Deprivation Of Rights By Violence

The offense in 29 U.S.C. § 530 prohibits any person from using actual or threatened violence for the purpose of interfering with, or retaliating against, the exercise by members of labor organizations of rights guaranteed to them by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). These rights of labor union members in the private sector include, among others, the right to assemble and speak on union affairs, to participate in union meetings, to vote in union elections, to be a candidate for union office, and to support candidates of one's choice. See 29 U.S.C. §§ 411 and 481. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Labor have investigative jurisdiction with respect to violations of 29 U.S.C. § 530, pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding between the Departments of Justice and Labor dated January 18, 2005. The Labor Management Unit of the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, Criminal Division, has supervisory authority.

[updated January 2020]