United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Carpenters Union v. Labor Board, 341 U.S. 707 (1951)

Carpenters Union v. Labor Board

No. 85

Argued February 26, 1951

Decided June 4, 1951

341 U.S. 707

Syllabus

On the day before the effective date of the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947, amending the National Labor Relations Act, a union ordered its members, who were working on a dwelling renovation project, to strike. They did so, and the strike continued after the effective date of the amendment. One of the objects was to force the owner of the dwelling to cancel a contract for the installation of wall and floor coverings by a merchant using nonunion workmen in their installation. The National Labor Relations Board found that the union and its agent (petitioners here) had engaged in an unfair labor practice within the meaning of § 8(b)(4)(A) of the Act and ordered them to cease and desist.

Held: its finding and order are sustained. Pp. 341 U. S. 708-715.

1. On the record in this case, the actions complained of had sufficient effect on interstate commerce to sustain the Board's jurisdiction. P. 341 U. S. 712.

2. Section 8(c) is not applicable. Pp. 341 U. S. 712-713.

3. It is enough that one of the objects of the action complained of was to force the owner of the dwelling to cancel the merchant's contract, and it does not immunize such action from § 8(b)(4)(A) to show that another object was to enforce a rule of the union that its members should not work on a project on which nonunion men were employed. P. 341 U. S. 713.

4. It is immaterial that the strike had its origin before the effective date of the amended Act, since it was prolonged after the effective date, for the same objective. Pp. 341 U. S. 713-714.

5. The case has not been rendered moot by the completion of the renovation project. P. 341 U. S. 715.

181 F.2d 126, affirmed.

The National Labor Relations Board found that petitioners had committed an unfair labor practice within the meaning of § 8(b)(4)(A) of the National Labor Relations

Page 341 U. S. 708

Act, as amended by the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947, and ordered them to cease and desist. 80 N.L.R.B. 533. The Court of Appeals ordered enforcement. 181 F.2d 126. This Court granted certiorari. 340 U.S. 902. Affirmed, p. 341 U. S. 715.