Title 29, LaborRelease 119-110

§464 Civil Action for Enforcement

Title 29 › CHAPTER 11 — LABOR-MANAGEMENT REPORTING AND DISCLOSURE PROCEDURE › SUBCHAPTER IV — TRUSTEESHIPS › § 464

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must investigate any written complaint from a union member or local that says the union broke the rules in this part (except section 461). If the Secretary finds good reason to believe the complaint and the problem hasn’t been fixed, the Secretary will sue in federal court and keep the complainant’s name secret. A member or local can also bring their own lawsuit in federal court. The court can order remedies, including stopping actions by the union. Federal courts can hear these cases where the union’s main office is or where its officers are running the trusteeship. If a trusteeship was set up following the union’s rules and after a fair hearing, it is assumed valid for 18 months unless strong proof shows it was not set up in good faith for a proper purpose under section 462. After 18 months it is presumed invalid unless the union proves with strong evidence that keeping it is necessary for a proper purpose under section 462; the court may then dismiss the case or keep control with limits it chooses.

Full Legal Text

Title 29, §464

Labor, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Complaint; investigation; commencement of action by Secretary, member or subordinate body of labor organization; jurisdiction

Upon the written complaint of any member or subordinate body of a labor organization alleging that such organization has violated the provisions of this subchapter (except section 461 of this title) the Secretary shall investigate the complaint and if the Secretary finds probable cause to believe that such violation has occurred and has not been remedied he shall, without disclosing the identity of the complainant, bring a civil action in any district court of the United States having jurisdiction of the labor organization for such relief (including injunctions) as may be appropriate. Any member or subordinate body of a labor organization affected by any violation of this subchapter (except section 461 of this title) may bring a civil action in any district court of the United States having jurisdiction of the labor organization for such relief (including injunctions) as may be appropriate.

(b)Venue

For the purpose of actions under this section, district courts of the United States shall be deemed to have jurisdiction of a labor organization (1) in the district in which the principal office of such labor organization is located, or (2) in any district in which its duly authorized officers or agents are engaged in conducting the affairs of the trusteeship.

(c)Presumptions of validity or invalidity of trusteeship

In any proceeding pursuant to this section a trusteeship established by a labor organization in conformity with the procedural requirements of its constitution and bylaws and authorized or ratified after a fair hearing either before the executive board or before such other body as may be provided in accordance with its constitution or bylaws shall be presumed valid for a period of eighteen months from the date of its establishment and shall not be subject to attack during such period except upon clear and convincing proof that the trusteeship was not established or maintained in good faith for a purpose allowable under section 462 of this title. After the expiration of eighteen months the trusteeship shall be presumed invalid in any such proceeding and its discontinuance shall be decreed unless the labor organization shall show by clear and convincing proof that the continuation of the trusteeship is necessary for a purpose allowable under section 462 of this title. In the latter event the court may dismiss the complaint or retain jurisdiction of the cause on such conditions and for such period as it deems appropriate.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

29 U.S.C. § 464

Title 29, Labor

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110