Local labor organizations must conduct their regular elections of
officers by secret ballot among the members in good standing. All
members in good standing of the local labor organization must be given
an opportunity to vote directly for candidates to fill the offices that
serve them. Indirect election of officers of a local labor organization
would violate section 401(b) of the Act. For example, a procedure
whereby the local's membership elects an executive board or some similar
body by secret ballot which in turn selects (either from among its own
membership or from the local's membership at large) the persons to fill
specific offices would not comply with the Act. \21\ Similarly, the
election of a chief steward by the shop stewards would violate the Act
if the chief steward, by virtue of that position, also serves as a
member of the executive board, since members of the executive board must
be elected directly by secret ballot among the members in good standing.
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\21\ Wirtz v. Independent Petroleum Workers of America, 75 LRRM
2340, 63 L.C. para.11,190 (N.D. Ind. 1970).
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