublesome role in labor relations. However, the act was not without controversy and was not universally supported. Labor unions opposed the act because their leaders felt that it strengthened what they considered the antilabor provisions of the NLRA. In subsequent decades, the office of the secretary of labor enforced certain provisions of the act and delegated authority to the Office of Labor-Management Standards of the Department of Labor’s Employment Standards Administration.
Bibliography
Bellace, Janice R., Alan D. Berkowitz, and Bruce D. Van Dusen. The Landrum-Griffin Act: Twenty Years of Federal Protection of Union Members’ Rights. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1979. This book outlines the many benefits of the act.
Lee, R. Alton. Eisenhower and Landrum-Griffin: A Study in Labor-Management Politics. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1990. This scholarly work deals with the politics of getting the act passed in 1959.
Lichtenstein, Nelson. State of the Union: A Century of American Labor. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2002. Chronicles the rise and decline of American labor unions, examining the 1950’s as an era of increased membership and political activity.
McLaughlin, Doris B, and Anita L. Schoomaker. The Landrum-Griffin Act and Union Democracy. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1979. This volume highlights the ways that the act has led to better union representation of members.