Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§1231 Transportation of Strikebreakers
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 57 — LABOR › § 1231
Summary
On purpose transporting someone across state or foreign lines to stop or break peaceful picketing in a labor dispute or to block workers from organizing is a crime; the transporter or transported person can be fined, jailed up to two years, or both. Common carriers excluded.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §1231
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever willfully transports in interstate or foreign commerce any person who is employed or is to be employed for the purpose of obstructing or interfering by force or threats with (1) peaceful picketing by employees during any labor controversy affecting wages, hours, or conditions of labor, or (2) the exercise by employees of any of the rights of self-organization or collective bargaining; or Whoever is knowingly transported or travels in interstate or foreign commerce for any of the purposes enumerated in this section— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both. This section shall not apply to common carriers.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
1948 ActBased on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 407a (
June 24, 1936, ch. 746, 49 Stat. 1899;
June 29, 1938, ch. 813, 52 Stat. 1242). Language designating offense as felony was omitted in uniformity with definitive section 1 of this title. (See reviser’s note under section 550 of this title.) Words “and shall, upon conviction” were omitted as surplusage since punishment cannot be imposed until a conviction is secured. Reference to persons aiding, abetting or causing was omitted as such persons are made principals by section 2 of this title. Changes were made in phraseology and arrangement, but without change of substance. 1949 ActThis section [section 30] corrects a typographical error in section 1231 of title 18, U.S.C.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000” in third par. 1949—Act May 24, 1949, substituted “or travels in” for “in or travels” in second par.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1231
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102