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One to Keep An Eye On: Glacier Northwest v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local Union 174 (U.S. Supreme Court)


As with may labor & employment law related cases (and bills) being litigated around the country, there are always a few that stand out.  This is one to keep an eye on.


On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in regard to Glacier Northwest v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local Union 174, a case in which the Court will consider whether the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”) preempts a state tort claim against a union for intentionally destroying an employer’s property during a labor dispute.

In Glacier, the employer filed a state tort claim against the union and alleged the union coordinated with the striking truck drivers to strike at a time when the employer’s mixed concrete would go to waste.  The Washington Supreme Court had previously thrown the case out on the grounds that the NLRA did not provide such a preemption.

Readers might recall that while the NLRA permits workers to strike, striking workers cannot use violence, violate federal laws, breach no strike agreements, or pursue unlawful goals.  The question that the Court grappled with on Tuesday is whether the NLRA can be read to imply that a state tort claim is allowed against a union and striking workers.

Labor advocates have claimed that if employers were given the approval to file these state tort claims, that would open the floodgates of litigation and drastically curtail the amount of strikes (as labor unions would be hesitant to strike out of fear of being exposed to these state tort claims.)  While the U.S. Supreme Court has previously barred state common law claims (on the grounds that the NLRA preempts them), employers have argued that claims against a union and/or striking employees that intentionally destroy an employer’s property is not preempted.


For additional information:  https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/supreme-court-hearing-to-focus-on-suits-over-damage-from-strikes

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