Ethical Aspects of Union Policy and Conduct

Abstract

The legislative findings providing the basis for the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) of 1959 brought to light a great variety of improper activities by unions and union officers. To persons familiar with the his tory of American trade-unionism, there was little, if anything, new in these revelations. From time to time, from the begin ning of unionism, there have been some labor leaders who have robbed and plundered and who have regarded the union as their private domain. The major underlying factor appears to be that as a union grows in power and membership, control of its policies passes from the man at the bench to paid union officials. Although this power transfer is not to be regarded as something contrived by power-hungry officers, it does lend itself to mal practice by unscrupulous union officials. The national unions themselves, and particularly the American Federation of Labor- Congress of Industrial Organizations, have tried to impose re form by constitutional amendment and by drawing up codes of ethical practices. However, because of the structure of Ameri can unionism, enforcement of these codes is difficult. The article suggests that the LMRDA, which makes fair practices by unions the law of the land and which incorporates many of the features of the unions' own reform measures, can aid in this reform.—Ed.