Transportation of Strikebreakers (29 U.S.C. § 1231)

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DOJ Justice Manual › Title 9: Criminal › 9-139.000 - Miscellaneous Labor Statutes › Justice Manual § 9-139.600

This text was captured on Aug 14, 2026. It is a snapshot, not a live feed, so check the official code before relying on it.

Text

This provision prohibits any person from:

Willfully transporting any person in interstate or foreign commerce who is employed or will be employed to obstruct or interfere by force or threats with peaceful labor picketing by employees, or employees' exercise of organizational or collective bargaining rights; or

Traveling or knowingly being transported in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of obstructing or interfering by force or threats with any of the above-enumerated employee activities.

The legislative history makes clear that 18 U.S.C. § 1231 was enacted to deal with professional strikebreakers who were hired by employers to physically interfere with pickets and other lawful labor activity by employees. Common carriers are specifically exempted from the application of this statute.

The penalties for violating this statute are a fine and/or imprisonment for not more than two years. For information and pleadings concerning this statute, the Labor-Management Unit, Violent Crime and Racketeering Section may be consulted.

[updated January 2020]

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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Transportation of Strikebreakers (29 U.S.C. § 1231) · Justice Manual § 9-139.600 | Frix