The LMRDA’s disclosure requirements and the regulations that implement them are designed to enable union members to take effective action in exercising their democratic rights within a labor organization. The information received by members as a result of these disclosure requirements enable them to make informed decisions on issues, such as whether the union officers have been wise stewards of the members’ money, or whether it is time for new officers.
For Michigan’s unionized public employees these disclosures are lacking. The amount of information required of Michigan’s public sector unions is minuscule. The state has the ability to change this by enacting enhanced disclosure requirements. Doing so will bring disclosure for public sector unions into line with that required for private sector labor organizations and will ultimately lead to unions that are more accountable to their members.