United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

United States v. Ryan, 350 U.S. 299 (1956)

United States v. Ryan

No. 281

Argued January 19, 1956

Decided February 27, 1956

350 U.S. 299

Syllabus

Within the meaning of § 302(b) of the Labor Management Relations Act, which makes it unlawful for "any representative of any employees" to receive money or other thing of value from the employer, an individual who was the president and principal negotiator of a labor union is a "representative" of employees. Pp. 350 U. S. 300-307.

(a) The term "representative" in § 302(b) is not limited to "the exclusive bargaining representative" of the employees, but includes any person authorized by the employees to act for them in dealings with their employers. Pp. 350 U. S. 301-307

(b) A narrow reading of the term "representative" would substantially defeat the purpose of the Act. Pp. 350 U. S. 304-305.

(c) In this legislation, Congress was not aiming solely at the welfare fund problem. P. 350 U. S. 305.

(d) The legislative history supports the construction here given § 302(b). Pp. 350 U. S. 305-306.

(e) The provision in the Labor Management Relations Act that the term "representative" shall have the meaning that it has in the National Labor Relations Act does not require that the term, as used in § 302, be construed to include only the exclusive bargaining representative. Pp. 350 U. S. 306-307.

225 F.2d 417 reversed and remanded.

Page 350 U. S. 300