Olms interpretative Manual

INVESTIGATIONS

605.005“REASONABLEBASIS”NOTREQUIRED

Section601doesnotrequirethattheSecretaryfirstestablisha“reasonablebasis”for

investigation,asthiswouldineffectrequireashowingof“probablecause,”whichrequirementCongressclearlyrejected.
Goldbergv. Truck Drivers Local Union No. 299, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 293 F.2d 807 (6th Cir.), cert.denied, 368 U.S. 938 (1961).AccordInternational Brotherhood ofTeamstersv. Goldberg, 303F. 2d 402 (D.C.Cir.), cert.denied,370U.S. 938 (1962).

(TechnicalRevisions:Dec.2016)

605.100ELECTIONINVESTIGATION

The power of the Secretary of Labor under section 601 of LMRDA to conduct aninvestigationof anelection ofunion officers andto issuea subpoena ducestecuminconnectionwith such investigation is not limited to those violations complained of by an individual unionmemberunder section 402.

Section 402 provides for the Secretary’s instituting an action in the courts in behalf of anindividual who was complained of a violation of Title IV. It may be that some or all of thelimitations of section 402, such as the exhaustion of internal remedies, are relevant to the suitwhich that section authorizes, and presumably the Secretary can bring an action only when acomplainthas been filedby an individual member.

Section 601 provides that the Secretary shall “determine the facts relative” to a violation orthreatened violation and that he may report the results of his investigation “to interested persons orofficials.” There is no limitation on the Secretary’s power to investigate and report and it need notbepredicated on a complaint.

Wirtzv. Local 191, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 218 F.Supp. 885, 53 LRRM 2783 (D.Conn), aff’d, 321 F.2d 445, 53 LRRM 2864 (2d Cir. 1963). See also Wirtzv. Local 57,InternationalUnion of Operating Engineers, 235F.Supp.701, 58 LRRM 2329 (D.R.I. 1964),
aff’d, 346 F.2d 552, 59 LRRM 2310 (1st Cir. 1965); Wirtzv. Ross K. Edmonds and CowdyPrintcraftPress, Inc.58LRRM2695(D.Col. 1965).SeealsoChaov.Local 743,International

Brotherhood of Teamsters, AFL-CIO, 467 F.3d 1014, 1020-1022 , 180 LRRM 2961 (7th Cir.2006)(affirmingdistrictcourt'senforcement ofSecretaryofLabor's subpoenaducestecumforanelectioninvestigation).

(Revised:Dec.2016)