(a) Unions may establish such other reasonable rules as are
necessary to protect the members against leaders who may have committed
serious offenses against the union. For example, a union may, after
appropriate proceedings, bar from office persons who have
misappropriated union funds, even if such persons were never indicted
and convicted in a court of law for their offenses. Of course, the union
would have to provide reasonable precautions to insure that no member is
made ineligible to hold office on the basis of unsupported allegations
and that any rights guaranteed him by the constitution and bylaws are
protected. Similarly, a union may require an
elected officer to sign an affidavit averring that he is not barred from
serving as an officer by the provisions of section 504 of the Act since
the union and its officers may not permit a person to serve as an
officer if he is so barred (see footnote 23).
(b) It would not violate the Act for a union to prohibit successive
terms in office or to limit the number of years an officer may serve.
Such rules are intended to encourage as many members as possible to seek
positions of leadership in the organization.
