H.R. 6136: Protecting Union Representation and Elections Act

This bill is known as the Protecting Union Representation and Elections Act, or PURE Act. Its purpose is to amend an existing law called the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959. The main change proposed by this bill involves the election of certain union officers.

Key Provisions

• Secret Ballot Requirement: The bill mandates that elections for specific union officer positions must be conducted using secret ballots. This means that members will vote privately, rather than publicly or through alternative methods that do not ensure voter anonymity.
• Modification of Existing Language: The bill seeks to remove options in the existing law that allow union officers to be elected in ways that do not involve a secret ballot. Specifically, it eliminates the phrases that previously allowed for elections at conventions or by representatives who were elected in a non-secret way.
• Implementation Timeline: If enacted, these changes will take effect 18 months after the bill becomes law.

Impact on Union Elections

The primary aim of this bill is to enhance the democratic processes within labor unions by ensuring that union members have a confidential way to express their preferences in elections. The expectation is that this may lead to greater accountability and transparency within unions by limiting the influence that could arise from non-secretive election methods.

Relevant Companies

None found.