Title 22Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§4117 Standards of conduct for labor organizations

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 52— - FOREIGN SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER X— - LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS › § 4117

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Department will only recognize a labor union that is free from corrupt influence and from forces that oppose basic democratic rules. A union does not have to prove this if it follows clear written rules set by itself or by a national or international labor group it belongs to. Those rules must require regular, protected elections and member rights, ban people tied to Communist or other totalitarian movements or known corrupt influences from holding office, bar officers from having business or money interests that conflict with their duties, and keep strong financial controls and regular reports to members. If there is good reason to suspect problems—like the union was suspended by its parent group for failing to follow similar rules, or the union actually is under bad influences—the Department can ask for proof. Unions seeking recognition must file financial and other reports with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Labor Management Relations, bond their officials, and follow trusteeship and election rules. The Assistant Secretary will make rules, handle complaints, and can order unions to stop violations and take corrective actions. Management officials and certain recent former managers (within two years) or anyone whose role would create a conflict cannot serve in union bargaining roles. If the Board finds a union willfully broke the rule in section 4115(b)(7) about strikes, work stoppages, or slowdowns, it must revoke the union’s exclusive recognition or impose other discipline.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §4117

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Department shall accord recognition only to a labor organization that is free from corrupt influences and influences opposed to basic democratic principles. Except as provided in subsection (b), an organization is not required to prove that it is free from such influences if it is subject to a governing requirement adopted by the organization or by a national or international labor organization or federation of labor organizations with which it is affiliated, or in which it participates, containing explicit and detailed provisions to which it subscribes calling for—
(1)the maintenance of democratic procedures and practices, including—
(A)provisions for periodic elections to be conducted subject to recognized safeguards, and
(B)provisions defining and securing the right of individual members to participate in the affairs of the organization, to receive fair and equal treatment under the governing rules of the organization, and to receive fair process in disciplinary proceedings;
(2)the exclusion from office in the organization of persons affiliated with Communist or other totalitarian movements and persons identified with corrupt influences;
(3)the prohibition of business or financial interests on the part of organization officers and agents which conflict with their duty to the organization and its members; and
(4)the maintenance of fiscal integrity in the conduct of the affairs of the organization, including provisions for accounting and financial controls and regular financial reports or summaries to be made available to members.
(b)A labor organization may be required to furnish evidence of its freedom from corrupt influences opposed to basic democratic principles if there is reasonable cause to believe that—
(1)the organization has been suspended or expelled from, or is subject to other sanction by, a parent labor organization, or federation of organizations with which it has been affiliated, because it has demonstrated an unwillingness or inability to comply with governing requirements comparable in purpose to those required by subsection (a); or
(2)the organization is in fact subject to influences that would preclude recognition under this subchapter.
(c)A labor organization which has or seeks recognition as a representative of employees under this subchapter shall file financial and other reports with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Labor Management Relations, provide for bonding of officials and others employed by the organization, and comply with trusteeship and election standards.
(d)The Assistant Secretary of Labor shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section. Such regulations shall conform generally to the principles applied to labor organizations in the private sector. Complaints of violations of this section shall be filed with the Assistant Secretary. In any matter arising under this section, the Assistant Secretary may require a labor organization to cease and desist from violations of this section and require it to take such actions as the Assistant Secretary considers appropriate to carry out the policies of this section.
(e)(1)Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter—
(A)participation in the management of a labor organization for purposes of collective bargaining or acting as a representative of a labor organization for such purposes is prohibited under this subchapter—
(i)on the part of any management official or confidential employee;
(ii)on the part of any individual who has served as a management official or confidential employee during the preceding two years; or
(iii)on the part of any other employee if the participation or activity would result in a conflict of interest or apparent conflict of interest or would otherwise be incompatible with law or with the official functions of such employee; and
(B)service as a management official or confidential employee is prohibited on the part of any individual having participated in the management of a labor organization for purposes of collective bargaining or having acted as a representative of a labor organization during the preceding two years.
(2)For the purposes of paragraph (1)(A)(ii) and paragraph (1)(B), the term “management official” does not include—
(A)any chief of mission;
(B)any principal officer or deputy principal officer;
(C)any administrative or personnel officer abroad; or
(D)any individual described in section 4102(12)(B), (C), or (D) of this title who is not involved in the administration of this subchapter or in the formulation of the personnel policies and programs of the Department.
(f)If the Board finds that any labor organization has willfully and intentionally violated section 4115(b)(7) of this title by omission or commission with regard to any strike, work stoppage, slowdown, the Board shall—
(1)revoke the exclusive recognition status of the labor organization, which shall then immediately cease to be legally entitled and obligated to represent employees in the unit; or
(2)take any other appropriate disciplinary action.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1998—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 105–277 amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “For the purposes of paragraph (1)(A)(ii) and paragraph (1)(B), the term ‘management official’ shall not include chiefs of mission, principal officers and their deputies, and administrative and personnel officers abroad.” 1994—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–236 amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) read as follows: “This subchapter does not authorize participation in the management of a labor organization or acting as a representative of a labor organization by a management official, a confidential employee, or any other employee if the participation or activity would result in a conflict or apparent conflict of interest or would otherwise be incompatible with law or with the official functions of such management official or such employee.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 4117

Title 22Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73