United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Plumbers Union v. Graham, 345 U.S. 192 (1953)

Plumbers Union v. Graham

No. 86

Argued December 8, 1952

Decided March 16, 1953

345 U.S. 192

Syllabus

The Virginia Right to Work Statute, as construed by the highest court of that State, provides in substance that neither membership nor nonmembership in a labor union shall be made a condition of employment, and that a contract limiting employment to union members is against public policy.

Held:

1. A Virginia state court injunction against peaceful picketing which is carried on for purposes in conflict with the statute does not violate the Fourteenth Amendment of the Federal Constitution. Pp. 345 U. S. 193-201.

2. There was a reasonable basis in the evidence in this case for the state court's finding that the picketing was for a purpose in conflict with the statute, since the immediate results of the picketing demonstrated its potential effectiveness as a practical means of putting pressure on the general contractor to eliminate from further participation all nonunion men or all subcontractors employing nonunion men on the project. Pp. 345 U. S. 197-201.

Affirmed.

A Virginia state court issued a permanent injunction against picketing by petitioners which was found to be for a purpose in conflict with the Virginia Right to Work Statute. The Supreme Court of Appeals refused to hear an appeal, and in effect affirmed the decree. This Court granted certiorari. 344 U.S. 811. Affirmed, p. 345 U. S. 201.

Page 345 U. S. 193