Where nonmembership has no effect upon a claimant's prospects of work and does not restrict his or her labor market, the claimant's union relations are immaterial. When lack or loss of union membership substantially reduces the claimant's prospect of work in his or her usual occupation, it is important to determine the claimant's willingness to accept other work. Frequently the claimant may have training or experience in another occupation in which he or she is willing to work and for which there may be a substantial labor market. When the claimant has no experience or training, other than for the work from which he or she is barred, eligibility is to be based on the claimant's willingness to accept other work for which he or she is reasonably fitted and for which there is a substantial field of employment open to the claimant. A withdrawal card from a union does not necessarily imply ineligibility, even when the claimant restricts to union work.
Some unions allow placement through the union for members on withdrawal.
The claimant was a beer truck driver and union member. All drivers and helpers, had to be hired through the union. The Department required only that the claimant meet his union's requirements to be dispatched for work. There was considerable unemployment in the beer industry at the time. The claimant asked the business agent how he could pay his bills and his union dues if he did not obtain work.