United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Smith v. Arkansas State Hwy. Employees Local, 441 U.S. 463 (1979)

Smith v. Arkansas State Highway Employees, Local 1315

No. 78-1223

Decided April 30, 1979

441 U.S. 463

Syllabus

Held: The Arkansas State Highway Commission's refusal to consider employee grievances when filed by the union, rather than directly by an employee of the State Highway Department, does not violate the First Amendment. Even assuming that the Commission's procedure would constitute an unfair labor practice if the Commission were subject to the same labor laws applicable to private employers, and that its procedure tends to impair the effectiveness of the union in representing the economic interests of its members, nevertheless, this type of "impairment" is not one that the Constitution forbids, the Commission not having prohibited its employees from joining together in a union, from persuading others to do so, or from advocating any particular ideas.

Certiorari granted; 585 F.2d 876, reversed.