Opinion ID: 1191923
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Freedom of Association Statute

Text: NRS 614.100, addressing employees' freedom of association, provides that employers must recognize the representatives chosen by their employees in a labor dispute. Further, NRS 614.090(1) declares the public policy of the state as follows: [I]t is necessary that the individual workman have full freedom of association, self-organization, and designation of representatives of his own choosing to negotiate the terms and conditions of his employment, and that he shall be free from the interference, restraint or coercion of employers of labor, or their agents, in the designation of such representatives or in self-organization or in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. This court addressed NRS 614.090 in Vegas Franchises v. Culinary Workers, 83 Nev. 236, 427 P.2d 959, affirmed on rehearing, 83 Nev. 422, 433 P.2d 263 (1967). In Vegas Franchises, this court held that peaceful picketing by a labor union to force an employer to sign a collective bargaining agreement where the employees did not wish to join the union violated NRS 614.090. 83 Nev. at 240, 427 P.2d at 961. In this case, article IV, section 1 of the PLA states: The Contractor recognizes the Union as the sole and exclusive bargaining representative of all craft employees within their respective jurisdictions working on the Project within the scope of this agreement. However, as mentioned above, no employee is required to join the Union or to pay union dues. We conclude, following the reasoning of Vegas Franchises, that the public policy behind NRS 614.090 is to protect employees from being forced to join a union. Since the PLA at issue provides that an employee may work on the project for a non-union contractor without ever joining the union, we hold that the PLA does not interfere with employees' freedom of association. In conclusion, we hold that PLAs do not violate Nevada's competitive bidding, right to work, or freedom of association statutes. However, PLAs must be adopted in conformity with our statutes and the policies behind them. We hold that the PLA at issue in this case was adopted in conformity with our statutes and, accordingly, affirm the judgment of the district court.