# Justice Manual § 9-139.600: Transportation of Strikebreakers (29 U.S.C. § 1231)

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-139.600

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 9-139.600
- **Heading:** Transportation of Strikebreakers (29 U.S.C. § 1231)
- **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 § 9-139.600

## 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]

## 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_S9-139.600. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.