Summit County Labor News

Warns Unions Forfeit Right to Serve as Union Officers

Trade union officials and members have a responsibility cooperate with government and public agencies seeking "fairly and objectively" to root out corruption in America, the AFL-CIO Executive Council has declared in a major policy statement at Miami Beach, Fla.

A union official "has no right to hold office in his union," If he resorts to use of the fifth Amendment on all relevant questions "for his personal protection and to avoid scrutiny by proper legislative committees, law enforcement agencies or other public bodies into alleged corruption on his part," the Council said.

The policy statement was adopted with only one dissenting vote by the Council at the opening session of its mid-winter meeting here. The Council meeting is expected to adjourn around Feb. 6.

AFL-CIO Pres. Meany declined to identify the dissenting vote. He indicated to reporters, however, that Pres. Dave Beck of the Teamsters was present and took part in the discussion.

Public attention has been focused on the question of union conduct at Legislative inquiries into corruption by the actions of Teamster officials before the Senate Government Operations Committee two weeks ago.

Some teamster leaders had refused to answer questions on grounds that the committee had no jurisdiction in the field, while others had used the Fifth Amendment. That amendment gives individuals the right to avoid self-incrimination.

The AFL-CIO policy statement noted that any person is entitled to use the protections offered by the

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Warns Unions Forfeit Right to Serve as Union Officers

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Fifth Amendment, but it emphasized that a trade union official who uses that right has a lot of explaining to do to the labor movement.

Explaining its belief that a union official forfeits his right to hold office by using the Fifth Amendment to avoid an inquiry into corruption, the Council statement declared:

"Otherwise, it becomes possible for a union official who may be guilty of corruption to create the impression that the trade union movement sanctions the use of the Fifth Amendment, not as a matter of individual conscience, but as a shield against proper scrutiny into corrupt influences in the labor movement."

Through the statement adopted by the Council ran a single major theme: The AFL-CIO has a responsibility for "keeping its own house in order," and for cooperating with public and government agencies to eliminate racketeering and corruption from all segments of American life, including the labor movement."

The Council noted that the LaFollette committee in the 1930's, years ago, and the subcommittee headed by Sen. Paul Douglas (D., Ill.), which investigated racketeering in the labor movement, had made major contributions to the national society.

"The AFL-CIO is determined that any remaining vestige of racketeering or corruption in unions shall be completely eradicated," the statement declared.

"We believe that Congress, in the interest of enacting corrective legislation if the same be deemed and found necessary, has the right, through proper committees, to investigate corruption wherever it exists, whether in labor, industry or anywhere else."

Pres. Meany, in explaining how the policy statement would work and be enforced, said affiliated unions would be expected to take action in cases where an official has used the Fifth Amendment.

If a union doesn't act, he said, "we'll meet that problem when we come to it."

Pres. Beck, obviously displeased with the Council's action, issued a statement saying the Teamsters will continue letting their officials "invoke the privileges of the Bill of Rights, without, by such act alone, subjecting themselves to trial or disciplinary action by our union.

"The action taken by the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO does not in any way alter our position."