§ 401. — Congressional declaration of findings, purposes, and policy.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 29USC401]
TITLE 29--LABOR
CHAPTER 11--LABOR-MANAGEMENT REPORTING AND DISCLOSURE PROCEDURE
SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 401. Congressional declaration of findings, purposes, and
policy
(a) Standards for labor-management relations
The Congress finds that, in the public interest, it continues to be
the responsibility of the Federal Government to protect employees'
rights to organize, choose their own representatives, bargain
collectively, and otherwise engage in concerted activities for their
mutual aid or protection; that the relations between employers and labor
organizations and the millions of workers they represent have a
substantial impact on the commerce of the Nation; and that in order to
accomplish the objective of a free flow of commerce it is essential that
labor organizations, employers, and their officials adhere to the
highest standards of responsibility and ethical conduct in administering
the affairs of their organizations, particularly as they affect labor-
management relations.
(b) Protection of rights of employees and the public
The Congress further finds, from recent investigations in the labor
and management fields, that there have been a number of instances of
breach of trust, corruption, disregard of the rights of individual
employees, and other failures to observe high standards of
responsibility and ethical conduct which require further and
supplementary legislation that will afford necessary protection of the
rights and interests of employees and the public generally as they
relate to the activities of labor organizations, employers, labor
relations consultants, and their officers and representatives.
(c) Necessity to eliminate or prevent improper practices
The Congress, therefore, further finds and declares that the
enactment of this chapter is necessary to eliminate or prevent improper
practices on the part of labor organizations, employers, labor relations
consultants, and their officers and representatives which distort and
defeat the policies of the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947, as
amended [29 U.S.C. 141 et seq.], and the Railway Labor Act, as amended
[45 U.S.C. 151 et seq.], and have the tendency or necessary effect of
burdening or obstructing commerce by (1) impairing the efficiency,
safety, or operation of the instrumentalities of commerce; (2) occurring
in the current of commerce; (3) materially affecting, restraining, or
controlling the flow of raw materials or manufactured or processed goods
into or from the channels of commerce, or the prices of such materials
or goods in commerce; or (4) causing diminution of employment and wages
in such volume as substantially to impair or disrupt the market for
goods flowing into or from the channels of commerce.
(Pub. L. 86-257, Sec. 2, Sept. 14, 1959, 73 Stat. 519.)
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (c), was in the original ``this
Act'', meaning Pub. L. 86-257, Sept. 14, 1959, 73 Stat. 519, as amended,
known as the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959,
which enacted this chapter, amended sections 153, 158, 159, 160, 164,
186, and 187 of this title, and enacted provisions set out as notes
under sections 153, 158, and 481 of this title. For complete
classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out
below and Tables.
The Labor Management Relations Act, 1947, referred to in subsec.
(c), is act June 23, 1947, ch. 120, 61 Stat. 136, as amended, which is
classified principally to chapter 7 (Sec. 141 et seq.) of this title.
For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 141 of
this title and Tables.
The Railway Labor Act, referred to in subsec. (c), is act May 20,
1926, ch. 347, 44 Stat. 577, as amended, which is classified principally
to chapter 8 (Sec. 151 et seq.) of Title 45, Railroads. For complete
classification of this Act to the Code, see section 151 of Title 45 and
Tables.
Short Title
Section 1 of Pub. L. 86-257 provided that: ``This Act [enacting this
chapter, amending sections 153, 158, 159, 160, 164, 186, and 187 of this
title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 153, 158,
and 481 of this title] may be cited as the `Labor-Management Reporting
and Disclosure Act of 1959'.''
