(a) It would ordinarily be reasonable for a union to require
candidates to be employed at the trade or even to have
been so employed for a reasonable period. In applying such a rule an
unemployed member is considered to be working at the trade if he is
actively seeking such employment. Such a requirement should not be so
inflexible as to disqualify those members who are familiar with the
trade but who because of illness, economic conditions, or other good
reasons are temporarily not working.
(b) It would be unreasonable for a union to prevent a person from
continuing his membership rights on the basis of failure to meet a
qualification which the union itself arbitrarily prevents the member
from satisfying. If a member is willing and able to pay his union dues
to maintain his good standing and his right to run for office, it would
be unreasonable for the union to refuse to accept such dues merely
because the person is temporarily unemployed. Where a union constitution
requires applicants for membership to be actively employed in the
industry served by the union, a person who becomes a member would not be
considered to forfeit his membership in the union or any of the
attendant rights of membership merely because he is discharged or laid
off.
(c) Ordinarily members working part-time at the trade may not for
that reason alone be denied the right to run for office.
(d) A labor organization may postpone the right to run for office of
members enrolled in a bona fide apprenticeship program until such
members complete their apprenticeship.
