OLMS Trusteeship Decisions

The Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) establishes democratic standards for union trusteeships, which are defined as any receivership, trusteeship, or other method of supervision or control whereby a labor organization suspends the autonomy otherwise available to a subordinate body under its constitution or bylaws. For further information concerning the LMRDA’s trusteeship requirements, please visit the OLMS Union Democracy page and the LMRDA Trusteeship Requirements page.   

Upon receipt of a properly submitted trusteeship complaint from a union member, OLMS opens an investigation to determine whether or not the union lawfully imposed or maintained a trusteeship of a subordinate union.  See the OLMS Civil Enforcement Actions page for a summary of trusteeship cases in which OLMS brought suit.  Upon dismissal of trusteeship complaints, OLMS issues a Statement of Reasons (SOR) to document the reasons for dismissal.

Between fiscal year (FY) 2012 and FY 2021, of the roughly 20,000 unions covered by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) or Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA), parent national or international unions have reported placing on average 315 affiliates in trusteeship per year*. During that period, OLMS has received anywhere from one to 15 complaints per year.