Document: 461 U.S. 260 103 S.Ct. 1753 75 L.Ed.2d 830 JIM McNEFF, INC., Petitionerv.Frank L. TODD, et al. No. 81-2150. Argued Jan. 17, 1983. Decided April 27, Syllabus Section 8(f) of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) authorizes construction industry employers and unions to enter into so-called "prehire" agreements setting terms conditions employment for workers hired by signatory employer without union's majority status first having been established under § 9 Act. also provides that such an agreement shall not bar a petition representative election 9. A local union contractors association entered master labor which provided work at jobsites was be performed only subcontractors who had signed with covered employees, including those subcontractors, must become members. The required make monthly contributions fringe benefit trust funds on behalf employees. When petitioner, engaged in industry, began jobsite as subcontractor, it union, none its employees were Upon being notified representatives general contractor do so, petitioner became agreement, cards. After submitted reports funds, falsely stating "no members this craft employed during month," several occasions postponed audits requested respondents, trustees verify reports. Respondents then filed suit Federal District Court 301 Management compel accounting recover payment any fund found due. summary judgment respondents ordered unpaid contributions. Appeals affirmed. Held: Monetary obligations assumed prehire contract authorized may recovered action brought prior repudiation employer, even though has obtained support relevant unit. Pp. 265-272. (a) In authorizing contracts established, Congress recognized because uniquely temporary, transitory, sometimes seasonal nature employment, often would able establish respect many bargaining units. know costs preparing bids have available supply skilled craftsmen quick referral. 265-267. (b) question presented decided NLRB v. Iron Workers, 434 335, 98 651, 54 586, held 8(b)(7)(C) NLRA, prohibiting picketing force recognize is certified unit, violated enforce where failed request timely election. That decision based Congress' intent, when enacted 8(f), protect employees' rights select their own representatives, ensure are arrived voluntarily voidable until attains However, enforcement, way suit, monetary incurred does impair right agent, or trench voluntary characteristics agreement. Allowing respondents' vindicates policies meet problems unique industry. executed, here, both parties abide repudiated. 267-271. 667 F.2d 800 (CA9 1982), James T. Winkler, Long Beach, Cal., petitioner. Wayne Jett, Los Angeles, respondents. Chief Justice BURGER delivered opinion court. 1 We granted certiorari resolve conflicts Circuits whether accrued Act, 29 U.S.C. 158(f), can enforced, contract, against 185, absent proof represented 2 * Petitioner and, September 1978, subcontractor Southern California. contractually bound Master Agreement negotiated between International Union Operating Engineers, Local 12, California General Contractors Associations. Union.1 contained security clause requiring Union.2 At time Union. 3 On 13, petitioner's president, McNeff, approached informed him order remain project he sign Agreement. McNeff refused. Later day, returned project. petitioner.3 Petitioner's cards same day. 4 each employee.4 From October 1978 through March 1979 but made no Each form false notation month." November after reports, permission from audit records statements report. purported agree, times. 4, 1979, 185,5 due funds. An pretrial discovery proceedings revealed five period therefore owed total $5,316.79 period. 5 Central motion Ninth Circuit 6 certiorari, --- ----, 102 3508 73 1382, (1982), part issue,6 we affirm. II 7 By like issue case, exempts rule precluding signing "a collective-bargaining recognizing exclusive fact minority represent interests." 103, Association Bridge Workers (Higdon), 344-345, 657, 586 (1978). See Garment NLRB, 366 731, 737-738, 81 1603, 1607, 762 (1961). pertinent part: 8 "It unfair practice subsections section primarily building covering (or who, upon will engaged) organization . (1) provisions 159 title making Provided invalid, subsection, pursuant 9(c) 9(e)." Thus, allows manner One factor prompting enact transitory much S.Rep. 187, 86th Cong., 1st Sess., 55-56 (1959), Leg.Hist. 541-542, U.S.Code Cong. & Admin.News 1959, p. 2318. cognizant employer's need "know his before estimate bid based" "the referral." H.R.Rep. 741, 19 777, generally, Higdon, supra, U.S., 348-349, S.Ct., 659. 10 addressed enforceability Higdon. response violation case picketed more than 30 days filing petition. Board concluded 8(b)(7)(C). intended voluntary, uncoerced selection employees; unless prohibits "to bargain employees." affirmed Board's view "representative [an employer's] employees" language used 8(b)(7)(C): 11 "[Absent] credentials ., relationship entitlement act agent never matured. Picketing legal equivalent require recognition infringed within days." 346, 658. III 12 did decide Higdon enforceable action. There critical distinction obligation duty satisfy lawful contractual enters contract. Only former treated Higdon.7 13 upholding commits attained status, noted protects two interests uphold 8(f). First, our holding representative.8 To sure, affects allowing reach employment. This direct consequence event, limited final proviso permits employees—and other mentioned §§ (e) Act—to challenge petitioning If, however, could compelled treat undermined extent contemplated Congress. As 338, 654, unit commit compliance collective Consequently, freeing confines grant power otherwise accorded chosen affected It up what organization, if any, consequent engage picketing, necessary, it; cannot arrogate itself "successfully seeks support." 350, 660. 14 Second, promotes "intention voluntarily. ." 348 n. 10, 659 10. accord intention, approved conclusion "prehire voidable" "until [the union] unit." Id., 341, 655. picket plainly inconsistent 15 concerns fidelity intent voluntary—and voidable—that led present case. agent. Unlike situation enforcement mean represents merely enforces employer—a legitimated special themselves negotiation execution. Such plaintiff enjoyed except very narrow sense, expressly Congress, violate entering agreements. sense recognitional purpose forbidden 16 Neither clear voluntarily.9 Moreover, although clearly gave repudiate equally manifested intention void For time,10 record shows conclusively accepted benefits misled true fulfill obligations. Whatever party wishing exercise undoubted appropriate taken so case.11 enervate 17 Apart offending overdue implement determined should However binding effect be, strains logic equity argue reap avoid paying bargained consideration. Nothing legislative history indicates obtain free stable costs, peace, use hiring hall.12 Having music, pay piper. 18 token, simply accept performance end bargain. But repudiated.13 IV subject establishes status. 20 Affirmed. Article IV, D provides: "The Contractor agrees neither nor subcontract done site construction, alteration, painting repair building, structure (including quarries, rock, sand gravel plants, asphalt ready-mix concrete adjacent process materials convenience use), person, firm corporation, current Union, subordinate body Agreement." App. 39. Art. II, D, E provide: "D. Employees one eight (8) continuously accumulatively jurisdiction particular term defined herein eigth (8th) day effective date Agreement, whichever later, condition continued Membership qualifications burdensome applicable times applicants membership E. discharge employee foregoing written notice employee's non-payment initiation fees dues." 38. Specifically, adopted "in entirety," certain exceptions 9-13. undersigned signature acknowledges receipt correct copy establishing Engineers Trusts: AND, further signature, accepts all said Trust Agreements thereto every way, periodic payments requirement Trustees consistent Collective Bargaining Engineers." 12-13. initialed acceptance following obligations: pension trust; (2) health welfare (3) vacation-holiday (4) apprentice (5) journeyman training (6) trust. Ibid. 301(a) "Suits representing affecting commerce organizations, district court United States parties, amount controversy regard citizenship parties." Compare Washington Area Carpenters' Welfare Fund Overhead Door Co., 681 (CADC 1982); Todd Jim Inc., W.C. James, Inc. Oil, Chemical Atomic 646 1292 (CA8 1981); New Mexico Council Carpenters Mayhew 664 215 (CA10 Health Plan Associated Wrecking 638 1128 1981), Laborers McDowell Contractors, 680 94 (CA11 1982) Baton Rouge Building Construction Trades E.C. Shafer 657 806 (CA5 1981). unenforceable contrary Retail Clerks Lion Dry Goods, 369 82 541, 503 (1962). Goods stated confers federal courts entertain suits well actual agents. court's jurisdiction. 29, 548. "[i]t hold standing litigation showing majority's instrument, unenforceable." 351-352, 660-661. statement show different latter question. 157, guarantees collectively choosing. 9(a) 159(a), "designated selected purposes 8(a)(1) 8(b)(1)(A) interfere with, restrain, coerce representative. generally merit claim coerced subcontracting similar wanted stay jobsite. clauses 8(e) 158(e). Woelke Romero Framing, 2071, 72 398 whatever pressures complains result "are implicit proviso." 2081. rely "pressure," proviso, contention involuntarily. (the into), 26, filed). only. 10-11. appeal recovery. necessary specific acts affect agreement—sending engaging activity overtly completely obligations, or, suggest, precipitating representation enjoy support. received another Here, note 1, supra. enable job. consider considerations properly cognizable might prevent either party, circumstances, exercising option demonstrates

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