Opinion ID: 2150565
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Was Scofield a union member at the time the $100 fine was imposed

Text: The county judge who first heard this cause dismissed the complaint on the ground that Scofield, at the time the $100 fine was imposed, had been suspended for failure to pay the earlier 16 one-dollar fines and, therefore, was not a member of the union subject to its jurisdiction. This determination was reversed on appeal to the circuit court. We agree with the latter position. The liability of a member of an association for fines levied by the association depends upon the contract of the member with the association as embodied in the by-laws and articles of the association. 7 C. J. S., Associations, p. 73, sec. 31. A suspended member is not a member in good standing. By-laws, art. XIII, sec. 3. However, that does not mean he is not a member of the union. Art. 30, sec. 10 of the constitution provides both the penalty of expulsion and the penalty of suspension for violation of the constitution or by-laws by officers of the local and international union, thereby impliedly recognizing a distinction between the status of one who is expelled and one who is suspended. Art. 6, sec. 17, of the constitution, which provides for termination or resignation of membership in the union, states that a member may resign only if he is in good standing and is not delinquent in the payment of any financial obligation to the international or local union. This being the case, once suspended for being in arrears in paying his fine, defendant had no power even to resign from the union until he paid his dues. The obvious implication of this provision is that a member suspended for being in arrears is still a member and amenable to union discipline.