Opinion ID: 2150565
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Was the $100 fine a penalty rather than an award of damages in a contract action

Text: The argument unrealistically assumes the equivalency of an ordinary commercial contract and the union membership contract. We recognized in Local 248, United Automobile, Aircraft & Agricultural Implement Workers v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Board (1960), 11 Wis. 2d 277, 288, 105 N. W. 2d 271, that the levying of a fine was not merely the collection of damages, but was related to the power of a labor organization to enforce solidarity among its members. It is obvious that the measure of damages is difficult to ascertain, however real the damage is to the union which seeks to protect its members from the damages of unlimited piecework pay systems. Scofield v. NLRB, supra, page 431. This is precisely the type of situation where liquidated damages, if reasonable, are appropriate. The liquidated damages, or fine, in the sum of $100 appear reasonable in view of the dangers foreseen by the United States Supreme Court and in the absence of compelling reasons to the contrary.