Document: 351 U.S. 225 76 S.Ct. 714 100 L.Ed. 1112 RAILWAY EMPLOYES' DEPARTMENT, American Federation of Labor, International Association Machinists, et al., Appellants,v.Robert L. HANSON, Horace A. Cameron, Harold J. Grau, al. No. 451. Argued May 2, 1956. Decided 21, Motion Denied June 11, See 979, 1044. [Syllabus from pages 225-226 intentionally omitted] Mr.Lester P. Schoene, Washington, D.C., for appellants. Mr. Edson Smith, Omaha, Neb., appellees. Robert Nelson, State Nebraska, amicus curiae, by special leave Court. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion 1 This is a suit brought in Nebraska courts employees Union Pacific Railroad Co. against that company and labor organizations representing various groups railroad to enjoin application enforcement union shop agreement entered into between organizations. Plaintiffs are not members any defendant desire join. Under terms all railroad, as condition their continued employment, must become specified within 60 days thereafter maintain membership. It alleged failure on part join will mean loss employment together with seniority, retirement, pension, other rights. 2 The claim violates 'right work' provision Constitution, Art. XV, § 13, which provides:1 3 'No person shall be denied because membership or affiliation with, resignation expulsion organization refusal affiliate organization; nor individual corporation association kind enter contract, written oral, exclude persons nonmembership organization.' 4 They ask an injunction restraining enforcing applying agreement. 5 answers deny Constitution laws control allege authorized Eleventh Railway Labor Act, amended, 64 Stat. 1238, 45 U.S.C. 152, Eleventh, U.S.C.A. subd. provides that, notwithstanding law 'any State,' carrier may make requiring stated time member organization, provided there no discrimination employee terminated 'for reason than tender periodic dues, initiation fees, assessments (not including fines penalties) uniformly required acquiring retaining membership.'2 6 trial court issued injunction. Supreme Court affirmed. held First Amendment it deprives freedom Fifth requires pay many things besides cost collective bargaining. Court, therefore, valid federal supersede Constitution. 160 Neb. 669, 71 N.W.2d 526. case here appeal. 28 1257(1) (2), 1257(1, 2). We noted probable jurisdiction. 350 910, 195. 7 shop3 Act was 1951. Prior date prohibited agreements. 48 1186, Fourth Fifth, subds. 4, 5; 40 Op.Atty.Gen. 254. Those provisions were enacted 1934 when being used employers establish unions, 'thus effectively depriving substantial number right bargain collectively.' S.Rep.No. 2262, 81st Cong., 2d Sess., p. 3. By 1950, unions this field had practically disappeared. Id. Between 75 80% H.R.Rep.No.2811, 4. While nonunion got benefits bargaining they bore 'no share obtaining such benefits.' Id., at As Senator Hill, who managed bill floor Senate, said, 'The question instance whether those enjoy fruits should fair contribution support unions.' 96 Cong.Rec., Pt. 12, 16279. 8 only permissive. Congress has compelled carriers nevertheless took view justiciable questions under Amendments presented since Congress, sought strike down inconsistent 17 States. Cf. Hudson v. Atlantic Coast Line R. Co., 242 N.C. 650, 89 S.E.2d 441; Otten Baltimore & O.R. Cir., 205 F.2d 58. 'Such action necessary every contract railroads far these states concerned without contracts could enforced therein.' page 698, 547. agree view. If private rights invaded, force made pursuant expressly declares state superseded. Smith Allwright, 321 649, 663, 757, 764, 88 987. In words, statute source power authority lost sacrificed.4 Steele Louisville N.R. 323 192, 198—199, 204, 65 226, 230, 232, 173; Brotherhood Trainmen Howard, 343 768, 72 1022, 1283; Public Utilities Commission District Columbia Pollak, 451, 462, 813, 820, 1068. enactment authorizing agreements governmental operates, though takes invoke sanction. 9 already noted, 1951 amendment, permitting negotiation agreements, allows 'of State.' Eleventh.5 A has, imprimatur upon and, Supremacy Clause Article VI illegal vitiated State. 10 come then merits. 11 absence conflicting legislation, can doubt police prohibit closed shop. so Lincoln Federal 19129, A.F. Northwestern Iron Metal 335 525, 69 251, 93 212, Sash Door 538, 258, 222, challenge local laws, Nebraska's, violated requirements due process. But regulate relations interstate industries likewise well-established. adopt appropriate measures 'facilitate amicable settlement disputes threaten service agencies transportation.' Texas N.O.R. S.S. Clerks, 281 548, 570, 50 427, 433, 74 1034. These include encourage 'by inducing true representative preventing do represent them', Virginian Ry. System 40, 300 515, 57 592, 600, 81 789, protect coercion would interfere free exercise self-organization representation. National Relations Board Jones Laughlin Steel Corp., 301 1, 33, 615, 622, 893. Industrial peace along arteries commerce legitimate objective; great latitude choosing methods obtained. 12 choice stabilizing seems us allowable one. Much might said pro con if policy issue before us. Powerful arguments have been longrun interests better served development democratic traditions trade unionism coercive element Brandeis, wide experience labor-management prior his appointment wrote forcefully He feared swing pendulum opposite extreme substitute 'tyranny employee' employer.'6 one judiciary concern, Brandeis first concede. acting its constitutional powers, final say issues. acts unwisely, electorate change. task ends once appears legislative measure adopted relevant exercises. ingredients industrial stabilized numerous complex. well vary age industry industry. What needful decade anathema next. decision rests makers, judiciary. 13 work, frequently included concept 'liberty' meaning Due Process Clauses (see Truax Raich, 239 36 7, 131; Takahashi Fish Game Commission, 334 410, 68 1138, 92 1478), Congress. remains, however, long-range workers type another. That germane Commerce Clause—a often quality regulations. Cleveland United States, 329 14, 19, 67 15, 91 12. One blind history assert did enhance strengthen work. Webb, History Trade Unionism; Gregory, Law. To require, rather induce, beneficiaries contribute costs wisest course. believe help insure work commerce. No more attempted here. conditions payment 'periodic assessments.' lawfully imposed 'fines penalties.' financial relates, realm precise allocation overhead necessary. prohibition penalties' precludes imposition burdens disciplinary purposes. 'assessments' fact purposes bargaining,7 different problem presented. 14 Wide-ranged problems tendered Amendment. argued forces men idelogical political associations violate conscience, association, thought protected Bill Rights.8 man becomes he subject vast control9 now him conform ideology. 15 On present record, infringement impairment lawyer integrated bar. compulsory impair expression. record. endeavored safeguard possibility making explicit except respects imposed, exaction cover forcing ideological conformity contravention Amendment, judgment prejudice case. For we pass narrowly Act. hold requirement collective-bargaining agency receive does either Amendments. express use secure operating 16 Reversed. FRANKFURTER, concurring. 18 challenged latest promote peaceful functioning thereby further national well-being. mere recital course important goes long way indicate main point attack January 10, 1951, raises validity but domain legislation peculiarly open views policy. efforts constitute body empiric responses new insight dealing old problems. 19 affecting controversies flows through statutes: October 1888, 25 501; Erdman 1898, 30 424, growing out Pullman 1894, see re Debs, 158 564, 900, 39 1092; Newlands July 1913, 38 103; Adamson Law September 3, 1916, 721; Title III Transportation 1920, 41 456, 469; 20, 1926, 44 577; 1934, 1185, amending 20 Nearly fifty years ago, successfully attacked constitutionality vital feature whereby criminal offense bar merely Adair 1908, 208 161, 277, 52 436. marks nadir denial assuring Nation's dependence effective operation railroads. criticisms aroused, see, e.g., Richard Olney, Discrimination Against Labor—Legal?' 42 Amer.L.Rev. 161 (1908), Roscoe Pound, Liberty Contract, Yale L.J. 454 (1909), reflected later decisions Neither conceived, least restrain regulation, confined doctrinaire frozen bounds assumptions underlay Thus, sustained Law, avert threatened nation-wide Wilson New, 1917, 243 332, 37 298, 61 755; Pennsylvania States Board, 1923, 261 72, 43 278, 536, New Orleans Steamship 1930, 1034; Retirement Alton 1935, 295 330, 55 758, 79 1468. 21 change Court's understanding problems, certainly affect railroads, bearing country's hangs, small degree changed attitude towards role discharge functions striking evidence shift 1926 came books need legislation. accurate them formally I another acknowledgment candidly President reached disputants regarding securing law. 'I am informed,' reported annual message December 8, 1925, 'that managers what improve relationship. Whenever bring forward proposals, seem sufficient also public, law.' H.R.Doc. 69th 1st 18. Calvin Coolidge. 22 full circle There repeat, resisted outlawed colloquially became known 'yellow-dog contract.' asked declare beyond authorize voluntary overwhelming proportion railway belong provided, course, i.e., available ordinary, terms. me objections conclusively compendiously answered Holmes dissent supra: 23 'Where is, generally believed be, ground public restraint, forbid it, agrees disagrees pursued. cannot doubted prevent strikes, possible, foster scheme arbitration, deemed policy, think impossible reasonably deal carry along. suppose effect really tend about complete unionizing laborers object alone justify act. quite how much good do, intelligent people differ; laboring sometimes attribute advantages, combinations capital disadvantages, economic wider deeper kind; pronounce unwarranted decide strong best interest, men, country large.' 191—192, 287. 24 put side situations protection earnestly urged I, too, side. implemented Neb.Rev.Stat.1943, 48—217, provides: 'Labor organizations; employment; permitted. operative Sections Section reads follows: 'Eleventh. Notwithstanding Territory thereof, State, defined duly designated accordance permitted— '(a) requiring, sixty following beginning whichever later, craft class: Provided, require respect whom same applicable '(b) providing deduction wages class employees, membership: until furnished employer assignment assessments, revocable writing after expiration year termination agreement, occurs sooner. '(c) subparagraph (a) satisfied, both future engine, train, yard, hostling service, engaged services capacities covered section (h) defining jurisdictional scope Division Adjustment acquire organizations, scope, organized admitting services; (b) provide deductions payable holds particular carrier, services, employee, continuing employed him: further, nothing herein changing services. '(d) Any paragraphs conflict herewith extent amended.' variant shop, 60-day period 1954 Bureau Statistics analysis 1,716 regulated Of 7,405,000 studied, 64% provisions. 78 Monthly Review, 6, 649. Once enforce sanction government behind them. Shelley Kraemer, 836, 1161; Hurd Hodge, 24, 847, 1187; Barrows Jackson, 346 249, 73 1031, 97 1586. parallel 14(b) Taft-Hartley 151, 29 164(b), makes give prohibiting it. Mason, Free Man's Life (1946), pp. 303 304, quotes letter February 26, 1912, Steffens: '* * not, accept involves consent exchange tyranny employee. Unionism therefore advance abandons shop; alternative. means destruction union. demands some relation feel confident found solution preferential shop.' appellant broad powers levy unspecified example, bylaws Yardmasters America Executive 'levy affected necessary.' 26. And 27 'Local lodges respective memberships *.' General Committee Subordinate Order Telegraphers 'to transportation over jurisdiction work.' Statutes, 42(H). Signalmen America, 6; Supervisors Association, XVI, 7. constitutions several place restrictions members. Some disqualify associations. XIII, Maintenance Way Employes bars anyone Communist Party. Another constitution renders ineligible 'a Party subversive group, subscribes doctrines groups.' Lodge Boilermakers, Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers Helpers VI, 1. Carmen 6(a). 16, 1(a), Sheet Workers' communist party advocates objective belongs supports policies group overthrow Dominion Canada eligible' eligible office 'if associates himself Communist, Fascist similar Ku Klux Klan, Columbians. Such eligibility where lends enumerated herein, expounds promotes doctrine philosophy inimical fundamental Government States.' Hotel Restaurant Employees Bartenders Union, XI, 5, 'A encourages communism, fascism, nazism, totalitarian philosophy, who, actions, gives 'philosophies' 'isms' I.A.M.' B. Grand prohibits 'interfering matters national, state, territorial, dominion provincial adversely our members.' 64. Electrical Workers, forbids 'creating attempting create dissatisfaction dissension among U.'s (Local Unions) I.B.E.W.' XXVII, 2(8). article '(15) Attending participating gathering meeting whatsoever, outside meetings L.U., affairs L.U. discussed, conclusions arrived business officers candidate candidates office. '(16) Mailing, handing out, posting cards, handbills, letters, marked ballots literature kind, displaying streamers, banners, signs anything else nature, done effort induce vote office, cnventions.' 17, 1(b), Association; XXIV, Machinists. C. dues finance insurance death benefit plans. See, Firemen Oilers, 22; VII, 4; 2. Summers, Disciplinary Powers Unions (1950), Ind. Lab.Rel.Rev. 483; Procedures 15; Legal Limitations Discipline (1951), Harv.L.Rev. 1049; Aaron Komaroff, Statutory Regulation Internal Affairs (1949), Ill.L.Rev. 425, 631; Wirtz, Private Groups (1953), La.L.Rev. 440; Williams, Political Liberties Members (1954), 32 Tex.L.Rev. 826.

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