The consent decree is exactly the kind of medicine that the international union avoided with its pact with the government to clean up its own house. But the union admits that its internal reform effort was not enough in Chicago and that special resources of the federal government were needed. There is a lesson here for other unions. They may be experiencing the same kinds of corrupt influences as the laborers and had better be prepared to deal with them, or the government will. Most importantly, labor leaders have a real fiduciary duty to union members to represent their best interest at the bargaining table and at jobsites.
Leaders also have a duty to ensure the system is democratic.