Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS)
Mission
Office of Labor-Management Standards
The Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) in the U.S. Department of Labor is the Federal agency responsible for administering and enforcing most provisions of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, as amended (LMRDA). The LMRDA directly affects millions of people throughout the United States. The law was enacted by Congress primarily to ensure basic standards of democracy and fiscal responsibility in labor organizations representing employees in private industry. Unions representing U.S. Postal Service employees became subject to the LMRDA with the passage of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. The major provisions of the LMRDA are:
A "Bill of Rights" for union members;
Requirements for reporting and disclosure of financial information and administrative practices by labor unions;
Requirements for reporting and disclosure by employers, labor relations consultants, union officers and employees, and surety companies, when they engage in certain activities;
Rules for establishing and maintaining trusteeships;
Standards for conducting fair elections of union officers; and,
Safeguards for protecting union funds and assets.
OLMS also administers provisions of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 and the Foreign Service Act of 1980 relating to standards of conduct for Federal employee organizations, which are comparable to LMRDA requirements. OLMS does not have jurisdiction over unions representing solely state, county, or municipal employees. In carrying out its responsibilities, OLMS performs four types of activities.