# Justice Manual § 9-139.400: Bonding of Officers and Employees of Labor Organizations (29 U.S.C. § 502)

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-139.400

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 9-139.400
- **Heading:** Bonding of Officers and Employees of Labor Organizations (29 U.S.C. § 502)
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 9: Criminal / 9-139.000 - Miscellaneous Labor Statutes / Justice Manual § 9-139.400

## Text

LMRDA Section 502 (29 U.S.C. § 502) requires that all officers, employees and certain representatives who handle funds or property of a labor organization (except those whose property and annual receipts do not exceed $5,000), or of a trust in which a labor organization is interested, be bonded to provide protection against loss by reason of acts of fraud or dishonesty on their part directly or through connivance with others. Any person who is not bonded shall not be permitted to exercise control over a union's assets. While no designation is made as to who is responsible for permitting an unbonded individual to handle assets, the fiduciary standards imposed in 29 U.S.C. § 501(a) indicate that officers, agents and ship stewards and others, regardless of title, in a position of authority may be liable. Willful violations are punishable by up to one year and a fine.

[updated January 2020]

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 9-139.020 Investigatory and Supervisory Jurisdiction for Miscellaneous Labor Statutes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-139.020.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-139.100 The Railway Labor Act (RLA)—45 U.S.C. § 151, et seq.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-139.100.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-139.103 Railway Labor Act— Authorization for Criminal Prosecution](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-139.103.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-139.200 Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. § 216(a))](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-139.200.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-139.300 Labor Organization Under Trusteeship (29 U.S.C. § 461 and § 463)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-139.300.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-139.400 Bonding of Officers and Employees of Labor Organizations (29 U.S.C. § 502)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-139.400.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-139.500 Loans to Union Officers and Payment of Fines (29 U.S.C. § 503)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-139.500.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-139.600 Transportation of Strikebreakers (29 U.S.C. § 1231)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-139.600.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-139.700 Extortionate Picketing (29 U.S.C. § 522)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-139.700.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-139.800 Interference with National Labor Relations Board Agent (29 U.S.C. § 162)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-139.800.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-139.400. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.