Alleviating Collateral Consequences: Seeking Relief from the Employment Ban Under 29 U.S.C. § 504(a)

Mariah Conner flourished in her factory job after leaving prison, and union members elected her vice president of the local union. But Conner did not know about 29 U.S.C. § 504(a), the federal employment ban for labor union leadership applicable to people with prior convictions like hers. Here is the good news: Individuals disqualified from union service may petition for an exemption. Federal defender Benton Martin explains how the process works and identifies potential pitfalls.