September 15, 2017
Advisory on Union Officer Elections and Public Disclosure Reporting in Areas Affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma
Due to Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, the Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) issues this advisory regarding the labor union officer election requirements under Title IV and the reporting requirements of Title II of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA). OLMS recognizes that due to the property damage inflicted by the storms and evacuations from the affected areas, it may be difficult or impossible for some unions to conduct timely union officer elections. Similar difficulties may confront unions, labor consultants and employers faced with public disclosure filing requirements. OLMS issues this advisory for those unions, employers or labor consultants whose principal office is located in the affected areas or whose reportable activities occurred in those areas.
Elections: Affected labor unions must make a good faith effort to conduct elections as required under the LMRDA. The failure to hold an election is an ongoing violation of the LMRDA. OLMS has jurisdiction to file a civil enforcement action concerning a failure to hold a timely election after receipt of a complaint from a union member who has first sought a remedy from his or her union. If OLMS, however, receives a complaint regarding a union’s failure to hold an election, and that failure was attributable to the hurricanes or their aftermath, OLMS will promptly seek a voluntary compliance agreement with the union. The agreement would require the union to hold the election when practicable on a date certain. With such an agreement, OLMS will not seek a civil enforcement action based on the complaint, provided the election is held in conformance with the agreement.
Public Disclosure Reports: Labor unions, labor consultants, and employers affected by the storm must make a good faith effort to file required public disclosure reports. The failure to file a timely and complete report is an ongoing violation of the LMRDA. OLMS has jurisdiction to file a civil enforcement action concerning a failure to meet reporting requirements. OLMS will not, however, pursue a civil enforcement action with regard to a delinquent or deficient report when these reporting violations are attributable to the hurricanes or their aftermath. Unions, employers, and labor consultants wishing to take advantage of this enforcement policy should contact OLMS before the report is due, describe the circumstances necessitating additional time, and provide a date certain by which the report can reasonably be submitted. Under these circumstances, OLMS will not lodge a civil enforcement action to obtain the delinquent or deficient report.
This advisory covers unions, employers or labor consultants whose principal office is located in any area that has been identified as a Designated Area by FEMA to receive individual or public assistance (FEMA categories A and B). To determine whether your county is a designated area, you may review your state site or FEMA's Disaster Declarations page.
Thank you for subscribing to the OLMS Mailing List. We hope that you find this mailing informative. If you have specific questions about OLMS election or reporting rules, please e-mail olms-public@dol.gov.
Last Updated: 9-15-17