Despite the appearance of employee rights, the LMRDA specifically prohibits the Department of Labor from investigating potential violations of a union member’s rights. As a result, the Bill of Rights does little to aid members.

The LMRDA grants employees a right to participate in the union’s administration, elections, and meeting and freedom of speech and assembly, including:

• Freedom to criticize union officials;
• Freedom to distribute literature in front of the union hall;
• Freedom to hold separate meetings without interference from union leadership;
• Rights to secret ballot votes for rates of dues and assessments;
• The right to sue the union;
• Protection from improper union discipline and a right to due process during internal unions hearings, and;
• A right to receive a copy of collective bargaining agreements.

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